Auntie Jen's Family Trees: Epitaphs

Epitaph (noun)

an inscription on or at a tomb or a grave in memory of the one buried there

a brief statement commemorating or epitomizing a deceased person or something past (1)

One thing I like to do when walking through cemeteries looking for family, is looking at different headstones and reading the epitaphs. Some are elaborate and poetic while some are very simple. You can learn a lot about the deceased person by what's on their headstone. They are very helpful for genealogy purposes, determining facts such as dates of birth and death, relationships to others and in some cases religion or cause of death. Where did this begin? Let's look at some history.

Headstones are also known as grave markers, gravestones, and tombstones. In earlier times when there were no cemeteries, people used to have burial plots near their family homes. There are still some left today on personal properties. When we were looking to buy a house recently, in the backyard were a few headstones that were maintained by the current owners.

Headstones were mostly marked with the deceased's name, age and year of death. Gradually, churchyard burials evolved involving large, square-shaped tombstones prepared from late (1650-1900) or sandstone (1650-1890). The inscriptions carved on slate used to be shallow yet readable. Other most popular materials for gravestones were marble (1780-1930), granite, iron, and wood.

As time went on, public cemeteries evolved and people started memorialzing the dead in more elaborate ways. They started engraving the headstones with a small epitaph or a few words about the deceased whether written by the individual himself or by someone else while still including the basic details of birth date and death date.

The Victorian era (1837-1901) greatly emphasized customs and practices associated with death. This period paved the way for elaborate tombstones and headstones. The cemeteries appeared more like parks as they had such lavish and decorated headstones. Today, not only are there words, but many different symbols that have special meanings. The symbols denoted religious beliefs, social class, occupation, organizations and several other aspects of the life of the deceased. (2)

Sadly, not everyone has a headstone placed where they are buried. Slaves, poor people and mass burials due to illinesses were just some that would not have headstones. I've visted cemeteries that had huge areas with not even one headstone. One specific cemetery was Elmwood Cemetery in Centralia, Illinois. I spoke with the caretaker and he explained that was the potter's field. Not only for the poor, but for those who died during a cholera epidemic. They were dying so fast, there was no rhyme or reason for burials. Just dig a hole and place the body. No headstones.

Knowing this fact, I try to take the time to read the headstones for those that have them. While visiting Fairview Cemetery in Liberty, Missouri, I had the privledge to find the headstone of my husband's 2x great grandfather, his first wife and their child. The epitaph's on his headstone is, “O for a touch of the vanished hand Or a sound of the voice that is still.” Beautiful. And his wife's headstone read, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”

To close this up, here are a few headstones with some other Epitaphs. These were provided by members of the Genealogy Addicts Anonymous Stoners are Us group (GAASU). So the next time you are in a cemetery, take the time to read the Epitaphs on the headstones. They were put there just for that reason.

Photo A: Hillside Cemetery in Silverton, Colorado has very many headstones memorializing falling miners. This particular one gave me a chuckle how they worded it. “Blown to Atoms in a mine” Shared by Jen Rickards

Photo B: Sometimes just a simple homemade sign is the best way to share your feelings about your ancestor. As show in this photo. “In memory of Donald H Taylor who passed away on Aug. 3, 2008. Missed by his family and friends and people of the community that knew him as 'Junker Don'. His Legacy lives on with son sunning his recycling hobby. We miss you Don. From your Son Kevin” Shared by El Brown

Photo C: Absolutely beautiful headstone telling a wonderful story. Shared by Jasmin Cosgrove

Photo D: This is a headstone at New Haven Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. On the right side is a door that flips up and has the original obituary under glass from 1897. Shared by Sara Heng AboZena