Caged Burials ~ Vampires in Pennsylvania?

[@donnar9864]

My grandfather bought many many plots in a cemetery so that none of us would ever have to worry about it, he bought them in the late 1960s, well, one of his sons died as a baby in 1966,then his wife, my grandmother died in 1973, from 1966 to 1973, the grass didn't grow back on the babies grave until my grandmother was buried there 7 yrs later, and until this day, the grass never grows back until the next person is buried. My cousin died in 2016, the next person to pass was my mom this year, now my cousins grave is starting to grow back now that my moms been buried and her grass will not grow until the next person gets buried there...no one can figure this out...

[@Tula1987]

Wow!!! interesting

[@tornadod23]

Incredible! Im sorry for your losses. ❤

[@taz-on-the-looseyusef5526]

They are controlling everything from the spiritworld

[@Laura-tl9vh]

Wow that's unbelievable....I believe that.

[@geraldinebyrnes5680]

Theres a story that goes in Ireland that the last person to be buried in a cemetery has to stand at the gate until the next person comes to be buried then they take over People call it drawing the water I never found out what that means

[@robertvirtue8070]

Another practice back then was to lay the body in the coffin and wait for them to wake up, lots of people had lead poisoning and appeared to be dead ,and sometimes they would wakeup. Hence the reasons for the practice of Wakes. Also persons were buried with a string tied to a finger that was attached to a small bell above ground. People would take shifts waiting for the bell to ring. Hence the term for the midnight shift was called the Graveyard shift/.

[@donnie017]

robert virtue And the phrase “saved by the bell.”

[@StormyNight777]

Yes you are right. It makes me shudder to think that people were actually buried alive.

[@StormyNight777]

@Doug Sanders That's weird. That would blow up the body and everything else.

[@StormyNight777]

Okay, I googled it. When all else fails...google it! It was to protect the grave from body snatchers and they sold the bodies to medical schools. They would hire people, family members or friends would sit by the grave and keep watch until the body had time to decompose enough that the body couldn't be used. The cages were usually very heavy made of cast iron though.The bars looked to be maybe and inch thick and square, unlike these cages. The family would also take postmortem photos with the dead person posing with them. Freaky! People used to do really weird stuff. www.thevintagenews.com/2018/09/25/grave-mortsafe/

[@williamwhite9430]

Thank you for sharing the knowledge. I knew about strings and bells for people buried that were alive but not the other stuff! 👍

[@bluemoon3699]

Here's another theory... Maybe the cage is a trellis and they grew vine roses or flowering vines through them. That would look real pretty.

[@superboii93]

Buzzkill let us have our moment we aren’t hurting anyone ❤️🙏

[@davidtroia7426]

@Bluemoon- damn I clicked the video and then seen ur comment then it ruined the video & I think ur right though it was 4 looks but I still thought his name of the video was intriguing & we onlylike15 secs in. But ur comment made me laugh though.

[@manuelluna_81]

Nah........ I don’t believe that theory but for each their own.

[@luistello8661]

the cage was bc people used to steal the fresh dead bodies to sell them to medical students back in the 1800's families would watch the graves till the bodies would discompose so they would not be remove

[@killoet]

Your theory is definitely a good one! I don't know why everyone is disappointed about it considering it's public knowledge vampires dont exist You guys do not pass the vibe check

[@e.j.thomas9994]

Elizabeth J Thomas? But that's my name! Nothing like seeing your own name on a grave, to give you the chills!

[@joejones9520]

I bet! Wear a mask...

[@M.J.80]

That reminds me of a friend of mine. When she was younger she went for a wonder in a local cemetery while waiting for the train (cemetery was right next to the train station) Anyway she found a grave with her exact first, middle & last name on it (her parents spelt her middle name a weird way with a few extra letters to make it unique) the girl died on the exact same day & year my friend was born. It freaked my friend out enough for her to run out of the cemetery & to this day, almost 30 years later, she still refuses to set foot in the place 😄

[@jaymehanousek8326]

Ironically you have the same name as a former neighbor of mine but thomas is her married name...

[@shawnavelli9537]

Whoaa

[@danix4897]

That’s creepy I would probably freak out

[@mary-anneswanson8445]

The cage was called a "mortcage" and were used heavily during the Victorian age (apparently it started in Scotland ) to prevent loved ones from being stolen by grave-robbers also known as Resurection Men. The bodies were taken to medical schools for students to dissect .

[@sludge4125]

It’s to prevent grave robbers from stealing the bodies. It’s been written that this is the only one in the states, but there is another in Illinois. Typically, these would be removed after about six weeks, as the body was no longer useful after that amount of time.

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

​@@sludge4125 The Mayo brothers were said to have been big on that.😆

[@fairoxygen]

@@sludge4125😊😊

[@GreeneyedkittyNAllie]

Consort on a gravestone indicated that a married woman died before her husband.

[@raallen1468]

I used to live in & have visited many older cemeteries in southeastern Iowa & near/in Nauvoo, Illinois ; formerly "Old Order Mormon" communities. Within those cemeteries, you will see "family" plots with a husband & his one LEGAL wife &&& multiple CONSORTS buried side-by-side. "Read" that as you wish.

[@chrispillsshop8824]

Thanks Rusti! Love your cat pic! See you at Megalo Mart! (Dont slip on the pee pee! Lmao)

[@lorraine9242]

exactly. Thank you, Rusti.

