Genealogy Chat

Hello PigletsPal
You're right about running out of space. Just disappointed not to have found him.
Jane

Hello Maggie
I like the story about your gg grandfather!

Owning the plot for 30 years seems to tie in with what Shirley said about leases expiring.

I'm new at researching my family and so far have only been to one churchyard to look for a grave. Now it seems likely that even if I knew the exact location of my grandad's grave that someone else might have been buried there since.

Thanks everyone for the information
Jane

Also tried to find my grandad's first wife's grave, she died in 1924, and was buried in Southampton.
I had the row number AND grave number, and also knew that it was a flat grave.
I found the plot - but someone else was buried there.
In the 1960's the council decided that plots were only 'owned' for 30 years!
My grandad scrimped and saved on his docker's pay to not only pay for the plot, but also to put green glass chippings on that grave!!

My g g grandfather's headstone is now part of the path leading to the war memorial in Romsey Abbey!
It' along with other 'commoners' buried outside the Abbey were removed, but the clergy we left.
When i questioned one of the guides, she was insistant that, as a commoner he couldn't have possibly been buried there - he would be in the burial ground up the hill a mile outside Romsey.

She was a bit flummoxed when I told her that he died before the burial ground was established - so where would he have been buried?
Then I showed her his obituaries. He was so heavy they had trouble:
a) getting him out of the house (had to knock the wall down under the bedroom window and lower him down)
b) getting him the short (flat) distance to the Abbey - let alone a mile uphill!! They rolled his coffin along on tree trunks!

Oh - and all the obituaries stated that he was buried in the Abbey graveyard

That's terrible Shirley. I had heard of stones being removed if they were thought to be unsafe but I didn't know graves had leases.

As you say, thank goodness your parents never saw it, but sad for you.

Jane

Even those with headstones may no longer be traceable Mum & Dad lost their firstborn in 1930 aged 3 months . he was in a grave with 5 other children ,he as the first of five had a headstone as did the 3rd and 5th baby, ie two children had no commemoration on the grave.
About 4 years ago i went to the cemetery to look for grt grans grave who died in 1907 and was shown the unmarked plot were she was with 7 others ! decided to pay my respects to bro as hadn't been there for many years . we moved away in the 1960,s, and NO sign of his grave in the childrens section. Lots of the headstones had been removed and stacked to one side with the writing inwards so no way of identifying them. Spoke to the cemetery supervisor who said the leases had expired on the graves so the headstones removed for ease of mowing!!! my mum & dad would have been heartbroken , thank goodness they didnt know

Thanks for the information Inspector Green Pen

Just a bit disappointed after finally finding out where he was buried and then not being able to find an actual grave. At least I know it was quite normal.

Jane

Thanks George

That's interesting, at least I know he wasn't the only one! I don't think I would be able to do anything now though as I don't know the actual location of the grave. It might have been easier to locate if he had been in the local cemetery as I know they have full records.

Jane

I would say it was very common.

Many of my family were buried in a Yorkshire village churchyard, where in common with most others interred there, headstones were the exception, rather than the rule.

Not unusual in my experience, my maternal Grandparents died in 1938 and 1942, no headstone, until i erected one for them, some 30 years later.

George

Edit these were not churchyard burials if that makes any difference

Was it unusual in 1940s for someone to be buried without a headstone?

My grandfather died in 1946 and I've just found out where he was buried. Unfortunately I couldn't find his grave when I visited the church and have since contacted the secretary who checked the plans but couldn't find him. Apparently the original plans were destroyed some time ago and current plans only show visible headstones.

Now I'm wondering if perhaps there never was a headstone. I know the family weren't rich but I still expected to find some evidence.

Any ideas?
Thank you, Jane