This is in reply to Charlene Holland's question. The technique is referred to as the "8870" formula. It's a bit tricky at first and you have to know a bit about the deceased to make it work, but it's pretty darn clever all the same. It goes like this-- Example: Joe Smith died on 1889 May 6. This translates into the number 18890506. He was aged 71 yrs., 7 months, 9 days. This translates into the number 710709. Subtract 18890506-710709 = 18179797 Subtract again 18179797-8870 = 18170927 Thus, Joe Smith was born 1817 Sept. 27. The only really hard part is knowing precisely how many years, months, and days Joe Smith lived. Hopefully the tombstone will have birth and death dates. With that and a pocket caculator you're in business. Good luck. (And you thought YOU had too much time on your hands!)