James Hannay's
Tombstone Inscriptions
Although
there was a chill in the air, it was a beautiful afternoon to be
outdoors. Mum suggested we take a walk through the cemetery. No lessons
meant there was no hurry so we took our time and looked at the symbols
carved on the tombstones.
She explained that people often put the "hands clasped" symbol with the
meaning of: farewell to a loved one, or hope of meeting in eternity, or
everlasting union of husband and wife. We saw several of these on the
white marble slabs.
On the top of the hill was a small wooden marker that looked as though
it had been hand carved. It showed the symbol for “trinity” and two “upside down hearts”. This puzzled us
until Mum told us this represented the hearts in grief of the two
parents.
We were really quite surprised that we had not noticed all the carvings
until she pointed out the details.
I hurried to look at an iron tombstone but was disappointed when I was
unable to read the writing that had been placed under the glass
covering.
Next we spotted a broken white slab on the ground. It was gradually
being overgrown with moss and in the process of disappearing into the
earth.
Many grave markers have become broken or unreadable over the years,
thus the New Brunswick Reports on
Burying Grounds transcribed in 1908 by James Hannay, and later
microfilmed, is a great source for the family researcher.
Mr. Hannay recorded all the data on the grave markers which sometimes
gave family relationships and place of birth. He also included the
location of the cemetery and some historical facts of not only the
cemetery or settlement but of the church which was probably responsible
for establishing the burial ground.
The preceding Information describing the reel contents of Hannay's 1908
Report has been paraphrased from The Loyalist Collection Inventory by
Kathryn Hilder The microfilm reel may be viewed in The Loyalist
Collection at the Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick
in Fredericton, and the Archives & Research Library of the New
Brunswick Museum in Saint John.
James Hannay, New Brunswick Reports on Burying Grounds, 1908, was
received in installments and each has its own page numbering system.
There are indexes for a number of the cemeteries on the reel but,
unfortunately, the index of a particular cemetery is not always found
with the cemetery. Thirty-four cemeteries were recorded in nine New
Brunswick locations/areas, which include: Fredericton, Kingsclear, New
Maryland, Kings County (Oak Point and Kingston), Oromocto, Hampstead,
Lincoln, St. Andrews and Saint John. The Reports appear to be actual
transcriptions of tombstones. In some cases, very few details of a
person's life are recorded, perhaps only the name and date of death;
but in many recordings, the date and place of both birth and death are
given, as well as details of family relationships. In the case of a
prominent individual or a person who held public office, additional
information is included on the stone.
James Hannay has supplied background information on each cemetery, and
this precedes the start of the transcriptions. The information usually
includes the geographical location of the cemetery and frequently the
size, when it was first opened, and often a brief history of the
settlement or church where it is located, including the founding
families, which were usually Loyalist.
Another source of cemetery transcriptions can be found in the early
issues of Acadiensis, which
includes Epitaphs of the Church of England Graveyard, Kingston and
Epitaphs from the Old Burying Grounds in St. Andrews.
More recently, members of the New Brunswick Genealogical Society have
recorded over nine hundred cemeteries and these transcriptions can be
accessed through the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick web site
at www.archives.gnb.ca
Although time, weather, and air pollution have taken their toll on many
burial markers, thanks to the efforts of individuals such as James
Hannay and others, many epitaphs that would have disappeared can still
be read in transcribed form, in microfilm, and on the world wide
web.
Query 1517
Donovan - Armour: Rachel
Mary Donovan, born 23, May 1903 in Cape Breton married in Marlborough,
Massachusetts in 1927 to Charles Arthur Armour, who was probably born
in New Brunswick. Any information on this line would be appreciated.
E-mail brucegouthro@ns.sympatico.ca
Query 1518
Merritt: I am 11th
Generation of the New Brunswick Merritt family. I am looking to find
more information on Israel Merritt who appears to have been granted
Crown Land in several counties between the years of 1868-1885. I
think he was born in 1832 and died around 1892.
CHARLES VILLEMAIRE
211 Williams Road, Winter Springs
FL, 32708, USA
E-mail chasville@earthlink.net
Query 1519
Hatfield - Hughson - Urquhart:
I am seeking the birthplace of James Hatfield who was born 6 Apr 1811,
and died 11 Mar 1876, the son of Uriah Drake Hatfield and Mary Ann
"Nancy" Hughson. He was married to Mercy White Urquhart. Any
information about the family would be a great help.
DORIS HATFIELD JENSEN
!640 Morris Ave RR#1
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada, K9J
6X2
E-mail bjensen@lincsat.com
