Hi Bev, Your inscription consists largely of part of as poem by Alexander POPE. Try this link: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LsUqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA524&lpg=PA524&dq=of+merit+void+ignobly+great&source=bl&ots=FLVwWRLWRj&sig=c4E72b0Ez0GWVnMy0He-Ba2p6HU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZnaCT5-4Noz_8QPb5qWxBg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAg If the link fails, Google of merit void ignobly great. Look in the Google Books result. If you send me a copy of the photo off-list, I will try to interpret the other hard to read words in brackets. I hope this helps Richard Brown On 9 April 2012 06:05, J & B.H. Stegeman <beverley.stegeman@bigpond.com> wrote: > Can someone please help me. I have a photo of a head stone in Kirmington Grave yard. It is Thomas Quickfall who was the under butler at the Manor house, > stone reads > Here > lies inturned the body of > Thomas Quickfall who died 24 Jan 1815 > Age 71 years > Some by blazon'd shields shine, > Backwards trace the ancient line, > Heaps of --------               Raise, > (next line I cant read) > Let  --------    their pomp & stare, > of merit void ignobly great, > One truth o'er their remains below, > Inscribed more honour will bestow, > Than lineage wealth or grandour can, > Here lies interred an honest man. > (at the bottom is W Frit???) > > Can anyone fill in the gaps for me please. > Thomas is supposed to be mentioned also on the Brocklesby family memorial ? > > Bev at Bribie Island -- Richard Brown Bromley, Kent U.K. Member of: - E. Surrey Family History Society          )   And in http://www.eastsurreyfhs.org.uk/           )   very Lincolnshire Family History Society       )  good http://www.lincolnshirefhs.org.uk/          )  company.