In genealogy, the best we can usually hope for is a provable set of birth and death records and, if applicable, marriage and as many children as possible. Anything else is a bonus and provides a welcome insight into our ancestor's lives.
Today I was researching the family group for my 3rd great-grandaunt, Pamela Watts. She was born about 1801 at Bottisham, Cambridgeshire and baptised on 16 September 1804 at Holy Trinity, Bottisham. On 21 December 1819, she married George Pettit at Holy Trinity. George was born about 1797 at Bottisham Lode, a nearby hamlet. They were both Baptists. So far, so dull, but I have a good set of parish and census records to back all this up, so I'm a happy chappy.
I was down in Cambridgeshire in 2003 and dragged my daughters around the graveyards of Holy Trinity, St James, and the Baptist Chapel, taking notes and photographs. Our time was limited so we did the best we could but it was nowhere near enough as practically everyone in these yards is related to us in some way. In 2018 a chap called Thomas Hunter Brown took more pictures and recorded more information from the Baptist Chapel, he posted this information on findagrave.com. Thank you. Some of the stones relate to Pamela's family.
Pamela and George had eight children as far as I can make out, and five of these died before Pamela died herself. The grief of a mother seeing her children die before she does is something I can't imagine or even want to contemplate.
Although George died before Pamela, his stone was erected by his eldest son, Jeremiah, a police constable with the Metropolitian Police Force. I feel I need to point out that Baptists are fond of appending words of endearment to the usual gravestone information. Using a / to denote a new line, his inscription reads:
Sacred to the memory of / GEORGE PETTIT / Who died May 3 1866 / In his 69th year. / Vain are the titles of an hour, / Vain are all riches, fame, and power; / All, all is vain-this lesson learn, / Man to his dust, must soon return. / Erected by his Son Jeremiah.
View it here
For her son John, Pamela erected the stone and so the words are hers. The stone is unreadable in parts but as far as I can make out it goes something like:
Sacred to the memory of / JOHN PETTIT / Who died January 8 1861 / Aged 20 years / These four stones record the parental / Affection of PAMELA PETTIT / A short but sweet companionship on earth / And in token of .... / ... sweeter companionship in Heaven
View it here
I'm afraid the next two had me welling up. Daughter Ann married a John Kefford and she died aged 33. It reads:
Sacred to the memory of / ANN KEFFORD / The beloved daughter of / PAMELA PETTIT / Who died March 31 1865 / Aged 33 years / Farewell ye friends and children dear / I am not dead but sleeping here / I parted with you all in love / And hope to meet in heaven above
View it here
Frances married Robert Cornwell and she died shortly after their marriage and giving birth to a child. She is buried with the 5 week old infant.
Sacred to the memory of / FRANCES CORNWELL / The Beloved Daughter of / PAMELA PETTIT / Who died November 1 1862 / Aged 20 Years / Also her infant aged 5 weeks / Wipe off your tears and weep no more / I am not lost but gone before / Remember this and bear in mind / You have not long to stay behind
View it here
I really should used to seeing deaths, but the loss of half your children is indescribably harsh.
Pamela herself lived until she was 67.
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