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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: bugbear on Friday 08 June 18 13:19 BST (UK)

Title: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: bugbear on Friday 08 June 18 13:19 BST (UK)
I'm fairly convinced the last line is beyond reading, so I hope this is a "standard" poem;

The best I can do is:
A xxxxxx Afflict with them
With Grief and Anguish Great [or Grant]
Till God xxxx  xxxxxxx   end our care
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The photograph was taken under raking sunlight, and has been contrast enhanced.

    BugBear
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: arthurk on Friday 08 June 18 13:39 BST (UK)
I wonder if the first line could be:
A ......... Affliction we did bear

And then, rhyming, the third:
Till God was pleased to end our care

However, I haven't been able to find it online.

Whereabouts is this, and whose memorial? There's a chance that it could have been transcribed while it was more legible, and one of us has a copy...
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: bugbear on Friday 08 June 18 13:44 BST (UK)
I wonder if the first line could be:
A ......... Affliction we did bear

And then, rhyming, the third:
Till God was pleased to end our care

However, I haven't been able to find it online.

Whereabouts is this, and whose memorial? There's a chance that it could have been transcribed while it was more legible, and one of us has a copy...
Good idea; the memorial is in Kenninghall (Norfolk) Saint Mary's.
it's to "James Reeve" and "The Wife of Samuel Dixon", who I believe to be Elizabeth Reeve (marriage 21 Mar 1786)

     BugBear
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: arthurk on Friday 08 June 18 14:31 BST (UK)
The MIs have been transcribed by the Norfolk FHS, but it looks as though they haven't been published. I wasn't sure whether or not they offer a look-up service, or if it might only be available to members.

https://www.norfolkfhs.org.uk/indexes,monumental-inscriptions/

They also sell what they call "Genealogy CD Kenninghall", but I couldn't see what's included.
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: bugbear on Friday 08 June 18 14:48 BST (UK)
The MIs have been transcribed by the Norfolk FHS, but it looks as though they haven't been published. I wasn't sure whether or not they offer a look-up service, or if it might only be available to members.

https://www.norfolkfhs.org.uk/indexes,monumental-inscriptions/

They also sell what they call "Genealogy CD Kenninghall", but I couldn't see what's included.

I am a member (first year I have been).

The MI is not online (what they call NORS) and was done in 2009.

I am not optimistic than it would have been any more legible in 2009.

  BugBear
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: arthurk on Friday 08 June 18 15:42 BST (UK)
From the page I gave the link to:
Quote
Members of the Norfolk Family History Society can search most of the monumental inscriptions on NORS, or if this does not produce a result, ask the Monumental Inscriptions coordinator to search the records held by the Society.

Since you are a member it's probably worth a shot, especially if it's free. (But I wouldn't be too optimistic - as you say, it was most likely in a similar condition in 2009; and some transcripts that I have from other societies only include the genealogical data, and anything like this gets recorded as "4 line verse".)
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: josey on Friday 08 June 18 16:24 BST (UK)
Obviously you've taken the pic in the best conditions but might it be worth trying to take a rubbing?

Might last line end with 'Faith' - almost rhymes with Great....

ADDED: 1st line
Many a affliction we did bear'?
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: bugbear on Friday 08 June 18 16:29 BST (UK)
Obviously you've taken the pic in the best conditions but might it be worth trying to take a rubbing?

Might last line end with 'Faith' - almost rhymes with Great.

I've tried rubbing on both paper and tinfoil (in my local cemetery) but have never come close to the definition I can get photographically.

  BugBear
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: josey on Friday 08 June 18 16:31 BST (UK)
OK, never tried rubbing so just suggesting  :), interesting it's not as good as photography in ideal conditions. Have added a possible 1st line to previous post.
Title: Re: verse from 1870 grave
Post by: bugbear on Saturday 09 June 18 10:58 BST (UK)
OK, never tried rubbing so just suggesting  :), interesting it's not as good as photography in ideal conditions. Have added a possible 1st line to previous post.

Well, in the modern era, photography includes post-processing; here's one I did earlier

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=729041.msg5736621#msg5736621

  BugBear