Community Chat

[Mersha]

I am down the rabbit hole of researching our geneaology.

I came upon something curious and want to get opinions on what it might be.

There is a family plot where several are buried.  On the left of the stone are three people with the same last name...mother, father and daughter is designated on the stone.

On the right side, a female with a different last name and below her name is a different male name from the previous two and it is states "Beloved."

Was "beloved" used in years past to indicate a husband?  I never saw that inscription on a tombstone before.  I am finding the beloved person very hard to find info on and I would love to know the story.

I know for a fact the woman above "Beloved" was a widow at one point.

Anyone have any ideas?

[hayseed00]

@Mersha   On Memorial Day i go to a few very old cemetaries, and quite a few of my Mom and Dad's family from the 1800's are buried there and the word Beloved is on many of them to signify a loved family member who is deceased, not necessarily a spouse.

[Mersha]

@hayseed00  Thanks for your reply.

I will continue to dig until I find the mysterious "beloved" man with my great, great grandmother.

You would think if they married she would have taken his name, which she clearly did not.

[Desertdi]

"Beloved" is still used in obituaries, also

[shoekitty]

Could be many reasons. Although I am not entirely sure I understand the situation. Beloved is a term used even today on a tombstone, although usually above or below name and death day 

they bury up to three usually in a grave.  2 adults, a small child.  Or two adults and cremations remains. Can you give ma any dates on these tombstones?  Because in olden times, lol. Beloved might be used for a illegitimite child, or someone out of the faith. Or maybe it was "close friend", or someone the family who buried them didn't know.  Lots of reasons. However, what I have found is you can contact the cemetary, call them, go on if you can...they can tell you a lot. Depending on the year they were buried. Also, get the death certificate. I worked for a museum and we have death certificates for most deaths that occurred in our city.  I got my great grandfathers death certificate, also found his grave.  I untangled a mystery there that we hadn't known , nor did my dad.  If I had more info I might be able to help. 
but please contact cemetary, your county dept of vital statistics for certificate. And for sure talk to cemetary. 

[candys mine]

Married, widowed Sister?  Left side Women's Mother?  No ideas about the Right side Male.

Are there birth and death dates on the stone?  That would narrow down the search parameters.  Good luck on the mystery.

[shoekitty]

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@hayseed00 wrote:

@Mersha   On Memorial Day i go to a few very old cemetaries, and quite a few of my Mom and Dad's family from the 1800's are buried there and the word Beloved is on many of them to signify a loved family member who is deceased, not necessarily a spouse.

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@hayseed00   This is true. I am thinking maybe a man friend. Or a child out of wedlock. In those days illegitamate weren't recognized. Sometimes they couldn't even be buried in same area as Christian area. They were segregated.  If it was a husband, it is odd he wasn't mentioned first.  I have scoured our old newspapers goinf back to,1863, we are California so we don't go back that far.   Only the Catholic Church has records here of California before a state.  People weren't even required to notify the county of a death or birth before 1910   All the newspapers I scoured for births, and deaths never mentioned the woman's first name. The death or the birth announcement in paper read, boy born to Mr and Mrs John L Smith.  Or wife of Mr John L Smith died .....

[skatting44]

@Mersha 

 any luck in looking at the census record  for 1860 of the people to the left  and the woman with a different name Maybe,  she or the man lived in the same household  or lived   nearby .

Any  property Deeds  to review

[Greeneyedlady21]

Possibly a baby who was stillborn?

[shoekitty]

Yes, maybe the woman died in childbirth with baby.  Such a common occurance then