My grandmother, born around 1895, spoke of hearing old people request a nail through the heart before burial in times past. So great was the fear of waking in the coffin that people would request this extreme measure. The fear of live burial also gave us the term "graveyard shift" for those who could afford it. A string tied to the person's finger extended up through the ground and attached to a bell. A night watchman would listen for the bell; if none sounded, the person must have been truly dead. Hopefully.

When my grandfather was a little boy in Southern Louisiana around 1910 or so he actually experienced this at the funeral of a much older cousin. The body was put on display in the front parlor room and people drifted in and out with the children running around playing games. Gradually the women went into the kitchen and the men moved onto the front porch for a smoke. The young boys went into the hallway to play, suddenly they heard a muffled cough followed by the corpse making wind! Then came the sounds of rustling and the boys all jumped up, screamed and ran out to their dads who immediately ran into the parlor where they were confronted by a very alive, albeit weak, cousin. My grandfather said they were told his cousin was in a catatonic sleep which seemed like he was dead. God knows what the real medical term was, but it made a great tale to tell, which he promptly did to all his little friends.

@TawnyC_

2 ай бұрын

What happened to the cousin? Was he okay?

@minilea144

2 ай бұрын

I would have died 😅 that parlor would not have gone to waste. Just switch bodies.😂

@janmarchand7294

2 ай бұрын

@@TawnyC_ Yes he was ok. Like I said, they called it a catatonic state, I don't know what the medical community today would call it. From other stories I've read the person would have such shallow breaths it didn't register, same with the heart beat. Just like the brother in this story.

@janmarchand7294

2 ай бұрын

@@minilea144 🤣🤣🤣

@duetoronomy

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 🤍

"She was almost certainly not alive when she was buried." Great line, fantastic delivery; I laughed out loud. Thank you for this excellent presentation of a very interesting life and, almost certainly, death.

This was the point of a wake before the funeral. You wait to see if the body “wakes.” Not sure if other counties still do this, but here in the American south we still hold wakes- usually the day before a funeral. It’s held in a room in the funeral house. The body is in the casket- usually open to view the body. And everyone pays their respects

@janmarchand7294

2 ай бұрын

I never knew that about the meaning of wakes! Thanks for the info.❤

My grandmother had a fear of being assumed dead when not. She asked that after she passed, my mum (a doctor) check her, wait, and check again to make sure. My mum did just that.

Live burials is the reason the graveyard shift was created. Thats when they started putting bells on the coffin. Never knew about the lever in the coffins. Thats really cool and scary at the same time.

Unfortunately, it's still happening. The last few years I've come across at least 3 news stories about people almost buried alive. Another event was a pregnant woman died and her baby was born in the coffin. Luckily, it was rescued.

The Antoine Wiertz painting shown (The Premature Burial, 1854) tells an interesting story. On the coffin is inscribed “Mort du cholera - certifié par nous docteurs [signé] sandoutes.” Translation: “Death from cholera - certified by our doctors without doubt.” One might suspect a rushed examination (if in fact any examination at all) of a cholera victim.

My grandfather, as a young boy, would help dig up caskets to make way for farm expansion. Keep in mind this is late 1800s, times were different. He told us of opening a casket and finding somebody on their hands and knees with their back appearing to be pushing up the top of the casket. Poor souls. They realized they were buried alive, the horror they went through I can't imagine.

Ive seen this narrator before. Very relaxing cadence. He must have more than one channel. Brief Case sent me. Thanks for all your hard work, skills and knowledge.

My mom has this fear, didn't know it had an actual name. She has requested all of us many times over the years to be sure she is dead before we do anything. Even knowing how unlikely it is to happen in this day and age, she wants to be sure.

As a child, I remember watching an old movie where someone was buried alive in. They had that bell they kept ringing when they woke up. It was a rainy night with thunder and storm and the string to the bell broke. I had my mother promise me, that she would make sure I wasn't buried alive when the time came :)

Your show and Brief Case are my favorites. 😊

The people who complained about her not getting a proper burial clearly missed the part where she herself said she did not want to be buried.

My grandfather was afraid to be buried alive he was born in the late 1800’s. He told me a story that when he was 17 years old he was plowing a field he said he kept hearing screaming and then crying and it would not stop. My grandfather was not one to get scared. He knew there was a family cemetery on a hill near by and just knew that someone had to be buried alive. He told me it happened back then. They would even put bells so the deceased could ring if they were still alive. He never got over it. I don’t know if he told his parents or anyone. Thanks for a wonderful story as always.☮️

@Copeandseethe822

2 ай бұрын

I'd fucking hope he would have told someone.

