I would appreciate anyone's thoughts, opinions or even professional knowledge on this general genealogical question regarding the reading and analyzing of information on tombstones. I checked all my books and researched extensively on the internet, but I could not find the answer. I couldn't find this as an example in any genealogical discussions, how to writings, etc., regarding cemeteries and tombstone inscriptions. First, in an old family cemetery in South Carolina, I find the tombstone of my direct ancestor which reads exactly as follows: William Ligon b 1772 d June 25 1850 In his 78 year There are numerous extensive readings/transcriptions of the cemetery that this grave appears in, and this reading is consistent. Additionally, I personally have visited this cemetery, and took pictures, some 15 years ago and so from that visit can confirm this is an accurate transcription of the cemetery. Now my question: How would you interpret the phrase "In his 78 year"? Was he in fact 78 years old plus? Or was he 77 plus? I know this phrasing of age does appear regularly on tombstones, and I thought I remembered there being a "genealogical" perspective of how to interpret and use this phrase to determine/estimate the birth. Remember that your birthday that you celebrate is the number of years completed since your actual birth. So when you had your first birthday, having completed 1 year of life, you were thus beginning your second year. Thus, I am thinking that William Ligon was 77 years old when he died, not yet having reached his 78th birthday when he died on June 25th. So his 78th birthday would have been in the second half of 1850, after June 25th, but would have to have been before the end of the year so as to calculate correctly with the birth year of 1772 already noted on the stone. Therefore, I am thinking that his actual date of birth was sometime between June 25 and December 31, 1772. Does this make sense? Or would you say that he in fact was already 78 years old? Thus, to calculate correctly with the year of birth noted on the stone, placing his date of birth sometime before June 25, 1772, but after January 1, 1772. I hope you can follow this writing, and I appreciate your thoughts. If you can cite a written discussion or source in print or online that deals with this specific issue, I would greatly appreciate it. Robert M. Wilbanks IV Scottsdale, Arizona