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Medieval And Obsolete Professions: L to M

Lagger ~~ A sailor.

Lapidary ~~ One who cuts, polishes, or engraves precious stones; a jeweler.

Latouner / Lattener ~~ Worker in latten, a metal resembling brass.

Lavender ~~ Washer woman; from French laver, meaning "to wash."

Lederer ~~ Leather maker.

Leech / Leach ~~ Doctor, physician. (See their bills and this origin makes a lot of sense!)

Limeburner ~~ Maker of lime.

Limner ~~ Draughtsman or artist.

Loblolly boy ~~ 1) an errand boy; 2) surgeon's assistant on board ship.

Lokeer ~~ Locksmith.

Longshoreman ~~ Stevedor.

Lorimer ~~ Bridlemaker.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

Macun ~~ Mason.

Malender – farmer.

Malster - brewer of malted beverages (beer).

Manciple – steward.

Marescallus ~~ Marshall.

Marshall ~~ Horse servant, or groom.

Mason ~~ Stone carver.

Mayer ~~ Physician.

Medicus - doctor, physician, leech.

Mercator ~~ Merchant.

Milliner ~~ (From Milan, Italy where women's finery were originally imported. A woman who made or sold women's hats (also could be applied to the selling of men's and women's clothing .

Millow ~~ Miller.

Millwright ~~ One who designs or builds mills.

Mintmaster ~~ An issuer of local currency.

Molendinarius ~~ (Muner) ~~ Miller.

Monger ~~ Seller of goods.

Muleskinner ~~ Teamster.

Mustarder ~~ Grower and grinder of mustard.

Genealogy Humor Strikes Again

From "Dear Abby"

Dear Abby: I have always wanted
to have my family history traced,
but I can't afford to spend a lot of
money to do it. Any suggestions?
~ Sam in California ~

Dear Sam: Yes. Run for public office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a great loss today in the entertainment world. The man who wrote the song "Hokey Pokey" has died. What was really horrible is that they had trouble putting the body in the casket.

They'd put his left leg in... well, you know the rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Click Here!

Medievil And Obsolete Professions: G to K

Gaoler ~~ Jailer.

Garcifer (Garcio) ~~ Groom, attendant.

Garlekmonger ~~ Dealer in garlic.

Gatward ~~ Goatkeeper.

Gelder ~~ A castrator of animals, especially horses.

Ginerr ~~ Joiner.

Glassewryght ~~ Maker and mender of glassware.

Glazier ~~ Glazier; repairer of windows.

Glover ~~ Dealer or maker of gloves.

Gobar ~~ Jobber.

Grecher ~~ Grocer.

Guilderer ~~ Maker of gold or silver coins.

Gynour ~~ Engineer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Hacker ~~ Hoe maker.

Hamberghmaker (Hamberow) ~~ Horse collar maker.

Harper ~~ Musician (?).

Hansard ~~ Weapon maker or seller.

Hatcheler ~~ One who combed out flax.

Hawker ~~ Peddler.

Haymonger ~~ Dealer in hay.

Hayward ~~ Keeper of fences.

Headborough !~~ Constable.

Hedger ~~ One who trims and tends hedgerows.

Hetheleder ~~ Provider of heather for fuel.

Higgler ~~ Itinerant peddler.

Hillard / Hillier ~~ Tiler one who covers houses with slate.

Hind ~~ Farm laborer.

Hooker ~~ Reaper.

Hooper ~~ Maker of hoops for casks, barrels, tubs etc.

Horsler ~~ Stableman or groom; horse servant at an inn.

Hosteler ~~ Innkeeper.

Huckster ~~ Seller of small articles/wares.

Husbandman ~~ A farmer; animal husbandry; tenant farmer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Indentured servant ~~ One who was committed to working for someone for a fixed number of years (usually 4 to 7), in exchange for passage to a new country or some other financial consideration.

Intelligencer ~~ A spy.

Ironmonger ~~ A dealer in hardware made of iron. Also known as a Feroner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jagger ~~ A peddler or hawker of fish.

Journeyman ~~ Craftsman who had served his apprentice, a master craftsman.

