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Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 28 Nov 2014 5:23AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Wright
I recently photographed two ancestral gravestones in an overgrown cemetery. Each stone has a 4 line poem on the bottom of the stone. I tried to read and transcribe them when I was there but found it difficult so I took several photos and have since tried to read them on my computer. I've got most of one stone's poem but am struggling with the other one. Does anyone know a good way to enhance the photos so the inscriptions can be read? Thanks very much
Diane

Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 28 Nov 2014 11:03AM GMT
Classification: Query
If you can make out all or most of one of the lines, type that into Google and it should give you the Poem or Epitaph that it came from.

Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 28 Nov 2014 7:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks I did try that but neither seem to be a standard poem. Here is the one I can read the most of:
Friendly to all yet modest ____kind
Her life appeared? the ____ of her mind
Beloved in life as much bemoaned in death
On Jesus resting she resigned? her breath
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Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 30 Nov 2014 3:00PM GMT
Classification: Query
I can't find it anywhere either Diane. I always use that method to find the parts that are unreadable and it's always worked for me before...until now. It's probably inconvenient for you to return to that Cemetery but if it is possible go on a sunny day and wait for the Sun to plane across the face of the Stone to bring out the lettering. A good example of that is here. Sorry I couldn't help, Wayne
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Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 1 Dec 2014 6:28AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks for your help Wayne. That cemetery is in the backwoods of VT on private land all overgrown with brambles . . . and I live in Australia. There is a tree shading the stones so I don't think the sun ever shines on them. It was wonderful to be able to actually find the cemetery, which is unmarked, and visit it once. I don't think there will be a return trip.

Diane

Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 3 Dec 2014 9:53PM GMT
Classification: Query
Shaded is better than full sunlight because, instead of waiting for the sun to reach the right angle to side-light the inscription, you can use a bright flashlight to side-light the inscription. A dull day or dusk is even better for this technique.

If the poem is so non-standard that googling it is unsuccessful then it may have been written by a family member or friend.

Sorry to hear you're such an immense distance away from the area you are researching.

Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 1 Apr 2015 3:06AM GMT
Classification: Cemetery
I have just seen your message asking for help with a poem on a gravestone. Since all the responses were of no help, I think I can help point you in the right direction.

Go to the website FindAGrave.com and you will need to enter the information on the grave. if you have a name for the cemetery that would be good, but it sounds like you do not. That's ok, you can still enter your information. You should post the photograph and perhaps list the cemetery name using the name of your family member or the original owner of the property when the first grave was put there since it's on private property.

The website also has a group of volunteers all over the country who take requested photographs of gravestones. Once you set up the memorial page for your ancestor you can enter your photograph request. There is no guarantee that it will be done anytime soon but it's a start.

If you can email an image direct to me I may be able to enhance it a bit for you. It does look like the etching is still in fairly good condition. My email address is judithpartin@yahoo.com.

Good Luck!

Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 11:45AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Diane, I just read your post. I live in Arizona and I had visited a cemetery in South Carolina. I had read somewhere that you can put water on a tombstone and it will bring out the letters and make it easier to read. I realize your not going to go back to that particular cemetery, but thought I would let you know just incase you ran into that problem again
Denzell

Re: Help with reading poetic inscription on base of two old gravestones

Posted: 27 Jul 2015 12:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
Whilst recording inscriptions here in Norfolk, England I made a point of keeping a record of each new verse or text that I encountered. Some of these do not appear on Google and if anyone is looking for the missing words on an inscription it may just be listed on my website at http://epitaphorigins.info .
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