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historic cemetery symbols

Para Mysteries: Mortsafes & Caged Graves

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FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide:

Would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, click the image below:

Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week

This week’s Historic Cemetery Symbol post is about mortsafes and Resurrectionists. The topic was inspired by my friend, Teal Gray, when she told me about the mysterious Caged Graves of Catawassa.

In fact, Teal and I will be discussing everything in this post during a one-hour radio show, as you can see in the graphic below: 

Para Mysteries is a new weekly radio show. Tune in... if you dare!
Para Mysteries is a new weekly radio show. Tune in… if you dare!

 

Historic Cemeteries: Who were the Resurrectionists?

These days, people often make arrangements to donate their body to science after they pass away. We accept the fact that medical students need cadavers to learn about human anatomy. But this was not always the case.

Up until the mid-1800’s, the only way for medical students to get practice cadavers was to steal them from graveyards!

As a result, professional body snatchers, called Resurrectionists, sold stolen cadavers to anatomists, hospitals and universities.

To discourage Resurrectionists, the UK passed a law in 1752 called the Murder Act, which allowed medical researchers to use the bodies of executed criminals for educational dissection.

You’d think this would meet the demand of scientists for study cadavers, but it did not! So despite these legal concessions, Resurrectionists were still in high demand.

What are Mortsafes?

As you can imagine, no one wanted the body of their beloved family members snatched away by Resurrectionists. To combat this, elaborate metal cages, called mortsafes, were placed over graves by those who could afford them.

Such mortsafes first appeared in Scotland in the early 1800’s. Why Scotland? Because Edinburgh featured several prominent medical universities.

Mortsafes were often rented by the family from either the church or the cemetery for a certain period of time, after which the cage would be removed and used by another grieving family. Since mortsafes were not meant to be permanent structures, very few remain standing today. Medical students need fresh cadavers for their studies, so the Resurrectionists only targeted the newly buried.

After 6 weeks or so, a mortsafe could be removed from the grave. That way, the family could then tend the grass and keep the headstone clean without a heavy metal cage getting in the way.

Warburton Anatomy Act

Finally, in 1830 the UK passed the Warburton Anatomy Act. This law added even more provisions for legally obtaining medical cadavers, such as using suicide victims and unclaimed or unidentified bodies. Many of these came from prisons and workhouses, and apparently this provided enough bodies to meet the demand. This legislation effectively put an end to the need for mortsafes and the grisly practice of body snatching for medical students.

Mortsafes in the USA?

From my research so far, it does not appear that mortsafes were used much, if at all, in the USA. There certainly were Resurrectionists here, however, and people did worry about body snatching, but it does not seem to have been as big of a problem in America as it was in England and Scotland in the 1800’s.

The closest I’ve seen to American mortsafes are drawings for elaborate burglar-proof coffins and mausoleums. Some of these patented coffins use explosives to deter Resurrectionists!

Caged Graves of Catawassa

So when my friend and radio show co-host Teal Gray told me about two graves in Pennsylvania that feature elaborate metal cages on top of them, I was very curious. As I said earlier, mortsafes were not mean to be permanent structures, so it’s odd that these graves still have them.

In fact, in this particular case, some speculate that the metal cages were placed there to keep dead inside the graves rather than to keep the living out!

I can hardly wait to hear all the details Teal Gray has to share with us about this on our upcoming show! (You can tune in live or catch the replay by visiting this link: Para Mysteries with Teal Gray Worldwide Radio)

These mysterious “hooded graves,” as locals call them, have even inspired a historical novel by Dianne K. Salerno called The Caged Graves. (Looks like an interesting book!)

Tune in live or catch the replay!
Tune in live or catch the replay!

Para Mysteries Show

Teal Gray will be sharing her research into the Caged Graves of Catawassa, Pennsylvania on a brand new weekly radio show we are calling Para Mysteries. Para Mysteries is a weekly one-hour show where Teal and I will have fun sharing the strange tidbits we run into during our travel and research.

FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide:

Would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, click the image below:

As you probably guessed, I will be discussing mortsafes and Resurrectionists on the show! To learn more about mortsafes and see photos of some of the few remaining, check out the link below:

Greyfriars Cemetery Mortsafes

Daniel Jones: Aurora Alien Encounter

Our first guest for this new Para Mysteries show is Daniel Jones of VORTEXAS. Daniel will tell us about the exciting event he organized called the Aurora Alien Encounter, a one-day expo commemorating the April 17, 1897 UFO crash in Aurora, Texas, after which an alien body was recovered and buried in the local cemetery.

Exciting Texas UFO Conference April 16, 2016
Exciting Texas UFO Conference April 16, 2016

Exciting UFO Conference in Texas

If you’re fascinated by bizarre history and/or UFOs, you won’t want to miss this conference on Saturday, April 16, 2016. It takes places at the MD Resort in Aurora, Texas and includes featured speakers, lunch, vendors, a documentary, and shuttle tours to the original crash and burial sites!

Keynote speaker: Travis Walton

The keynote speaker for the Aurora Alien Encounter is none other than Travis Walton. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, then check out the movie “Fire in the Sky.” This major motion picture was based on Travis Walton’s UFO abduction! There is also a book about the Walton’s terrifying UFO experience that is also called, Fire in the Sky.

I’m speaking, too!

I’m super thrilled and honored to be speaking at the Aurora Alien Encounter! Other speakers include Jim Marrs, who is truly an expert on the Aurora UFO incident, as well as Nick Redfern, Noe Torres, Ken Cherry and other special guests (TBA)!

Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism:

I am currently writing a field guide to historic cemetery symbolism. Each week, I share a small snippet from my upcoming book. It’s my goal to create a handy-dandy pocket guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years.

Which symbols are you curious about?

Let me know in the comments if there is a certain cemetery symbol that you are curious about. Also, if you would like to know when the cemetery symbolism guide is available for purchase, scroll down and sign up for my newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you!

Want to read more like this?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide:
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places:
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history:
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


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Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, Cemeteries & Symbolism, Haunted Travel, Historic Cemeteries, Teal Gray Worldwide Radio, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, cemetery, cemetery symbols, fire in the sky, graveyard, graveyard symbols, historic, historic cemetery symbols, jim marrs, nick redfern, q1, speaker, symbols, travis walton, Tui Snider, Tui Snider photographer, UFO

Historic Cemetery Symbols: Why Are These Men Chained Together in Death?

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Strange and unusual historic grave in Jefferson, Texas

Here’s a grave marker that is quite strange and unique. In fact, I’ve never come across a similar arrangement! The following is an adapted excerpt from my book of historic cemetery tales called 6 Feet Under Texas.  (And to learn more about Understanding Cemetery Symbols, check out my book.)

Unique grave marker in Jefferson, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Unique grave marker in Jefferson, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

East Texas Frenemies

Although they lived roughly 80 years before the word was coined, it’s hard to think of a better example for the word “frenemy” than the lives of Jesse Robinson and Bill Rose.

The two men lived in the east Texas town of Jefferson, where Bill Rose ran a blacksmith shop. As for Jesse Robinson, although he claimed to be a lawman and detective, it’s not quite clear how he actually earned a living.

Not only were both men known criminals and drunkards, but each had done time for murder, and were often seen around town together. In 1871, their rough and tumble reputation was enough to cause the local paper to refer to Jesse Robinson and Bill Rose as “dangerous and bad men, either drunk or sober.”

Deadly “chain” of events

According to Angels of Oakwood: Jefferson’s Historic Cemetery by Mitchel Whitington, on April 4, 1871, Robinson bumped into Rose in downtown Jefferson, Texas. Robinson offered to buy Rose a drink, but his friend turned him down. In fact, it was a bit more than just a simple “no.” Rose told Robinson that he was giving up whiskey entirely in an attempt to improve his character.

Perhaps Robinson was having a bad day, and maybe he was worried about losing a valuable drinking buddy. In any case, Rose’s refusal pissed Robinson off so much that he chased after him, screaming and yelling about how he was going to kill him.

All over a drink!

