I received the following question from Jarrad Holcombe.
This may seem like an odd question. Have you ever heard anything about coffin roads or funeral games? These were very common in Scottish and Irish culture. During these times they would participate in things such as stonelifting to pass the time. Stonelifting was a very prevalent thing in both of these cultures. Me and a small group of others are trying to track down any possible leads into finding any mention of stonelifting in the Appalachian area. Any information or possible leads would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration.
I told Jarrad I had never heard of coffin roads or funeral games, but I would ask Blind Pig readers if they knew anything about them.
Jarrad said he’d sure appreciate it and could I also please ask if you’ve heard of stonelifting, testing stones or manhood stones?
Last night’s video: Creepy AI About Me, How Granny’s Doing, New Channel Merch & More.
I’m still trying to improve the security of my comment form. If you have any trouble you can let me know. I will eventually get it straightened out 🙂
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
Remember the movie Braveheart? Remember the scene in which William Wallace after a long absence, comes home to a gathering and gets into a test of manhood with his childhood friend which involved picking up and hurling a huge stone at each other in a slow motion duel?
Absolutely. That’s the kind of stones I’m looking for.
Scotch-Irish (Gaelic) and other Appalachian language-related info from a good source: https://daily.jstor.org/the-legendary-language-of-the-appalachian-holler/. Can also click on links within the article for additional info. (Don’t have to subscribe to read article.) Other online info available via “Elizabethan language in Appalachia” search.
Hi Tipper, from Aust. I am 50% Irish on the paternal side and 35% Scot on the maternal. Apart from the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, here (Hugh) there is nothing, here, that I can see, that relates to what has been described. We acknowledge that after the humiliation and angst that followed the English occupation and decimation, many Irish left for the USA and some for Australia. I mention, here, a very good video I saw that demonstrates the Scots/Irish influence in Southern Appalachia (SA). After being told by the New England Settlers, to “go away” they moved south west to SA. Its mentioned they, after 100 years of learning Native American battle tactics, were instrumental to assist in the revolutionary war. Without the Brit defeat, and what occurred after, Aust could have been, French/Dutch/Portuguese. (Vid hosted my Billy Ray S). KR Greg K
I haven’t heard of any of these. I do remember on the world’s strongest man competition they lifted heavy stones.
Glad to hear the treatments aren’t affecting Granny badly, praying for all of yall.
In Graham County (Robbinsville) during my youth there was a stone on the lawn of the court house referred to as the “yellow creek lifting rock”. On Saturdays, most folks came into town to tend to business, buy groceries, get a haircut, and generally just socialize. Many a man tried to lift the stone, a few were successful. I remember one man called “Babe” Campbell who did lift the rock, not only lift it but carried it a few feet and put it in a 55 gallon trash barrel.
This is amazing. Thank you for this wonderful story. Can you email me with these details at jarradholcombe@gmail.com
I’ve only been reading the blog a yr and a half I think. I found it because I had been watching Celebrating Appalachia & Corie & Katie’s vlog on Utube. I wanted to say how much I love the Blind Pig and the Acorn. You had me at the name Tipper! I enjoy the comments from all of the amazing people who read it as much as the vlog! Thank you all for making my day everyday! Prayers for sweet Granny & all the family. Congrats to Paul. Grammy from Texas
I wondered what Corie was making too so now I know:) My DNA shows mostly Scottish with some English and Irish. I never heard of stacking stones or such as was mentioned.
I keep Granny and you all in my prayers! I was really happy to hear Paul can retire in December. I always saw him as the strong silent steel support for Pap, you, Granny, and the girls keeping the music preserved!!
I have never heard of coffin roads or funeral games. Wish I could be of some help. I am so happy that Granny is able to tolerate those treatments and sounds like she is getting some relief from her symptoms. Praise the Lord! Tell Paul I am so happy he is retiring in December. My husband is retiring in January. We can’t wait! I also enjoyed the girl’s video, carving pumpkins. They turned out great and it looked like they sure had a good time with making them. Have a blessed day everyone!
For a really accessible and engaging introduction to coffin roads in Scotland, Ian Bradley’s book “The Coffin Roads: Journeys to the West”, which was published last year, takes some beating. He’s researched historical records to explain the origins of the roads, and retells some wonderful tales of Scottish culture around death and remembrance (and drinking!) – definitely worth a read.
Thanks! That sounds very interesting! Right up my alley…pun intended!!
I’ll check into that. Thanks!
I haven’t heard of those things here however it’s quite possible and interesting.
The American Indians placed stones in stacks similar to the ones in the picture, I’m not saying an Indian did those but I have lived in areas that it’s quite common to see stacked stones, they have meanings for those that know how to interpret them.
This discussion of Corpse Roads may provide some context and further leads: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpse_road
I have looked this up and it’s nearly the same as what my grandma told us. A coffin road is a path along which the dead were carried to the graveyard to be buried. She warned us to stay clear of it at night.
Never heard of lifting stones for entertainment (other than cabor tossing) but there was usually a large stone along the road that the coffin could be placed upon for resting along the way. The coffin wasn’t supposed to touch the ground.
