Women in their own right

In England tombstones in old churchyards often treat wives as an afterthought.

The wife is usually listed under her husband's surname: “John Smith and Mary Smith, his wife.”

In Scotland, however, women's own names appeared on their tombstones.

This picture, taken in the graveyard of Wigtown Parish Church, shows the grave of Samuel William, who died in 1850. His wife died five years before and is buried in the same grave. She is listed on the stone under her own name “Mary Stewart his spouse.” Several other members of the family are also in the grave, with all the wives similarly referred to by their maiden names.

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