February Footstone Project; Blog Post #6
I have annotated this photo of Barbary PALMER, wife of Nathan STEWARD's, footstone so that you can see clearly the carved side of the footstone and it's position in relation to the person's remains and the back side (uncarved) headstone.
Gaylord Cooper's book, "Stories Told in Stone" lists the definition of a footstone as a "smaller gravestone set at the foot of a grave, most often in conjunction with a headstone; may be inscribed with only initials or names." [p. 112] I recommend this book if you are looking to get started with working with gravestone research.
Photo was taken at Great Plain Cemetery in North Stonington, New London, CT
This is the last footstone investigation in this blog post project. As I go out gravestone hunting, I will look for more footstones and report on them!
Showing posts with label footstone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label footstone. Show all posts
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Martha A. MAIN
February Footstone Project; Blog Post #4
Little 4 year old Martha A. MAIN is buried in the Great Plain Cemetery in North Stonington, New London, CT. I chose to show you this gravestone today because it is granite and has a matching granite footstone.
Footstones are not always found on graves that are slate or sandstone.
I noticed the gravestone right away because my given name is Martha.
Little 4 year old Martha A. MAIN is buried in the Great Plain Cemetery in North Stonington, New London, CT. I chose to show you this gravestone today because it is granite and has a matching granite footstone.
Footstones are not always found on graves that are slate or sandstone.
I noticed the gravestone right away because my given name is Martha.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: Capt. Moses FISH
February Footstone Project; Blog Post #3
When is a footstone not a footstone? When it is a headstone! [of course]
When is a footstone not a footstone? When it is a headstone! [of course]
I have no idea if this is a headstone for Cap't Moses FISH or if it is a footstone for a grave that is no longer there!
It has his name but no more information like a footstone but it is larger like a headstone. Are you getting a headache?
The information for the cemetery that was sent to me (I paid the photocopy fee) is from the Charles Hale 1930s WPA project and it simply says, "Fish, Cap't Moses (Can't read rest)" I wish it was more helpful.
So it is possible that this is the only marker for Capt. Moses making this a headstone
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Footstone [Ebenezer GALLUP]
February Footstone Project; Blog Post #2
This is a fine example of a sandstone/brownstone footstone that is original and intact.
This footstone is one of many at the Gallup Burying Ground located in Ledyard, CT. [Many books say this is in Groton but the town line changed.] This is a private, gated and locked cemetery. Last summer, I attended the reunion and walked through the woods behind the house and into the cemetery from the side gate.
Notice its position some distance from the headstone and it is inscribed on the side away from where Mr. Ebenezer Gallup's remains lie buried in-between the two stones. Ebenezer 's footstone could easily have been interpreted as a headstone because it is quite large and even has a circle decoration.
As you learned yesterday, footstones are paired with a headstone. They are supposed to look like a bed for the sleeping dead. But, if this footstone was missing its companion headstone what would you know about him?
If you look carefully at the photo you will see how super large, Mr. Gallup's headstone is! Don't strain your eyes looking at the inscription on the back side, that's going to be the topic of the next blog post.
This is a fine example of a sandstone/brownstone footstone that is original and intact.
This footstone is one of many at the Gallup Burying Ground located in Ledyard, CT. [Many books say this is in Groton but the town line changed.] This is a private, gated and locked cemetery. Last summer, I attended the reunion and walked through the woods behind the house and into the cemetery from the side gate.
Notice its position some distance from the headstone and it is inscribed on the side away from where Mr. Ebenezer Gallup's remains lie buried in-between the two stones. Ebenezer 's footstone could easily have been interpreted as a headstone because it is quite large and even has a circle decoration.
As you learned yesterday, footstones are paired with a headstone. They are supposed to look like a bed for the sleeping dead. But, if this footstone was missing its companion headstone what would you know about him?
If you look carefully at the photo you will see how super large, Mr. Gallup's headstone is! Don't strain your eyes looking at the inscription on the back side, that's going to be the topic of the next blog post.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Footstone [Edward STEWART]
February Footstone Project; Blog Post #1
Footstone Friday!
I have had a question from a historian about footstones. Much to my surprise, the books I own don't cover footstones very much! I have spent some time yesterday trying to find out what I know about the arrangement of the headstone and the footstone.
I thought this might make a good investigation for Granite-in-my-Blood for a few posts to see what readers think about footstones.
This footstone of my third great grandfather, Edward Stewart. His headstone is face down and broken. But, judging from the footstone, it must "match" the style and shape.
I do know that the headstone was standing upgright in the 1930s when Charles Hale recorded the graveyards as part of a WPA project because there is a transcription of what it reads.
I also know that his parents, who are buried a few miles away are my most classic example of the placement of headstone and footstone.
Notice it is inscribed with the carved initials E.S. I know that Edward was born 8 Dec 1774 and died 29 April 1837. He is buried in the Stewart Cemetery, North Stonington, CT. This family cemetery is unkempt and is in danger of being "hidden" by the current landowner with shrubbery. But, that's a story for another day.
So, I am lucky to know what the headstone says but what can we learn about footstones? Are they prevalent only in certain time periods? Are they confined to New England?
I am going to need your help on this one!
Footstone Friday!
I have had a question from a historian about footstones. Much to my surprise, the books I own don't cover footstones very much! I have spent some time yesterday trying to find out what I know about the arrangement of the headstone and the footstone.
I thought this might make a good investigation for Granite-in-my-Blood for a few posts to see what readers think about footstones.
This footstone of my third great grandfather, Edward Stewart. His headstone is face down and broken. But, judging from the footstone, it must "match" the style and shape.
I do know that the headstone was standing upgright in the 1930s when Charles Hale recorded the graveyards as part of a WPA project because there is a transcription of what it reads.
I also know that his parents, who are buried a few miles away are my most classic example of the placement of headstone and footstone.
Notice it is inscribed with the carved initials E.S. I know that Edward was born 8 Dec 1774 and died 29 April 1837. He is buried in the Stewart Cemetery, North Stonington, CT. This family cemetery is unkempt and is in danger of being "hidden" by the current landowner with shrubbery. But, that's a story for another day.
So, I am lucky to know what the headstone says but what can we learn about footstones? Are they prevalent only in certain time periods? Are they confined to New England?
I am going to need your help on this one!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Headstone & Footstone
Tombstone Tuesday 18 Aug 2009
This is a view of Nathan and Barbary (Palmer) STEWARD, one set of my fourth great grandparents who are buried in the Great Plain Cemetery (#57) in North Stonington, CT.
Normally, we take photos of the headstones and only take photos of the footstones if the headstone is unreadable or missing.
I felt that I should turn away from the gravestone that I was photographing, to look at the stones from this angle. I am glad I did because it made me think about all of the things I have learned about gravestones since I started photographing graves.
Many ancient cemeteries in New England have lost this classic arrangement of headstones and footstones due to the footstones being broken when the grass is mowed. Sometimes, the footstone sinks into the ground, as it is usually smaller.
All too often the person mowing the grass has removed the footstones to make the job of mowing easier. Remember, the body of the person is between the headstone and footstone! As a child, I was told I should not walk on the dead. Were you told this?
Yes, this is supposed to look like a bed for sleeping. It was the intention for us to think our loved ones are sleeping until the day of reckoning when the souls of the dead are called to heaven.
As this idea changed with the time period, people stopped paying for the footstones to be placed and the name or initials of the dead put on them. Sometimes, the carving on the footstones is all I have had to be able to match a name to a list of people who are buried in the cemetery.
As I am working up ideas for a presentation on learning about graveyards, I have been thinking about all the things that people might not know about New England graveyards.
If you didn't know about this, could you please leave a comment. Should this photo be part of my presentation?
This is a view of Nathan and Barbary (Palmer) STEWARD, one set of my fourth great grandparents who are buried in the Great Plain Cemetery (#57) in North Stonington, CT.
Normally, we take photos of the headstones and only take photos of the footstones if the headstone is unreadable or missing.
I felt that I should turn away from the gravestone that I was photographing, to look at the stones from this angle. I am glad I did because it made me think about all of the things I have learned about gravestones since I started photographing graves.
Many ancient cemeteries in New England have lost this classic arrangement of headstones and footstones due to the footstones being broken when the grass is mowed. Sometimes, the footstone sinks into the ground, as it is usually smaller.
All too often the person mowing the grass has removed the footstones to make the job of mowing easier. Remember, the body of the person is between the headstone and footstone! As a child, I was told I should not walk on the dead. Were you told this?
Yes, this is supposed to look like a bed for sleeping. It was the intention for us to think our loved ones are sleeping until the day of reckoning when the souls of the dead are called to heaven.
As this idea changed with the time period, people stopped paying for the footstones to be placed and the name or initials of the dead put on them. Sometimes, the carving on the footstones is all I have had to be able to match a name to a list of people who are buried in the cemetery.
As I am working up ideas for a presentation on learning about graveyards, I have been thinking about all the things that people might not know about New England graveyards.
If you didn't know about this, could you please leave a comment. Should this photo be part of my presentation?
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