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Monument Inscription
ERECTED
BY
GRACE FINLAYTOR,
IN MEMORY OF HER MOTHER,
SARAH DONALDSON,
WHO DIED 10TH APRIL 1874,
AGED 70 YEARS.
Family History
This rather austere memorial stone belies the affection obviously held between the parties concerned. Simple in design and made from local whinstone material, the memorial was donated to the memory of a mother by her loving daughter.
The subject of the memorial is a woman named Sarah Donaldson. This lady was the daughter of a Neil Donaldson and his wife Ann McLaughland. The inscription indicates that Sarah was seventy years of age at the time of her death whilst her death certificate shows her as being two years older.
Her daughter Grace Finlaytor, responsible for the erection of this monument, omitted to include any reference to her mother’s husband, William Finlaytor, a carter by occupation. This omission is most unusual as in the times in question it was expected that the name of the spouse, particularly the husband was shown on the inscription.
Whatever the reason only the deceased’s maiden name is used on the memorial.
Sarah Finlaytor nee Donaldson was to die on the afternoon of 10th April, 1874 in the village of Newton, the cause of death being heart failure. It is probable that the family had non-conformist tendencies as no records can be found of their births or marriages in official church records.