Jouster ~~ A female hawker of fish; a fish monger.

Joyner / Joiner ~~ Joiner; skilled carpenter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Kedger ~~ A fisherman.

Keeler ~~ Bargeman

Keller ~~ Salt keeper

Kellogg ~~ Slaughter man (Who said that Kellogg’s cereal was GOOD for you?!)

Kempster ~~ Wool comber

Kepegest ~~ Innkeeper.

Kneller / Knuller ~~ A chimney sweep who solicited jobs door-to-door.

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Even MORE Genealogy Humor

I think my ancestors had several "bad heir" days.

I used to have a life, then I started doing genealogy.

I want to find ALL of them! So far I only have a few thousand.

I'd rather look for dead people than have 'em look for me!

I'm always late. My ancestors arrived on the Juneflower!

I'm not sick, I've just got fading genes.

I'm not stuck, I'm ancestrally challenged.

I'm searching for myself; Have you seen me?

I'm stuck in my family tree, and I can't get down!

The answer to one problem, leads to two more!

It's hard to believe that someday I'll be an ancestor

It's 2008. Do you know where your great-grandparents were?

Jeanealogy: the study of LEVIS and WRANGLERS.

Many a family tree needs trimming.

My ancestors must be in a witness protection program!

My family coat of arms ties at the back.....is that normal?

My family tree is a few branches short!

My family tree must have been used for firewood!

My hobby is genealogy, and I raise dust bunnies as pets.

Only a Genealogist regards a step backwards as progress.

Originality is the art of concealing your sources.

RELATIVES...People who come to dinner who aren't friends

Remember, undocumented genealogy is mythology.

"Shh! Be vewy, vewy quiet...I'm hunting forebearwas," Elmer Fudd.

Snobs talk as if they had begotten their own ancestors!

So many ancestors...so little time!

That's strange; half my ancestors are WOMEN!

That's the problem with the gene pool: No lifeguard!

The gene pool could use a little chlorine!

They've said *you* are the fertilizer of your family tree!

To a genealogist, EVERYTHING is relative!

Try genealogy. You can't get fired and you can't quit!

What do you mean my Birth Certificate expired?

What do you mean my family tree has root rot!

When I searched for ancestors, I found friends! ((This one's VERY true!!!))

If marriage is outlawed only outlaws will have inlaws.

Whoever said "seek and ye shall find" was NOT a genealogist!

Yikes! My genes are faded and full of holes!

Medieval And Obsolete Professions: E to F

Elymaker ~~ Oilmaker.

Endholdernn ~~ Inn keeper.

Enumerator ~~ Census taker.

Executrix ~~ Female executor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Faber ~~ Smith.

Falkner ~~ Keeper/trainer of falcons.

Farmer ~~ Tax-collector or bailiff.

Farrier ~~ Horse doctor, one in charge of horses.

Felmonger or Fell Monger ~~ One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making, Hide dealer forges.

Felter ~~ Cleaner and thickener of cloth.

Fence Viewer ~~ One who inspects farmer's fences.

Feroner ~~ A dealer in hardware made of iron. Also known as an Ironmonger.

Ferur (Ferator) ~~ Farrier or blacksmith.

Fisher (Fishdryver) ~~ Victualler.

Flauner ~~ Confectioner.

Flax Dresser ~~ One who works with flax fibers.

Fleshewer ~~ Butcher.

Fletcher ~~ Maker of bows and arrows, Arrowmaker.

Forestarius ~~ Forester.

Framar ~~ Farmer.

Frereman ~~ Servant of the Friars.

Fuller ~~ One who trampled cloth. Fuller of cloth, one who shrunk and thickened woolen cloth by washing, heating and pressing. See also Walker.

Furber (Furbour) ~~ Furbisher of armour.

Furner ~~ Baker.

Survey.....

Can I ask a favor, please, of everyone to send me (you can email me personally, insteadof bogging down the groups.) Send your responses to:

tacapollo@rurelated.com

I'd like to know your favorite free genealogical sites (try to give five to ten.) And list them from 1 (your favorites) to 5 (or) 10 (your least favorites.)

