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HISTORY OF HEADSTONES
By Cara Links
Part Seven
Some of Irelands most popular Epitaphs
"Dear Friend As You Pass By
As You Are Now So Once Was I.
As I Am Now So You Must Be
Prepare The Way To Follow Me."
Hodie mihi, cras tibi
( My turn today, yours tomorrow)
Memento, Homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem revertis.
( Remember, man, that dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return)
Remember man as you pass by,
As you are now so once was I,
As I am now so you will be,
Prepare for death and follow me
( someone added the following words)
To follow you I am content
But I'm dammed If I know
Which way you went.
For life at best is but a crooked street,
Death the market place where all must meet
If life were merchandise that gold would buy
The rich would live
The poor alone would die.
This verse in many versions can now be found all over the world but this one appeared in Kurrajong Churchyard Sydney New South Wales Australia
Charles Larry is my name
Ireland is my nation
Wexford in my native place
And Christ is my salvation
Another version of he old verse is this one from Clondegad
Here lies the body of John Glasclune
While loved and like by all who knew him
In his youth a chatty lad,
Lies sleeping here in Clondegad.
All you young men as you pass by,
As you are now so once was I
And as I am now so you will be,
Remember this and pray for me
From the Ballyporeen Churchyard Tipperary
On Teague O'Brien
Here I at length repose
My spirit now at aise is,
With the tips of my toes
And the point of my nose
Turn'd up to the roots of the daises.
Mayne Cemetery Cloughead Co Louth
Beneath this stone here lieth one
That still his friends did please,
To Heaven, I hope, he is surely gone,
To enjoy eternal ease.
He Drank, he sang while here on earth,
Lived happy as a lord
And now he hath resigned his breath,
God rest him, Paddy Ward.
During the 1880's a Rev Thomas Pegg made a visit to Ireland and his itinerary included Maynooth, Mullingar, Dublin, Ballymahon, Athlione, Birr,Monasterein and Naas. During his travels as he was a keen epitaph hunter he jotted into a leather bound book many epitaphs from graveyards within his travels, but he never noted which they were from.
So from his jottings comes the following.
Here lies, praise God a woman who
Scolded and stormed her whole life through:
Tread Gently o'er her rotting form
Or else you'll raise another storm.
Here lies one Thomas Foote
Whose bones may hundreds save
For death now has one foot
Entombed within the grave.
Weep not for me, my husband dear
Keep in mind that I lie here.
And when thou'st scour'd and cleaned and pined
Think on why I left it all behind.
And from Youghal Co Cork
Here lies poor but honest Cecil Pratt.
He was a most expert angler, until death, envious of his merit,
Threw out his line, and hooked him, and landed him here.
Died 14 June 1973 aged 67 years.
Duncannon Fort, Co Wexford Ireland
Under Lyeth The Body Of Elizabeth
Timpson, Wife Of Captn Timpson
Who Died Ye 24th May 1736
Aged 31 Years
God Bless ye hands that lay'd this stone
And curs'd be that hands that moves her bones.
Cahir Co Tipperary
Oh Lord, here I lie, and no wonder I'm dead
A thumping great wagon went over my head.
John Genet of Oldbridge Co Meath
The Poor have his Almes
The Worlde has his Praise
The Heavens have his Soule, and
The grave has his bodie
1690
A very sad epitaph and indeed it tells a simple story Of so young a bride and mother
Twelve years was I a Maid
One year was I a wife;
Half and Hour I was a mother,
And then I lost my life.
1860 puzzle recorded by Samuel Palmer and all I know is it is the South of Ireland
Bene
AT. HT: HIS S. T.
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In. So.Metall-
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Hero. R .broa
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Ans. He.I
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Ers Hopma
Y.B.
E.AG.AIN.
Many worked over these letters until one day it clicked that this is what it said
Beneath this stone lies Katherine Gray,
Chang'd from a busy life to lifeless clay.
By earth and clay she got her pelf.(sic)
And now she's turn'd to earth herself.
Ye weeping friends- let me advise-
Abate your grief, and dry your eyes.
For what awaits a flood of tears?
Who knows, but, in a run of years,
In some tall pitcher or broad pan,
She in her shop may be again
For a Locksmith
A zealous locksmith dy'd of late,
And did arrive at Heaven's gate,
He stood without and would not knock,
Because he meant to pick the lock.
