T. W. Jones.
Nantwich.
Tombstone in Churchyard.—Arms: Battle-axe (Vol. vii., pp. 331. 390. 407. 560.).—It appears that I may conclude that 1600 is the oldest legible date on a tombstone inscription. That of 1601 is cut in relief round the edge of a long free-stone slab, raised on a course of two or three bricks, and is in Henllan, near Denbigh.
The battle-axes (three in fesse) are on the wall over it. I am obliged to J. D. S.; but in both my cases the arms appear as connected with Welsh families; but it is the above that I want to identify.
A. C.
A correspondent asks for instances of dates on tombstones earlier than 1601. I know of one, at Moore Church in the county of Meath, within five miles of Drogheda. It is as early as 1597; the letters, instead of being sunk, are in relief. I subjoin a copy of the inscription:
"here vnder lieth the
body of dame ienet
sarsfeld, lady dowager
of donsany, who died the