[@ecmillerbud1]

A consort is a mistress, an association with someone usually at the disapproval of others.

[@emilyaitch8143]

@@123werk right? they look like they're in very good condition for how long they were supposedly there

[@lisaw7633]

Nothing weird about being interested in old headstones. I like to visit old cemeteries to just wander and read the headstones. It's called Taphophile.

[@mikeforce5926]

Me to.

[@BrendaCWVStitcher]

Me too. A cemetery is so peaceful and full of histoty.

[@mikeforce5926]

@@BrendaCWVStitcher One of my favorite places to spend the day.Just wish i had a female to share it with.

[@vevedehavilland4743]

@@mikeforce5926 ill go with you

[@mikeforce5926]

@@vevedehavilland4743 Thank you.That would be nice.I live in north central Texas.About 80 miles south of Ft.Worth.A place called Lake Whitney.

[@Ichthus61]

I like looking at the tombstones, the older the better!

[@robertmitchell9040]

Meredith the only tombstone I look at Iz a pizza.🍕🍕🍕🙄🙄🙄

[@Ichthus61]

😂

[@StormyNight777]

@@robertmitchell9040 Oh. LOL It took me a second. Funny.

[@pamdaniels1087]

Check out the web sites on funny tomb stones, 1 only says " it sucks to be me" ..... they had 1 that said " granny' s potato soup recipe. " then it had the recipe engraved on the tomb stone.

[@roberleedodson]

Me when the undertaker gives a wwe superstar a tomestone

[@dyn00t41]

When vampires got confused with Pennsylvania for Transylvania

[@dcasper8514]

The word Sylvania meaning "woods ".

[@ashtarc.4853]

Legastenia😂

[@elenaciccotelli9546]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@HighlanderNorth1]

@@dcasper8514 📛 No, the word "Sylvania" means automotive lighting products! The word "ylvania" means "woods", and the word "lvania" means "place where vampires live". The word "vania" means "place where zombies frequent". The word "van" means "fully enclosed pickup truck, sometimes with an 8-track tape player, & shag carpet in the rear". 🤓👍

[@pauloricardodaluz297]

Transylvania sim!!! Local de vampiros, dráculas etc...

[@karencaddle7288]

Consort used on headstones between 17th and 19th centuries when the wife died prior to husband.

[@charlottefogg8710]

Thank you for that information. I wondered about it

[@1hollig1]

Interesting! I didn’t know that

[@KittyCapers11]

And if it says 'relict' that means she died after her husband. 'Consort' was occasionally used for husbands as well but I think 'relict' was only used for wives. Not sure about that, though.

[@sludge4125]

It’s to prevent grave robbers from stealing the bodies. It’s been written that this is the only one in the states, but there is another in Illinois. Typically, these would be removed after about six weeks, as the body was no longer useful after that amount of time.

[@bond1j89]

The bent wires are weed wacker damage, don't ask me how I know.

[@StormyNight777]

LOL Did you do it? Is that how you know. Been there and done that sort of thing.

[@ohdiggy8038]

Lol

[@indodinoyoutube]

That or a person/animal tried to get in.

[@jeniw8586]

Never saw grave cages before. Very odd.

[@e.j.thomas9994]

Go to Blackfriars churchyard in Edinburgh, Scotland in the U.K. There's loads there!

[@zeldafitzgerald4149]

It's to prevent grave robbers. It was big money back in the day. It is odd at all.

[@nancymills1884]

Just a side note: the wrought iron cage would keep a vampire enclosed, vampires are repulsed and contained by iron. In some traditions an iron stake was driven into the grave to ‘nail the alleged vampire down’ .

[@crysvicious]

Yes. Lead also.

[@exodiathefx1187]

Also back in that day vampires and witch's were a big thing people were accused of and yea I was about to say rot iron was used in lots of cultures to maintain evil

[@ohdiggy8038]

@@exodiathefx1187 I say it's time to bring it back.

[@indodinoyoutube]

Wasn't it a wooden stake?

[@ashleyfalcon125]

@@indodinoyoutube lol yes, but different parts of the world have different stories. For me it was always a “wooden” stake as well, but for them it appears to be iron & lead. 🤷‍♀️

[@vanillagorilla8236]

I have heard they ran a string to a bell inside the coffin just in case.

[@TopFloorPM]

I heard that to. String to dead person if there not dead they ring.🙂

[@vanillagorilla8236]

@@TopFloorPM and if they are Dead no Ring. 😆

[@stevennault5447]

When you see a tombstone with just initials it's usually a footstone and the one with all the information on it is the headstone...

[@andythompson6874]

"Consort" simply means the spouse, as in Prince Albert was the consort of Queen Victoria. Consort was commonly used in an era when monarchies existed, and is perhaps archaic in our modern world. As for the "cages," I believe they were put there simply to protect the graves from being trampled by cattle, and in later times, mowers.

[@nathanielcohen9890]

cages were put over the grave because the people were dying to get out.

