Monday, June 8, 2009

Cemeteries & Epitaphs ~ Giveaway Day 2

My fondness for cemeteries, tombstones and epitaphs began when I was very little. My Mother, a Genealogist, would take me with her when visiting old family homesteads or grave sites. To this day I love to stop at cemeteries and wander around - viewing the old headstones, reading the epitaphs and pondering the lives that the people might have led.

Morbid?? Some may say so. But I think not. I find it very interesting. A lot can be learned about an area of the country by the cemeteries that are located there.

I'd like to share with you some epitaphs that my sister, Becky sent to me awhile back. Thanks Becky!!



Browsing Old Cemeteries
A truly Happy Person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
And, one who can enjoy browsing old cemeteries...
Some fascinating things on old tombstones!
=============================
Harry Edsel Smith of Albany , New York :
Born 1903--Died 1942.
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if thecar was on the way down. It was.
=============================
In a Thurmont , Maryland , cemetery:
Here lies an Atheist, all dressed up and no place to go.
=============================
On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in
East Dalhousie Cemetery , Nova Scotia:
Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102. Only The Good Die Young.
=============================
In a London , England cemetery:
Here lies Ann Mann, Who lived an old maid but died an old Mann.
Dec. 8, 1767
=============================
In a Ribbesford, England , cemetery:
Anna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread, And the Lord sent them manna.
Clark Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.
===============================
In a Ruidoso, New Mexico , cemetery:
Here lies Johnny Yeast... Pardon me for not rising.
===============================
In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania , cemetery:
Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake.
Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.
==============================
In a Silver City , Nevada , cemetery:
Here lays The Kid.
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger
But slow on the draw.
================================
A lawyer's epitaph in England :
Sir John Strange.
Here lies an honest lawyer, and that is Strange.
=================================
John Penny's epitaph in the Wimborne,
England , cemetery:
Reader, if cash thou art in want of any,
Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.
==================================
In a cemetery in Hartscombe , England :
On the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.
==================================
Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls , Vermont :
Here lies the body of our Anna,
Done to death by a banana.
It wasn't the fruit that laid her low,
But the skin of the thing that made her go.
==================================
On a grave from the 1880s in Nantucket , Massachusetts :
Under the sod and under the trees,
Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.
He is not here, there's only the pod.
Pease shelled out and went to God.
==================================
In a cemetery in England :
Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, so shall you be.
Remember this and follow me.
To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone:
To follow you I'll not consent.
Until I know which way you went.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't think it is morbid. I love them too! I was first fascinated by them on trips my parents took us on to New Orleans. I was fascinated with the graves above ground. I visited our local cemetary recently and found several interesting tombstones! Thanks for posting these very interesting tombstones!
Sherry

Zan Asha said...

I agree--I like old cemetaries and tombstones! Haha, were those tombstone sayings your sister sent real?

JenW!~ said...

My hubby and I visit old cemetaries quite alot. He loves halloween and gets alot of his decorating ideas from the visits.

AwtemNymf said...

Death by banana! Wow! I don't visit cemeteries, but I would love to just visit them and see the customizations. Not morbid- just open minded *winks* I think it'd be neat to see really old ones. I'm curious who picks out the tombstones and the sayings- the person who passed on (prior to their death) or a family/friend?

Jeanne said...

Don't know if the epitaphs are real but it's fun to think that they are!

Anonymous said...

Love old cemeteries and was proposed in one too! ☺

Tammy said...

Ready for this, my husband and I built our home right next, (I mean 40 feet from our picnic table and front yard)to a 1800's Revolutionary Cemetery.
People who have never been here before, pull in and say, Are you nuts building right next to THEM..LOL..
We laugh and say they make wonderful neighbors..LOL..
It is so neat to read the stones and then research the names, have found a few.
They faught in the battle around here and in Cherry Valley, NY back in the 1800's.
This cemetery has been part of my Husbands Family land for almost 100 years.
I think it is cool..

Anyways, If it is alright with you, I will post a pic. of your Mushrooms stating Giveaway with a link back here..Let Me KNow.
Hugs..
Tammy

Grace said...

I think it is wonderful to have some humor on your tombstone. Just your name and when you were born and died is just plain dull. Spice it up - its the last chance you have to say anything really.

Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

those were great! I love visiting graveyards too.
:) Missy

Renee said...

I love the one that says 'I told you I was sick.'

Renee xoxo