Judy, thanks for the list. If you or others are ever in Va doing the cemetary thing, I recommend a day at Hollywood Cemetary in Richmond. Its a beautiful place, and abounds in history and cemetary art. I'm aware of only one Sandidge buried there: a son of Dudley Sandidge and Belinda Smith who is supposedly buried in the Confederate Section. Even so, a day at Hollywood is well worth the two hour drive from Amherst or Albemarle. ---------- From: judith murphy To: SANDIDGE-L Subject: Tombstone Carvings - their meanings Date: Saturday, March 28, 1998 11:51AM This was on the Newgen List -- doesn't appear to be copyrighted and thought it would be of interest to my "family" since spring is here and cemetery wandering will come to be soon (at least up north -- you southerners can gloat all you want for your year-round good weather to go there)./Judy M. >-----Original Message----- >From: DBaker3381 >Sent: Friday, March 27, 1998 8:18 PM >To: bfox@nightowl.net; NEWGEN-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [NEWGEN-L] Re: Meanings on Old Tombstone Carvings > >Old Tombstone Carvings: > >The term "Relict" on a tombstone means that the woman was a widow at >time of death, consort means that her husband survived her. > >"Cenotaph" engraved on a tombstone indicates an empty grave, with the stone erected in honor or memory of a person buried elsewhere - often erected in honor of a person lost at sea. > >Meanings of Carvings: > >Arches--- Victory in Death >Arrows--- Mortality >Bouquets/Flowers--- Condolences, grief, sorrow >Buds/Rosebud--- Morning of Life or Renewal of Life >Roses--- Brevity of earthly existence >Portals--- Passageway to eternal journey >Bugles--- Resurrection and the Military >Crossed Swords--- High-ranking military person >Flying Birds--- Flight of the Soul >Fruits--- Eternal plenty >Garlands --- Victory in death >Imps--- Mortality >Shells--- Pilgrimage of Life >Thistles--- Remembrance >Tombs--- Mortality >Trees--- Life >Trumpeters--- Heralds of the Resurrection >Willows--- Earthly Sorrow >Morning Glory--- Beginning of Life >Butterfly--- Short-lived; Early Death >Full-Blown Rose--- Prime of Life >Palm Branch--- Signifies Victory and Rejoicing >Ivy--- Friendship and Immortality >Laurel--- Fame or Victory >Oak Leaves & Acorn--- Maturity, Ripe Old Age >Weeping Willow--- Emblem of Sorrow >Corn--- Ripe Old Age >Sheaf of Wheat--- Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time >Poppy--- Sleep >Lamb--- Innocence >Dove--- Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, Purity >Cherub--- Angelic >Cross--- Emblem of Faith >Anchor/Ships--- Hope or Seafaring profession >Broken Ring--- Family Circle Severed >Broken Column--- Loss of Head of Family >Torch Inverted--- Life Extinct >Urn with Blaze --- Undying Friendship >Harp--- Praise to the Maker >Handshakes--- Farewell >Hearts--- Soul in Bliss or Love of Christ >Horns--- The Resurrection >Hourglass--- Swiftness of Time >Open Book/Bible--- Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc. >Lily or Lily of Valley--- Emblem of Innocence and Purity >Tree Stump w/Ivy--- Head of Family; Immortality >Urn with /Wreath or Crepe-- Mourning >Stars & Stripes Around Eagle--- Eternal Vigilance, Liberty >Hourglass w/Wings of Time--- Time Flying; Short Life >Candle being Snuffed--- Time, mortality >Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts--- Mortality >Hand of God Chopping-- Sudden Death >Winged Effigies--- Flight of the Soul >