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Nelson is my maternal side of the family. A common christian name with my Nelson's is 'Evan'. My tree has five of them all in different generations and there may be more that I haven't discovered.

I've just arrived back from a visit to Rufford in Lancashire and in the local graveyard there, is a stone, simply inscribed "Evan Nelson, Four Breadths". Is there anyone that knows what this means? What is "four breadths"??

Hello


This is off familysearh.org which is free to search.

ANN NELSON
Female
Event(s):
Birth: 20 AUG 1808
Christening: 11 SEP 1808 Rufford, Lancashire, England
Death:
Burial:
Parents:
Father: JOSEPH NELSON
Mother: ALICE ASCROFT


EVAN NELSON
Male
Event(s):
Birth: 14 AUG 1810
Christening: 09 SEP 1810 Rufford, Lancashire, England
Death:
Burial:
Parents:
Father: JOSEPH NELSON
Mother: ALICE ASCROFT



MARRIAGE
Joseph Nelson
Marriage: 01 FEB 1802 Upholland, Lancashire, England
SPOUSE ALICE ASCROFT

Thanks Shirlock ~ but I know all the above and of the familysearch website......but I confess to being clueless as to why his gravestone says "four breadths" and nothing else...??

I tried googling it and it seems as if it might be a measurement but I do not understand of what !!!

lol...I tried that too Elizabeth, and it just baffled me even more. Amongst other things, it's somehow used in measurements for a bustle (one of those big old fashioned dresses) ~ but as he had nothing at all to do with dress making, I think I can be fairly certain it isn't that. Many of the Nelson's in that area were farmers so I'm wondering if it is something to do with that or perhaps, the name of where he lived....but who knows??

From google search around various forums:
Found at http://www.ukgen.com/forums/lancashire/viewtopic.php?p=10832
Would anyone happen to know what the significance is with the marking of '2B' or the term '2 breadths' that I have noted on many old headstones. I came across many of these in Winwick Church recently and could not understand the significance. There was just one grave that was marked '3 breadths' and this confused me even more.
A breadth is
(1) a measure or dimension from side to side of something, as distinguished from length or thickness.
(2) An extent or piece of something, usually conforming to a standard width. eg " I swam a breadth of the pool".
(3) Wide extent or scope
or (4) Freedom from narrowness, as of views or interests.
So we would imagine that if this is applied to a grave, the bodies would be side by side, either two or three abreast, which is how a lot of the old graves are, especially in family plots.

But still not completely satisfactory an explanation

Very interesting Patchem ~ so...are you saying there could be four people sid by side in there even though there's only one name on the headstone? There was (when I think about it) no other headstones to one side of the grave, and that did seem a little odd.... ~ I think I need to speak to someone in the clergy to see if they can clarify

lots of stuff if you google - I just put "breadths on tombstones" in the search engine and found a stack of stuff with lots of suggestions - some sayng it means "breaths" like on a baby's stone it says "two breadths" means it only breathed twice!!!

www.newton-le-willows.com • View topic - Winwick Graves - Two ...
Notice how it says only one date, with two people and then the 2 Breadths. Did they both die the same year from the same family? ...

newton-le-willows.com/history/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=126... - 45k - Similar pages
[PDF]Devenish
Using the tape measure the length and breadth of each type. LENGTH. BREADTH ... Find out the names and dates on each tombstone. ...

www.ni-environment.gov.uk/devenish_lets_explore_niea_singl... - Similar pages

Grave Stones
Early Emblems of Mortality on reverse of stone, possibly a recycled tombstone. Bt 53. ..... Other breadths on this side. Bt 94. ...

www.botriphnie.org.uk/grave_stones.htm - 135k - Similar pages

In 1818 one John Granger, 'Miller' died and was buried in Strathaven Old Graveyard. In 1879, one John Granger a Wholesale and Retail Ham, Grain, Cheese, Tea, Wine and Spirit Merchant is recorded as trading at Waterside Street, Strathaven. These are the graves across three 'breads' or breadths or lairs of the Granger's of Strathaven. Note: Mr. A.P. Corse-Scott, New Zealand traces his family tree back to Lilias Granger of Strathaven who married Thomas Kerr of Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire who sailed as migrants from Liverpool aboard SS 'Hornet' on 29 July, 1854 bound for Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Memorial to James 'Purlie' Wilson - Weaver in Strathaven



Strathaven Memorials
Leiper Tombstone - Old New Graveyard: There have been Leiper's in Strathaven for ... These are the graves across three 'breads' or breadths or lairs of the ...