This can include sites that include free services, but charge for any extras. I'm conducting an informal poll, and YOUR NAMES, EMAILS OR ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION will NOT be included!!!!

I'm only looking for opinions and numbers here! If you are able to send it anonymously, that's perfectly alright!

I REALLY appreciate all your participation!

The results will be (anonymously!) posted on this blog, Tangled Branches and RestlessRoots at:

http://tangledbranchesnrestlessroots.blogspot.com/

Thank you, everyone, for participating in this survey!

Terry

More Genealogical Humor

As Long As We ARE REMEMBERED We NEVER Die.

A family reunion is an effective form of birth control.

A family tree can wither if nobody tends it's roots.

A great many family trees were started by grafting.

Was Uncle Fester *REALLY* AC/DC?

A miser is hard to live with, but makes a fine ancestor.

A new cousin a day keeps the boredom away.

Alright! Everybody out of the genetic pool!

Always willing to share my ignorance...

Am I the only person up my tree - seems like it.

Any family tree produces some lemons, nuts and bad apples!

Biochemists wear designer genes.

Bring out your dead.............

C A U T I O N ! ... You have now entered the Genealogy Zone.

Climbing my family tree was fun until the nuts appeared!

Documentation....The hardest part of genealogy.

Every family tree has some sap in it.

Everybody wants to be on the Mayflower.

Evolution is God's way of issuing updates.

Cleaning out the gene pool, one at a time.

FLOOR: (n) The place for storing your priceless genealogy records.

For a reply, send a self-abused, stomped elephant to...

Gene-Allergy - It's a contagious disease, but I love it!

Genealogists are like monkeys, always in the trees.

Genealogists are time unravelers.

Genealogists do it generation after generation....

Old genealogists never die, they just lose their census.

Genealogists live in the past lane.

Old genealogists never die, they just haunt cemeteries.

Genealogy - a search for the greatest treasures - our ancestors.

Genealogy - will I ever find time to mow the lawn again?

Genealogy is like Hide & Seek: They Hide & I Seek!

Genealogy...it's not a hobby, it's an obsession!

Genealogy: Chasing your own tale!

Genealogy: Tracing yourself back to better people.

Ghosts are merely unsubstantiated roomers.

Heredity: Everyone believes in it until their children act like fools!

How can one ancestor cause so much TROUBLE ??

I looked up my family tree...there were two dogs using it!

I researched my family tree... apparently I don't exist!

I shook my family tree, a bunch of nuts fell out.

One Great Family

Nicknames Part 3

Here are nicknames with multiple full name origins:

Bell, Bella and Belle can come from:

Arabelle, Anabelle, Belinda, Elizabeth, Isabel, Isabella, Mabel, Mirabel, Rosabel and Sybil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

Bob, Bobby, Dobbin, Rob and Robbie/Robby all come from:

Robert

Family Tree Connection Surname:

Design Toscano

Medieval And Obsolete Professions: C to D

Cancellarius ~~ Chancellor.

Cardmaker ~~ Maker of cards or instruments for combing wool.

Carnifex ~~ Butcher.

Carpentarius ~~ Carpenter.

Castor ~~ Hat maker

Caulker ~~ One who makes things watertight by packing seams in windows, ships, etc., with a waterproof material, such as oakum or pitch.

Chaloner ~~ Dealer in shalloon, a material made in Chƒons.

Chaisemaker ~~ Carriage maker.

Chandler ~~ Dealer or trader; one who makes or sells candles; grocer.

Chapman ~~ Merchant.

Chiffonnier ~~ Wig maker.

Chirugion ~~ Apothecary or Surgeon.

Cissor ~~ Tailor.

Clark ~~ Clerk.

Clericus ~~ Clerk.

Clerk ~~ Clergyman; cleric.

Cocus (Keu) ~~ Cook.

Cohen ~~ Priest.

Collier ~~ Coal miner.

Colporteur ~~ Book peddler

Combere ~~ Woolcomber

Cooper ~~ Maker or repairer of wooden barrels, casks, and tubs.

Cordwainer ~~ Shoemaker (originally any leather worker using

Cordovan leather, from Cordova, Spain).