Double Homicide in Jefferson, Texas

The incident must have shaken Rose up, because the blacksmith went home and grabbed a gun before returning to his shop. Moments later, Robinson dropped by brandishing a six-shooter, eager to follow through on his death threat.

Seeing that his friend was in no mood to banter, the blacksmith fired a single shot at Robinson. As he ran towards the back door, Rose stopped him with a shot to the leg. As Robinson writhed on the floor in agony, Rose continued shooting his buddy at close range – six shots in all.

Shortly after murdering his pal, Rose staggered out of the blacksmith shop and into the street. As he began coughing up blood, he discovered a bullet wound in his chest and realized that he, too, had been shot. A passerby allegedly heard him mutter, “That rascal has killed me!” before Rose keeled over. He was carried home, but died shortly after.

Unique grave marker in Jefferson, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Unique grave marker in Jefferson, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Cemetery Symbols: Chains

Jesse Robinson and Bill Rose were laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery in Jefferson, Texas. Not only were they buried side by side, but according to local lore, their coffins are chained together, too! Of course, whether that is true or not is impossible to tell from a casual visit to this historic graveyard.

However, as you see from the photos I’ve shared in this article, instead of a headstone, each man has a cast iron post at his grave, with a chain connecting the two. The posts are actually rather fancy; each was crafted to resemble a thick branch with ivy climbing up the sides.

Want to keep up with me? Also, would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, sign up for my newsletter by clicking the image below:

I’ve written about the symbolic meaning of Ivy before which you can read here. As for the symbolic meaning of chains, a 3-link chain often refers to the Odd Fellows fraternal order.

In addition, I have also heard that when an actual chain is used to mark a grave it may mean that the deceased what a slave, and that each link of the chain represents a year spent in slavery! (See example here: Grave Symbolism Chains)

What are your thoughts regarding the symbology here?

Locals I spoke to claim this heavy chain in Jefferson’s historic Oakwood Cemetery represents the strong connection between Jesse Robinson and Bill Rose. After all, not only did they live similar lives, but they died by each other’s hands. (I wonder if the townspeople were inspired by the infamous chains that Jacob Marley was cursed with in Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol?)

And that’s it! No headstone, no marker, no other item at all to label the place where these two ruffians are buried or to explain the deadly chain of events that sent them there!

Mitchel Whitington at History, Haunts & Legends in Jefferson, TX (photo by Tui Snider)
Mitchel Whitington at History, Haunts & Legends in Jefferson, TX (photo by Tui Snider)

Read more about this historic graveyards

For this week’s post, I used Angels of Oakwood: Jefferson’s Historic Cemetery  as my main source. It’s a wonderful book by Mitchel Whitington, who is a prolific author and historian who lives in Jefferson, Texas.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mitchel at the History, Haunts & Legends Paranormal Conference in Jefferson, Texas. Aside from being well-versed in local lore, Mitchel is a lot of fun. I highly recommend his books!

Read more about Jefferson, Texas

Jefferson, Texas is a picturesque town chock full of fascinating history and haunted lore. To read more about fun things to see and do in Jefferson, check out these posts:

Here’s a photo essay I wrote called: Jefferson, Texas: Simple Pleasures, Ghosts, & Bigfoot in the Little Easy.

The river plays such a big part in Jefferson’s history, that it’s well worth taking a ride on the Turning Basin Riverboat Tour.

For a luxurious stay in the heart of town, check out: My Relaxing Getaway at the Black Swan B&B

To be swept up in history and elegance, check out: I Felt Like Scarlet O’Hara at the Excelsior House Hotel 

Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism:

I recently wrote a field guide to historic cemetery symbolism. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s my goal to create a handy-dandy pocket guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years. I hope you enjoy it!

Which symbols are you curious about?

Let me know in the comments if there is a certain symbol that you are curious about. Also, if you would like to know when the cemetery symbolism guide is available for purchase, scroll down and sign up for my weekly newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you!white-line-separator

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Filed Under: Cemeteries & Symbolism, Historic Cemeteries, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: angels of oakwood, cemetery, east Texas, grave, graveyard, historic cemetery symbols, jefferson, mitchel whitington, odd fellows, q1, slavery, Texas, xmas

Historic Cemetery Symbols: What do Pine Needles & Pine Cones Represent?

