Transcriptions of gravestones

[pottoka]

A friend let me know about a site with transcriptions from gravestones in cemeteries from all over the world and, having found some of my relatives, I was working through them, but I am intrigued by one of the abbreviations used.

There are: m/o; d/o; w/o; f/o; s/o; h/o; which are fairly clear, but I am perplexed by s/w. It can apply to both sexes, and a person can be w/o or h/o and s/w, for example.

I feel as though I'm missing something very obvious here; can anyone help, please?

[AdeleE]

Would "second wife" fit in the context of the transcription?

[Geoffers]

A friend let me know about a site with transcriptions from gravestones in cemeteries from all over the world and, having found some of my relatives, I was working through them, but I am intrigued by one of the abbreviations used.

There are: m/o; d/o; w/o; f/o; s/o; h/o; which are fairly clear, but I am perplexed by s/w. It can apply to both sexes, and a person can be w/o or h/o and s/w, for example.

Stone worn????

Suddenly widowed??? - Could this be a new competition, to think of a possible but most unlikely meaning?

I don't suppose the creator of these abbreviated transcriptions though to include something as simple as an index on this site?

[AdeleE]

My second guess is "seen with", in reference to the first name being seen on the same tombstone as the other person mentioned in the transcription.

Ah, found an index:

s/w = stone shared with

[pottoka]

Would "second wife" fit in the context of the transcription?

Unfortunately not, as it can be a man or a child. I'll find some examples.

Stone worn????

Suddenly widowed??? - Could this be a new competition, to think of a possible but most unlikely meaning?

I don't suppose the creator of these abbreviated transcriptions though to include something as simple as an index on this site?

The site covers the world as I said, and this particular abbreviation seems to be peculiar to one transcriber in Lincolnshire! Her email address is on the site, so I could write to her. I just thought that you clever lot would know.

[pottoka]

My second guess is "seen with", in reference to the first name being seen on the same tombstone as the other person mentioned in the transcription.

Ah, found an index:

s/w = stone shared with

Where did you find an index? I looked all over for one and couldn't find one!

[AdeleE]

It was on one of the cemeteries in Quebec, Canada on the interment.net website. Just happened to come across it while googling.

[pottoka]

It was on one of the cemeteries in Quebec, Canada on the interment.net website. Just happened to come across it while googling.

Clever you and thank you. That's the site I'm using.

For anyone interested in how the abbreviation works, here's an example:

Graves, Elizabeth, d. 16 Jun 18?5, age: 15yr, d/o and s/w Robert and Emma Graves
Graves, Emma, d. 20 Jan 1914, age: 88yr, w/o Robert Graves. m/o Elizabeth Graves. s/w both.
Graves, Robert, d. 10 Apr 1879, age: 39yr, “of Linwood”, h/o Emma Graves. F/o Elizabeth Graves. s/w both

Saint Oswald's Churchyard, Blankney, Lincolnshire