What profession did your ancestor have? Was one of your ancestors a Freemason? These are the kinds of questions that might be answered, simply by looking at your ancestor’s gravestone. Most of the images that appear on a gravestone are symbols. Knowing how to interpret those symbols can give you a wealth of information.
Finding certain symbols on a gravestone can indicate that the deceased was a Freemason. The image of a woman with an anchor is the Masonic symbol of hope. Laurel leaves and branches represent special achievement and distinction. A square represents mortality. The Goodfellows use chain links as a symbol of their organization. If your ancestor was female, and you see an Eastern Star on her gravestone, it indicates she was a member of a Freemason group for women.
Was your ancestor a Shriner? If so, you might see a crescent moon, a scimitar, an urn, or a star on his gravestone. The star represents human aspiration, enlightenment, and divine presence. The urn is a symbol of immortality. A crescent moon represents victory.
Other images may indicate what profession your ancestor had. A sextant is the symbol for a navigator or explorer. Perhaps that person was a sailor? If so, you might also see an image of the profile of a ship, or of an anchor. A caduceus is a symbol that looks like two snakes that are entwined around a staff. This image on a gravestone symbolizes that the person was a physician, or a healer. An open book means the person was either a teacher, or a minister.
There are several different images that indicate that a person was in the military. Crossed swords mean that person had a high rank in the military. The image of a gun can also be used to symbolize that a person served in the military. Stars and Stripes around an Eagle symbolizes liberty and vigilance, and may be used to symbolize military service. Often, an eagle was used to indicate that the person was a casualty of the Civil War. A bugle also can mean that your ancestor’s profession was in the military. Another symbol that might be used is an image of field artillery, but this is rare.
Some symbols subtly describe a person’s life. A broken column symbolizes the loss of the head of the family. A broken ring represents that the family circle had been severed. Does it mean it was severed when this person died, or does it mean the person came from a broken family? It will take more research to discover the answer. Corn means the person lived to a ripe old age, and so do oak leaves or acorns. A full rose represents the prime of life. A horse means the person either loved horses, or loved horseback riding.
Image by Futurilla on Flickr