View of gravestone commemorating John Fitchet, 1740, in Maryton churchyard.

Description View of gravestone commemorating John Fitchet, 1740, in Maryton churchyard.

Date 1989

Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 2239444

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 4029/12

Scope and Content Gravestone of John Fitchet, Maryton Parish Church and Churchyard, Angus This shows the top of John Fitchet's family gravestone, with its large winged soul, (symbol of the spirit ascending to Heaven after death). Its face is carved plump and youthful, and its wings covered with carefully incised feathers. Below the soul are ranged emblems of death (the realistic skulls and crossed bones) and an hourglass, emblem of life's brevity. Both the eye-sockets and the sides of the skull are shown, giving a realistic three-dimensional effect. The carvings of skulls on gravestones vary widely in anatomical accuracy and style. Some masons carved very simple circles with two drilled holes for eye sockets and a row of incised teeth, whilst others attempt to suggest the form of the skull by indicating the jawbones, or back of the head. Some examples even show two rows of teeth, and a further smile below the jaw! This gravestone commemorates John Fitchet, who died in 1741, his son John, who died in 1732, his daughter Mary, who died in 1758, and other children called Jean, Janet and William 'who died young'. It is inscribed: 'Here lyeth tha body of JOHN/FITCHET Sometime Weaver/in Guigty Burn who died 3/February 1741 aged 62/late husband to Margaret/Grieg, their son John who/died 14 July 1732 aged 31/their daughter Mary who/died 27 January 1758 aged/36, & Jean, Janet & William/who died young'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/2239444

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap