Early American tombstone euphemisms for death



In 2008, Caitlin GD Hopkins collected 101 euphemisms for "died" from early American epitaphs. The epitaphs came from tombstones pre-1825, to qualify, the euphemism had to appear in the main text of the tombstone ("Here lies Fred; born 1801, laid himself to rest 1824"), not in the verse below it ("He was a nice guy"). It's quite a list:

Part 1: Died

Part 2: Departed This Life

Part 3: Deceased

Part 4: Entred Apon an Eternal Sabbath of Rest

Part 5: Fell a Victim to an Untimely Disease

Part 6: Departed This Transitory Life

Part 7: Killed by the Fall of a Tree

Part 8: Left Us

Part 9: Obit

Part 10: Slain by the Enemy

Part 11: Departed This Stage of Existence

Part 12: Went Rejoycing Out of This World

Part 13: Submiting Her Self to ye Will of God

Part 14: Fell Asleep

Part 15: Changed a Fleeting World for an Immortal Rest

Part 16: Fell Asleep in the Cradle of Death

Part 17: Fell Aslep in Jesus

Part 18: Was Still Born

Part 19: Innocently Retired

Part 20: Expired

Part 21: Perished in a Storm

Part 22: Departed from This in Hope of a Better Life

Part 23: Summoned to Appear Before His Judge

Part 24: Liv'd About 2 Hours

Part 25: Rose Upon the Horizon of Perfect Endless Day

All 101 of them are linked to photos of the headstones in the actual post:

101 Ways to Say "Died"

(via Making Light)