What a heartwarming story - so remarkable for an 18 year old and 9 year old to spend time on - guess that is what kept you out of trouble back in the olden days. Thank you for sharing this story. PETER H. BURNETT (1807-1895) was the first constitutional governor of California under American rule. He had several children - one was JOHN M. BURNETT (1838-1916). I have bio's on these two men in my copy of HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION - by Bailey Millard, pub 1924. The bio on JOHN M. BURNETT states; "John M. BURNETT and wife, ELLEN CASEY (1842- ) had nine children, two of whom died in infancy......." What do you think - a connection?? Could that stone that you recovered be for (CH)ARLES CLEVELAN(D) BURNETT???? There is a List member on the Mariposa List who is related to this family, Can I forward this post on to her... Thanks again "boys" good deed, great story, wonderful of you to share with us... RUTH _________________________________ Ruth(Grady)Skewis-Sacramento, CA ruth4527@mindspring.com > -----Original Message----- > From: Doug Urbanus [mailto:firstboy@pacbell.net] > Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 2:37 PM > To: CASANFRA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [CASANFRA] San Francisco tombstone > > > With the effort to make accessible the name of those who died prior to > the '06 earthquake, I was curious whether there will ever be an effort > to recover the tombstones (or the names thereon) dumped off ocean beach > and lands end in San Francisco. Occasionally at minus tides these > tombstones rise into view and re-excite the media. About 35 years ago > off lands end my younger brother and I struggled one up the cliff. That > they're still there is a testimonial to the time and difficulty we had. > But an 18 and 9 year old were fascinated, not knowing at the time how > anyone could be so disrespectful. So now I possess one of these > recovered tombstones. Did anyone else rescue a tombstone and hold it > dear? > > For the record (with the obscured but deduced letters enclosed in { }) > and the unknown with a wildcard *) here is the name: > > (CH)ARLES CLEVELAN(D) BUR**ETT > Died May 3 1863 2 yrs & 2 mos > > > > >