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Historic Cemetery Symbols

While it’s common for evergreen trees to be planted in historic graveyards, pine needles and pine cones are not symbols I see engraved on headstones as often as other trees – such as the oak tree.

Pine cones on a historic cemetery grave marker. (photo by Tui Snider)
Pine cones on a historic cemetery grave marker. (photo by Tui Snider)

Pine trees: Immortality

While it’s true that many coffins have been made from pine, this had more to do with practicality than symbolism. Where pine trees were widely available, they were often used to make coffins.

However, as a symbol (much like other evergreens, including holly, ivy, and yew) pine trees are associated with immortality and eternal life. Rather than lose their leaves each fall, pine trees stay green all year long, and in this way they symbolize the eternal nature of the soul. As for the pine cone, like corn, it may also be considered a fertility symbol because it holds the seeds for the plant.

The pine cones in the photo I shared on today’s post are perfectly centered in the middle of a headstone for a man and wife. What does it mean, exactly?  Most likely, the 3 pine cones are a symbol for the holy trinity. However, since pine cones may also be a fertility symbol, there is a slight chance that they mean the couple had 3 children.

That’s part of the fun of learning graveyard symbols; rather than tell you the whole story, they often point you in the direction you need to go to learn more through your own research!

My book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols

If you enjoy historic cemeteries, you may like to read my book Understanding Cemetery Symbols It’s a handy-dandy guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years.

Hey, you! Want to keep up with me?

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Filed Under: Cemeteries & Symbolism, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, cemetery, cemetery symbols, graveyard, graveyard symbols, historic, historic cemetery symbols, Oct15, symbols, Tui Snider, Tui Snider photographer, xmas

Historic Cemetery Symbols: What do Daffodils Represent?

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Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week

Last week’s post was about the symbolic meaning of lambs, which are quite a common sight in historic cemeteries. This week, however, I wanted to talk about the symbolism of something less commonly seen on cemetery headstones: Daffodils.

Daffodil engraved on a historic cemetery headstone (photo by Tui Snider)
Daffodil engraved on a historic cemetery headstone (photo by Tui Snider)

What do Daffodils symbolize?

Just because it’s a bit rare on headstones, doesn’t mean this gorgeous blossom lacks symbolic meaning. Since they are some of the first flowers to bloom each spring, daffodils are the birth flower for those, like me, who were born in March. In fact, spring has many symbolic associations, such as new life, innocence, and young love.
The botanical name for daffodils is Narcissus, which may bring to mind the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus, the young man who became so in love with his own reflection that he starved to death.
Roll all those ideas up into one big burrito and here’s what you get for the daffodil’s symbolic meanings: new life, youth (so possibly connected to someone who died young), innocence, beauty. Also, in the Victorian Language of Flowers, daffodils are associated with “unrequited love,” and “deep regard.”
So, as you can see, the Daffodil is one of those cemetery symbols that raises as many questions as it answers!

Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism:

I am currently writing a field guide to historic cemetery symbolism. Each week, I share a small snippet from my upcoming book. It’s my goal to create a handy-dandy pocket guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years.

Which symbols are you curious about?

Let me know in the comments if there is a certain symbol that you are curious about. Also, if you would like to know when the cemetery symbolism guide is available for purchase, scroll down and sign up for my newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you!

Want to read more like this?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide:
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places:
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history:
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


white-line-separator

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Filed Under: Cemeteries & Symbolism, Historic Cemeteries, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, cemetery, cemetery symbols, daffodil, graveyard, graveyard symbols, greek myth, historic, historic cemetery symbols, narcissus, symbols, Tui Snider, Tui Snider photographer, victorian language of flowers

Historic Cemetery Symbols: What do Lambs Signify?

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FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide:

Would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, click the image below:

Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week

This week’s Historic Cemetery Symbol of the week is the lamb. What does it symbolize when you see lambs on grave monuments?