Corvisor (Cordewanarius, Cordwainer) ~~ Shoemaker, originally a worker in Cordovan leather.

Costermonger ~~ Peddler of fruits and vegetables.

Cotiler ~~ Cutler.

Crocker ~~ Cotter.

Crowner ~~ Coroner.

Cuhreur (Cunreur) ~~ Currier.

Cuper ~~ Cooper; a barrel maker.

Currier ~~ Tanner of leather; one who curries horses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dareman ~~ Dairyman.

Daunsel ~~ Gentleman in waiting; groom; squire.

Dexter ~~ Dyer.

Diviner (OR) Dowser ~~ One who finds water under the ground using dowsing rods or a witching stick.

Docker ~~ Stevedor; dock worker who loads and unloads cargo.

Draper ~~ Dealer in cloth and dry goods.

Drayman ~~ Driver of a dray, a long strong cart without fixed sides for carrying heavy loads.

Dresser ~~ Surgeon's assistant in a hospital.

Drover ~~ Driver of animals to market; dealer in cattle.

Drummer ~~ Traveling salesman.

Dubbere ~~ Cloth dubber, i.e., one who raises the nap of cloth.

Dudder ~~ Probably a maker of coarse cloaks.

Duffer ~~ Peddler.

Dyer ~~ One who dyes cloth.

Dysshere ~~ Probably a ditcher, or in some cases a disher.

Nicknames Part 2

Nancy - This name comes from the name, Ann (Hebrew) meaning both "Grace," and "Mercy." The original name for Ann is "Hannah."

Austin - This name comes from the name Augustus (Latin) meaning "The Exalted and Sacred One."

Genealoy Humor

Can a first cousin, once removed, return?

Cemetery: (n) A marble orchard not to be taken for granite.

Crazy.... is a relative term in MY family.

Genealogy: Chasing your own tale!

Genealogy: It's all relative in the end anyway.

Genealogy: Tracing yourself back to better people.

I trace my family history so I will know who to blame.

It's hard to be humble with ancestors like mine!

Life takes it's toll. Have exact change ready!

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

That's strange; half my ancestors are WOMEN!

Do I even WANT ancestors? Some I found I wish I could lose.

Every family tree has some sap in it.

FLOOR: (n) The place for storing your priceless genealogy records.

Friends come and go, but relatives tend to accumulate.

Genealogists do it in the library.

Genealogists live in the past lane.

Genealogists never die, they just loose their roots.

Genealogy: A hay stack full of needles. It's the threads I need.

Genealogy: Collecting dead relatives and sometimes a live cousin!

Genealogy: Where you confuse the dead and irritate the living.

Heredity: Everyone believes in it until their children act like fools!
I looked at my family tree...there were two dogs using it.

I think my family tree is a few branches short of full bloom.

Life is lived forwards, but understood backwards.

My ancestors are hiding in a witness protection program.

My family tree is a few branches short!

Research: What I'm doing, when I don't know what I'm doing.

Take nothing but ancestors, leave nothing but records.

Theory of relativity: If you go back far enough, we're all related.

"A Step backwards is Progress to a Genealogist."


From: David Wardell on April 8, 2002

Design Toscano

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German Genealogical Abbreviations and Symbols

Symbol-- Deutsch/German-- English

* --geboren-- born

(*)-- außereheliche Geburt -- born illegitimate

~ -- getauft -- baptized

~~ -- getauft -- baptized

o -- verlobt -- engaged

oo (or) ∞ -- verheiratet -- married

I oo -- 1. Ehe -- 1st marriage

II oo -- 2. Ehe -- 2nd marriage

† -- gestorben -- died

†us -- mortuus (lat.: verstorben) -- died

†* -- Totgeburt -- stillborn

o/o (or) oo -- geschieden -- divorced

o-o -- uneheliche/freie Verbindung -- illegimate or common law union

X -- gefallen (gekreuzte Schwerter) -- killed in action at war

†X -- an im Kampf erlittenen Wunden gestorben -- died of wounds suffered while at war

[] -- begraben (liegendes Rechteck) -- buried

†† -- diese Linie ausgestorben -- this line extinct

!! -- Pfarrer -- Reverend

/ -- Kind von -- child of parent

Medieval And Obsolete Professions: A to B

Acater ~~ Ship's chandler, one who supplies food provisions to a ship.

