Dedh Trei Hans ha Hanter Cans

De Meurth, pemdhegves mis Kevardhû

Tuesday, 15^th December

Nebonan a dhanvonas dhebm pyctour an men bedh ow hengyk. Ev a veu genys en Wordhen bes ma'n men bedh en Encleudhva Vethodist Elverson, Pennsylvania.  Ev a verwas en mis Kevardhû e'n vledhen etek cans seytek ha dogens. Y vernans a veu trei dedh ken Nadelik. Tho hedna Nadelik trûedh rag y deylû. Na wrüg ev bewa dhe welas dallath an bresel tredh an stâtys, peder bledhen wòja hedna. Ev o treylys Methodist en etek cans ha seyth en America. Parjyer ha progother (leg) o ev, ha disqwedhys ew an Beybel Sans war y ven. Eus meyn bedh kehaval en Kernow? Otta onan cüdhys gen kewny. (Ma meur a gewny en Kernow.) Ma nebes ow tisqwedhes diwla junyes warbarth - sin a gowethyans ha cres. Terweythyow ma lester classek po flourys. Ma côta arvow gen geryow - dhort an Pader. Dha vodh bo gwres.

Somebody sent me a picture of my ancestor's gravestone. He was born in Ireland but the gravestone is in Elverson Methodist Cemetery. He died in December in the year 1857. His death was three days before Christmas. That was a sad Christmas for his family. He did not live to see the start of the conflict between the states (the Civil War), four years after that. He became a Methodist in 1807 in America. He was a plasterer and a (lay) preacher, and the Holy Bible is depicted on his stone. Are there similar grave stones in Cornwall. Here's one covered in lichen. (There's a lot of lichen in Cornwall.) There are several showing two hands joined together - a sign of friendship and peace. Sometimes there is a classic urn or flowers. There's a shield with words - from the Lord's Prayer (paternoster). Thy will be done.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

Beybel Sans Holy Bible

bresel (m) conflict, war

dhanvonas sent < (verb danon ~ danvon)

encleudhva (f) cemetery

hengyk (m) ancestor

parjyer (m) plasterer

progother (m) preacher, lecturer (not priest)

stâtys states

treylya to become, turn

trûedh sad

Wordhen Ireland