>Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 00:50:51 -0500 >From: Tim Stowell <[email protected]> >Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] Help with Tombstones >To: [email protected] > > I got the following from another list. Hope this info. clears up some >graveyard mysteries for some of you. > >Dating Tombstones > >One way to help find the era your ancestor was buried is to examine the >material from which the tombstone is made. If your ancestor has a stone >made of slate or common fieldstone (except wood used by pioneers), chances >are >the stone dates from 1796-1830. > > * If the stone is flat-topped hard marble, dates are about 1830-1849. > > * If the "mystery" stone is round or pointed soft marble with cursive > inscriptions, look for a date of 1845-1868. > > * Masonic four-sided stones began in 1850 and are still in use today. > > * Pylons, columns and all exotic-style monuments are usually dated >1860-1900. > > * Zinc monuments date from 1870-1900. > > * Granite, now common, came into use about 1900. > > If the writing is too faded to read, use a 75 watt black light bulb in any > lamp that casts light directly on the written message. The writing will > miraculously appear. >---------------------------- >Interesting link regarding gravestones! > >http://www.gravestonestudies.org > >Gravestone Rubbings Dos and Don'ts from the Association for Gravestone >Studies > >http://www.gravestonestudies.org/faq.htm#Some > > >Tim Robert J. Middleton Nanaimo, Vancouver Island BC Canada Fax/Phone (250) 751-8624 email [email protected] Washington County IL ILGenWeb Co-ordinator Washington County IL Mail List Washington County IL Web Page http://mypage.direct.ca/m/mid/northam.html