The grave secrets of murderers, bigamists and a lucky botanist
Last updated 05:37, Friday, 12 September 2008
A HISTORY enthusiast has researched the lives of more than 1,900 Cumbrians buried at Longtown.
Bridget Casson, of Cumbria Family History Society, spent three years transcribing the inscriptions on all the graves at St Michael and All Angels Church, at Arthuret near Longtown.
Her findings in the Carlisle Journal and Carlisle Patriot, on funerals, families, trade, tragedies and crime, have been added to the memorial inscriptions – providing a fascinating insight into life in the north of Cumbria since the church was built in 1609.
The register is available to buy on a CD, which contains more than 6,400 names and 700 indexed pages.
Among those on the gravestones is botanist David Lockhart, the illegitimate son of a cottager on the Netherby estate, who was part of the Congo expedition under Captain James Kingston Tuckey. Lockhart escaped with his life and went on to become the first superintendent of the botanical gardens in Trinidad.
In rummaging through the obituaries and inquest and crime reports in newspaper archives, Bridget has uncovered the tales behind many interesting characters.
These include bigamist John Murray and clockmaker Walter Scott, who spent two years in prison for the manslaughter of a Carlisle chimney sweep.
Also listed is John Blaylock, a Carlisle clock and watchmaker, and Dr John James DD, headteacher of St Bees School and rector of Arthuret.
There are several Grahams, who have owned the Netherby estate for 400 years.
Bridget, who lives in Whitehaven and works as a lab assistant at West Cumberland Hospital, said: “I first visited Arthuret about 10 years ago when taking my mother round the churchyard. She wanted to find the graves of some of her old friends and relatives, but despite wandering around for an hour or two, we couldn't find what we were looking for.
“So when I had some free time a few years ago, I thought making a record of all the inscriptions would be useful to help those, like my mother, in search of a gravestone.
“Tourists visiting Cumbria to research family history may come from as far as America and Australia, so it is invaluable to have a guide to the churchyard before they visit.
“North Cumbria is lucky in that many country churchyards are still in a good condition. I hope it might stimulate an interest in recording and preserving them – where I live in west Cumbria, most of them have had their memorials removed, used as paving, or propped around the edge of the churchyard.”
The society plans to repeat the project for all churchyards in the county, and has already covered 60.
Visit www.cumbriafhs.com.
The CD costs £10 or £12 overseas. Cheques, payable to Cumbria FHS, should be sent to Miss D. Spencer, 2 Burton Park, Burton in Kendal, Carnforth, LA6 1JB.
