Thursday, March 5, 2009

101 Ways, Part 75: Received a Mortal Wound on His Head

For a brief intro to the "101 Ways to Say 'Died'" series, click here.

This may be stretching my original parameters a bit since the real statement of death on this stone is plain old "departed this life." Still, I found the specificity of this epitaph intriguing enough to warrant a mention here.

Also, "Jedidah" is an unusual feminine name — I'm not sure I've ever seen it (outside the Bible) before.

Sacred to the Memory
of Amasa Brainard Ir
Son of Lieut Amasa & Mrs
Jedidah Brainard who
receivd a Mortal wound on his head
by the falling of a weight from the Bell
on Sunday ye 22nd of Apl. 1798
as he was about to enter the Church
to attend on divine worship
who Departed this life
April 27th in ye 20th Year of
his Age
In the midst of life we are in death.
Amasa Brainard, East Haddam, CT, 1798

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Wow, when it's your time to go, it's your time to go. Hit by a bell as he was walking into church. I'd say that's a message.