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funygirl38 In reply to Swirledsilver [2006-08-18 01:01:03 +0000 UTC]

Ah yes, my hubby is originally from West Hebron and he went to Wahington Academy, go Salem Generals as he would say. I get over to Salem as often as possible, we're only in Argyle. I love to walk in that cemetery and I was seriously thinking of taking my camera and strolling through on the 4th of July but it was getting dark and cemeteries, as much as I love them, spook me at night so I was content to sit and watch the fireworks.
I think this stone attracts because of its particularly fine preservation and stonework. I've thought of taking some vellum and a wax crayon and getting a rubbing of it. At least if I could frame it that wouldn't get destroyed by the elements.
I've looked up the old english letters f substituting for s and this was a long s. Up till about 1790 the "long s" was used for s at the beginning and in the middle of words. In Roman type the long s looks like an f with the cross-stroke on the left only, and in italic type it looks like a stretched round s. Ye was called a Thorn which was an abbreviation for th.
I would so love to find information about some of the people who rest here in this cemetery. There must be some resources, private diaries or letters and I would like to be privy to them.
I am glad you liked the pic, thanks ever so for the fav, it's greatly appreciated and nice to know some people see the beauty in these stones.

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Swirledsilver In reply to funygirl38 [2006-08-22 00:57:26 +0000 UTC]

Well howdy, neighbor! I'm a newcomer to the area, and I was a General last year. This year I'm going to try "unschooling" (homeschooling).

Taking a rubbing is a great idea! The photo is a great way of preserving it too though. A cut-out lifesize version would be my choice to frame.

Last time I visited the graveyard, I talked with a man who said that several of the people buried there are his ancestors. There's also a book by the door of the gate that lists every buried person's name. It would be interesting to see how many more descendants are still living nearby, and if they could be traced by last name alone.

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funygirl38 In reply to redelf [2006-06-16 02:01:29 +0000 UTC]

We do have some pretty old gravestones around here. In the Albany area, there are some dating back to the 1600's from the earliest Dutch settlers. I live in Fort Edward and a few miles away towards the village center is Union cemetery where Jane McCrea and Duncan Campbell are buried. I've tried to get pics of the stones but the tall wrought iron fencing surrounding them makes it nearly impossible.
The cemetery where this picture was taken is adjacent to the firemens field where my family and I go for the carnival on the Fourth of July.

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redelf In reply to funygirl38 [2006-06-16 14:40:00 +0000 UTC]

OH God...I have got to move there!! I have been wanting to do something with graveyards and their importance in understanding certain aspects of history but my prof didnt feel there was enough there for me to do my thesis on...:sigh: still hoping I can do something with it later though. UUughhghg..I have got to move!! LOL

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funygirl38 In reply to redelf [2006-06-16 17:11:29 +0000 UTC]

Oh a thesis on graveyards would be fascinating! I've read a bit on gravestones and famous gravesites and the interpreting of older gravestone symbols such as the willow tree which represents life or knowledge or the lamb which denotes the grave of a young child. [link] check this site out and go to a graveyard, you'll see how varied this unspoken language can be.

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redelf In reply to funygirl38 [2006-06-18 17:31:48 +0000 UTC]

I took a class here at my college on public history. Our professor took us to a graveyard to study the art there and interrupt it. It was a great class! The most unusal grave I have seen was in Lee's Summit, MO. the top of it was metal with really unually engraving. I took some pictures I may have to post them here.
Thank you so much for the website!! You have no idea how nice it is to talk to someone who loves gravestones too..most people think me odd.

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funygirl38 In reply to redelf [2006-06-18 19:48:18 +0000 UTC]

Oh not at all, my father loved to go to old cemeteries and look through the headstones, he found a few stones of our ancestors in a nearby town that we had no idea about. The stones nowadays are rather plain compared to those in the past, of course the price of a small stone is phenomenal so we make do I suppose. There is one epitaph i've seen a few times before that I've even thought of using for my own headstone when the time comes although it's a bit somber. "Stranger, stop and cast an eye. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, soon you will be. Prepare for death and follow me."
Rather grim but in the 1700's life expectancy was little beyond the mid 30's. I also agree though that it's nice to have someone to talk cemeteries with. They are a treasure trove of our past.