There is an old road the circles our house; it begins at the gate to the pasture, runs up to the top of the field, cuts left and heads on out across our neighbor’s hay field, across the bog and through the woods. The road is grown up with weeds and trees but is still visible. The old graveyard can now be accessed by a shorter route but you still have to walk up through the field and through the woods. There are gravestones there made of flat rock that you can’t read anymore.
Wow, this is amazing! It reassuring to hear stories that they existed here. Thanks.
God bless you Tipper, praise God for Granny, lots of people thinking Corie is pregnant too!! God bless you friend ❤️
Barry Vann has several books that contain information about material culture and other traits of the Ulster (Scots Irish) settlement of the upland South. From Whence They Came (1998); Rediscovering the South’s Celtic Heritage (2004); and in 2008 he published In Search of Ulster Scots Land.
On of my fellow Vietnam veterans, former Senator and Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb wrote Born Fighting (2004). He believes the extreme mistrust of governmental authority and passion for the right to own weapons goes far beyond a love of deer hunting. Some of those same 200,000 Scots Irish settled in Maine between 1718 and the American Revolution for the same reason. Cheaper land that was far from the law makers. This morning as I follow the news of Lewiston, the town I was born and raised in, and where many of my Caron relatives still live, I am thinking about that deeply ingrained opposition to gun laws.
Can’t shed any useful light on the subject but I would like to share that on a certain stretch of road over in Madison county Virginia you often see the stones stacked similar to those in your picture. I imagine vibrations from road traffic etc. eventually topple them but then a couple days later there they’ll appear in another spot. I’ve never seen anyone physically placing them there so our own theory has been that leprechauns do the task at night.
That made me laugh out loud. I saw a “fairy ring” when I took my daughter to Ireland years ago. Hope to see a leprechaun some day. LOL
Sorry, I can’t help. I’m not aware of anything like stone lifting or coffin roads from southeastern Kentucky. I’m sure tests of strength of various kinds, like arm or leg wrestling were very common in the past.
Never heard of stonelifting, but talking about proving a man’s strength- that would do it. I am working on my black walnuts and after they empty of second soaking, I’m going to dry them out! Isn’t it wonderful to have such bounty right outside your door and all you have to do is get it and work it!? I’m praying for your mother, Tipper, to be COMPLETELY HEALED IN JESUS’ HOLY NAME!!! Many blessings to the whole Wilson/Pressley clan and thanks for lifting us up and raising our spirits every day on your blog, Tipper. It means the world to me!!! Thank you for being you and such a beautiful and talented not to mention very kind and sweet, good lady who it’s a pleasure to associate with!!!! You’re a friend to us although we’ve not met!!! Have a blessed day and May the Good Lord Himself uplift you and hold you in his care!!! You’re such a joy and inspiration in this world!!!
Sadie, I hope you understood I meant what I said in my comment to you about the Starr community in a teasing type of way. For you or anyone else that lives near me, I will sell you all of the black walnuts you want so cheap you will think I gave them to you. I have 5 trees on my place.
Negative on the inquirer’s questions. I have never heard of these until today, but surely sombody has. The best funeral song from our Scots-Irish culture, in my opinion, is The Parting Glass. I especially appreciate the close male harmony of The Face Vocal Band’s version. It’s on YouTube.
Jarrad, my friend, I fear
those ways of yesteryear
never made it here
to my part of Southern Appalachia.
I was invited onstage to lift the “manhood stone” in Edinburgh Scotland at the International Arts Festival when we performed there in 1976…well, I have a certificate at home for effort!!!!LOL!!!
I’ve never heard the terms, but stone lifting or stacking occurs frequently both in cemeteries, in forests, and often at water’s edge. However, I have no idea what it means or from where it originates. Please send my love to Granny and, of course, love to you all.
I’ve never heard anyone talk about coffin roads or funeral games in my area of Appalachia. A few years ago I went to Ireland and never heard these things talked about!
Tipper, in last nights video you mentioned Paul was retiring. May I ask if he’s a school teacher?
So happy your mother is doing well with her treatments. God is good.
Everyone get out and enjoy this beautiful
fall weather we’re having. Pray for Israel and our country.
Brenda-thank you! Paul is a school principal 🙂
There is the Scottish Tartan Museum in Franklin, NC. I believe they have a Scottish games and tests of strength yearly. Someone there might could direct you or perhaps they have some info to aide you Jarrad. Good luck and please post a follow up when you do.
I have never heard of any of this. The city of Greenville, SC will have a weekend of actives called the Scottish Games. Some of the games are test of strength. The participants dress in Scottish attire. I’m not sure if this is done yearly.
Those are two new ones on me, so I can’t offer any info on those. So happy to hear about Granny and how her treatments are going. They are tough and it is something you nor she will ever get used to, you just do cause you do. I think the hardest part for me was when I would pick her up ever day to go to the Doctor, and I mean 5 days a week, was to have encouraging words and try to uplift her spirits before the treatment. But having God on your side do help so much. Will continue the prayers and cards for Granny and the rest of you guys. Thanks for the answer about the Almanac or Allmanac, lol. One last things, what was Corie making while you guys were talking?…something to sell in the Etsy shop?…Stay well and warm.
Glenda-thank you!! Corie was making a pumpkin 🙂