A Grave from the HAYES of Chester in my Family Tree
I found this headstone early on in my family history research, it was a great find as it opened lots of other doors and enabled me to discover much more information about my HAYES line. The data which led me to the headstone was on a microfilm held by the now defunct Chester Record Office (now part of the Cheshire Record Office). I spent hours perusing these microfilm records extracting likely candidates for matches to my then small family tree. Now a days you can easily search the Overleigh Cemetry records on-line! The details of the
5!! people interned in this particular grave can be found
HERE.
Old Cemetry No2, Overleigh Road, Chester. Grave Number : R8000
The MMI (Monumental Inscription) for this headstone indicates that there are in fact 6 people buried in this grave and NOT 5 as suggested by the on-line database.
ALWAYS check the Primary Source!
The sixth person details are on the reverse side of the headstone. ALWAYS check the back of a headstone.
There was also a small memorial stone hidden behind the main headstone, this gave some more valuable information on another HAYES ancestor.
The sixth person does in fact appear in the online database but is recorded as being interned in grave number 8000 (the R is missing).
Below is the information that I recorded from the original microfilm. As you can see there is information here that has not made it to the online data, that is, the name of purchaser and the date they purchased it.
ALWAYS check the Secondary source. You never know what goodies lurk in the old microfilmed resources.
Just to finish off this post here is the full MMI.
In Affectionate Rememberance of
Rebecca Hayes
Who died February 5 1892
Aged 74 years
And now Lord what is my hope
Truly my hope is thee
Also Elizabeth
The beloved wife of Walter Brown
Born March 14th 1861
Died April 29th 1896
Gone to be with Christ which is for better
Also Hannah the
[Paternal 2nd Great Grandmother] Beloved wife of William Hayes
Who died July 18th 1904
Aged 77 years
Peace be with this place
Also Jane
[Paternal Great Grandmother]Wife of Edward Hayes
Died Sept 27 1915 Aged 59 years
Also Edward
[Paternal Great Grandfather]Husband of the above
Died Sept 7 1926 Aged 70 years
(on rear of headstone)
Also
William Hayes
Died January 23rd 1929
Aged 71 years
(Memorial behind headstone)
In memory
Of
Thomas
Son of
Edward & Jane Hayes
Who died of wounds
In the Great War
Aged 25 years
Buried in Boulogne
I'm glad to hear that I help inspire that post! I enjoyed reading it very much! I'm looking forward to reading more!