For Watchmakers Limerick Cathedral
Memento Mory
Here Lieth Little Samuel Barinton, The Great Undertaker
Of Famous City's Clock And Chime Maker;
He Made His One Time Goe Early And Latter
But Now He Is Returned To God His Creator.
The 19 Of November Thou Seest,
And For His Memory This Here Is Peast
By His Son Ben 1693.
Here lies in Horizontal position, the outside case
Of George Routledge, Watchmaker,
Whose abilities in that line were an Honour
To his profession:
Integrity was the Main-spring, and Prudence the
Regulator of all the Actions of his life:
Humane, generous, and liberal, his Hand never stopped
Till he had relieved distress.
So sincerely Regulated were all his Movements, that
He never Went Wrong, except when Set a-going
By people who did not know his Key:
Even then he easily Set Right again
He had the art of
Disposing this Time so well, that his hours
Glided away in continual Round of Pleasure and
Delight, till an unlucky Moment put a Period
To his existence.
He departed this life November 14th, 1802, aged 57.
Wound up in hopes of his being taken in hand by his
Maker and of being thoroughly Cleaned, Repaired, and Set a-going in the world to come.
The honest Miller-Kinnagh Co Wexford
Here lieth the body of
Anthony Reynolds a native of
The County Tyrone
He was faithful to his employer
And, although a Miller was an honest man.
Departed this life December 13th, 1790, aged 33 years.
Adamstown Co Wexford
Erected by John Broder in memry of his nephew John Murphy
Late of Camross who depd this live, Nov 6th 1835, agd 25 yrs.
Too good
On earth to stay
And leaves the bad
Too bad
To stay away.
Corofin Co Clare
In loving memory of Alice E Sharman, born Valpariso, Chile 3rd Nov 1877.
Died Corofin 25th Sept 1955
Our heart is restless till it
Findeth rest in thee.
Audrey Douglas born Conception Chile
January 25 1905. Died Cragmoher, July 20 1968
Here as ever sleeping sound
Lies our Audrey in the ground
If she wakes as wake she may
There's be fun on Judgement Day.
Ballyhuskard Co Wexford
Erected By Laurence Redmond In Memory Of His Father
Patrick Redmond And Mother Margaret Alias Sinnott
Depd This Life Jan 19, 1819
He Aged 79 & She 72 Years
Married We Were Upon A Day And Departed Upon Another.
Buried We Were In Native Clay In Both One Day Together.
Fifty Years And Two We Lived In Marriage State
Reader Pray For You Must See Death's Certain Fate.
Clonnattin Co Wexford
Erected by May Hughes Tubberduff
In memory of her husband
James Hughes, who depd. April 4th 1856 aged 30 years.
In love we lived, in peace we died
I craved his life but God denied.
Kilcavan ( Near Wellington Bridge) Co Wexford
Here lies the body of James Larken late of Kilcavan
Who depd, this life
May 1806 aged 21 years
Fethard on Sea St Mogues Co Wexford
This dreary region contains
Charles only beloved child
of Harriett Dixon.
His gentle spirit left the arms of his
Earthly advocate for the bosom of his Heavenly one on 6th of March 1815 aged 15 years
"Dear Boy within this stone
The mother's hopes receive their doom.
Knockbrack Graveyard Kesh Co Sligo
To the memory of John Kelly
Who departed this life on the
12th Sept 1868 aged 55 years
After a life of labour but
With a mind at ease
St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin
Here lieth the body of Alexander McGee, servant to
Doctor Swifte of St Patrick's. His grateful master caused his monument to be erected in Memory of Discretion, Fidelity, and Diligence in that humble Station. Ob Mar 24 1723/24 Aetat.29.
And of course there was the master who wanted it known how generous he could be, as recorded on Irish servant John Quinny, who was in service of Sir Henry Chester for fifty-six years, were carved the words
*His master left him an anuuity of £8.
St Nicholas Churchyard Dundalk Co Louth
Sacred To The Memory Of John Ingham Late Quartr. Mafter 7th Dn Guards, Who Departed This Life 22nd July, 1817, Aged 62 Years Also Of Elizabeth Ingham His Wife Who Died 2nd Jany, 1818 Aged 58 Years This Stone Was Erected As A Tribute Of Filial Love By Their Daughter Anne Ingham.
The Governors Of The Louth Hospital Have Caused The Following Extract from Their Journal To Be Engraved On The Tombstone Of Their Late Warden And Matron, John And Eliza Ingham.
