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. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html