Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Tombstone Tuedsay - Smith, Tillie

Just completed a Family Tree University course: Cemetery Research 101: Dig Up Your Family History. The awesome Instructor and friend Midge Frazel of Granite in My Blood.

I thought that there were lots of great material, reading assignments, and down to earth exercises. A real task master. The course was a four week course, not over bearing, good pace. One or two "home work" assignments to visit a cemetery. [Midge = Visit a Cemetery. I got that, just read her blog.]

For the third assignment, we were to Choose a gravestone to examine and photograph (if possible). Look at all sides for information. Then we were to Write a short summary. I wrote:

Tillie Smith. She died in Defence of her honor Apr 16 1886. Erected by all Appreciative Public. Has the only known Photograph of her. More information on here can be found here: http://www.hackettstownhistory.com/article_tillie_smith.shtml
The Mystery of Tillie Smith: She was murdered "just of the street" from where I live at Centenary College, then Centenary Collegiate Institute where she lived and worked. This story "shocked Victorian Hackettstown" [quote from the above website].

Here are some Photographs of her monument.


















Little different view of the text on the monument.























Notice the wreath has changed. It is changed on a regular basis.



































Below is the only know photograph of Tillie Smith




































This monument is probably the highest point of ground in Hackettstown, New Jersey
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Copyright © 2012 by H R Worthington
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Posted by Cousin Russ at 3:00 AM
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8 comments:

  1. ErikBlaineJanuary 10, 2012 at 4:41 PM

    There is another known photograph of Tillie Smith here:
    http://www.hackettstownhistory.com/community/wade_family_gathering.html

    And there are a lot of strange things about this case, like the fact that the Janitor, who served more than seventeen years for the crime, was innocent.

    Thank you for your interest.

    http://freejamestitus.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. ErikBlaineJanuary 10, 2012 at 4:44 PM

    Here is another known photograph of Tillie Smith.
    http://www.hackettstownhistory.com/community/wade_family_gathering.html

    There are a lot of inconsistencies with this case. Read more here:

    http://freejamestitus.blogspot.com

    Thank you for your interest.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cousin RussJanuary 10, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    Erik,

    Thank you for the additional links and your Blog.

    I like the note at the end of the Web Page I included:

    "And of course, there are the reported sightings of Tillie's ghost by staff and students at the college..."

    Thank you,

    Russ

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJanuary 10, 2012 at 6:18 PM

    Quite an interesting example you chose for the course. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cousin RussJanuary 10, 2012 at 6:55 PM

    Amy,

    You know, it was the tough instructor.

    I have been by this monument many times, in my car or on foot, just needed a place (reason) to post it. It was an easy choice for the assignment.

    I live with a mile of Centenary College and not too much further to the Cemetery.

    Thank you for your comments.

    Russ

    ReplyDelete
  6. GiniJanuary 27, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    Happy Blogiversary, Cuz . . . looking forward to many more!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cousin RussJanuary 27, 2012 at 11:58 AM

    Thank Cuz - Taking a break until after RootsTech.

    Russ

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMarch 17, 2012 at 11:25 PM

    Great Article about the tombstone and headstones!

    --------------
    Artistic design of memorials and headstones
    http://www.nisanandsonsmonuments.com/services

    ReplyDelete

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