Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Unusual Monument Year Notation

While indexing the cemeteries in Johnson County, Kansas, I ran into this unusual year notation using E. M. The full inscription reads:

John J. Bartlett
Born Feb 9, E. M. 344
Died May 19, E. M. 409


Bartlett's death notice in the local newspaper indicates he was born in Ohio, a local farmer, born 9 Feb 1844, died 19 May 1909.

Obviously E. M. represents 1500 years but what does it stand for and where does this notation come from?

I would love to know what E. M. means. If you have gravestones with this notation, or if you know what this stands for, please post!

Find Bartlett and more on the Digital Cemetery at http://cemetery.cottonhills.com/