Accipitrary ~~ Falconer.

Accomptant ~~ Accountant.

Accoucheur ~~ One who assists women in childbirth, midwife.

Ackerman, Acreman ~~ Ploughman, ox herder.

Actuary ~~ Accountant.

Affeeror ~~ Official in the manorial courts responsible for assessing the monetary penalty and collecting taxes and dues, assessor.

Alchemist ~~ Medieval chemist who claimed to be able to turn metal into gold.

Ale Conner ~~ Official who tested the quality and measure of ale served in public houses.

Ale-draper, Ale Draper ~~ A tapster, seller of ale.

Ale-tunner, Ale Tunner ~~ One who worked among and on "tuns," great hogshead barrels used to store ale in medieval times.

Ale-wife, Alewife ~~ Landlady of an ale house, or ale stand.

All Spice ~~ Grocer.

Almoner ~~ One who distributes alms, provides for the needy; in Britain may also refer to a hospital social worker.

Amanuensis ~~ Stenographer, one who takes dictation.

Amen Man ~~ Parish clerk.

Ankle Beater ~~ Young person who helped drive cattle to market.

Apiarian ~~ Beekeeper.

Apiculteur ~~ (French) Beekeeper.

Apparitor ~~ Official who summoned witnesses for the ecclesiastical courts.

Apothecary ~~ One that prepares and sells drugs and medicines, a pharmacist.

Aquarius (Ewer) ~~ Waterman.

Archiator ~~ Doctor, physician.

Armiger ~~ Squire who carried the armor of a knight.

Arpenteur ~~ (French) land surveyor.

Arrimeur ~~ (French) stevedore, one who is employed in the loading and unloading of ships .

Artificer ~~ A skilled craftsman or artisan; an enlisted military man responsible for upkeep of weapons and small arms; or an inventor.

Aubergiste ~~ (French) inn keeper.

Aurifaber ~~ Goldsmith.

Avenator (Plantifene) ~~ Hay and Forage Merchant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bailie ~~ Bailiff.

Barker ~~ Tanner.

Baxter ~~ Baker

Belhoste ~~ Tavern keeper.

Belleyetere ~~ Bellfounder.

Bever ~~ Beverage maker.

Blacksmith ~~ One who shoes horses.

Blockmaker ~~ One who crafted pulleys.

Bluestocking ~~ Female writer.

Boniface ~~ Inn keeper.

Bowyer ~~ Bowmaker.

Brasiler ~~ Dyer.

Brazier ~~ One who works with brass.

Brewster ~~ Beer or ale manufacturer.

Brightsmith ~~ Metal worker.

Brownsmith ~~ Copper or brass smith.

Burgonmaster ~~ Mayor.

Burneman ~~ Carrier of barm or water for brewers.

Burnisher ~~ Metal polisher.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More to come later!

Top Ten Genealogy One-Liners

Everybody's ancestor could not have fit on Columbus' ship!

Genealogy Lotto: xxxxx Scratch here to reveal ancestor.

Sure a real job would be nice,but it would interfere with my genealogy!

After 30 days, unclaimed ancestors will be adopted.

History is written by the winners.

Never take to sawin' on the branch that's supportin' you, unless you're bein' hung from it.

He who dies with the most ancestors wins!

No ancestor left behind!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My own personal philosophy:

Every family tree is a composite of many different types of trees:
Some parts are blossoming,
Some parts are full of nuts,
Some parts shoot up and excell about the others,
Some parts have gone bad and are rotten to the core,
Some parts are full of fruits,
Some parts a firm and strong-very had to break,
Some parts are weak and break very easily,
Some parts are weak, but flexible-they can bend without breaking,
Some parts have a dense bark which is hard to penetrate,
Some parts have a light bark, easy to get under,
Some parts grow in an easily predictable manner,
Some parts shoot off into a manner that no one expects,
And some parts are just perfect for separating and starting a new tree of it's own.
Think of everyday as "Arbor Day" when researching our trees and appreciate the beauty of all parts!

