The Graveyard Squirrel

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The Graveyard Squirrel

Among the Tombstones with Tee as THE DEAD SLEUTH. A Seeker of the Elusive Dead and Wanderer of Unquiet Graveyards. Ancestral Hawkshaw. Sleuthing YORK and Beyond.

Research Fiend and Genealogist for Hire. Church Crawler. Have you ever heard the one about how there are only two things that are certain to us? The first one being that we are all subject to some form of taxation and the second is that one day we WILL all die. As a genealogical researcher my time is usually spent grappling with the mystery of death. And if I’m not in search of a missing ancestor

or researching another life long lost to history – I will be poring over the details on a newly discovered and often indecipherable certificate of death or trawling through the parish records in search of a burial entry. Being able to locate the final resting place of those from my research endeavours has always been an important task and an unsuccessful search is disappointing as the final piece of the jigsaw remains missing. However, if you struggle with the thought of death – MY world is probably NOT for you! As I love nothing more than a ramble through a graveyard and have been pottering among the tombstones for as long as I can remember – join me as I share the tales and triumphs of my wanderings among the dead. The author Lailah Gifty Akita once said that – “The graveyard is an everlasting home of every man” and within most of our cemeteries there is evidence of spectacular craftsmanship, awe inspiring stonework, history, sublime words of poignancy and the occasional flashes of humour ALL just waiting to be discovered! See YOU on the other side?

11/06/2026

Against a backdrop of characterful foliage, enveloped by creeping strands of the greenest ivy and topped with a simple urn draped in a stone cloth denotes the grave of one JOHN WALLACE who died at the age of 63 in the year 1859.

The monument commissioned by his son also celebrates the lives of John's mother, his brother JAMES BROWN WALLACE and their three sisters.

⚰ Glasgow Necropolis. Glasgow. Scotland. UK.

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09/06/2026

Nestled against a backdrop of lush hedges and shielded by trees - this heritage listed stone monument of a graceful life-sized young woman dressed in a long flowing dress with her left arm resting upon a large vase decorated with a bower of fruit and foliage is the work of the noted Leeds sculptor John Throp (1820-1889)

The monument was commissioned to mark the death of Miles Moulson, a 48 year old stonemason who died at his home in the Horton area of Bradford on October 9th in 1856 from the effects of Apoplexy.

⚰ Undercliffe Cemetery. Bradford. Yorkshire. UK.

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08/06/2026

Should Tee Bylo Hitching not be in search of a missing ancestor or poring over the details on a newly discovered death certificate or trawling through the parish records in search of a burial entry – she will be wandering among the tombstones somewhere with notebook and camera in hand.

As a enthusiastic taphophile with an interest in tombstone symbolism and as the resting place of our ancestors can be a poignant piece of the jigsaw – Tee undertakes grave hunts with the use of parish records and newspapers on behalf of her company THE DEAD SLEUTH.

In the absence of a marked grave, Tee can research and photograph the surrounding vicinity in which an ancestor rests.

However, as every research commission is as unique as the person who is requesting it – Tee offers an initial FREE thirty minute consultation to ensure that she is the perfect sleuth for her client.

Tee shares the tales and triumphs of family history and of her wanderings among the tombstones in search of the unquiet dead as THE GRAVEYARD SQUIRREL.

CONNECT:
📧 [email protected]
🌐 deadsleuth.com
⚰ graveyardsquirrel.com

17/05/2026

As the afternoon sun plays hide and seek - I'm enjoying the view among the bluebells and creeping buttercups in one of my favourite gardens of the dead.

🪦 York Cemetery. York. UK.

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16/05/2026

On the day before her 68th birthday and with her beloved granddaughter and namesake Anne Isabella Noel King by her side, the Lady Byron died on May 16 in the year 1860.

The former Anne Isabella Milbanke was laid to rest at Kensal Green Cemetery in West London and despite the incorrect spelling of her first name and that she had not been born at Seaham but at the home of her mother’s great friend Isabella Baker at Elemore Hall - her simple and elegant grave can be discovered in the shadows of the enormous Dissenter’s Chapel.

⚰ Kensal Green Cemetery. London. UK.

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01/05/2026

"Personally, I have no bone to pick with graveyards, I take the air there willingly, perhaps more willingly than elsewhere, when take the air I must." ~ Samuel Beckett.

I love, love, LOVE graveyards!

If I’m not in search of a missing ancestor or researching another life long lost to history or poring over the details of a newly discovered and often indecipherable certificate of death or trawling through the parish records in search of a burial entry – I’ll be wandering among some tombstones somewhere.

See YOU on the other side?

The Graveyard Squirrel graveyardquirrel.com
Genealogist and Grave Hunter deadsleuth.com

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19/04/2026

‘What is this Death? – a quiet of the heart?
The whole of that of which we are a part?' ~ Lord Byron

Firebrand. Exile. Political revolutionary. Epistolary genius. Poet.

During a thunderstorm which raged through Missolonghi in Greece - George Gordon Lord Noel Byron died on April 19 in the year 1824 from the effects of a fever and probable medical incompetence from his earnest doctors.

⛪ The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene. Hucknall. Nottinghamshire. UK.

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07/04/2026

"This Rogue is theirs, and we the honeft Folks.
Of Knaves and Fools, we don’t fay that we have neither,
But Knave and Fool are feldom found together."

Epigram on Turpin, by a Gentleman of York
Stamford Mercury (April 1739)

On this day in the year 1739, a notorious felon by the baptismal name of Richard Turpin from the County of Essex went to the gallows at York Tyburn attired in a smart new frock coat and shoes.

Yet in spite of the ignominy of falling prey to body snatchers necessitating an undignified burial in quick lime, his conviction at the York Assizes for the capital offence of stealing a mare, gelding and foal from one Thomas Creasey would soon pave the way for his arrival into the annals of historical legend with whispers of courageous derring-do and a horse named ‘Black Bess’.

And, the myth which swirls around this rogue of a highwayman the good folk of Essex once claimed as their own is now indelibly entangled, along with the remains of the man himself within the chronicles of the City of York.

Requiesce in pace.

⚰ Churchyard of St George. York. UK.

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05/04/2026

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter 🐣

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19/03/2026

From Churchyard to Spa Town?

Within the pages of the MARCH publication of The Yorkshire Dalesman magazine - I unearth the poignant story of a Yorkshire lass from Harrogate.

⚰ Churchyard of St Stephen. Acomb. Yorkshire. UK.

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