Question: The tombstones located in the old family cemetery outside Wysox, Pennsylvania all utilize the same letter "E" which I do not understand the meaning. Example:
M.L.
Son of
Moses & Esther
Woodburn,
died Jan. 20
1815
E. 21 y. 8 m.
& 15 d's
Answer: I believe what you have is a misreading of the common Latin abbreviation for Anno Aetatis Suae (Latin) meaning “in the (specified) year of his (or her) age.” Commonly Aetatis is abbreviated with a connected capital letters (A & E) creating the marking = Æ. This abbreviation is found on many early gravestones before the age of the deceased.