Skull & Crossbones on grave

red_harrington

red_harrington

Well-known member
I noticed this in our local graveyard over the weekend. I've not seen the like before. What's that all about? My theory they died from a hideous disease and might be dangerous to come near?

IMG_20210828_134155.jpg
 
Freemason, the skull and cross bones is a Masonic symbol which I believe refers to the burial of Hiram Abiff and as a memento mori, a symbol that in death all are equal.
 
There's a whole load of visual signs in graveyards - after all in the past a lot of the population couldn't read. Classical pillars broken mean a life cut short. There is also the use of stone that looks like it is decaying again deliberate and showing life is short.
But skull and cross bones do not mean pirates - easy to understand how that ,mistake could be made.
 
From the Picture Stockton Archive..... https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2007/01/17/skull-and-cross-bones/


If the churchyard you visited is St Mary's on the Green at Norton, here's your answer....

"At last I have the definitive answer to this mystery headstone. The explanation was published in the May 2012 edition of the Norton Parish magazine. The occupier of this grave is Jeremiah Moore who died on 20th July 1753 aged 57. He was a slave aboard a Turkish galley before being rescued by a British man of war. He was then press ganged into the Royal Navy where he served for a number of years. On his release he came to Norton where he entered fully into village life. On his death he left an inheritance to six local gentlemen. The skull and cross bones on his gravestone is not the sign of a pirate, but is an 18th century sign indicating a belief in resurrection and life after death. It is actually called a ‘Polycarpus’."
 
Rauko said:
"The skull and crossbones death head depicted on headstones were commonly used as ‘Memento Mori‘ symbols in the 16th to 17th centuries. They were a warning to us all that we cannot avoid death and no matter what our status is in life, we are all the same. "

Cemetery Death Heads | Headstone Symbols and Meanings

Cemetery death heads throughout the centuries
headstonesymbols.co.uk headstonesymbols.co.uk
Click to expand...
"The hourglass seen on headstones symbolises that time is passing rapidly and we are one hour closer to our death. If the hourglass depicted on a headstone is on its side, it usually represents that the deceased had their life cut short unexpectedly."
So at least he didn't die young.
 
EnAPhotography.co.uk said:
From the Picture Stockton Archive..... https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2007/01/17/skull-and-cross-bones/


If the churchyard you visited is St Mary's on the Green at Norton, here's your answer....

"At last I have the definitive answer to this mystery headstone. The explanation was published in the May 2012 edition of the Norton Parish magazine. The occupier of this grave is Jeremiah Moore who died on 20th July 1753 aged 57. He was a slave aboard a Turkish galley before being rescued by a British man of war. He was then press ganged into the Royal Navy where he served for a number of years. On his release he came to Norton where he entered fully into village life. On his death he left an inheritance to six local gentlemen. The skull and cross bones on his gravestone is not the sign of a pirate, but is an 18th century sign indicating a belief in resurrection and life after death. It is actually called a ‘Polycarpus’."
Click to expand...
I knew of the grave but not the explanation. Cheers
 
Oddly been looking into tattoo stuff like this recently as I might have start with the old bucket list earlier than I thought, so get one top shoulder, just not sure what yet.
 
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