[@wendelljohnson760]

😂

[@richundadavis1104]

Hehe😂

[@chillchillin9784]

Okay dad joke😂😂

[@donnakennedy2793]

Like it ha ha ha

[@robinmorris9598]

Old joke 😂😂😂

[@susanfromthemountains1754]

I believe what we're looking at is a trellis for roses to grow on. It's in that shape so as various kinds and colors of roses grow together they will entwine around each other and make that shape of a house, across and over the grave site in a beautiful shape of a house of roses. There would be different colors different sizes, all entwined together. Especially this tradition would have come most likely from England because they have a large amount of tourist attraction rose gardens and value roses highly to this day. Even the Queen had her own rose garden. There's also an old ballad of the 17th century that was hugely popular one time in the British isles. It's titled Barbara Allen. And as you go through the lyrics you'll see, a rose growing around the burial site of a man named sweet William. I know this tune from 60 years ago, my youth, and I thought of it while you were wondering what the "cage" is for. It's not a cage, but a beautifully made rose garden trellis. And if I had to bet, I'd bet I'm right. 🥀🌹👌👍☺️

[@dennism9313]

i live not far from there, born in 1954, back around 1970 there were quite a few more of those cages, never counted them. the story we were told back then was that the people believed the cages would keep the deceased bodies soul from leaving for heaven if they were considered sinners at that time

[@kdunity5698]

Wow thats amazing and got chills. As been doing research on that I observe. When someone mentioned machine. I thought yes but not in that matter. As research tesla now. Why? Intuition channeling as a sensitive based on the Natives who once were here. Their landmarks and then see tesla and his tech. I thought machine as Faraday cage. Energy protection one way or another. To enter or leave etc..block. w.e.!!! So Id side more with you in some type relating more to your theory told. And usually I've learned more seemingly hidden info of my own area in Sullivan Co NY and what those who are indeed born in 50s know that never was told. As seems we have a cave system from here to someone's land in PA. Off acliff is the end. Supposedly! Sure other directions if even able to go. But nope. This land was not for you and me. As song sang in school seems to not apply now. Caged off and no ways to find out see and explore as those once did. Thanks for your info and input!!

[@PK-uh2yz]

Wow, I think you were 10 when Marilyn Monroe passed away.

[@ashleyyago3798]

Hi Dennis. That is Real Interesting. I never knew that. But, if the Cages were there to keep the Deceased bodies' Soul from Leaving for heaven, if they were Sinners, what happened, to the Person's body, if they WERE A Sinner, back then?? That is quite an Interesting Find!!😉😉😊😊

[@cheyennejohnson-lynch7166]

Instead of iron couldn't they have used a purer metal or had a priest come to douse the sinners graves in holy water or something

[@kavekini1]

Could this be because they were vampires ?

[@judiesmith167]

I would think those are doves not eagles on the cages over the graves.

[@kevincostello3856]

You would be correct

[@mamazannie6060]

I watched a documentary once that explained the whole caged in phenomenon. Your body moves and contorts when you die.. Gases and body rot change the body which led people to believe in vampire's, etc. In addition animals would bust into coffins and eat bodies, and of course grave robbers were an issue. I love your videos. I find them calming and informative. Thank you!

[@shannonsales9769]

Very similar to caged bodies they use for forensic....

[@beckerse]

Wow, 10 miles from my house. I had no idea this existed.

[@kdunity5698]

If we only knew the lands we are on or near and their True history and purposes. We would prob be shocked or in awe.!

[@ashleyyago3798]

Hi Beckerse! Small World.😀 Things can be happening, 5 miles away, and you wouldn't even know about it!!😊😊

[@Kryz3686]

Haha I live in the area as well, never knew that was there. Thought the scenery looked familiar but then PA is pretty much farm land in most areas so who knew? Then he said near a town called catawissa, I was like whaaa lol..

[@sykwookiee]

@@kdunity5698 I've lived in a few different places and always study a places history...my old man told me that I couldn't truly live in an area unless I KNEW the area...

[@jennwatson74]

I grew up not far from there. As a teen in the early 90’s we went there one night and got chased away by whoever was living there. We were terrified. Lol Back then we were told by someone that they were werewolf tombs.

[@michaeldiehl2458]

I so would not live in that house with a cemetery attached to it

[@dcdc148]

Dead people don't bother you it's the live ones you have to worry about!!!!!!!

[@geraldinebyrnes5680]

Not a hope in hell not even for the lottery Wouldn't live in that house

[@The6Eternal6Dark6Lord]

I will

[@sykwookiee]

C'mon man, that would be the best property in the neighborhood...no borrowing sugar and such, and the neighbors were stone quiet, no loud parties, and the like...

[@wecancreateitall]

@@sykwookiee I wholeheartedly agree with you

[@davidkahler7]

I used to love driving through Catawissa when I was a kid. They had a bottling company there that made the best birch beer. Thanks for the memories!

[@kathykitchen1685]

My grandmother used to buy me that first year I loved it

[@lrose5526]

I have fond memories growing up in Pa. and drinking birch beer!

[@OutposTthirty1]

Is it the Pennsylvania Dutch birch beer?

[@stanleywheeler404]

My Great Aunts lived in Catawissa. Such a nice old quiet town.

[@vickieallman1497]

Love birch beer.my dad was PA dutch

[@justinthyme7275]

In the small town of Centerville, Minnesota, there is a small cemetery. There is one grave surrounded by a wrought iron fence. The headstone says the woman was a witch. It's quite eerie looking.

[@indodinoyoutube]

Oh my...

