Old Dunscore 4

Viewed this way up the symbolism become clearer.

Tradesman's tools are shown top left . We see what appears to be a tool for shaping wood into regular sized stakes. Two spades are shown in the centre.

A rough cut strips of wood when hammered through the square hole would become regular sized light weight stakes which could used for fencing or building work.

The coffin top right, the skull and crossed bones and hour glass are mortality symbols.

For those who could read
a little Latin there are the words
MEMENTO MORI
Be mindful of Death
(death comes to all)

The winged head is an immortality symbol which represents the soul ascending to heaven.

Inscription above reads:

Here lys the corps of James McCubin of McCubinston,
who departed this life October the 4 1722, his age 68

Inscription below on the reverse of the stone reads:

This stone is erected by Thomas McCubin his son, merchant

The tree with exaggerated leaves mean more than just decoration.
Plant growth is also symbolic of new life through the resurrection.

The mortality symbols of skull, bones and hour glass are again shown on this old stone.
The plant symbol represents immortality or the new life promised by the resurrection.
Located against the railings of family burial enclosure, this stone has been moved
from where it stood originally. The inscription is partially obscured by the railings.

Here lyes interd the corps of Jane Smith, spouse to James Greirson in Fardinjames, who departed this life upon the 20 day of June 1717 and of hir age 54

Another table stone which has been set upright in the ground.

The symbols; a square, a hatchet, dividers and the wood shaper tool,
represent the tools of trade of W.H. who died in 1717. The reverse of the stone is blank.

Here lyes the body of John Greirson,
smith in Nether Barndenoch, who died Feberwar
the 15th 1732 aged 63
Also Nicolas Grierson his daughter,
died Decmber 28 1746 aged 22

[Reverse of stone]
"By hamber in hand. All airts do stand"