Tip: When writing requests to genealogy lists or message boards

I see these mistake made time after time, especially by newbies.

Always give the City, County and or State where the person you're inquiring about is located. This usually confuses almost everyone else in the group.

Say you belong to the "Doe" mailing list, if you ask if anyone knows where "John and Jane" are located without giving even a general location, it will be highly unlikely that anyone can help you.

Another thing left out is the date or time period of when they lived.

If you don't know the dates of the parents, use the dates of the children and indicate the parents were born (and probably married) prior to the earliest birthdate of the child.

If nothing else, use a reference to a famous relative that most people should be aware of.

You'll give so much more help if you can just add a little more info!

Design Toscano

Top Fives in County Lists

States with the most counties:

1. Texas - 254 counties
2. Georgia - 159 counties
3. Kentucky - 120 counties
4. North Carolina - 100 counties
5. Virginia - 95 counties


States with the least counties:

1. Delaware - 3 counties
2. Hawaii - 5 counties
3. Rhode Island - 5 counties
4. Connecticut - 8 counties
5. New Hampshire - 10 counties


County names most commonly used:

1. Washington County - 31 states
2. Jefferson County - 26 states
3. Franklin County - 25 states
4. Jackson County - 24 states
5. Lincoln County - 24 states

GenDisasters

No, it's not having your dog eat all your genealogical notes or a computer glitch wipe out months of family data....

It's a slightly morbid, but fact of life, that horrible events and natural disasters have shaped the lives of our ancestors (as they have our own lives.)

As the page's subtitle says: "Events That Touched Our Ancestors' Lives." It's stories like ones posted today, of tornados, airplane crashes, forest fires and children drowning while ice-skating. The stories are organized by disaster, state (including Canada) or year (which, at least, go back into the 1800's.)

If you think your ancestors may have been a victim, or just want to try to understand some of the events that may have affected the lives of your ancestors, I'd recommend checking this out:

GenDisasters

Genealogy Epitaph Collection

Lester Moore was a Wells Fargo Co. station agent, and is buried at Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona:

Here lies Lester Moore
Four slugs from a .44
No Les No More.


In memory of Lettuce Manning:

Oh cruel death
To satisfy the palate,
Cut down our Lettuce
To make a salad.


Epitaph for a Dentist

Stranger!
Approach this spot with gravity.
John Brown is filling his last cavity.

A marker in Enosburg Falls, Vermont

Here lies the body of our dead Anna
gone to death by a banana
It wasn't the fruit that dealt the blow
But the skin of the thing that laid her low!

You know your addicted to genealogy when...

Your idea of a fun vacation includes a library,courthouse and a couple of cemeteries.

Your dream vacation is to spend a weekat the LDS Library, in Salt Lake City.

You can answer all of the queries on Genforum.

You receive 100 e-mails a day and 99 ofthem are from Roots-L mailing lists.
You have your own set of keys to the local family history center and the employees think you work there.

There's not one person on your X-mas cardlist that you have actually met, although they all have the same last name.

You know the mailman's schedule better than he does, and if he's late you drive around looking for him.

You've read the entire Root-L archives twice.

You introduce your children as your descendants.

You begin referring to cemeteries as ancestor farms and headstones as concrete evidence.

Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

Anchor/Ships -- Hope or Seafaring profession

Angel, Flying- Rebirth; Resurrection.

Angel, Trumpeting- Resurrection.

Angel, Weeping- Grief and Mourning.

Arch - Victory in death.

Arrow- Mortality.

Bird- Eternal life.

Bird, Flying- Resurrection.

Book-Representation of a holy book: i.e. the Bible.

A pair of Holy Books on Mormom (LDS) headstones indicates the Bibleand Book of Mormon

Three Holy Books on Mormom headstones indicates the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants -- all of which are scripture to the LDS Church.

Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates) - Nourishment of the soul; the church.

