The Graveyard Squirrel

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 as the final piece of the ancestral jigsaw. 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?

'Ey up! Today is Yorkshire Day!And if you are celebrating - 'av a good 'un. 🔍
01/08/2026

'Ey up! Today is Yorkshire Day!

And if you are celebrating - 'av a good 'un.

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Against a backdrop of leaning gravestones and enveloped with ivy in colours of lime and sage - a round topped stone cele...
30/06/2026

Against a backdrop of leaning gravestones and enveloped with ivy in colours of lime and sage - a round topped stone celebrates the life of a beloved husband, one Charles Hawker who went to sleep in the year 1876.

⚰ York Cemetery. York. UK.

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Despite the ravages of time, a decorative stone celebrating the life of one JOSEPH KIRK who died in the year 1815 in his...
25/06/2026

Despite the ravages of time, a decorative stone celebrating the life of one JOSEPH KIRK who died in the year 1815 in his 53th year stands defiant.

⚰ Parish Churchyard of St Stephen. Acomb. York. UK.

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Nestled under a tree abundant in leaf and coated in a blanket of moss, a decorative chest tomb of pale stone blackened i...
23/06/2026

Nestled under a tree abundant in leaf and coated in a blanket of moss, a decorative chest tomb of pale stone blackened in history awaits a visit from the curious.

⚰ Bunhills Cemetery. London. UK.

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Against a backdrop of characterful foliage, enveloped by creeping strands of the greenest ivy and topped with a simple u...
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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Nestled against a backdrop of lush hedges and shielded by trees - this heritage listed stone monument of a graceful life...
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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Should Tee Bylo Hitching not be in search of a missing ancestor or poring over the details on a newly discovered death c...
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

As the afternoon sun plays hide and seek - I'm enjoying the view among the bluebells and creeping buttercups in one of m...
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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On the day before her 68th birthday and with her beloved granddaughter and namesake Anne Isabella Noel King by her side,...
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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"Personally, I have no bone to pick with graveyards, I take the air there willingly, perhaps more willingly than elsewhe...
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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