@henajtr6039

2 ай бұрын

how can you not know if he told anyone????

@juliapalmer2344

2 ай бұрын

I was young when he told me I can’t remember that part. sorry

@duetoronomy

2 ай бұрын

Wait. Wtf happened? He just kept working or whaaa????

@susanmercurio1060

2 ай бұрын

He didn't go check on them??

How wonderful and how creepy. You're going to have to repeat this for Hallowe'en. Superb video, man.

Wow, I have heard about this, but you put it into such a personal context. It really made me think. Glad not to have that issue. While it still seems to happen, it seems very rare. Thanks for the story. 💝

Amazing! Thank you FLives, i sure will enjoy that before falling asleep. You are very appreciated 🙌

Great great job!!!! By the way, General Robert E Lee's mom was buried alive. Bless her. They got her out. Few years later, she had the General. There's an American story for you.

You always have the best content! Thank you for sharing this unique story ❤

I live near Manchester, and I have never heard of case. Thank you, this was fascinating.

Incredible story 👏 as always - great video 😊

Very interesting story & great content 👏👏👏

Loved this one! Thank you!

Interesting story!

I've been sub'd to this channel for many years and very rarely comment but I wanted to say how much I love your channel and the content you provide. You're breathing back to life many dozens of people that time and history itself has buried and thrown into obscurity. Thank you for doing what you do! 💙❤💜

@ForgottenLives

Ай бұрын

Wow, thank you!

Thanks for a riveting episode!

This was such an intriguing episode. Such a crazy impact after death, after a fairly quiet life. Other than burying money, lol.

Good afternoon 🌌🌞 amd thank you ❤

Thank you. Enjoyed.

Absolutely fascinating; thank you.

When my grandfather died from black lung As he was a coal miner. Was laid out in the parlor on ice for 3 days. That messed with the children's mind.

Hi!!! I liked your video. Very interesting. Nice Video!!!...🇺🇸🦋

She was 'almost certainly' dead? Having been mummified, I think they could state quite categorically that she was indeed deceased.

Please do one on Henry Clay Frick

Ok, not sleeping well tonight!😢😮

OMG Betsill my he still my heart :):

I used to hear a passed down story in my family that one of my ancestors was buried alive. I started rearching and found my family just like to spin tall tells. 😂

This is actually one of my worst fears. Not burried alive, but my corpse being displayed or mistreated after death

@susanmercurio1060

2 ай бұрын

You wouldn't be using it any more, so why would it bother you?

@susanmolnar9606

Ай бұрын

Then donate it to a medical school. I know for a fact that they treat people with the utmost respect for teaching purposes. Please think about it. I’m a medical professional and understand the concept. There is always a need. That’s how I’m giving back to society and learning.

@susanmercurio1060

Ай бұрын

@@susanmolnar9606 I need to make the arrangements for this. I'll ask at my local medical school.

@susanmolnar9606

Ай бұрын

@@susanmercurio1060 I’m so glad that you’re open to this wonderful opportunity. I’m always glad when people become donors, either organ or body donors. Professionals are able to learn so much when others are giving! Thanks Susan.

@susanmercurio1060

Ай бұрын

@@susanmolnar9606 I am already signed up to be an organ donor. I had to quit for a while because I had Hepatitis C but they found a cure for it so I could go back to being a donor.

Fascinating story. I don't blame her one bit. But,YIKES! Being embalmed alive sounds even worse. What an awful doctor. People will do anything for money.

11:06 The information sheet has the name Paula Beswick. Wonder what's up with that? 🤔

How’d you get my mom’s senior picture?

I don't want to be buried either. I'm being cremated and blown up in fireworks!:)

❤

❤❤❤

👍

😊

Oddities - but understandable

wait, which picture is her? you showed her in the clock, but also a much more shriveled mummy, are they both her? if she was buried in the 1800’s how is it that we have such good photos of either? you’re great! just confused haha

@marytalbott5738

2 ай бұрын

There are no real photos of her, her mummy was buried before any were made, those are just replicas, or artists renditions as far as I know.

🙏✨👌🦉🐲❣️

He knew that mummy was 💰 💰

When did people learn about a pulse?

@susanmercurio1060

2 ай бұрын

Good question

Comas

Ouch. I was super interested in watching this, but your intro was super creepy, dude. Can’t watch it now. Holy crap