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Inscriptions on older gravestones can be a challenge to read, especially when they are written in a foreign language.
Think of playing Wheel of Fortune in a language you do not read. Not easy to fill in those illegible blanks, is it? Then throw in the possibility of misspelled words.
The gravestone for a son of Samuel Albrecht is one such challenge, especially with its irregular lettering in all caps.
Except for a few bits and pieces, this inscription has me (and Google Translate) stumped.
ein sohn von Samuel Albrecht—a son of Samuel Albrecht
geborhren den 7 tag—born the 7 day
sie eltern—her (his?) parents
frei von sin—free from sin
At FindAGrave.com, a photo of this marker is posted on the memorial page for Samuel Albrecht. My mini-translation suggests this marker is for his son, who does not seem to be named on the gravestone. Or is he?
Can you translate?
Old Saint Peters Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio
The black mold (or is it a moss?) growing on the gravestone for Rebecca Hamm Spitler (d. 1857) makes it difficult to read the inscription. In fact, I needed an assist from FindAGrave.com.
But the carving still stands out: Under a willow tree, a man leans in his grief on a pedestal that supports a funerary urn. The trunk of the willow is especially graceful with its gentle, natural curves.
REBECCA
Wife of
MICHAEL HAMM
[Dau. of Henry & Mary]
SPITLER
DIED
[March 27,] 1857
AGED
26 Yrs. 5 Mos. & 17D.
Rebecca Spitler married Michael Hamm in Fairfield County, Ohio on December 20, 1855. Less than two years later, she died—illness? childbirth? accident?
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| From FamilySearch.org |
Count me in the conservative ranks when it comes to gravestone restoration. Do no more than necessary, or you risk ending up with a “Stepford cemetery,” if you know what I mean.
That said, this stone is a perfect candidate for cleaning, don’t you think?
Baptist Corners Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio
The simple gravestone for Jacob Snyder (d. 1846) is not flashy, but it still has some interesting features: The shadow-like treatment of DIED is interesting, and the tablet itself is not rounded at the top, but comes to a point.
Add to that the attractively simple willow, and this becomes one nice gravestone. Too bad there is no carver’s mark—at least not one that is legible.
JACOB SNYDER
DIED
AUG. 11, 1846
Aged
[4? 7?]0 Yrs, 10 Mont[hs]
[illegible]
Old Saint Peters Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio
Young Samuel Saladay (b. 1836, d. 1843) died two days short of his seventh birthday.
His grave is marked with a simple gravestone crafted from siltstone, a material proven to hold up beautifully through years of our Ohio weather.
In
memory of
SAMUEL,
son of Jacob and
Elizabeth Saladay,
born Janr 29th 1836,
died Janr 27th 1843,
aged 6 years,
11 months & 29 days.My Parents dear weep not for me,
My time was short and blessed is he
That called me to eternity
Old Saint Peters Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio
Winged faces, also known as soul effigies are not common on gravestones here in central Ohio. What a surprise when, on an impulse, I pulled over at a tiny rural cemetery and quickly spied a winged face!
The winged face is on the sandstone marker at the grave of a baby, Jacob Kendler (d. 1827), suggesting the belief that his soul has risen to Heaven. The epitaph reinforces the interpretation.
JACOB
Son of
Jacob & Mary Kendler
Died Aug. 10th, 1827. aged
6 months & 18 days.
Go lovely Infant go to rest
Where sorrows never intervene
Heav’n in mercy thought it best
To call thee from this troubled scen[e.]
The boy’s name is carved in letters made up of flowers and leaves—lovely!
Arnold-Bethel Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio
