Trailflat 5

Many of the memorials in this graveyard are now virtually unreadable. By referring to a survey carried out in the 1950s/60s it is often possible to identify just enough of the inscription to match it with the full text.

Here we have a good illustration of that identification process.

In memory of Alexander Brown
who died at Redhall
9th February, 1837 aged 78 years.
Also Margaret Palmer his spouse
who died 2nd March, 1825 aged 69 years.
Also Helen their daughter
who died in infancy

The example below, although much older, is more easily read. Only the top four lines give any difficulty.
Despite the difficulty my reading of the inscription is very slightly different to that of the earlier transcribers.

Earlier transcription reads thus:

Heir lyes Ann McGIL
daughter to Alexanders
who departed this life
January 6 1699 aged 26.

Smaller stone lying against this enclosure

HEIR
LYES ANA McGILL
DAUGHTER TO ALEXAND
ER WHO WHO (sic) DEPAR
TED THIS LIF JAN 6
1699 OF AGE 26
HERE LYES ALSO MA
RY McGILL DAUGHTER
TO FRANCIS McGILL IN
COMLEIS WHO DEPAR
TED THIS LIFE APRIL
7 1712 HIR AGE 9

In most cases the surveys carried out in the 1950s by these earlier transcribers operated to a 100 year rule.
Many MIs post 1854 were not recorded. Happily in the case of Trailflat they have not adhered strictly to this rule.
Which is fortunate because many of the post 1854 inscriptions have weathered and are now virtually unreadable.
There are still, however, some monuments which they either deliberately excluded or missed from their record.
The middle memorial in this Bryden Family enclosure shown below serves to illustrate the point.

Early transcribers tended to exclude any epitaphs from their MI recorded. My view is that rhymes such as shown below, while being interesting in themselves, have an important social significance and give an insight into the belief systems of those who left them for others to read.

Sacred
to the memory of
Mary Bryden, daughter of
William and Jean Bryden in Trailflat.

After long and severe suffering,
endured with much patience & resignation.
She departed this life
7th June, 1813 aged 26 years
in the Joyful hope of a Blessed Resurrection.

Stop passenger when this you view
Remember I was once like you
A feeble worm, a clod of earth,
Man's life is death even from his birth

Erected by hir Parents
above mentioned.

Middle Monument

In memory of William Beattie who died
at Lochmaben 11th Nov 1846
aged 59 years. Also Jane
Brydon his wife who died
12th October 1859 aged 69 years.
Also William Brydon her
nephew who died .. November
1867 aged 16 years. Also
Mary their daughter who died
4th April 1894 aged 67 years
Also Helen their daughter
who died at Dunedin New
Zealand .... April 1910 aged
77 years Also ...... their daughter
who died ......... 1911 aged 80
years and W....ina their
daughter who died 6th December
1911 aged 73 years.

Sacred
to the Memory of
William Bryden who died at
Trailflat January 15th 1822
aged 69 years

In memory of
Jessie Mitchell beloved wife of
Robert Bryden, Builder, who died at
East Street, Lochmaben, suddenly on the
4th day of April, 1875 aged 27 years.
Also Agnes their daughter who died
17th September, 1865
aged 4 months.
Also Jessie their daughter
who died aged 20 months.
Also the above
Robert Bryden, Provost of Lochmaben,
who died 2nd August, 1979
aged 36.

The three monuments show above are located just outside the Bryden Family enclosure.
When photographed in 2002, the third monument was very unstable and may now have fallen.

In
Memory
of
James Brydon
Mason Dumfries,
who died 21st February, 1869
aged 44 years.

In
Memory
of
Robert Brydon
who died at Trailflat
7th June, 1848 aged 70 years.
Also Agness Smith his wife
who died 11th June, 1862 aged 84 years
Also Janet their daughter and
James their son who died in infancy.
Also James their son who died
10th June, 1821 aged 8 years
Also Mary their daughter who died
8th May, 1823 aged 18 years.

This monument may have now fallen.
The rusting and broken piece of railing
was all that was holding up in 2002.

In memory of
Andrew B. Bryden
who died at Comleys 14th May 1856
aged 11 years. Also William Bryden
who died at Comleys, 23rd May 1856
aged 5 years. Also Andrew William Bryden
who died at Collin 24th July 1872
aged 18 years.
Also Thomas Bryden their father who died
at Elizafield Torthorwald, 22 August 1890
aged 75 years.
Also Agnes Blair, his wife, who died at Collin
5th October, 1889 aged 76 years.
Also Agnes Tait their granddaughter who died
at Maryland Troqueer 23rd September
1891 aged 33 years

This fallen monument is propped up against its plinth.

This MI is of the monument in the foreground.

To the memory of
John Bell farrner in Miekleholm
Parish of Kirkmichael who
died 18th May, 1823 in
the 57th year of his age.
Also two of his children Robert and
Janet who died in infancy.
Also Janet Parker his wife
who died at Meikleholm on
3rd March 1840 aged 74 years.
Also their son Francis Bell
who died Meiklehom
22nd February, 1866 aged 61 years

In memory of
Janet Bell Wright daughter of
the late Joseph Bell who died at
Lochmaben 15th Sept 1875 aged 59 years.
And Francis Wright her
youngest son who died there 23
May 1871 aged 32 years.
Also James Wright her second son
who died June 30 1880 aged 43 year
and is interred in Brampton cemetry
London.
Also Joseph Wright of Middlesbroug
eldest son of above who died Oct 19th 1899
aged 63 years

This monument is the one at background left.

In memory of
Joseph Bell who died at Broomhills
Parish of Applegarth 16th November, 1827
aged 57 years. Also mary Little
his spouse who died 15th January, 1837
aged 68 years. And of their son
who died in infancy. Also Mary Brand
wife of James Bell who died 22nd January
1836 aged 35. Also the said
James Bell who died at Dalmakthar,
Applegarth 29th May, 1860
aged 65 years. Aso Fancis Bell
son of above Joseph Bell who died
at Dalmakethar 4th March, 1879 aged
72 years.

Also Francis Wright grandson of
above Joseph who died
at Lochmaben 25th May, 1871
aged 32 years

In memory of
Janet Bell wife of William
McKaig who died at Lochhead
28th April, 1871
aged 59 years