[@johndoles3713]

😎

[@jenniferbutcher8393]

Sitting on my front porch swing, listening to the rain and thunder, and a Cliff video....perfect! Glad to see they take meticulous care of that unique cemetery. Thanks😊

[@tebelshaw9486]

If people read others' comments before making their own, the comment section would be half as long. 🙄

[@ashleyfalcon125]

Always. Lol

[@johndoles3713]

Like yours

[@EB-wl9st]

In the context of a tombstone inscription from the 1800s, describing a woman as the "consort" of a specific man indicates that she was his wife. The term "consort" was commonly used in older times to refer to a spouse, particularly a wife. It was a more formal and often poetic way of indicating the marital relationship.

[@anobles2212]

Those cages are in cemeteries all over Germany. To keep the undead trapped in the grave

[@brittanypham6129]

In other words..Vampires?

[@Cormano980]

In my country they still vote, every election

[@emshwillerdavid]

@@Cormano980 lol

[@johndoles3713]

Undead🎉

[@yoscott5426]

I think the bloom on Elizabeth's grave looks like a girls face with a halo. What do you think?

[@richundadavis1104]

There’s a bloom and an Angel face... they aren’t the same image

[@annecaunce]

They're called mortsafes and as there are quite a lot in Scotland, I'd go with the grave robber theory.

[@sylphofthewildwoods5518]

Also in England. They were used to keep the resurrectionist at bay.

[@mmmm-gr7xr]

Didn't know any of this. Thanks folk.

[@annecaunce]

@@sylphofthewildwoods5518 I live in the UK, but I've never seen any here. We have many graves with railings around them, but not actually caged in.

[@sylphofthewildwoods5518]

@@annecaunce I have seen video of them in Yorkshire. Someone visited and filmed graveyards. ✌️

[@annecaunce]

@@sylphofthewildwoods5518, interesting, I live close to Yorkshire, in Lancashire. I'd love to see them.

[@treginatodd2149]

It’s to prevent grave robbing

[@yiotakourkoutas4675]

But why not all of them

[@inmylifeivelovedthemall]

@@yiotakourkoutas4675 They probably came from wealthier families

[@sludge4125]

It’s to prevent grave robbers from stealing the bodies. It’s been written that this is the only one in the states, but there is another in Illinois. Typically, these would be removed after about six weeks, as the body was no longer useful after that amount of time.

[@aevalk8369]

I'm not sure about the decorative purpose. If that was a "thing", then it seems it would be many more around as people tend to make grand shows of devotion, or their money, with expensive grave stones, monuments, etc. I'm more inclined to think it was to keep the grave from being disturbed if there were no links to vampires. Before stealing bodies to sell for research, historically grave robbing has been a problem as people tended to be buried with jewelry. They didn't play around going after the goodies either. One tale has a rich woman being put in the family mausoleum. She was buried with expensive jewelry. Later, as the family and acquaintances gathered at the house, they were horrified by screaming and the sight of the woman in her burial garb running toward the house. Turns out she wasn't dead and grave robbers had gotten in to steal. When they attempted to cut off her finger to get at a ring she woke up with a terrifying howl. They ran, she ran and apparently lived for number of years afterward. It was not uncommon to mistake a coma for death. When they move old cemeteries the rotted wooden coffins often break. Sometimes there are deep scratch marks on the inside lid from the person frantically trying to get out.

[@mikeforce5926]

I cant think of a worse death.Great story.Blessed Be.

[@lisasmith7854]

My grandpa had told me that when he was a youngboy there was a flood and some old Graves that come out the end were broken and there were scratch marks with people trying to get out hence that's why he wanted to be cremated

[@aevalk8369]

@@mikeforce5926 Thank you.

[@aevalk8369]

@@lisasmith7854 I first heard about it when an old cemetery was moved to make way for a road not far from where I lived. At the time I had a great history teacher who would teach history from a real life point of view with many anecdotal stories and true events not always found in the class books, including his days growing up poor in coal miner country. He told us about the local cemetery removal and what was found, then expounded on it. Being a history buff the rest I found out in later studies. You never forget a good teacher.

[@tommyworkslave3999]

@@aevalk8369 I hate to talk about it because it's pretty bizarre but I know of at least one instance where a grave was opened and the body was found laying on its stomach rather than on its back meaning that it had rolled over while in the grave. There is also a story of a a grave being opened to show a body that had driven its own fingers into its own skull in an act of insanity or suicide because of being buried alive.

[@karenpacker8862]

What an ominous name for this cemetery!!! Very unique place Cool legend too!!!

[@caroleannseaton9178]

Probably. I agree they look too new.

[@TommyTheCat42]

The vampire theory may not be too far off... I’m in Rhode Island where the people in the 19th century thought there was a vampire epidemic due to consumption. In some places, if there was a suspected vampire the townspeople would put a cage over the suspected vampire grave to keep them in

[@ambersdarkfox]

Interesting I was not aware of that being a thing in the US. I know covering the grave from fear of it coming back was a thing that happened over in Europe. That was born out of things like the body twitching after the person had died. Which to be fair would be absolutely terrifying to see if you didn't know about the electrical pulses still going through a nerve system after someone died. You just see a twitch and you know that person died. Kinda funny if you think about it because if there was a thing such as a vampire then it could dig it's way out easy.

[@gypsyrose429]

Vampires are spirits, that could easily move thru the cage.

