At certain points in times gone by, it was left up to the next of kin to register the death. As far as I can see, deaths were more frequently reg. when the pension+social wellfare payments came into the picture. As you would have to reg the death to obtain the cert for the Widows pension etc. Tombstones had nothing to do with it. Someone might purchase one having neglected to reg a death, there is no correlation here. One would have to wait 12 months, till the newly dug grave had settled before a tombstone can be erected. Maggie