Bouquets/Flowers -- Condolences, grief, sorrow

Broken Column -- Loss of Head of Family

Broken Ring -- Family Circle Severed

Buds/Rosebud -- Morning of Life or Renewal of Life

Bugles -- Resurrection and the Military

Butterfly -- Short-lived - Early Death

Candle being Snuffed -- Time, mortality

Cherub -- Angelic

Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts -- Mortality

Columns and Doors- Heavenly entrance.

Corn -- Ripe Old Age

Cross -- Emblem of Faith

Crossed Swords -- High-ranking military person

Crown- Glory of life after death.

Cup or Chalice- The Sacraments.

Dove- Purity; Devotion.

Dove, Flying- Resurrection.

Drapes- Mourning; Mortality.

Flame or Light- Life; Resurrection.

Flower- Fragility of life.

Flower, Severed Stem- Shortened life.

Flying Birds -- Flight of the Soul

Fruits -- Eternal plenty

Full-Blown Rose -- Prime of Life

Garland or Wreath- Victory in death.

Grim Reaper- Death personified.

Hand, Pointing Up- Pathway to heaven; Heavenly reward.

Hands, Clapsed- The goodbyes said at death.

Hand of God Chopping -- Sudden Death

Handshakes -- Farewell

Harp -- Praise to the Maker

Heart- Love; Love of God; Abode of the soul; Mortality.

Horns -- The Resurrection

Hourglass- Passing of time.

Hourglass, Flying- Time flies.

Imps -- Mortality

Ivy -- Friendship and Immortality

Lamb- Innocence.

Laurel ---Fame or Victory

Lily or Lily of Valley -- Emblem of Innocence and Purity

Lion- Courage; The Lion of Judah.

Morning Glory -- Beginning of Life

Oak Leaves and Acorn -- Maturity, Ripe Old Age

Open Book/ Bible -- Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc.

Pall- Mortality.

Palm Branch -- Signifies Victory and Rejoicing

Pick- Death; Mortality.

Poppy -- Sleep

Portals -- Passageway to eternal journey

Rod or Staff- Comfort for the bereaved.

Rooster- Awakening; Resurrection.

Roses -- Brevity of earthly existence

Scythe- Death; The divine harvest.

Seashell- Resurrection; Life everlasting; Life's pilgrimage.

Sheaf of Wheat -- Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time

Skull- Mortality.

Skull/ Crossed Bones- Death.

Skeleton- Life's brevity.

Snake (Tail in Mouth)- Everlasting life in heaven.

Spade- Mortality; Death.

Stars and Stripes Around Eagle -- Eternal Vigilance, Liberty

Sun Rising- Renewed life.

Sun Shining-Life everlasting.

Sun Setting- Death.

Thistle- Scottish descent.

Thistles -- Remembrance

Tombs -- Mortality

Torch Inverted -- Life Extinct

Tree- Life.

Tree Sprouting- Life everlasting.

Severed Branch- Mortality.

Tree Stump- Life interrupted.

Tree Stump w/Ivy -- Head of Family - Immortality

Tree Trunk- Brevity of life.

Tree Trunk Leaning- Short interrupted life.

Trumpeters -- Heralds of the Resurrection

Urn- Immortality (ancient Egyptian belief that life would be restored in the future through the vital organs placed in the urn).

Urn with /Wreath or Crepe -- Mourning

Urn with Blaze -- Undying Friendship

Weeping Willow Tree- Mourning; Grief; Nature's lament.

Willows -- Earthly Sorrow

Winged Face- Effigy of the deceased soul; the soul in flight.

Winged Skull- Flight of the soul from mortal man.

Wreath- Victory.

Wreath on Skull- Victory of death over life.

Wheat Strands or Sheaves- The divine harvest.

From: http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/

Nick-names part 1

Did you know??????

Did you know "Peggy" and "Daisy" are nick-names for "Margaret"? Where does THAT come from?
Margaret (Greek) meaning "Pearl." The name, Margaret, was originally a Persian name meaning, "Born of the Moon-Light."

The one thing I learned.....

The Germanic name "Hans," is a nick-name!!!!

An ancestor of mine was listed as "Hans" in my records. But, then I found his name abbreviated as "Joh."

This gave me some clues, but I had to confirm it.....

