Partner Elsie Besley
Queer Places:
Protestant Cemetery, Capri, Città Metropolitana di Napoli, Campania, Italy
Laura Esse Farley Paley (October 20, 1869 – January 26, 1892) lived a short life that is poignantly documented at her final resting place. She was the adopted and much-loved daughter of Raymond and Annie Paley. Resting alongside her in the Cimitero Acattolico in Capri, Città Metropolitana di Napoli, Campania, Italy, is Elsie Besley, who is described on the monument as "the devoted friend of the above."
The inscription on the shared tombstone features deeply affectionate, romantic, and biblical language that strongly links the two women to historical expressions of queer companionship and same-sex love. Laura's section of the monument is inscribed with a verse from the Song of Solomon: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Immediately below, the memorial to Elsie Besley echoes this profound bond by invoking a passage from the Second Book of Samuel: "Lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." Historically, such deeply devoted partnerships recorded between women on Victorian-era tombstones often serve as important testaments to same-sex love, Boston marriages, or lifelong queer bonds, immortalizing their connection past a lifetime where societal terminology for LGBTQ+ relationships was severely restricted.
References:
Support this project
This website is a passion project researched, developed, and funded entirely by me. If you find the content valuable and would like to help support the ongoing research and hosting costs, any contribution is deeply appreciated.
Thank you for keeping this independent resource alive!
My books on Amazon: Elisa Rolle's books