Multiple Graves

It may be a surprise for some Americans to learn that here in England we have multiple burials in the same grave. (Perhaps that is because it hardly ever happens in America - each individual has his or her own separate grave within a family plot). It is not at all uncommon in England for a single grave to hold up to five or even six people, particularly in cemeteries.

The headstone on such a grave can be very informative indeed when it comes to establishing relationships in a family.

This gravestone records several people:

In affectionate memory of Walter the loving husband of Mary E Wilkinson, late of the Chesterfield Arms, Gedling, and eldest son of Arthur and Alice Wilkinson, who died December 16th 1915, aged 29 years. "His end was peace".

Also of the above named Arthur Wilkinson, beloved husband of Alice Wilkinson, who died January 28th 1923, aged 67 years, "At Rest".

Also Frank, their youngest son, who died January 21st 1933, aged 44 years. "Rest".

Also of the above Alice Wilkinson, who died March 23rd 1935, aged 77 years. "Reunited".

Not only are four people buried here, (father, mother and two sons) but we also obtain the name of Walter's wife, and the valuable information relating to Walter's address and occupation.


Photo copyright ©Rod Neep
There is a lesson to be learned from this gravestone. I took the photograph when I was searching for the grave of my own great grandfather William Neep, purely to illustrate a multiple burial grave for this web page . William's grave (below) was found to be without a headstone, and the Wilkinson grave was just two graves away, separated by a single World War I grave. Only when I was preparing this page and looked at my records, did I realise that Alice Wilkinson was in fact William Neep's sister! I knew something rang a bell at the time!
The grave of William Neep has no headstone. There is no sign of it having existed.

The burial records for Nottingham General Cemetery gave the grave number as 4331, in position 209.9.3. The cemetery plan gave me the approximate location, and it was only by reference to the numbers engraved on the back of adjacent stones that I was able to locate this unmarked plot between other headstones. The burial records showed that four people were buried here, and that the grave was "full".

World War I and II soldiers' graves are typically like the one illustrated in this photograph

Photo copyright ©Rod Neep

Buried in this grave are:
William Neep 5th March 1919
Christopher Ward 4th October 1923
Emily Neep 15th February 1940
Mabel Clarissa Shipman 21st December 1947

The grave was opened up three times after the original burial of William.

A motley collection of people? No, they are all related! William and Emily are my great grandparents. One of their daughters was Mabel Clarissa Neep (born 1887), who married George Shipman. Another daughter was Phyllis Gertrude Neep (born 1884), who married Christopher Ward. Phyllis lived on until 1961.

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Copyright ©1997 Rod Neep
Page last updated 9 September 1997