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A friend found this writing by Jeremy Godwin who used to write in the Orcadian newspaper in the past. He compiled this after speaking to my late mother Mary Budge.
Mither was like everybodys mither she had so much to tae give to the next generation if you cared tae listen and wae never did listen half enough did we!!
Hope the above is of interest to someone, I have seen these graves but its good to be reminded again of there whereabouts.
Picture added on 08 May 2010 at 16:07
The above was of interest to me, John. I wondered how they knew the first corpse was that of an Irishman, and what exactly 'Beneath lies "an Irishman washed up here"' means. The phrase in quotes surely can't be some sort of inscription? A 'gracious custom' anyway. (I agree about not paying enough heed to one's mother.)
Added by Ian Hourston on 17 May 2010
Hi Ian, in reply to your note above. I assume the folk in Hoy would have been familiar with the sailors and when the first one was found washed up on the shore they would have been recognised.
As for the quote saying "Beneath lies an Irishman washed up here" that would have been the nearest burial sight for him. A very thoughtful and respectful way to have treated the perished ones.
As for the quote saying "Beneath lies an Irishman washed up here" that would have been the nearest burial sight for him. A very thoughtful and respectful way to have treated the perished ones.
Added by Morag Shearer on 20 May 2010
Sorry Morag, I'm not convinced. If the corpse was recognised as that of a well-known Irishman they'd have given him a name and probably a 'proper' grave. The actual quote is "an Irishman washed up here" and I was wondering what it was an excerpt from. Maybe from a conversation with Mrs M Budge?
Added by Ian Hourston on 21 May 2010
Not sure Ian and Morag but would assume the words are cut into a stone but I agree how was it known the body was that of an Irish man without a name to add to it? some things must be left to the many secrets of the sea maby.
Added by John Budge on 29 May 2010
Can I add a note of caution about interpreting old epitaphs through 21st century eyes. The classic example is of Sambo's Grave near Sunderland Point
(Google this or search on "unconsecrated burials")
Virtually everyone who sees the grave assumes, incorrectly, that the incumbent is called Sambo. In fact Sambo has never been a personal name and was unknown as such until Helen Bannerman published her book "Little Black Sambo". "A sambo" was the generic name for a young boy or girl who was taken on board a ship to act as a servant (and status symbol) for the captain. Ships logs often record there being "a sambo on board".
There is a similar issue with the concept of "an Irishman". Historically the word was often used for an unknown white traveller. The Irishwoman's Grave in Cornwall refers to an itinerant hawker who almost certainly was not Irish. There are "Irishman's Camp" in North Yorkshire which was used by incoming travellers and "Irishman's House" in Kent where an unknown tramp lived. It is quite possible that any body being washed up on the shore and being obviously white and not "foreign" would be called an Irishman for want of any other form of description.
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(Google this or search on "unconsecrated burials")
Virtually everyone who sees the grave assumes, incorrectly, that the incumbent is called Sambo. In fact Sambo has never been a personal name and was unknown as such until Helen Bannerman published her book "Little Black Sambo". "A sambo" was the generic name for a young boy or girl who was taken on board a ship to act as a servant (and status symbol) for the captain. Ships logs often record there being "a sambo on board".
There is a similar issue with the concept of "an Irishman". Historically the word was often used for an unknown white traveller. The Irishwoman's Grave in Cornwall refers to an itinerant hawker who almost certainly was not Irish. There are "Irishman's Camp" in North Yorkshire which was used by incoming travellers and "Irishman's House" in Kent where an unknown tramp lived. It is quite possible that any body being washed up on the shore and being obviously white and not "foreign" would be called an Irishman for want of any other form of description.
Added by Paul Grantham on 18 July 2010
Hoy and Walls
