In a message dated 7/13/2004 8:35:10 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
I may a little late to the party....but...I have recovered a
small family graveyard on a bit of hilly land purchased in
1812 by Benj. Harper in Fred. Co., VA.  He died in 1817 and while there are
markers for some of his  descendents, there isn't one for Benjamin. (He did
marry a Quaker but I don't know his faith) He left a wife with 5 boys so I just
assumed they couldn't afford a marker and had a wooden  headstone erected that
has long ago disappeared.  Any credence to this theory on the use of wooden
markers in hard times and inaccessible places?
Madaline
Yes, Some associates and I have been surveying all the Cemeteries in Grayson
County, Virginia and we have found a few wooden markers which have survived
from the mid-late 19th century era.  Many, many more in the southwest part of
the Commonwealth, at any rate, have field stones, but some had rounded wooden
boards, probably painted at some time, perhaps with the intention of doing
better at a later date.  Of more recent vintage, there has been an effort in some
cemeteries to mark all the graves with wooden crosses with a small brass plaque
identifying the grave.

We have also discovered a couple made of stamped metal, as is illustrated in
the photo found here:
http://www.ls.net/~newriver/graysoncem/perkinswileycem.htm

Hope it helps.

Jeff Weaver.

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