Dear Pam, Thanks for your story. It's very interesting. We returned from the UK five weeks ago, and before we left I contacted the National Register of Archives online about estate records. They were able to tell me that the records I wanted did exist, and referred me to the Borders Archive in Selkirk where they made arrangements with the person who holds permission to view the estate records. It was all done over the internet, and everything went smoothly, down to being invited to visit the owner. We visited lots of graveyards, some mine and some we just happened to come upon. I agree, it's sad that the stones are deteriorating, but in one place we found they had been taken inside a museum for protection. I honestly think transcription is the only way. Best wishes, Judy