[@chrispillsshop8824]

I see my buddy Braun in your pic. A friend :) I've known Bill and Braun since their days in Today Is The Day :) nice to see a fellow fan :) what an amazing drummer and even better human! (Inused to manage Nucleae Blast back then and my twin was with Relapse, so we got to see those boys a lot! :)

[@starchild1198]

Mercy Brown was a famous RI vampire

[@auntieanita6420]

Both caged graves were women who died due to childbirth. Asenath B. Thomas appears to have died during childbirth; sadly her infant daughter also died a few months after birth. Sarah Ann Boone died 16 days after giving birth, but her daughter survived.

[@Laura-tl9vh]

Its strange that the grass is green everywhere but those two caged graves....spooky

[@kentuckianaman3770]

Well it looks like they were sprayed with grass and weed killer. Since you can't get inside to cut the grass it would be necessary for the caretaker to spray what's inside to keep it from becoming overgrown.

[@Laura-tl9vh]

@@kentuckianaman3770 that's a possibility

[@samuelbonacorsi2048]

Roundup weed spray

[@indodinoyoutube]

Could also be the rust from the fence poisoning the soil and killing the plants...

[@boop4904]

@@samuelbonacorsi2048 Yup. That’s most likely what that is. Too bad too- they’re poisoning the groundwater, and if that house uses well water…. Not a good move.

[@juniatapark54]

Beautiful Pennsylvania.

[@PinksMagenta]

Lol I live in Pittsburgh. I can’t wait to get out of here. It’s like a zombie land to me😫

[@newpinglegend9304]

@Martha Fogelin I'm a Pennsylvania Dutch, if I'm going anywhere it's only farther north. Not south into the heat, it's b1tch hot here in the summer as it is, as the presenter of the video remarked. To the presenter of the video, Wandering Woodsman - glad you're doing this, your second video I have seen, and I'm glad you're telling some stories about my country, PA. Far from perfect in every way, but it's our dirt.

[@corymartin9841]

@@PinksMagenta I live like 45 mins away from the burgh its not so so bad here lol I wanna move to NC tho

[@anyemilrodriguez4726]

Yes I was raised in the lehigh Valley Allentown bethlehem area bethlehem is so good to grow up lots of fairs the musicfest every year or the great Allentown fair 😀 love p.a

[@cherylcobern4483]

Very neat place & stories. I appreciate your wandering & sharing. Stay safe! 🙏💗

[@TheSaneHatter]

I agree it's unlikely that fear of vampires was the motivation for the cages, but that's because I can also guess where the story came from: there actually *was* a "vampire panic" of sorts in New England during the tuberculosis epidemics of the later 19th century. In particular, there's a notorious incident called the Mercy Brown case from Massachusetts, which is well documented elsewhere on KZbin. Someone may have heard these stories, which hung on for a long time, and mistakenly guessed that the Pennsylvania caged graves were similarly motivated. Literary note: some of this New England vampire folklore may also have helped inspire Stephen King's tale, "Salem's Lot," since he grew up in Maine.

[@rachellarson9500]

I read the book based on these graves and it was so good! I definetally recommend reading it! It's called The Caged Graves and the book is about Sarah Ann's daughter finding out the truth about the cages over the graves. It was such a great historical fiction book.

[@sergiosilva3164]

Rachel Larson Deus ti abençoe sempre iluminando sua vida sua jornada....

[@xanadark8469]

Well, if it’s Actual iron, iron is believed to keep spirits at bay or keep spirits trapped. So, it could be a way for the family to have tried to keep their spirits on earth

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Cliff, a very interesting video, those cages actually look really pretty and ornate, they were used back in the Victorian era to deter grave robbers. xx

[@cheyennejohnson-lynch7166]

Put it in a higher place and add a door then it would make for a beautiful bird cage for doves or pigeons

[@SueGirling68]

@@cheyennejohnson-lynch7166 A fab idea. x

[@OutNaturing]

i wouldn't want to live in that house behind those graves lol. another awesome video! keep them coming!

[@ikreer9777]

There was a house up the road from us that was next to a small cemetery. You were brave if you went up the rather long driveway to trick or treat at that house. They seemed like nice people though.

[@237g]

It's the living you got to worry about not the graveyard.

[@suebray9200]

Aint that the truth!

[@reneereb6499]

I like when you look at the stones. I also enjoy the symbolism used on the headstones.

[@sydneywynings5261]

My family lives near these graves so every time we go to visit we can go see them. My dad always used to tell us that the people were werwolves and the cages kept them from escaping (which is why they are a bit beat up) sometimes when we go there are bottles of herbs that my dad also says are protection spells!

[@mobbu7052]

the tombstones are so cool to see!! what an interesting cemetary

[@donnawentz2221]

The caged graves were very popular in Scotland and were used to keep people from stealing the bodies for medical research and same here and some were removed after cadavers were legally donated.

[@samanthab1923]

I love your haunted cemetery stories 👻

[@oldtimeway1]

This has nothing to do with "body snatchers" as another poster commented. These cages or cribs were often put around graves back a hundred years or more ago. Often the whole family plot would be fenced in with a fence if an individual grave wasn't. That's because years ago livestock roamed the country freely and in the case of some graveyards, that was an open piece of grass where livestock would often be put to graze. You have to remember there were no lawn mowers in those days. Most of these grave "cages" I have seen and I have seen dozens and dozens, are open at the top and just form a crib around the grave. They could be ordered from mail order houses but before that they were often made by local blacksmiths and if you didn't want a cow reaching in and grazing on top of your grave or destroying your flowers which the family had often planted there, the cages were made with a top to keep the critters from reaching over the fence and eating the daisies. So, that's the actual explanation for these "cages".