"Joh." is an abbreviation for "Johan" or "Johannes."

"Hans" is a nick-name for "John!" My "Hans" was also "Johan(nes)!"

My mom used to call me "Fart-blossom"..... I wonder what name THAT could be........

Grave Rubbing

Have you EVER come across an old, worn headstone too weathered to read?

Try THIS!

Take a large sheet of paper (or several shorter ones taped together).

Tape the paper to the gravestone above where the engraving seems to be.

Use a large piece of a dark colored chalk, like blue or black (available in artistic supply stores.)

LIGHTLY brush over the stone. If you do it too hard, it will distort the image! You can repeat a number of times lightly to get your image better.

What you SHOULD see is an exact copy of the stone engravings, just easier to read!

While I'm at it, let me address some issues....

I felt uncomfortable about doing this my first time! I almost felt like I was doing something sacreligious....

BUT!!!!

First of all, it eventually provided me with the surnames of two of my ancestors.

It gave her nick-name: "Nonnie" (I know this sounds trivial, but it adds some clues to her personality. Stern/serious people DON'T usually have nick-names (KIND ones, at least!)

Caroline was given the nick-name "Nonnie," and, CLEARLY this was important enough to have been engraved on her headstone! If she wasn't such a nice person, well....

Her husband, my GGreat-grandfather, Michael, has no known headstone.

So, my grave-rubbing has done NO harm! Even if I happened to have gotten some chalk on the stone (which I didn't,) I wouldn't have done any permanent harm! Chalk washes off!

Although I can't speak for the deceased, I believe GGgrandma "Nonnie" would be happy that she and her family haven't been lost to time!

While I'm discussing it, grave yards are in the "highest" of respectable places in MY book! I don't like to walk over graves, but follow the rows in between. So I won't do ANYTHING to be disrespectful in a cemetery!

Grave-rubbings are something that does no harm and can provide so much information!

Why are tombstones erected? To provide information on the deceased so that they won't be forgotten!!! If no one was around, what value would there be in the stone?

Get over your guilt and fears!!!

Think of it as a sort of braille for the sighted that can make out details.

And I'm in possesion of information that the church who owns the cemetery doesn't even have on record now!!! I'm so elated that I did my grave rubbing when I did!!!

So grab your paper and chalk and preserve your family history! I'm sure your ancestors will approve!

Seeds of Wisdom.....

If I could advise ANYONE researching their family, I would STRESS: "Sources, Sources and SOURCES!!!!

I don't mean to come off as "preachy." I'm only saying this from my own mistakes and blunders!

When I first started working on my web tree, I would find online trees to associate with mine. I would be so estatic that I would write down all the tree information and forget where it came from!

This is BAD on BOTH sides of the fence!!!!

If it came from a reliable source:

1. You are "stealing" all the hard work that person put into it! Once you have put enough effort into your own projects, you WILL appreciate this!!!

2. Give credit and resources as much as possible! If you don't think this is important, then you WILL end up with a tree based on half-truths and rumors! When you encounter someone who challenges your information (and you will!) you can back it up with some form of proof.

If your source is less than reliable/ questionable, then you can try to judge the better source. You WILL be mislead! The more popular surnames are so wrapped up in family rumors that mistakes are made (and copied again and again and again.... ) And SOME issues may NEVER be resolved (presently I'm dealing with one case of questionable paternity and another question of a wife's maiden name.

Some people write their trees by the book. If their information isn't back by good records, they don't add it.

I go by the middle road. I (Now) try to get good documented sources. If I run into a conflict of information, I try to document BOTH versions. If there are no documented sources, I write down family "rumors." There is normally a bit of truth behind those stories. My thought is: I'll assume it's right until I see proof otherwise. This is where your sources are VERY important.

I can't tell you how many times I've been confronted with other information, and when asked where MY information came from, I've been VERY embarrassed to admit that I'd forgotten my source!!!

I don't have a problem with sharing my information, BUT, it's always nice to be asked! AND...I want to be sure that others know where the info came from so they can be updated. My information is being adjusted constantly.

Oh, and don't run with scissors! Either way, I think you'd get the point!!!
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