OK, so some of you object to the fact that I think words like "hearsay," "primary" and "secondary" are nonsense and not needed by any of us anytime for any reason. Use those words if you choose, however do, please, tell us which a tombstone is. While writing that answer, remember that headstones are pure "hearsay" in its most classical form !! Indeed, not only are those hearsay, but more than that we usually have no idea whatever who wrote the words that appear there or even who told the carver what to write, do we? Then too, suppose you are trying to prove your Grandmother's birth year. Surely, every one of us would consider ALL of the following bits of information as evidence. So, those of you who think that the labels "primary" and "secondary" please tell us which are which: 1) a Bible entry in her own hand saying 1899, 2) her tombstone saying 1898, 3) her obituary saying 1899, 4) her daughter's recollection that it was 1898, 5) her son's family history saying that it was 1899, 6) her death certificate saying 1898, 7) the church birth record showing 1899, 8) her driver's license showing 1899, 9) her own notes showing 1898, and 10) her mother's Bible record revealing that 1899, and her marriage license stating that 1899 was the correct year. These are difficult to reconcile, and I suggest that as you considered this problem you DID NOT even think the words "primary" or "secondary"; instead, you thought about how likely correct and reliable each was. More than that, what in the world makes the difference to you in your efforts to answer the question of her birth year?? Oh, by the way, did you decide whether the headstone is primary or secondary??? Please tell us all. Have a nice weekend. Paul