[@TKevinBlanc]

I have a hard time believing those cages dates of the burials. Replacements?

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

They do look newer than that.

[@carrieann1640]

I agree that the cages look much too new.

[@sludge4125]

It’s to prevent grave robbers from stealing the bodies. It’s been written that this is the only one in the states, but there is another in Illinois. Typically, these would be removed after about six weeks, as the body was no longer useful after that amount of time.

[@wilfredomendez3450]

Interesting video, first time I see something like this. Thx for sharing.

[@jasonpayneuk]

They do look more decorative and they might have been added years afterwards when the family became more affluent - the designs of the 2 surviving cages look so similar so might have been made by the same company? It could be a way of protecting the original grave from being trodden on (I’m thinking of the English expression “someone just stood on my grave” when you have an unexplained shiver) thanks for sharing the video as always, I always enjoy watching, the local myth ones in particular are so interesting!

[@auntieanita6420]

You are observant! Asenath B. Thomas and Sarah Ann (Thomas) Boone were related: Asenath married Sarah's brother John. Also, both women died in June 1852.

[@davidandingem.644]

Consort was a wife and it was used still in the 18 hundreds.You may see it on old graves.

[@portialancaster3442]

I like the story that the cages were protection from animals digging up grave and the cages could have been moved from one grave to another. The birds on the cage are doves -check your cemetery symbols book. Best wishes from an amateur genealogist.

[@daveyjoweaver5183]

Yea, another interesting cemetery! I was at Chestnut Level yesterday for a while and showing a friend. I never tire of visiting there. Thanks WW! Always enjoy visits to skull parks! DaveyJO p.s. The cages look modern. Old cages would probably have been cast iron.

[@jamesbednar8625]

AWESOME video!!! Have been told by cemetery people that the main purpose for wrought-iron fences and/or cages around grave sites was to keep the dead in place. Way back in them older days when superstitions were more prevalent, It was said that when the spirits of the dead decide to roam around, if they touched the wrought-iron, it was supposed to remind them of the coldness of being dead and that they are dead. Also, when a funeral took place at a home, it was common practice to meander around when taking the body to the cemetery in order to "confuse" the spirit of the deceased should they decide to come and pay the living a visit. Do not know how true them reasons are, but do make for a good story and insight of our ancestors.

[@MondoChelloveckMovies]

My personal theory would be, to make sure no-one ever stood on the grave of the person buried there, In most Cemeteries you can freely walk over peoples graves, but not on these particular ones 🤔

[@brooke_22328]

That's what I was thinking.

[@ChonkyCats]

I always have a fear of falling through the ground at a cemetery 😳

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

I'm not sure why they would have used mortsafes in this area since they were used to deter resurrectionists, a polite term for grave robbers. They were more common in England and Scotland and usually placed in cemeteries near medical schools. Were there ever any medical schools in this area? They may have been put there as ornaments or perhaps the family was from Britain.

[@forrestbossler8075]

You always find these gems!! TY

[@rwm1]

I had never heard of these cages over graves. One thing about them is it makes it harder to keep manicured. Very interesting video

[@debbieblaylock9997]

I love old cemetery and the history of them thank for sharing be safe

[@ashleyyago3798]

Hi Debbie. I agree with You. I Too, Love Old Cemeteries. There is this one, particular old Cemetery, that I visited, in Virginia City, Nevada, that was probably erected in 1887, and the Prodestans & Catholics buried there. The Prodestans were buried on the hill, and the Catholics, were buried separately, down the hill, with Scattered wooden-box graves. The Cemetery is called, "Silver Terrace Cemetery".. Here is a Picture of 1 of the Headstonrs sitting in that Cemetery: images.app.goo.gl/itecFdqn5rLWF81P9 I hope you enjoy that!!😉😉😊

[@stehfreejesseah7893]

I'm going with animals, it's the same reason they put the flat stone on the ground. People still do the flat stone in private smaller and pet cemetery's that are more remote. They did not always follow the 6 feet rule or have a coffin so the ground will start to sink in and animals will start to dig into them so they would just place a large flat stone over top. It's creepy when ya stop by the ol family cemetery and realize some coyote dug up your uncle.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Thanks so much for that Cliff. What a beautiful cemetery. I think maybe cage could be to put off grave robbers. I just love it going around cemeteries. I subscribe to two others who do this all the time. Old cemeteries are just gorgeous. Thank you so much for taking me along. Please stay safe

[@ashleyyago3798]

Hi Linda. I thought I would Share this with you. You Said, that You Like going around old Cemeteries, and love seeing old things, right?? Well, there's this Really Old, but Cool Cemetery, in Virginia City, Nevada, that dates back to 1887. The Prodestans & Catholics were buried there. There are some old wooden-box graves, from 1887, that are graves of children, 1-2 months old, that Probably died from Polio back then. The Prodestans are Buried on the hill, and the Catholics, buried, just down the hill, and scattered all over the Place. The Cemetery is called, "Silver Terrace Cemetery", in Storey County, Virginia City, Nevada. I visited that Cemetery, and it gave me the chills, just being there, it's so Quiet. My Ex-husbands parents, live in Virginia City Nevada, and you can see that Cemetery, from their backyard. You Love old Cemeteries, and love looking at old Graves, You should go to the Website, and see some of the old Headstones, sitting in that Cemetery...."Silver Terrace Cemetery, Virginia City, Nevada". images.app.goo.gl/itecFdqn5rLWF81P9

[@ashleyyago3798]

images.app.goo.gl/itecFdqn5rLWF81P9 This is the picture, that I was trying to send you, originally..

