

This ebook was transcribed by Les Bowler.





                         GLEANINGS IN GRAVEYARDS:


                             A COLLECTION OF

                            CURIOUS EPITAPHS.

                                * * * * *

                      COLLATED, COMPILED, AND EDITED
                                    BY
                         HORATIO EDWARD NORFOLK,

               HONORARY SECRETARY TO THE CHELSEA ATHENAEUM.

                                * * * * *

                                * * * * *

                            _SECOND EDITION_.

                                * * * * *

                                * * * * *

                                 London:
                   JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE.
                                  1861.

                                * * * * *

                                  LONDON
                          PRINTED BY P. PICKTON,
                    PERRY'S PLACE, 29, OXFORD STREET.

                                * * * * *

                                    TO
                    ROBERT HUNT, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.S.
                 H.M. KEEPER OF MINING RECORDS, ETC. ETC.

                            THIS LITTLE VOLUME

                               IS INSCRIBED

                      WITH EVERY FEELING OF RESPECT

                     AS A SMALL TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE

                        FOR MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS

                              AT HIS HANDS,

                                    BY

                                                               THE EDITOR.




CONTENTS.

                               PAGE
EPITAPHS IN ENGLAND               1
      WALES                     107
      SCOTLAND                  111
MISCELLANEOUS                   123

PREFACE.


                         (TO THE FIRST EDITION.)

Although this country may be behind many others in the poetic or classic
character of its monumental inscriptions, it is certainly not so in the
production of Epitaphs of a curious and absurd character.  Whether it is
that the British are, as a nation, witty and humorous, and that they are
desirous that their peculiarities should be recorded even in the
sanctuaries of their dead, or that they consider _true_ records of the
departed to be of little or no value, has yet to be shown.  It is,
however, remarkable that if we refer to the epitaphial records of other
nations, we find that they are, as a rule, noted for their beauty,
elegance, or truth, whereas of the many graveyards in Great Britain there
is scarcely one that does not afford examples of humourous effusions.

The Egyptians, although they do not furnish us with many epitaphs worthy
of note, do not seem to have devoted themselves to the production of
frivolous inscriptions, but contented themselves with inscribing on their
sarcophagi and coffins, the name, descent, and functions of the departed.

The Greeks (as Mr. Pettigrew remarks in his _Chronicles of the Tombs_),
"wrote their epitaphs in elegiac verse, and afterwards in prose, and the
collections published by various hands are well known to, and duly
appreciated by, scholars."

The Roman tombs also afford us an example worthy of imitation, in the
purity and simplicity of their inscriptions.  They usually began with D.
M. (Diis Manibus), followed by the name, office, and age of the deceased,
and a conclusion, which informed the reader by whom or through what means
the inscription was erected.

Whether the Saxons or the Danes used monumental inscriptions, either in
their own or in the Latin tongue, has been doubted.  The few which we
have for people of the Saxon times, are probably the compositions of a
later date.  Three or four small slabs, however, bearing crosses and some
early British female names, supposed to be those of nuns, were dug up
some years ago at Hartlepool.

We are informed also, by the above quoted author, that "in this country,
in early times, were inscriptions prohibited to be engraven on any tombs
but those belonging to persons distinguished either by their high
position, as governors of the kingdom or as military commanders, or
remarkable for their wisdom and virtues."  Since this prohibition has
been removed, however, no time seems to have been lost in showing the
necessity for, and the advantage of, such regulation.

The following pages are intended to convey some idea, to those who have
not the opportunity to search our churchyards for themselves, of the
extent to which the practice has been carried of inscribing tombstones
with verses remarkable either for their quaintness, or their rude
attempts at humour.

It has been thought advisable to intersperse with the curious Epitaphs a
few inscriptions, more elegant in their composition, and more
praiseworthy in their purport.

The Miscellaneous are for the most part authentic, and so frequently
placed on gravestones, that to prevent repetition it has been thought
best to arrange them in a chapter by themselves.

It is hoped, that while this collection of curious Epitaphs may afford
amusement to all, that it will not prove offensive to