Catherine Johnson's Grave

A fine calm and sunny morning, warm too. There's been an odd shower, but mostly sunny all day.  More of a breeze later, and colder in the wind.

Day off, and headed out with Sammy after breakfast.  I managed to get two loads of washing out, and got on with chores in the house.  Mam came by at lunchtime, and we headed out west to meet a recently discovered cousin.  Working the early shift in the pub, and finished early.  More walkies with Sammy, and then feet up by the fire. 

Mam recently discovered a new cousin through the power of Facebook.  It all came about after mam posted a photo of a family grave.  We headed out west and met up with Mandy Hughson and husband John.  We took them to the grave that links us, my great great great granny Catherine Johnson.  Born in 1829 at Unifirth, and went on to have a son out of wedlock.  She suffered depression for years over this, until finally drowning herself below the house in 1884.  Because she committed suicide, she could not be buried in the cemetery, and was buried outside the croft walls.  We need to organise a family gathering to place a plaque on her grave.  Here's mam and Mandy at the grave, and the new house behind sits on our old family homestead.  Taken at Unifirth, near West Burrafirth.