Baby lamb on a historic cemetery headstone (photo by Tui Snider)
Baby lamb on a historic cemetery headstone (photo by Tui Snider)

Symbolic Meaning of Lambs

Since ancient times, lambs have been used in sacrificial ceremonies. So as a symbol, lambs represent innocence and sacrifice. The lamb may also be a reference to a passage in the Bible (John 1:29) where John the Baptist calls Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Once again, this taps into lambs as a symbol of sacrifice.

Baby lamb on a historic cemetery headstone (photo by Tui Snider)
Baby lamb on a historic cemetery headstone (photo by Tui Snider)

 

Lambs on Children’s Graves

When you see a lamb on a headstone, it is most likely marking a child’s grave.  I say “most likely” because while I *have* seen lambs on the graves of young adults, it’s pretty rare. In these cases, you will have to do further research to find out why a lamb was used. For instance, it’s possible that on an adult’s grave, the lamb represents someone who was mentally challenged and therefore very innocent and child-like throughout their life.
Alternatively, it could mean that this person sacrificed their own life for another. As always, when you find a cemetery symbol that doesn’t quite fit the norm, it’s often worth further research. You just may uncover a fascinating story!
But most of the time, lambs on a headstone mark the loss of a child. I’m not sure why, but the little lambs are nearly always sitting down. Depending on the type of stone they were carved from and how much weather they have endured, these little lamb markers can be so worn down you can barely tell what sort of creature they represent. I purposely haven’t photographed any of those melted-looking lambs, but as I write this, I realize I should do so next time so I can show you what I mean!

Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism:

I am currently writing a field guide to historic cemetery symbolism. Each Tuesday, I share a small snippet from my upcoming book. It’s my goal to create a handy-dandy pocket guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years.

Which symbols are you curious about?

Let me know in the comments if there is a certain symbol that you are curious about. Also, if you would like to know when the cemetery symbolism guide is available for purchase, scroll down and sign up for my newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you!

FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide:

Would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, click the image below:

Want to read more like this?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide:
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places:
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history:
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


white-line-separator

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Filed Under: Cemeteries & Symbolism, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, bible, cemetery, cemetery symbols, graveyard, graveyard symbols, historic, historic cemetery symbols, lamb, Oct15, symbols, Tui Snider, Tui Snider photographer

Historic Cemetery Symbols: What does the DAR emblem represent?

by 2 Comments

FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide:

Would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, click the image below:

Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week: the DAR emblem

This week’s Historic Cemetery Symbol of the week is the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) emblem:

DAR emblem on a grave (photo by Tui Snider)
DAR emblem on a grave (photo by Tui Snider)

Daughters of the American Revolution symbology:

When you see a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) emblem on a grave, it means that the woman buried there was a member of this service organization. The only way to be accepted as a member of DAR is to have direct lineage to to an ancestor who sided with the colonies to achieve independence from Britain during the American Revolution. As you can imagine, DAR is a deeply patriotic club.

In addition to proving your genetic ‘pedigree’ to become a member of DAR, a woman must also prove herself to be “personally acceptable” to the group. Membership today numbers somewhere around 180,000, with chapters all over the world.

If, like me, you’re a fan of the “Gilmore Girls” TV show, you probably remember that Emily Gilmore was a proud member of DAR, and often hosted formal teas and other events for the organization!

OK, so what does that DAR emblem symbolize? According to the Daughters of the American Revolution Handbook, the golden wheel is a spinning wheel, the stars surrounding it represent the original 13 American colonies, and the plant poking out at the top and bottom is flax.

FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide:

Would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, click the image below:

Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism:

I am currently writing a field guide to historic cemetery symbolism. Each Tuesday, I share a small snippet from my upcoming book. It’s my goal to create a handy-dandy pocket guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years.

Which symbols are you curious about?

Let me know in the comments if there is a certain symbol that you are curious about. Also, if you would like to know when the cemetery symbolism guide is available for purchase, scroll down and sign up for my newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you!

Want to read more like this?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide:
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places:
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history:
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


white-line-separator

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Filed Under: Cemeteries & Symbolism, Historic Cemeteries, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, cemetery, cemetery symbols, graveyard, graveyard symbols, historic, historic cemetery symbols, symbols, Tui Snider, Tui Snider photographer

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