Set in Stone? How Good is the Evidence?

 

As part of a "Gilbride Line Refresh" this week, I'm considering the evidence to document my third great-granduncle Patrick Gilbride's death. There is presently only one source noting the event: a headstone. And there were some tricky things about this headstone. How trustworthy is the information inscribed on it?

The headstone was created about 50 years after Patrick's death. Patrick's information was included on the back of a Gilbride family headstone in St. Philomena Cemetery (now Queen of Peace Cemetery) in Hawley, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.¹

It reads:

Patrick Gilbride
Died Mar. 12, 1854 Aged 22 years

Patrick's death was the earliest recorded on the stone--on the back. The stone includes information on James Gilbride (my immigrant ancestor), his wife, Mary Hart, their son Francis on the stone's front, as well as Patrick's and his sister Mary Gilbride McDonald's information on the back. 

Patrick Gilbride's death is recorded in only one source—this headstone.

 

The answer: The family stone was created after the last family member interred there died: Patrick's brother, Francis Gilbride, who died on 9 October 1904.²

Francis Gilbride's will stipulated that "...a sum be set apart not to exceed one hundred dollars for the erection of a monument on the lot in which my father and mother is burried [sic] and where I direct to be buried out of my estate." It makes sense that whoever had the stone made would include all those family members buried in that plot—even those long dead and buried in previously unmarked graves.³

Who had the stone made? Who would know this family information? It was likely Rose Gilbride Cavanaugh, Francis' sister, who he named as the executrix of his estate and who he called his "beloved sister."⁴

In judging the reliability of the stone's inscriptions, consider the informant. Rose was the last surviving sibling of James and Mary Gilbride's eight children, and the only living daughter—her older sister Mary died decades earlier. Perhaps Rose was the family "kinkeeper."⁵

"Kinkeeper" refers to the person who fosters family connection, one who keeps the family informed, plans family gatherings—and the one who knows everyone's story. Research has shown that kinkeepers have historically been women, and this trend continues today.⁶

It's easily imagined that Rose, as the only remaining daughter and sister, would keep the Gilbride family's history close, especially as parents and siblings died and the family shrank in size. So, though many years had passed since the very earliest family deaths, Rose was in a position to have the best information on the family. 

In some cases, there is more information inscribed on the stone for one family member than another. All have ages noted and most have death dates, except for sister Mary Gilbride McDonald, who possibly died around 1855.

In the days before vital records, events such as family deaths may be etched into memory if not on paper. The Gilbride family suffered the loss of three members—mother Mary, eldest daughter Mary and son Patrick—within five years of the family's arrival in the United States in 1850. As I correlate additional evidence on family members' birth dates and death dates it will be interesting to see how close the headstone reflects reality.

As always, every piece of information inscribed on the stone will need to be correlated with additional sources before any conclusions can be drawn. It's important to assess the reliability of the information on the Gilbride family headstone as illuminated by Francis' will, by his sister Rose's role as both his executrix and the stone's likely purchaser—and possibly by her role as the family kinkeeper.

Until next time...

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© Nancy Gilbride Casey, 2024. All rights reserved.

 

IMAGE: Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189655954/james-g.-gilbride : accessed 1 June 2024), "James Gilbride" died March 1872, memorial created by "Nancy C.," with headstone photo by "thomas gross"; citing Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley, Wayne, Pennsylvania. Queen of Peace Cemetery was formerly known as both Hillside Cemetery and St. Philomena Cemetery.

 

NOTES

¹ Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198630128/patrick_gilbride : accessed 25 May 2024), "Patrick Gilbride" died 12 March 1854, memorial created by "Nancy C.," with headstone photo by "thomas gross"; citing Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley, Wayne, Pennsylvania. Patrick's name and relationship as son to James Gilbride and Mary Hart are supported by other evidence.

² Wayne County, Pennsylvania, register of deaths, 1893-1906, np., Francis Gillbride, 63, 9 October 1904; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9KN-YSG5?i=43 : accessed 30 May 2024); citing County Courthouse, Honesdale.

³ Wayne County, Pennsylvania, Will Book #7, p. 257, Francis Gilbride will, 30 May 1904; imaged in "Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8802/images/005544881_00451 : accessed 1 June 2024); citing Prothonotary, Honesdale.

⁴ Ibid.

⁵ Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198630037/mary_mcdonald : accessed 26 May 2024), "Mary Gilbride McDonald" died March 1872, memorial created by "Nancy C.," with headstone photo by "thomas gross"; citing Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley, Wayne, Pennsylvania. Mary's maiden and married surnames and relationship with parents are supported by other evidence.

⁶ Danielle Friedman, "The Constant Work to Keep a Family Connected Has a Name," The New York Times, 8 May 2024, online edition (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/well/family/kinkeeping-families.html : accessed 27 May 2024).