GRAVESTONE

jamdons · Post by **jamdons** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:31 am

Hello folks......This is my first visit to TalkingScot.

I have only recently started delving into my ancestory,please bear with me as i am new to all this.
I have been totally gripped by all this,i live in Hertfordshire and i have allready had one trip to the Banff area to do some research.
I came across a gravestone in Portsoy cemetery which is the stone of my great grandfather a wonderful find i am sure you will agree.
But.........there is always a but i guess......he died 1965 but the stone has had an inscription added in 1995 on the death of one of his daughters.
Does anyone out there know how i can find out who had the last inscription put on the stone........if i can find out i will be able to contact relatives that i didnt even know that existed .....Many Thanks....John

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:50 am

Hi John
...and welcome to Talking Scot

This is a bit of a recent enquiry for us on TS - we usually only deal in folk who have been dead a long time, but as you have been thoughful enough to leave out the names, we are on safe ground here. So...

Sometimes these days on stones, the stonemason's company leave their name on the stone, sometimes on the side. That would be one way to start trying to trace. Failing that , if you were to contact the cemetery, they could possibly give you the names of the likely local monumental masons.

Also, local newspapers would be worth checking as the intimation of the death and following funeral arrangements may have been listed, along with the names of some surviving family.

Best wishes
Lesley

jamdons · Post by **jamdons** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:08 am

Hiya Lesley,

Thank you for your reply.
After my amazement at finding the stone.I was taken aback as to how the stone had been looked after,obviously someone is tending the grave.
There are five inscriptions on the stone and the only one i know is that of my great grandfather .....the others are his wife and his children........ i hasten to add his wife is not the birth mother of my grandfather.
After finding the stone i did exactly as you have suggested and headed for the local stone masons .... they recognised the stone as there work but had no records of any of the inscriptions.So i had to return south without finding out anything else.But another trip will happen soon.

Thanks for your help

John

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:23 am

Hi John,

It may be worth contacting Aberdeenshire Council - assuming they run that cemetery - and ask the cemetery records office people if they can tell you who the current lair holder for that plot is. Think carefully about how to word your question, they may quote the Data Protection Act and tell you nothing. Or of they can tell you which undertaker organised the burial, they may be able to put you in touch with the family. More delicate questions for you to think out.

All the best,

AndrewP

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:29 am

Hi John

This might be useful to you if you are trying to find relatives.

http://www.banffshire-journal.co.uk/new ... _Past.html

Good luck