Unmarked Graves

[frances]

Have been looking at an OPR death for Janet Baillie , spouse of Thomas Kirk. It states that Janet is buried "East of Gordons BPl in the Canongate churchyard.(1781)

Does this mean that Janet is in an unmarked grave ?, how common a practice was this in the 18th century ?

Frances

[AndrewP]

Hi Frances,

I don't think it necessarily means the grave is unmarked, but is located near to Gordon's burial place. Is Gordon a family member, or is it the Gordon family plot (possibly a prominent headstone or mausoleum)?

If it is an unmarked grave, I can think of two possibilities:

• burial in common ground - a so-called pauper's burial
• a paid-for plot, but the family couldn't afford a headstone to mark the plot

It could be worth a visit to Canongate Churchyard. It may be worthwhile going there via the Central Library or SGS Library where you could see the books of MI(s) for this churchyard. That would give you an idea of which part of the churchyard you should be heading for. If there is no headstone for your ancestor, then hopefully the Gordon headstone still exists.

Wikipedia lists many of the weel-kent names buried there. The only Gordons mentioned there died after your ancestor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canongate_Kirkyard

All the best,

AndrewP

[frances]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the advice.

Frances

[Russell]

Hi Frances
Just to add to Andrew's comments. I was looking for a similarly identified grave in the South Leith Calton burial ground and it too was unmarked but close by a prominent headstone which still exists. The owners or keepers of the many graveyards my wife and I have visited kept no written records of whether a headstone or marker had been placed on the grave. There is a logic in this since plots were sold to a family and became their property and responsibility with ownership passing to the next of kin or a named new owner with ownership being proven by possession of the bill of sale papers.

Russell
PS On a visit to my g-grandparents grave in Piershill cemetery we were informed that we were due to pay £25 yearly for the upkeep. Since no family member had visited in many years we beat a hasty retreat.

[frances]

Thanks Russell.

Frances