Maiden name on inscription

Churchyards and Monumental Inscriptions, Burial and headstone information

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piperpaul
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:44 am
Location: Australia/Tasmania.

Maiden name on inscription

Post by piperpaul » Thu Apr 29, 2021 3:04 pm

"In memory of Mary Bogue wife of David Howie" So read the inscription on Mary's grave. This couple were married by a Presbyterian Minister in Tasmania in1850, Mary drowned in 1851 and David went missing at sea in 1859. Can we deduce anything about Mary's family from this inscription. For example, does the use of a wife's maiden name on an headstone imply class? Thank you.

Falkyrn
Posts: 295
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:04 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Maiden name on inscription

Post by Falkyrn » Thu Apr 29, 2021 3:46 pm

There is no implied class here and a wander around any Scottish graveyard of that era would provide the evidence of that.
Under Scots Law & Traditions a woman retained her maiden name after marriage and simply adopted her husbands name for her use. Although they married in tasmania it was in a Presbyterian ceremony and it would be fair to assume that in their society the Scottish traditions were upheld.
This is distinctly different from the English based system where a woman's surname was changed to that of her husband on marriage
~RJ Paton~

piperpaul
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:44 am
Location: Australia/Tasmania.

Re: Maiden name on inscription

Post by piperpaul » Thu Apr 29, 2021 11:28 pm

Thanks Falkyrn, a very clear answer to an old legend that the couple were living together, unmarried!

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