Here's my question: Ancestor X born in 1773 is considered to be the son of Y & Z based on published histories in the 1800's. He certainly lived and married alongside this family (but there were others of his surname in the area). According to the published sources, X was the 3rd of 4 sons born to Y & Z, after a string of girls all living. All three sons other than X die before the age of 5. When the last of these sons dies, X was 2 years old. I have tombstone inscriptions of all three other sons. They agree with the published birth/death dates. However, on the 4th son's tombstone, he is identified as "the third son of Y&Z". (The first two tombstones just say "son of ...") How much weight should I give this seeming descrepancy? Could the tombstone possibly be interpreted as "the third son of Y&Z to die"? What that sort of "ordering" ever a custom to anyone's knowledge? I am new at this, and I would greatly appreciate any help from more experienced hands. Marti Ford mford@moscow.com