Gravestones, ranging from humorous to disconcerting, often bear cryptic messages. These enigmatic inscriptions, from Salem witch trial references to modern Ouija board designs, are considered some of the eeriest ever seen on tombstones.
A Man Was Crushed By Stones During The Salem Witch Trials
During the Salem witch trials in early 1691, nineteen people were executed, mostly by hanging. Giles Corey, however, faced a different fate. Refusing to confess to practicing witchcraft, he endured a gruesome torture where rocks were piled on his chest. His last words, “more weight,” resonated before he was pressed to death and buried in an unmarked grave.
A Woman Was ‘Murdered By Human Wolves’
Despite the werewolf implications on this tombstone, the true narrative is a poignant tragedy rather than a frightening tale. In 1917, Dr. A.H. Yates faced charges related to a criminal operation that led to the death of 18-year-old Katherine Cross.
The illicit procedure in question was an abortion, a practice considered not only taboo but also highly perilous during that era. Although the doctor was later released and his charges dismissed, Katherine’s parents utilized her tombstone to assert the final word. In 2016, the headstone was stolen, and as of reports, it remains missing.
An Old West Gunfighter Received His Tombstone Decades After He Died
Robert Clay Allison, a Confederate veteran turned rancher and gunfighter, gained notoriety for his involvement in lynch mobs, duels with seasoned gunfighters, and even shooting the corpse of a hanged man suspended from a telegraph pole. Surprisingly, he did not meet his end in a gunfight but rather died at the age of 46 when a wagon rolled over his head.
Despite his eventful life, Allison remained without a headstone for nearly 90 years after his death, finally receiving one in 1975.
One Headstone Immortalizes A Tragic Accident
At the young age of 26, Ellen Shannon met her untimely demise due to a kerosene lamp explosion. Despite the commonality of such incidents in 1870, Shannon had supposedly used R.E. Danforth’s Non-Explosive Burning Fluid.
Expressing their resentment toward the company, her family chose to prominently inscribe the cause of her death on her tombstone. Tragically, another life was claimed in connection to R.E. Danforth’s when a 12-year-old boy died after using the product in 1872.
The Tale Behind This ‘Baby Monster’ Tombstone Is Less Scary Than It Sounds
Encountering a headstone with the inscription “monster” might evoke horror movie scenes, but the reality behind this marker is more sorrowful than chilling.
In Washington state’s Saar Pioneer Cemetery, a family with the last name “Monster” is laid to rest. The infant, who sadly never reached four months of age, appears to have been unnamed. According to the tombstone, the baby’s father passed away just a year later and was interred with them.
Speculation arises that the headstone may have been placed many years after the child’s death, and the name may have been lost to the passage of time.
An Artistic Gravestone Speaks Of Deep Tragedy
This distinctive gravestone is said to belong to Ironfoot Eva, a sideshow performer, and stands as a creation by John Ehn at Old Trapper’s Lodge in California. Ehn, a creator of various large statues in the 1950s to promote his motel, likely fashioned Ironfoot Eva as part of his imaginative works.
While it’s probable that Ironfoot Eva is a product of Ehn’s creativity, some suggest the possibility that the memorial could be inspired by a real person, considering that many of Ehn’s statues depict aspects of life in the Old West.
A Salt Lake City Woman Was Remembered As A ‘Victim Of The Beast’
This mysterious gravestone, located in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, belongs to Lilly Gray, whose death remains shrouded in uncertainty. Despite her obituary citing natural causes, her grave marks her as a victim of the beast, a reference to the biblical Book of Revelation’s description of the antichrist.
Speculation surrounds the possibility that Lilly’s husband, whom she married at the age of 72, had a criminal history and struggled with mental health issues. Additionally, the nearby area had connections to Aleister Crowley’s followers, with Crowley himself claiming the title of “The Beast 666.” However, Crowley had passed away three years before Gray moved to Salt Lake City, adding an extra layer of mystery and perpetuating speculation about the inscription on her gravestone.
Jeffrey Hudson’s Grave Marker Tells Little Of His Life Story
Jeffery Hudson, a beloved companion to King Charles I and Queen Henrietta, led a remarkable and varied life at the English court. Standing at a mere 19 inches tall, Hudson was introduced to the royal circle by jumping out of a pie to surprise the king. Apart from his entertaining role, he was reputed to have worked as a spy, endured enslavement, and distinguished himself as a captivating storyteller.
Bestowed with the moniker “Lord Minimus,” Hudson lived a unique existence. Unfortunately, his later years were marked by obscurity and exile, and upon his death in the late 1600s, he was interred in an unknown location, buried in a mass grave.
This Ouija Board Tombstone Commemorates The First Person To Patent The Board
An Asylum’s Graveyard Holds Clues To The Hospital’s Dark Past
The cemetery at the Ohio Asylum for the Insane is marked by numerous gravestones, yet two stand out for their unsettling nature. Instead of bearing a name or date, these gravestones starkly read “Specimens.”
As the inaugural state-supported mental health hospital in the U.S., this facility has a history replete with experimental treatments. Speculation surrounds the purpose of these particular headstones, with some suggesting they may signify the burial of body parts or organs resulting from experimental surgeries. Despite the intrigue, the actual contents of these graves remain shrouded in mystery.
Eerie message for all
Mary C. Dolencie’s curse
Who found and buried Eugene?
The victim, discovered near Borum Road by US Highway 22, was pronounced to have died of natural causes by Dr. C.E. Kinzel after notification to Littleton Funeral Home. A piece of paper with the address 1118 Yale Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, found with him, led to his nickname “Eugene” as Eugene Johnson was the closest resident.
Despite efforts by Littleton Funeral Home to identify him, no one came forward. “Eugene” became a statewide curiosity, drawing over a million and a half visitors to view his embalmed body at the Littleton home. He was annually given a new suit by the Littletons. Security measures, including a wire screen, were implemented to protect him from curiosity and pranks. On October 29, 1964, Eugene was finally laid to rest in Section 3, Lot 33 at Sabina Cemetery after enduring various escapades, including an abduction to Ohio State Campus in Columbus.
Nosferatu’s children
Welcome home
Be thou reminded of dust and death
Do take these words to heart. Take the time to reflect and ponder, lest he taps you on your shoulder. Should you be awake at night, it’s okay ti jump in fright.
Disgusting Robert is finally at peace
Or is he? Living a life of disgust may result in even more disgusting moments in the afterlife. Sure he may have regretted and repented, but what if he didn’t? Or what if he just didn’t care?
Til death do us part
Somewhere in Bulgaria
Cold in Chicago
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