Thursday, December 1, 2011

Intriguing names in the Necropolis: Hercules and Achilles

Sometimes I find myself drawn to tombstones, not only because of their beauty, but because of the names which they bear.  Here are a couple of examples from Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, namely Hercules Ellis and Achilles Daunt:

Hercules Ellis
The stone reads:

Here lieth all that was mortal
of
Hercules Ellis
of
83 Stephens Green
"The well beloved and devoted son
of
Sarah and Nicholas Ellis"
Whose spirit passed to God
On the 29th of August 1879.

Achilles Daunt, D.D., 1832-1878
The stone reads (in part):

Erected
By the members of his family
In Memory Of
ACHILLES DAUNT D.D.
DEAN OF CORK
Born At Kinsale August 23rd 1832

Click on the links below for biographical information about the interred:
Achilles Daunt
Hercules Ellis
Click on photos to view larger version.
Copyright© J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The history of a life: Captain James Vaughan 1829-1873


The epitaph on this beautiful stone tells the story of almost the entire life of James Vaughan, from the time he joined the navy at the age of 12 until his death at the age of 44.


The stone reads:

Sacred
To The Memory Of
Captain James Vaughan R.N_C.B.,
Who depart this life 29th April 1873 Aged 44 years
He entered the Royal Navy in the year 1841 on board H.M.S. Scout
and was present at the operations on the River Plate.
As Lieutenant he served in the Baltic and Black seas during the years 18?4 - ?
and in the latter on board H.M.S. Britannia took part in the attack on the
Batteries of Sebastopol.
In 1857 he joined H.M.S. Shannon Captain Sir William Peel V.C._K.C.B. as senior
lieutenant and proceeded to India. During the Mutiny he served as second in
command of the naval brigade under that officer and on his death from small pox
assumed the sole command. He advanced to the Relief of Lucknow and there
distinguished himself by his coolness and daring in taking his guns with a few yards
of the walls and breaching them for the storming party.
For his services with the brigade he was promoted to the rank of commander, was
awarded the Companionship of the Bath, and on his arrival in England was further
advanced to the rank of captain.
As well as being a thorough sailor, he was an accomplished and gallant officer,
an affectionate and devoted husband, a warm and sincere friend, and died beloved
and regretted by all who knew him.
This monument is erected by his widow,
Margaret Vaughan


Click on photographs to view larger version.
All photographs Copyright©J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Little Girl Lost, Deansgrange, Blackrock, Ireland


The stone reads:

In Loving Memory Of
Mary Olive (Olif) Hamilton Hardy
Only Child of Major W. A. & Emily G. Hardy
Died on the 13th Jan. 1913
Aged 12 Years

“That (Her) Rock was Christ”
I. Cor. X. 4.
“So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord”
1 Thess. IV. 17


Click on photographs to view larger version.
All Photographs Copyright© J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: 'Remember me when I am gone away...'

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

The lines of poet Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' are very meaningful to me because I recited the poem at the interment of my own father. I like to keep the poem in mind when I am walking among the tombs of those who have gone before us. It serves as a good reminder to not only observe and record what we see, but to remember that those interred were once real flesh and blood individuals with hopes and dreams, not so different from our own, who want to be remembered.

Click on photographs to view larger version.
All photographs Copyright© J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Captain Holland Lecky McGhee: 20 January 1844


Offering little information about him this teetering stone reads:

Captain Holland Lecky McGhee
He fell asleep looking unto Jesus
as all his Salvation
on the 20th day of January 1844
in the 45th year of his Age.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Mystery Monday: Widow of Francis Mills

Her maiden name is unrecorded; her forename will soon be dust, but we are told Anne was the Widow of Francis Mills.  As is often the case in this period, Anne is remembered by virtue of her connection to her husband.

The stone reads:

In Memory of
Anne
Widow of Francis Mills
Died
13 February
1869,
Aged
80 Years

Click on photographs to view larger version.
All photographs Copyright© J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: The Anchor of the Family

The stone reads:

Erected by
Kate Barry
In Loving Memory of Her Husband
George David Barry
Late of William Street, Limerick
Who Died 26th November 1887 Aged 46


Click on photograph to view larger version.
Copyright© J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: A family, one of many: Glasnevin



The stone reads:

Erected by
Mr. Henry Chapman
of Great Brunswick Street
in memory of his beloved Daughter
Elizabeth
who departed this life 31st May 1834
Aged 1 year
Also his Daughter Maria who died 8th Dec. 1838
In the 4th year of her age
Her also the remains of his beloved Wife Sarah
who departed this life the 15th of December 1840
Aged 42 Years.
Here also lie the remains of the above named
Henry Chapman who died October the 25th, 1846
Aged 64 years.


Click on photographs to view larger version.
All photographs Copyright© J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: In the shadows and out: More Angels





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All photographs Copyright© J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Eternal Flame


I found this tombstone particularly compelling not only because of its shape, but also because of the flame of stone which emanates from the urn which sits atop the stone. An 'eternal' flame, cast in stone, never to be extinguished.

The inscription reads:

Erected by
Jonathan Bagnall
of Rathmines
In Memory of His beloved Wife
Mary
Who departed this life
18th March 1844
Aged 72 years.
Jonathan Bagnall Esq.
Died 26th May 1852
Aged 86 years.
Matilda their daughter
died 29th October 1904



Click on photographs to view larger version.
All photographs Copyright©J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

The Six Winged Cherub: Glasnevin Cemetery


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All photographs Copyright ©J.Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

For an explanation of the significance of the six wings see: The Cherub With Six Wings

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Husbands and Wives




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All photographs ©Copyright J. Geraghty-Gorman 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: In The Vault







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All Photographs ©Copyright J. Geraghty-Gorman 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Colonel Augustus Stavely Murray: Chief Paymaster for all of Ireland



In Memoriam
COLONEL AUGUSTUS STAVELY MURRAY
Chief Paymaster for Ireland
died 12th December 1891
aged 57

"I am the resurrection and the life".
St. John XI.25


Click on photos to view larger version.
All Photographs ©Copyright J. Geraghty-Gorman 2011. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

'Over Thy Dead Body' is on Cyndi's List!


A wonderful surprise last evening when I discovered that Cyndi has included this blog in the Locality Specific section of the Cemeteries List of Cyndi's List, under 'O' for 'Over Thy Dead Body'. Amazing!

Thank You to wonderful Cyndi for including us. Stop by and have a look at Cyndi's List and all of the new updates she has added. Cyndi must never sleep. Thank you, thank you Cyndi.

Cheers,

Jennifer

Wordless Wednesday: Fallen Angel


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©Copyright J. Geraghty-Gorman 2011.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Bustard Family Mausoleum, 1882: Mount Jerome Cemetery Dublin

In context: The Bustard Mausoleum is second from left


Cameo of the family Patriarch


Coat of Arms

*Click on photographs to view larger version.
All photographs ©Copyright J. Geraghty-Gorman 2011
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