In June 2022, I wrote about my love of cemeteries—that they’re one of the reasons I love to travel—to discover these quiet snapshots of history. However, I didn’t fully explain why I’m fascinated. There are four main reasons I love exploring cemeteries: (1) history, specifically local history; (2) art and symbols; (3) famous people; (4) do the math and learn the rest of the story. (For examples of these reasons, follow #tombstonetuesday on IG/FB during the month of October.)
I can learn about a person and local history from gravestones. The materials used can infer the person’s status; quotes used can indicate personality; who they’re buried with or near can indicate love; and lots of death dates in the same time period let me know a disease ran rampant through a community. It’s easy to then Google and learn some local history. (I can also search Find a Grave and learn more about the individuals I visited.)
The art and symbols used on gravestones are not only another indication of personality, but also relate to what was popular in a particular time period. Soul effigies replaced skull and cross-bones by the 1690s, which were in turn replaced by angels and cherubs during the Victorian era. Having one’s picture on the gravestone is a mid-late 20th century feature, as is colorizing flowers that adorn the name. Combining the art and symbols with the person’s birth and death dates allows me insight into the person’s social status…this stuff ain’t cheap.
While I prefer to visit the graves of regular folk, I do visit the famous and infamous. I figure it’s the one chance I have to meet the person, so I may as well take it. (Just FYI, I have no pictures of my visit to Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey as I was too busy communing with the greatness surrounding me. This fact makes me sad.)
Lastly, do the math. This is the most fascinating part of reading gravestones. Most gravestones give a birth and death date. <yawn> I prefer the ones that change that up and give me a little extra. I’ve seen marriage dates (always a woman’s stone) and dates fought in a war (always a man’s stone), but my favorites contain the exact age at time of death. Recently, I discovered this gem, “Mary S. Moore Died April 18, 1917 Aged 85 yrs 11 mos 25 da” Wow! Of course, I had to do the math to determine when she was born, but I liked knowing exactly how old she was when she died…until I realized the unspoken: she died 6 days before her 86th birthday. That’s unfortunate. (For a longer example, see the second Reader Question for October)
So much can be learned about an area by visiting a cemetery. Just be respectful and listen to the stones. They’ve a lot to say.