52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2022: Week 46 (TOMBSTONES)
This week's prompt tombstone got me to thinking about proper terminology - Tombstone, Headstone, Gravestone?
I worked in a funeral home as an office administrator for 3 years, and the term Grave Marker is the term I am most comfortable with.
In researching I found the following definition:
"Which is right in today’s culture? Headstone vs. tombstone vs. gravestone?
So, to sum up, historically, a “tombstone” was the stone placed on top of a stone coffin. A “gravestone” was a stone slab covering a grave. “Headstones” were generally markers denoting a grave. Today, though, all of these terms indicate a marker placed at the head of a grave." 1
I decided to look at our Bramble Bush for a grave marker for an ancestor I wanted to learn more about.
I found my husband's 3rd great grandparents' grave marker.
Arthur was born on October 24th (or 23rd) 1850 to Aaron & Lucy (nee Kinsey) Whitesell. I have not yet researched all of Aaron & Lucy's children - only Arthur.
At the age of 20 Arthur married 18 year old Henrietta. They were married on October 20th 1871 in Malahide, Ontario, Canada.
The marriage record does not list religion for either even though the other 2 couples on the record include their religion.
The record indicates W.L. Brown married them.
Find A Grave notes Walter Livingston Brown as a Quaker Reverend. 2
BUT I found this record:
"The Methodist Episcopal congregation had its beginnings in Copenhagen in the 1860's when services were held above a general store, until 1870. A quarter acre of land in lot 10, concession 2 was deeded by Walter Livingston Brown to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Aug. 26, 1871, and a frame church was built." 3
Less than 2 months before marrying X3 great grandparents W.L. Brown donated land to Methodist Church.
There is a very good chance that Aaron & Henrietta were married in the Methodist Church.
I have only found records for 4 children. Their son George is my husband's X2 great grandfather.
X2 great grandfather, George Aaron Whitesell was born on December 15th 1874. At the age of 25 George married 18 year old Rosa Lulu Meharg. They were married on September 26th 1900.
I know there are many issues with Find-A-Grave, but being able to see the grave markers of ancestors when you are too far away to visit in real life is a gift.
Last week I became a Find-A-Grave member with the plans to visit my local cemeteries to fulfill current photo requests.
Giving back to the Genealogy community that has offered this Bramble Bush so much!!!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Sources:
1 Headstone vs. Tombstone vs. Gravestone. Monument Solutions, LLC. Originally published May 13th 2021. Retrieved November 20th 2022 from
https://www.monumentsolutionsllc.com/headstone-vs-tombstone-vs-gravestone/
2 Rev Walter Livingston Brown. Find A Grave. Retrieved November 20th 2022 from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106637413/brown
3 Churches in Malahide / Aylmer. Places of Worship Records Inventory Project. Elgin County Malahide Township & Town of Aylmer. Originally published 2006. Retrieved November 20th 2022 from
https://ogs.on.ca/elgin_google/sites.google.com/site/elginbranchogs/Home/places-of-worship/malahide-aylmer.html
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/
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