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GenThePerservering

(3,135 posts)
10. The DH and I
Sat Jan 7, 2023, 08:50 PM
Jan 2023

love to visit churchyards when we travel, particularly in England. The earliest gravesite we've bagged was mid-16th century, which is unusual since usually they don't survive - this one was a small above-ground entombment which had part of a tree growing through it.

Skulls and skull/crossbones relief carvings were common in older headstones.

But the most instructive I ever saw was visiting relations at the local veterans cemetery where we go every year. This time I ran across a small headstone that said "Whatever you want to do, do it now" - I've never forgotten that vet for his wisdom beyond the grave.

Oldest church entombment was an unnamed knight in a late viking-era tomb in a cathedral in England - it was in the back of the enormous church all by himself and I stood by there for along time, looking into the startled eyes that seems to typify Viking/anglo-saxon carving wondering who this brave individual was, buried with his shield and sword a thousand years ago but now forgotten.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Hello - I like old cemeteries [View all] Oneironaut Jan 2023 OP
I like the stories half-revealed on the epitaphs and on the groupings of graves. Scrivener7 Jan 2023 #1
I always look for veterans Effete Snob Jan 2023 #2
Yes, I do. Elessar Zappa Jan 2023 #3
I do, too XanaDUer2 Jan 2023 #4
Yes, a very helpful site. SergeStorms Jan 2023 #14
When I was in SLC decades ago XanaDUer2 Jan 2023 #15
When I was in SLC decades ago XanaDUer2 Jan 2023 #16
If you have a library card you can access some genaeology sites online Marthe48 Jan 2023 #17
Me too! I'm always on there Oneironaut Jan 2023 #22
I like them too, Haggard Celine Jan 2023 #5
When we were kids, my grandmother used to take us to visit cemeteries Rhiannon12866 Jan 2023 #27
We live near this one LakeArenal Jan 2023 #6
My wife is an amateur genealogist Mr.Bill Jan 2023 #7
Nice. Nice you found great grandfather's name and what a nice gentlemen to go so out of his MLAA Jan 2023 #8
I've checked out a few. West Point was interesting--Norman Schwartzkoph, Westmoreland, panader0 Jan 2023 #9
The DH and I GenThePerservering Jan 2023 #10
Agree with the tiny headstones or lists of names GenThePerservering Jan 2023 #11
I used to be the Genealogist.... SergeStorms Jan 2023 #12
Me too. We lived across the street from one in Nee England Bristlecone Jan 2023 #13
Gravestone Recipes Baked by Rosie Grant cbabe Jan 2023 #18
Thanks for posting this Raine Jan 2023 #25
Recent visit to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, MA Croney Jan 2023 #19
There are some extraordinary ones in Cape Cod. Paladin Jan 2023 #20
I was in Glasgow in October. Our first stop, after settling in, was The Necropolis. NBachers Jan 2023 #21
I find them fascinating. Laffy Kat Jan 2023 #23
Very interesting. SergeStorms Jan 2023 #28
I do, I love them 💕👍 Raine Jan 2023 #24
Brought this documentary to mind, beautiful and haunting. cbabe Jan 2023 #26
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