Thursday, May 27, 2010

More from the Burying Ground, Halifax Nova Scotia

Yesterday, unable to speak because I was trying to be wordless on Wednesday, I couldn't tell you that all the photos I shot at the Old Burying Ground were taken either through the wrought iron fence or over top of it. Unfortunately the cemetery was locked when I went to see it, and the groundskeeper was no where in sight.

Anyway... never to be deterred, I persevered and took a lot of shots. Here are a few. As always click on the photo to open a larger version.

[The stone reads: "In Memory of Adam Carr Esq. A native of Berwick Upon Tweed and for many years a Merchant in New Glasgow"]

Many of the headstones and markers have an odd sort of greenish/black patina to them. The sea air of Nova Scotia has probably affected them over time, but I was curious to learn of what material they are made. After a little research, thanks to Find A Grave.com, I discovered that the stones are hand carved slate that was imported from Massachusetts Bay until the American Revolution. After the Revolution local carvers continued to carve the stones using indigenous slate, known as ironstone. In the last twenty years of the cemetery's life the stones were made of sandstone.

[The stone with the Cherub reads: "Sacred to the memory of Rachel Smith"]

Over the period of its history more than 12,000 people were interred here, many in unmarked graves. Only 1200 headstones now remain.

Brad at wonderfulpie.com has graciously allowed me to attach a link to his site so that you can see more photos shot inside the cemetery:http://www.wonderfulpie.com/photography.html Thanks Brad!

A list which includes the names of many of the interred can be found at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ked1/stpauls.html
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