*That we have just cause to lament their decease: That their conduct as Servants of the Public uniformly regulated by the stricfet (sic) senfe (Sic) of integrity and oeconomy and as Warden of the Sick and maimed by the tender feelings of tenderniss ( sic): That in the care of the House generally they eftablished (sic) an admirable Sytem of order alfo cleanliness and were both in their own behaviour Sober, Respectable and Decorous: That we are very desirous to uphold their example in all respects for the imitation of those who may at any time hereafter succeed them
Same Graveyard as one above
Sacred to the memory of David Williams who departed this life the 18th day of March, 1824 aged 42 years.
This tribute of respect to a departed worth was placed by his affectionate mother,
Though boisterous winds and Neptune's waves
Have tossed me to and from,
In spite of both by God's decree
I harbour here below
When now at anchor I do lie
With many of our fleet,
In hope once more to sail
Our Saviour Christ to meet.
Burial epitaphs for Coastal graveyards of Ireland
At Anchor now in Death's dark road,
Rides honest Captain Hill,
Who served his King and feared his God,
With upright heart and will
In social life sincere and just,
To vice of no kind given;
So that his better part, we trust,
Hath made the Port of Heaven.
Kililagh Co Clare some of the crewmen of the Spanish Amada lie buried
And a simple epitaph says...
TAUMPLE NA SPANIG
( Burial place of the Spaniards)
A very simple epitaph says
Here I lies,
Killed by the X.I.S.
(the Excise)
Monknewton Drogheda Co Louth
Erected by Patrick Kelly
Of the town of Drogheda Mariner
In memory of his posterity
Also the above Patrick Kelly
Who departed this life the 12th August 1833
Aged 60 years
Requiescat in pace
John Hall of Dunleary
Through Boreas' spight and Neptune's foom,
I have ranged ye Ocean wide, by God's decree
It is my doom
Oct 3rd, 1750
Marmullane Graveyard Co Cork
Timothy Connell mariner murdered 1828 on the
"Mary Russell" out of Cork, by ship's master
You gentle reader that do pass this way
Attend a while adhere to what I say
By murder vile I was bereft of life
And parted from two lovely babes and wife
By Captain Stewart I met an early doom
On board the "Mary Russell" the 22nd of June
Forced from the world to meet my God on High
With whom I hope to reign eternally.
St Patrick's Creach Glendum Road Cushendum Co Antrim
On John McAlaster who served with Lord Nelson against the French
Here lies the body of John ... died 11March 1803
Aged 18 years
Your ship, love, is mored, head and starn, for a ful diew.
Knockbrack Graveyard Keash Co Sligo
John Cullen Mariner died in 1878 aged 62, all his life he fought sea and the bottle .
For 35 years and upwards
I fought king Alcohol.
With heart in hand
And tongue in a foreign land.
And I won the victory.
I am back again in the old country
Fighting the same old king
And so far I am victorious.
Irish all over the world
And of those Irish who are buried all over the world comes some particular
epitaphs taken from a goldminers logbook, from Death Valley California.
Martha Mays of the gold Nugget saloon
Here Lies The Body Of Martha Mays
Who Was So Virginal In Stays
She Lived To The Age Of Three Score And Ten
And Gave To The Worms What She Refused To Men
Written by a Pete Connor of his wife
Who far below in this grave doth rest
She's join'd the army of the blest;
The Lord has ta'en her to the sky,
The Saints rejoice, and so do I.
Advertising on headstones
Oxford New Hampshire
Here lies Jane Smith, widow of Thomas Smith Marblecutter,
this monument was erected by her husband as a tribute to her memory and a specimen of his work. Monuments of the same style 250 dollars.
And
Died on the 11th inst, at his shop, No 20 Greenwich St. Mr Edward Jones, much respected by all who knew and dealt with him. As a man he was amiable; as a hatter upright and moderate. His virtues were beyond all price, and his beaver hats were only three dollars each.
He has left a widow to deplore his loss, and a large stock to be sold cheap, for the benefit of his family. He was snatched to the other world in the prime of his life, just as he had concluded an extensive purchase of felt; which he got cheap that his widow can supply hats at more reasonable rates than any house in the city. His dicon-solate family will carry on business with punctuality.
So having shared my work and paper with you I leave you now to ponder, on what may or may not be written, on that elusive headstone, that belongs to your own ancestors, having as yet not found my own great grandparents , I too, share that mystery ....
Cheers Cara
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