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redelf In reply to funygirl38 [2006-06-22 14:25:29 +0000 UTC]

It must be so nice to be able to trace your family like that...I mean to be able to see evidence of your familes pass. My family is scattered all over from California to Texas to Missouri to Pennslyvaina! Though I have managed to trace my fathers family back to 1640s here in the states and my mothers to 1840s when they first arrived.
I agree with you on the headstones...boring ,
or the ones that are flat to the ground..I dont like those but those seem to be the norm.
I agree with you on your choice of epitaph!!
the only thing I have decided about my tombstone is that I want my family listed on mine...especially since my parents wont have one. My father was cremated and my mother will do that same and then I am to scattered their ashes in the moutains in colorado.

Oh there is a book..I believe it is called The History of Things...its a collection of articles for Museum Studies (I am also working on my Museum Studies certificate along with my Masters in History) Anyways there is a really interesting article on using cemetaries in order to study history by examining the placement of tombstones.

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funygirl38 In reply to redelf [2006-06-23 01:47:19 +0000 UTC]

There was a Brigadier General James Varnum from Rhode Island who was one of the earliest patriots of the Revolutionary war that is a distant relative, it's people like this whom I would love to know more about and my father had done some genealogy that gave us information dating back to the late 1600's when our family came from England and changed their names from Farnham to Varnum.
It's kind of scary to think of ones own demise so early, not that 38 is young but...I'd rather have things the way I want them and I can't do that unless I plan it out myself.

This book sounds quite interesting, particularly the article. I had thought I might want to have a career as an historian or a librarian...a job where you would never stop learning...but, ah, I didn't pursue secondary education. Even though I'm happy in my job, I think I would have been much more so if I could immerse myself in the study of history.

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redelf In reply to funygirl38 [2006-06-23 13:51:08 +0000 UTC]

I didnt start studying history as a real student until after I got divorced and then only after I married my second husband (we have been married 7 years this Halloween) I was a stay home mom before that, for 10 years. But the divorce made me realize that I wanted something more, especially with all my children in school. I am going to be 37 this year (ouch! did I write that?) So its never too late! I love it with a passion...the only thing I dont like giving papers in front of people!! What is your job now?

My mother has done a little family research and a sister on my fathers side has done some as well. I love genealogy...its so fasinating! Especially when you learn about name changes and things of that nature! I am still trying to find out more about my exhusbands family (we are still good friends) His last name is Boydte but the only people I have ever found with that name are his immediate family! I even checked SS records but only find his father and Aunt...no other Boydtes! His mother once told me before she passed that Boydte was a made up name....Its a mystery! Which is one of the best things about being a historian I think...you get to play detective!

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funygirl38 In reply to redelf [2006-06-26 01:38:26 +0000 UTC]

Often life changing events prompt a revelation of some sorts, it's good you've turned yours into your own good fortune. I make angiographic heart catheters for a living, been doing so for over eleven years. I like the people I work with most of the time and I like the job I do. I would rather be known for my photos and my writing but I'm content for now.

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funygirl38 In reply to Raven-Child [2005-05-10 01:26:10 +0000 UTC]

Ah the one on the ground....hmmmm. I'll see what I can do then..

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funygirl38 In reply to cossayuna [2005-05-10 00:29:03 +0000 UTC]

Why thank you so much! I try to give a little background to my photos. I know that it's rather remote here and I'm also quite proud of the area and its history.

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funygirl38 In reply to Spidergirl79 [2005-05-09 02:45:45 +0000 UTC]

That particular letter you're seeing is a Saxon letter known as Eth. You might enjoy reading a more thorough explanation here [link] . Thanks so much as well, I love to walk through old cemeteries.

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Spidergirl79 In reply to funygirl38 [2005-05-09 02:53:03 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou for the link, Ive always wondereed about that. (Ive seen old writing similar to that before) Old cemetaries are definitly interesting. Full of history.

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funygirl38 In reply to Spidergirl79 [2005-05-10 00:34:55 +0000 UTC]

You're quite welcome. I had forgotten a little of the why and wherefore of the letters and the article seemed to describe it quite well. I had quite a time explaining it to my co-workers today...lotsa laughs!

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