Verbal/Material Lore – Gravestone Epitaph
“Theodosia Stockridge”

English

Informant Data

Theodosia Stockridge was born September 20th, 1819 in Bath, Maine, and died April 10th, 1904 in Utica, New York. She was the daughter of John and Theodosia Stockridge. Her grave stands alone – it does not appear to be part of a family plot. Given that she was neither born nor did she die in or near Hanover, the reason for her burial there is unclear.

Contextual Data

Given that her gravestone lists her as “The daugher of John and Theodosia Stockridge,” one might at first guess that she was buried there by her parents. However, according to the birth and death dates listed, she died at the age of 84. Average life expectancy at the time was 49.1 years, so it is unlikely that her parents outlived her. It is possible that she was never married, and was thus buried as “ daughter of” identifier, instead of the “wife of” identifier seen with many female names in the Tuck Drive Graveyard.

Theodosia’s epitaph is taken from Revelation 14:13, as written in the King James Bible.

Text

“And their works do follow them.”