The Hertfordshire Family History Society has published indexes to the Monumental Inscriptions in most Hertfordshire churchyards: www.hertsfhs.org.uk/hfphs6.html
While in Oxford in 2022 I took a trip to Marsh Baldon and spent about half an hour or so looking at every churchyard headstone for names of relatives, not many, perhaps due to unmarked graves or weathered headstones. My 2xgreat gran was buried there in 1902 and her brother in 1924. Both seemed to be in unmarked graves.
Depressing, but I suspect fairly typical of England - I spent some time in Norfolk (names including Ne[a]ve), and most were in similar condition to the ones you found. From what I remember of earlier similar activities in Northumberland, it was the same there. As you say, better lighting _might_ help - one doesn't think of a bright light as something to take to a churchyard. (Even on a sunny day - by Sod's law, the sun will always be on the _back_ of the stone you're interested in!) One minor point: if you know you're going to put the video on UA-cam or Twitter (X), could you hold the 'phone sideways? After all, the webcam you finished with is landscape … Thanks. John
@@lifelinesresearch I meant the general state of legibility of 'stones. I share your delight at finding the one you were after, and in such (relatively) good condition!
The Hertfordshire Family History Society has published indexes to the Monumental Inscriptions in most Hertfordshire churchyards:
www.hertsfhs.org.uk/hfphs6.html
While in Oxford in 2022 I took a trip to Marsh Baldon and spent about half an hour or so looking at every churchyard headstone for names of relatives, not many, perhaps due to unmarked graves or weathered headstones. My 2xgreat gran was buried there in 1902 and her brother in 1924. Both seemed to be in unmarked graves.
Depressing, but I suspect fairly typical of England - I spent some time in Norfolk (names including Ne[a]ve), and most were in similar condition to the ones you found. From what I remember of earlier similar activities in Northumberland, it was the same there.
As you say, better lighting _might_ help - one doesn't think of a bright light as something to take to a churchyard. (Even on a sunny day - by Sod's law, the sun will always be on the _back_ of the stone you're interested in!)
One minor point: if you know you're going to put the video on UA-cam or Twitter (X), could you hold the 'phone sideways? After all, the webcam you finished with is landscape … Thanks. John
Depressing!!!??? This was one of my greatest 'Yes' moments ever!
@@lifelinesresearch I meant the general state of legibility of 'stones. I share your delight at finding the one you were after, and in such (relatively) good condition!