I'm aware of a long abandoned graveyard, dating probably back to the early 1800's. There are as many as 50 grave sites featuring only ground stones as markers. Many of these are probably relatives of my family.
As a person of faith and ethics, I'm not a grave robber.
But then this is so very tempting.
Any thoughts on this?
Deep ,you instigator you!
Nope. No detecting graves.
Besides ,these are your relatives. None of them were rich enough to leave a coin!
But seriously....Where would the wakes for those folks have been held?
Many hours at the homesteads main house or cabin during a wake. (The building being used at the given time and location....)
Visits before and after too.
Parking for buckboards and wagons and horses and later gas powered vehicles ,and remember ;backing with horses hitched was not a thing anyone wanted to do. And...Some wheel fasteners it was better to not back up/run reversed to avoid loosening wheel nuts. That means room to park allowing a big turn. And room for multiple outfits to do the same.
The outhouse and it's path would have been busy during such times. Likely moved afterwards if it was a big crowd. (Or eventually anyways.) Water source too, from watering stock ,or a place to go just to get out of the house a while.
Shade in summer. Woodpile in winter. (You want to help a family ,split some wood,l.o.l..or at least fetch some.)Though most burials were not when ground was frozen very deep ,unless a heck of a fire was burned on the grave site a while.
Parking areas throughout the history of the site should have evidence in drops mounting , and dismounting and stuff kicked off floorboards.
Pic-nic type site should exist nearby too. A crowd needed accommodation somewhere , even if briefly.
Why go back to the homestead right away after being there for days with a death the focus? Visitors could eat and wrap up condolences ect . and leave from there while family and close friends could eventually wander back to the likely small homestead after.