[@lindamccaughey6669]

@@ashleyyago3798 totally gorgeous thanks

[@beatricepardue2804]

I also like old cemeteries I wonder what their lives were like cry for the infants, children. The Inskip-Pioneer cemetery in Butte County, Ca. hasn't any tombstones ocassional stone borders or indentations in the ground. Just inside the fence is a cement/marble marker which reads 'only God knows the names of the people buried here'. It used to have a dirt road leading to it but Diamond Lumber put boulders and gates cutting off access to it. My son and I would go up there every year to pay our respects and I would throw flower seeds in there. My son is gone now, I have only been back once in 8yrs. I miss it.

[@user-David-Alan]

Interesting story. I wonder if there was a church there at on time. Thanks.

[@nancydeis7121]

Watching this reminded me of why i love to visit graveyards. The birds and the peace. So calming for me

[@susanorr7535]

So fascinating, never heard of caged burials.

[@Garagecouchofjohnnyyz]

Growing up my Grandparents owned and ran a cemetery for over 52 years. Several times in over the years we dealt with robberies, some instances they were selling the skulls and retrieving gold fillings. Mostly getting into the underground family vaults. But unfortunately cemeteries are vandalized often, very sad.

[@martyjones9374]

Love your stories Cliff. I have never seen a caged grave. I do like the vintage ornate look to them & hope they were decorative & signs of respect for the person passing. I could also believe grave robber, however as you said small town PA. Do you happen to know for this cemetary if the large open spaces would have other buried? That house is very close. Very interesting video, thanks!!

[@sandrayancheski6806]

Consort means wife back in old times and another reason for the cages was to keep graverobbers from stealing the bodies And they have them in a lot of cemeteries

[@StantonsJourneys]

A very unique cemetery walk through, that is the first time i have seen them with cages around them. Thank for sharing sir.

[@angelcharlie2012]

I love old cemeteries. Especially spooky ones. At our local cemetery there is a cage around a grave like that. The kids say that it's the grave of a witch. Some of the high school kids like to go to the cemetery at night and visit "the witches grave" Especially on Halloween.

[@andychandler3992]

youtube or google James Monroe's grave. Its referred to as "The birdcage" and for good reason

[@robertkrysiak9328]

Unusual, but not unheard of, to have caged burials tied to Vampires. Suspected Vampires were usually pinned to the earth by driving a stake through the body, and into the ground, thereby “pinning” the corpse to the earth. Another method was to place a brick in the mouth, and/or arranging the leg bones behind the skull, so the corpse could not walk the earth. This practice was the start of the skull and crossbones. Caged graves are most commonly associated with preventing grave robbers from having easy access to fresh burials.

[@cynthiabaker4035]

Very interesting, I think it was for decor but the overgrowth doesn't make it look to good. Still, it was interesting.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Due to the era, #2 is truly the more likely choice for the family investing in the cage. The decorative effect would further be a desire of the the family and they use to plant flowers on graves. #1 would be a tale, they actually did a couple of things to the body, head and face/mouth, when that was a concern. Google it for details. Several found by Archaeologists throughout Europe.

[@garyjacques5982]

I seen a video on somewhere else and it was a famous actor but he was laid to rest and they have a spiritual house.literally it's like that but it's got shingles and stuff on it and as it deteriorates it might be some kind of Indian Indian belief or spiritual belief..

[@cyndifoore7743]

What’s the name of the book about graves that someone got you? If you do this often and are having a hard time reading the older headstones you can use shaving cream and a squeegee to highlight the lettering. Then use a window cleaner to remove it afterwards.

[@alicedevers9946]

I enjoyed this video. I like looking at the old headstones. Being me of course I like the vampire angle.

[@ashleyyago3798]

Hi Alice. I personally Visited an Old Cemetery, in Virginia City, Nevada, called "Silver Terrace Cemetery". That Cemetery is Quite Interesting. Children buried there, that were 1-2 months old, and probably died from Polio back then. But the "Silver Terrace Cemetery" dates back to 1887. It's Cool-Looking, but Creepy. Prodestans & Catholics were buried there. They were buried Separately-- Prodestants buried on the hill, & the Catholics buried below the hill, and Scattered.. The Website tells a lot. But some of the Headstones sitting in that Cemetery, are Already "Caged in", and Surrounded by a Fence!! images.app.goo.gl/itecFdqn5rLWF81P9 I hope You Enjoy this!!😉😉😊😊

[@R.C.1161]

Rohrbach's farm has a pretty cool pumpkin fest and corn maze in OCT. Not sure if they'll have it this year.

[@ronniecardy]

Nice trip to the graveyard no need to damage any Graves

[@allisgrace1313]

I tend to think it's more for a practice reason. Thank you for showing these. Unique and beautiful!

