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Small makers within a plot?

Small makers within a plot?

Posted: 31 May 2014 11:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question, if not let me know so I can repost. Today I was searching out my ancestors in a family plot and came across 3 small headstones next to the main monument. I could make out initials on two of the stones, they were the same initials of 2 of the families children, the third I could not make out. But weird thing is, the one guy is buried in another cemetery, the other daughter was buried with her husband in the same plot with another stone. They did have 2 more children and several grandchildren so the 3rd marker could be anyone. I know of no other children that died young or anything like that. What do these small markers mean? Are they more like a "reservation" thing, as in holding their place to be buried there? Or a way of honoring the dead family members who are buried somewhere else? I've never come across this before where I knew the person was not buried there. Anyone have any suggestions about this practice? The deaths were all in the mid 1800's. Thanks!!!

Re: Small makers within a plot?

Posted: 18 Jun 2014 3:06PM GMT
Classification: Cemetery
I also have found these in the farmington, il cem... I asked the care taker and he could not tell me but another cem... Told me that it might be a new born child that did not make it and the child is not there but other things where done with the body's. sorry to say.
hope this helps you..

Re: Small makers within a plot?

Posted: 31 Jul 2014 3:54PM GMT
Classification: Query
If these are about 4" x 6" they would be footstones. Some parts of the country do not have any footstones. While in other areas they were only used for a certain time frame. If they are footstones then they will be at the bottom and there might be a marker at the top with the information we are used to seeing. Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footstone

Re: Small makers within a plot?

Posted: 2 Aug 2014 12:33PM GMT
Classification: Query
It sounds like these are footstones. However they could also be cenotaphs. Many times plot owners wanted their family buried with them, or notation of their family somewhere on their plot. A cenotaph is where there is a stone but no body - because the body is buried elsewhere. You would be best to contact the cemetery association and they would probably give you more information on who exactly is buried in that plot.

Re: Small makers within a plot?

Posted: 7 May 2015 2:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi There, I have never come across this either; however, the mention of footstones or cenotaphs is interesting....&, if I were you, I'd do some research on both topics. As to the mention of doing other things with the bodies of the deceased, I'm not sure what that comment means. Here, in Canada, cremation is quite common now. Religious people prefer to be buried in a (pre-chosen) coffin, just in case what's written in Revelations happens. Funerals (& the after the funeral reception or wake) are fast becoming a thing of the past too, b/c most ppl. are working 1 or 2 jobs to make ends meet OR b/c they're secretly sprinkling the ashes in an undisclosed location. And, this means that tombstones are also becoming 'old fashioned' as well...so ppl. who are researching their family will not have that resource available. Other than cremation, I'm totally at a loss as to what else might have happened to the corpse...unless this is a reference to mass graves, such as the one they found King Richard III in recently or the ones that must have been used during the Black Plague, from 1300 to abt. 1600...since 1/3 of the total population of Europe perished. Anyhow, if you like, please don't hesitate to contact me by email either here or on an alternate email site. Hope to hear from you soon as to how or what your research turns up. Regards, Arlene, Wpg., MB, Canada

Re: Small makers within a plot?

Posted: 23 Jun 2015 11:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 23 Jun 2015 11:21PM GMT
Many active cemeteries in the USA have places set aside to mount plaques or stones as cenotaphs and to honor of people who were cremated and scattered elsewhere. Probably as many families purchase these as buy standard markers for grave sites.
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