Saline Cemetery, Fife

[jm52]

Hi everybody

Can anybody help? I am trying to find out if 2 relatives are butied in the old Parish Cemetery Saline Fife.

Their names are Jane McLean nee King and Archibald McLean

They lived in Saline in 1917. Is there anywhere that I can check whether they are buried there

Many thanks
JM

[Andrew Mead]

Sounds like a question for a Scottish forum - probably Fife - this one was intended for general quieries on parish registers. Can a moderator move it?

[jm52]

yes please. just joined still trying to find my way around

[Mudie68]

Hi JM, I live not far from Saline in Fife and I have looked for Mcleans and King without success but have found Mcleans and King in Kelty old graveyard. These two towns are very close to one another and it is possible they may be interred in Kelty. Unless you have definate proof they are in Saline graveyard. The old graveyard is in Bridge Street and has an old watch tower.
All my information is thru' Scotlands People site and it's been my hobby with old graveyards which I have photographed and recorded for years.
Hope the above may help.

Kind regards, Ron.

[stevenpenny]

yes please. just joined still trying to find my way around

Hi JM,

Notwithstanding what Ron has already said on the subject, I live around 1 mile from the cemetery in Saline. If you are convinced they are buried there I am quite happy to have a look.

Steve

[Mudie68]

Hi JM, I have come up with names you wanted in the 1901 census; they had 3 sons and two daughters. They lived in Carnock then, same area as Saline. The problem is they may not be the same two your looking for without you finding more information on them, such as where born, middle names, ages on death,as what you have is very skimpy to be certain. I do have further info: but it would be unfair to build up your hopes.
The bottom line is if you have more on them I can look again otherwise couldn't be sure. Steve offered to look thru' the grave yards, that would help greatly.

Hope this helps, Ron.

[stevenpenny]

Hi Ron,

That's very interesting. I was planning to go to Saline this afternoon (weather permitting), but as I live in Carnock, I might just start there instead.

Steve

[stevenpenny]

Hi JM,

I'll answer your question publically as it started that way. The information might be of interest to others but it has raised a few questions of my own.

Firstly on the subject of Jane King and Archibald MacLean:

There are no Kings in Saline Cemetary but there is a M McLean (nee Richards) who died in 1999. Given the complete absence of other Mcleans she could be a later relation.

The cemetary itself comprises two plots of approximately 100 graves each. Most graves are intact but one or two are faded beyond recognition. The oldest grave I could find was dated 1803.

Following Ron's post I also checked the Cemetary in Carnock. This dates from around 1624 and is a complete ruin with around 25% of headstones lying on the floor (the wrong way unfortunately).

The closest match in Carnock was simply inscribed 'AM (Heart) JM' but dates from 1816 so is obviously not who we are looking for.

There are other cemetary's in the area but the two checked are the closest. Do you know where they were both born, they could have gone home to be buried.


Three questions that arose are:

1. One cluster of graves are inscribed with initials, a skull, cross-bones, and an hourglass only. They seem to date from the late 1600's. Although these symbols are obviously related to death it seems to have been limited to just a few graves. Anyone have any ideas?

2. A number of the larger graves with ornate obelisk type headstones are marked on the lower portion with 'Two Rooms' and 'Three Rooms'. This I assume indicates the number of layers in the grave that are occupied?

3. One headstone has an interesting engaving on it. It is similar to the Masonic Square and Compasses but this one has a set-square pointing up (Like the letter A without the cross-bar) laid over a pitchfork. I though at first this may have been the Ancient Order of Gardeners but they use a trowel and not a pitchfork. Any ideas on this one?

Many thanks in advance.

Steve

[jm52]

Many thanks to Ron and Steven for their help with my search

All the best

June McLean

[jm52]

I have a little more info

Found out this morning that Archibald IS Buried in Saline (Old part) cemetery after all. Lair 45, I visited once last year and it was locked, hope I can get in when I visit next.

June