Genealogy Chat

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on my travels round the cemeteries I have come across a Headstone from 1682.It has rather a weird inscription on it that I THINK I can read, does anyone know anywhere I could post it to get others opinions? I have dial up internet so really slow to email it to several people.But I know a lot of you here are good at reading old stuff. Thanks Linda

PM me I can stick it on a webpage for you

thank you very much, message sent Linda

a big thank you Helen anyone interested the pic is at http://www.catisfaction.net/images/DSC00149.JPG would be interested in opinions Linda

Got to love that old English. Here lays the body of Elizabeth wife of John Marth. She departed this life the 2nd day of December 1682. All you that passes me by, as you are so was I And as I am so must you be. Remember your end and think on me. I think that last piece is from the scriptures. Amazed it hasn't weathered, really clear for the age.

thanks Fiona, I was thinking it was Marsh with the old f instead of s? I thought it was amazing! so clear when others only a few years old are unreadable Linda

Hi Linda, it could be an 's', my English now isn't that good never mind old English. Shame it doesn't say how old she was. Must be in the parish registers though. Fiona.

Linda, Your not hopeing to claim her as well as the Wood family are you??;) Fiona.

I've a similar epitaph on the gravestone of a gt gt gt gt aunt 'In memory of Mary, the beloved wife of Daniel Rudrum, who died 13 July 1870, aged 56 years. Remember me as you pass by /As you are now so once was I/As I am now so must you be/Therefore prepare to follow me'. A GR member who has her in his ancestry kindly sent me a photo of the gravestone. I don't think its scripture, but my mum says it was a standard kind of thing to have on a tombstone in Victorian times. nell

I wish I could claim this lady but I have no Marsh/Marths in my tree YET!!!! Nell did you have a look at the picture? I'd like opinions on Marsh/Marth please thanks Linda

Linda I looked at the image and I would say Marsh. I was trying to find uniformity in their spelling but there isn't any. It seems to be random for 'S' and 'SH' alternating between the two so I would take it as Marsh - definitely. Isn't it wonderful how some headstones last so well whilst others just fade away - make me wonder if there's a reason why some last!

Thanks snowdrop There are a few other old ones in the same churchyard, but nothing like the clarity of this one, and a lot of them have just initials and a date, not a lot of help Linda

I would say Marsh too. If you compare the s/t in Marsh with the t in Lyeth, it is definitely not a t. What a find!