[@kmgreves]

Hooded graves, also known as Mortsafes, were common in the mid-19th century in the United Kingdom, but they were very rarely used in the United States. In fact, according to Find a Grave, these may be the only two hooded graves that exist in the United States.

[@dillonbilan3299]

The wires r bent because they where trying to get out

[@robertlongo7524]

Where did you get that bizarre idea?

[@cheyennejohnson-lynch7166]

Since the bars weren't broken then they couldn't get out. So what did they do? Crawl back into there graves and be all " maybe in a hundred years the bars will be gone. I'll try again then."* hits snooze button for next 100 yrs*

[@CassySoSassy]

What a treat to find your channel. I love cemeteries and I have deep roots in Pennsylvania specifically Marion Center not far from Indiana PA. Some of my family still lives there in MC and my great grandma was born and raised just outside of town in a place called “the hollow” and when we visited PA in the 80s we went out to explore it. House was crumbled and it’s contents all scattered but it was the first time I really came to know and touch my history. I’m sure by now the Hollow probably has a subdivision built on top of it now. History is amazing and old graveyards tell great stories. Thanks for sharing your adventures. I subscribed and I look forward to watching more today.

[@pauloricardodaluz297]

Booo!

[@nickmad887]

Thank you for your videos.

[@monicapushkin3274]

Yes probably decorative. A cage is just a fence with a roof. The upper part of the enclosure serves to stabilize the 4 sides of the fence.

[@lisaw7633]

Great video. Wonder why so few are buried there. 🤔. Be safe

[@considerthis410]

Maybe it's family from the house owners.

[@stoneyvance7720]

I love walking through old cemeteries. People think I'm nuts, but l live it.

[@carolynnaumann2306]

Really interesting, thank you...

[@bayusik]

I've actually visited and photographed this cemetery. I love the caged grave. No, it has nothing to to with vampires. It's to prevent graverobbing back then. And those aren't eagles on the cage, they are doves.

[@carolb29]

have never seen or heard of caged graves. gonna have to do some research cause I wanna see one up close and personal. lol

[@sludge4125]

It’s to prevent grave robbers from stealing the bodies. It’s been written that this is the only one in the states, but there is another in Illinois. Typically, these would be removed after about six weeks, as the body was no longer useful after that amount of time.

[@annaelizabeth193]

What I find cool is that when these people were alive, the internet didn't exist, KZbin didn't exist yet here they are, living on via a video on KZbin. Imagine in 200 years how much technology will have changed and the things people will be doing that we could never imagine doing in our lifetime. I dunno why I thought of this while watching. LOL But great video! I'm from PA near Pittsburgh.

[@sergiosilva3164]

Deus ti abençoe sempre Anna Elizabeth 💖

[@brianmaddy6713]

The young women in their twenties most likely died in childbirth, the leading cause of death for young woman up to the 20th century. A person who rang the bell was called "dead ringer."

[@lml656]

I wouldn't assume childbirth automatically. Thing about the early 1800s- there was so many things that killed the fairly young. So many viral and bacterial diseases, as well as illness we consider chronic and manageable today (type 1 diabetes, autoimmune gastrointestinal issues, etc.) killed people young.

[@tebelshaw9486]

Second to childbirth deaths in women was fire, due to tending food at an open fireplace.

[@Michael-xj4gd]

I'm very intrigued by 'headstone circles' right now. One answer is that a group of settlers broke a wagon wheel in that town and then subsequently settled there. The first one burried, Or the leader of the settlement, is often buried in the center, with spokes going out to each grave on the wheel. Another explanation is military units buried together. What I don't get is why some headstones, in a circle, are facing inward while others face outward?

[@mactiny274]

Maybe they Didnt want people stepping on the grave

[@sarahcoblentz4700]

This was my thought. Deterring people from walking on the land above the coffin and grave.

[@killercrow4075]

I was thinking about the whole time..so disrespectful!

[@jonathansexton4132]

A mortsafe is often referred to as a “mort safe” (two words) or “mort-safe” (hyphenated). In addition, cemetery vaults (above or below ground), mausolea, and sarcophagi, among other things, technically constitute mortsafes even if not originally intended to deter or prevent grave robbing.

[@pt2575]

Very interesting. Thank you. They are pretty. Live in CT so old is everywhere. The first cemetery in the town where I live was founded in 1630. Enjoy cemetery walking myself. Consort was just used in place of wife. Have never seen it on a man's grave. I think that'show royalty refers to a spouse, too. Correct me if that's wrong. Sometimes see "relict" or "relic." In this case, think with a T is correct. Just means widow. Enjoy your adventures so much ! Children should learn to respect the efforts of those who went before. Life was hard. No Home Depot. Building a house started with an ax in the forest. Be safe. God Bless.

[@chelseydeetta2847]

I THINK THE CAGED BURRIELS ARE BASICALLY FOR DECORATIVE USE. I NEVER HEARD OF WILD ANIMALS DIGGING UP GRAVES OTHER WISE WOULD BE MORE CAGES. FOR IOWA AND MINNESOTA THE CUFFIN GOES IN A CEMENT VALT WITH A COVER ON TOP THEN THE DIRT IS PUT OVER TO FILL IN. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING HOW PA DOES IT. BUT GRAVES DATED BACK TO THE 1800 WERE JUST PUT IN THE GROUND PROBABLY.