rpc12437.tripod.com/strathavencemetery.htm - 27k - Similar pages

spouse: Alice Halewood
marriage: 26 Dec 1794 — Rufford, Lancaster, England

record title: England Marriages, 1538–1973
groom's name: Evan Nelson
bride's name: Alice Halewood
marriage date: 26 Dec 1794
marriage place: Rufford, Lancaster, England
indexing project (batch) number: M06639-2
system origin: England-ODM
source film number

birth: Rufford, Lancashire

record title: England and Wales Census, 1861
name: Evan Nelson
age: 50
gender: Male
birthplace: Rufford, Lancashire
relationship to head of household: Head
record type: Household

birth: Lancashire

record title: England and Wales Census, 1841
name: Evan Nelson
age: 25
gender: Male
birthplace: Lancashire
record type:

residence: Adlington, Lancashire, England
parents: Evan Nelson, Margaret

record title: England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
name: Evan Nelson
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 09 Jan 1876
baptism/christening place: St. George, Chorley, Lancashire, England
father's name: Evan Nelson
mother's name: Margaret
indexing project (batch) number: C01710-9
system origin: England-EASy
source film number:

birth: 1875 — Lydiate, Lancashire, England
residence: Lydiate, Lancashire, England

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Evan Nelson
age: 6
gender: Male
birth year: 1875
birthplace: Lydiate, Lancashire, England
relationship to head of household: Step Son
profession / occupation: Scholar
address: Canal Bank
census place: Lydiate, Lancashire, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1341896
the national archives reference: RG11
piece / folio: 3744 / 133
page number:

birth: 1877 — Burscough, Lancashire, England
residence: Burscough, Lancashire, England

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Evan Nelson
age: 4
gender: Male
birth year: 1877
birthplace: Burscough, Lancashire, England
relationship to head of household: Son
profession / occupation: Scholar
address: Turnpike Rd (West)
census place: Burscough, Lancashire, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1341898
the national archives reference: RG11
piece / folio: 3754 / 94
page number: 4

birth: 1839 — Chorley, Lancashire, England
residence: Chorley, Lancashire, England
spouse: Margaret Nelson

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Evan Nelson
age: 42
gender: Male
birth year: 1839
birthplace: Chorley, Lancashire, England
relationship to head of household: Head
marital condition: Married
profession / occupation: Collier (Coal Miner)
address: 66 Moor Rd
census place: Chorley, Lancashire, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1342010
the national archives reference: RG11
piece / folio: 4220 / 122
page number: 43

Evan Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1881
birth: 1876 — Chorley, Lancashire, England
residence: Chorley, Lancashire, England
parents: Evan Nelson, Margaret Nelson



Evan Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1881
birth: 1811 — Burscough, Lancashire, England
residence: Scarisbrick, Lancashire, England



Evan M Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1891
birth: Ashton, Lancashire
residence: England



Evan Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1891
birth: Chorley, Lancashire
residence: England



Evan Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1891
birth: Chorley, Lancashire
residence: England



Evan Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1891
birth: Lydiate, Lancashire
residence: England



Evan Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1891
birth: Burscough, Lancashire
residence: England



Evan Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
birth: 1876
parents: Evan Nelson
spouse: Elizabeth Southworth
marriage: 1898 — Saint George, Chorley, Lancashire, England

Evan Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
spouse: Ellen Snape
marriage: 04 Jul 1836 — Bolton Le Moors, Lancaster, England



Evan Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
spouse: Ellen Snape
marriage: 04 Jul 1836 — Bolton-Le-Moors, Lancashire, England



Evan Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
spouse: Ellen Snape
marriage: 04 Jul 1836 — St. Peter'S, Bolton-Le-Moors, Lancashire, England



Evan Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
spouse: Ellen Snape
marriage: 04 Jul 1836 — Saint Peter, Bolton Le Moors, Lancashire, England



Evan Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
spouse: Elizabeth Southworth
marriage: 19 Feb 1898 — Saint George, Chorley, Lancashire, England



Even Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1841
birth: Lancashire



Evans Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1841
birth: Lancashire



Even Nelson

England and Wales Census, 1851
birth: Burscough, Lancashire



Even Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
birth: 1840
parents: William Nelson
spouse: Margaret Thompson
marriage: 1862 — Saint George, Chorley, Lancashire, England



Even Nelson

England Marriages, 1538–1973
spouse: Margaret Thompson
marriage: 22 Mar 1862 — Saint George, Chorley, Lancashire, England

International Genealogical Index - British Isles
33. Evan Nelson - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Marriage: 26 DEC 1794 Rufford, Lancashire, England

34. EVAN NELSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Christening: 09 SEP 1810 Rufford, Lancashire, England

35. EVANS NEILSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Christening: 12 NOV 1826 Magheralin, Down, Ireland

36. EVAN NELSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Marriage: 04 JUL 1836 Saint Peter, Bolton Le Moors, Lancashire, England

37. EVAN NELSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Christening: 15 MAR 1837 Llanfihangel-Y-Creuddyn, Cardigan, Wales

38. EVAN NELSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Marriage: 16 JAN 1837 Ormskirk, Lancashire, England

39. EVEN NELSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Marriage: 22 MAR 1862 Saint George, Chorley, Lancashire, England

40. EVAN NELSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Birth: 1875 Lydiate, Lancashire, England

41. EVAN NELSON - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Marriage: 19 FEB 1898 Saint George, Chorley, Lancashire, England

Matches: International Genealogical Index/British Isles - 9