Burial
Every death was immediately made known to the inhabitants by the passing bell. This was usually done by the beadle or kirk officer, who walked through the streets at a slow pace tinkling a small bell, sometimes called the dead-bell, and sometimes the passing-bell, and with head uncovered, intimated that a brother (or sister) whose name was given had departed this life. As the intimation made by the passing bell was understood to be a general invitation, great crowds attended the funeral.
In the 18th century it was a dangerous thing to be ill and an expensive thing to die, and an often ruinous thing to be buried. The cost of a funeral sometimes equaled a year’s rental.
As soon as the breath was out of the body preparations were made. The body was covered with a winding sheet of wool and woollen stockings covered the corpse’s feet. The body was laid out on view for all who wished to see the corpse; and chairs and other furniture were covered with white linen. Watchers watched the dead night and day (lyke-wake) and received frequent refreshment for their trouble.
Invitations to the funeral were sent out on folio gilt edged sheets and friends came from far and near to pay their last respects to his memory and their last attentions to his cellar. The feast was lavish and prolonged. The glass went around with giddying replenity until those seated could no longer stand.
For families who could pay the fee to the parish, a mortcloth was rented to cover the body or the coffin. If a mortcloth was used a record of payment may be the only recorded evidence of death. Burial records were often kept by illiterate gravediggers, therefore the records are illegible.
CEMETERIES
Records are available for parish burials in Canongate, Edinburgh for the period of 1820-1851 containing date of death, name of deceased, occupation, relationship, age, place of death and cause of death.
The Register of Interments in the Greyfriar’s Burial Ground in Edinburgh from 1658-1700 includes the burial date, name of the deceased, and sometimes the location of the grave.
Monumental Inscriptions in St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard, Edinburgh record the location and type of monument, and inscription. The Scottish Genealogy Society has published many booklets of monumental inscriptions and also has a large collection of lists at its library in Edinburgh. Many local societies are publishing lists for their own areas.
Carved Stones Adviser Projects is to survey the condition of stones and burial grounds in Scotland, seeks volunteers to make surveys, and gives advice on recording the condition and information on grave stones. It is a project of The Council for Scottish Archaeology and Historic Scotland
In the 18th century it was a dangerous thing to be ill and an expensive thing to die, and an often ruinous thing to be buried. The cost of a funeral sometimes equaled a year’s rental.
As soon as the breath was out of the body preparations were made. The body was covered with a winding sheet of wool and woollen stockings covered the corpse’s feet. The body was laid out on view for all who wished to see the corpse; and chairs and other furniture were covered with white linen. Watchers watched the dead night and day (lyke-wake) and received frequent refreshment for their trouble.
Invitations to the funeral were sent out on folio gilt edged sheets and friends came from far and near to pay their last respects to his memory and their last attentions to his cellar. The feast was lavish and prolonged. The glass went around with giddying replenity until those seated could no longer stand.
For families who could pay the fee to the parish, a mortcloth was rented to cover the body or the coffin. If a mortcloth was used a record of payment may be the only recorded evidence of death. Burial records were often kept by illiterate gravediggers, therefore the records are illegible.
CEMETERIES
Records are available for parish burials in Canongate, Edinburgh for the period of 1820-1851 containing date of death, name of deceased, occupation, relationship, age, place of death and cause of death.
The Register of Interments in the Greyfriar’s Burial Ground in Edinburgh from 1658-1700 includes the burial date, name of the deceased, and sometimes the location of the grave.
Monumental Inscriptions in St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard, Edinburgh record the location and type of monument, and inscription. The Scottish Genealogy Society has published many booklets of monumental inscriptions and also has a large collection of lists at its library in Edinburgh. Many local societies are publishing lists for their own areas.
Carved Stones Adviser Projects is to survey the condition of stones and burial grounds in Scotland, seeks volunteers to make surveys, and gives advice on recording the condition and information on grave stones. It is a project of The Council for Scottish Archaeology and Historic Scotland