Genealogy Pointers

For thousands of years the final resting place of a loved one was always marked. A burial place for early Christians, called a catacomb, contained fully clothed bodies that were placed and which were sealed with a slab inscribed with the name of the deceased, date of death and a religious symbol. Many of the 19th and early 20th centuries graves were styled after the ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations. After the First World War, grave markers started to get smaller and less elaborate, plain crosses and simple, upright stones decorated with carvings, symbols and epitaphs.

Cemeteries are lessons for the history of your loved one. The people who buried their dead said much about themselves and the ones who had died. Even though cemeteries are not a primary source of information, gravestones or headstones, are a great source of dates, maiden names, birthplaces, spouses’ names and parents’ names. They can also provide evidence of military service, religious affiliation, and membership in a fraternal organization.

Now you are asking, why should I visit a cemetery if you already have a birth and death date for your ancestor? Because; you may learn things that you wouldn’t otherwise. Nearby headstones can show you other family members. Little grave markers can tell you of a child who died in infancy. Flowers left on a grave may lead you to living descendants.

Other than a few records and documents, your ancestor’s headstone is the only physical evidence that they lived. There is nothing that will connect you to your ancestor more than to stand on the one place on earth that contains their mortal remains and to see important pieces of their life carved into stone. It is an amazing, awe-inspiring experience.

But how do you locate a cemetery? The first thing is the obvious one – you need to learn where your ancestor is buried. Death records will often contain this information as will as obituaries. Don’t forget family members. They often know where family burial locations are.

Funeral homes and morticians can be a great help for locating cemetery records. Funeral records may still exist which can contain information, including the burial location. Funeral directors have knowledge of most cemeteries in their area, and may also be able to point you to family members. If a funeral home is no longer in business, then check with other funeral homes, as they may know where the old records are located.

If you know your ancestor’s religious affiliation you may try contacting the church in the area where your ancestor lived. Churches often maintain attached cemeteries and also keep records for their members who are buried elsewhere.

The local genealogical society is a good source for information on local cemeteries. These groups are always compiling cemetery indexes and may be able to provide clues to little burial locations, especially family cemeteries. Old local histories can also prove useful in identifying former names and locations for cemeteries that have been moved.
The Internet is becoming a valuable source for cemetery records. Many sites offer links to online cemetery records or you can do a search for a specific cemetery.

If you have narrowed down the area, but aren’t sure which cemetery may contain your ancestor, maps can come into play here. Use census, land, or tax records to help you pinpoint your ancestor’s land on a map. You will often find them buried in a nearby cemetery, or even in a family cemetery on their own property.

When heading out to visit cemeteries, a little advanced planning will help make your visit a success. The best time to visit cemeteries is in the spring or fall, especially if it is one, which is neglected and over grown. You always want to be careful of snakes. Some cemeteries are even impossible to get to, like in the middle of someone’s field where wheat is planted. Try to find the owner of the land. Don’t go trampling through someone’s field without permission. This can be trespassing.

What do you need to bring with you to the cemetery? First you need to dress in long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and gloves because of gnats, ticks, snakes, and mosquitoes. If the cemetery is in a wooded or rural location you may also want to bring a hoe to help cut down brush and also bring a friend for safety. Here is a list of other items you may want to bring:

1. Paper, several pencils
2. Digital camera or regular camera and plenty of film.
3. Video camera
4. Tape recorder
5. Handheld computer.
6. Extra batteries for anything that may need them!
7. Headstone rubbing supplies – Water, rags and a soft nylon bristle brush for cleaning stones, plus clippers for clearing away grass and brush.
8. If you are looking for unmarked cemeteries, you may want a map so that you can mark their location as you locate them.

In order to make your visit count, write down names, dates and inscriptions exactly as they appear on the stone. The excitement of the moment can be overwhelming, so it is very beneficial to have an accurate record in your research. Be sure to sketch any symbols that you are unfamiliar with so you can look them up later. These symbols are valuable clues to membership in an organization, which may have records about your ancestor.

Family members will often be buried together in the same plot so make notes of the relationship of headstone to headstone. Neighbors and relatives may also be buried in adjoining sections. Make your way around the cemetery and don’t forget to check out the back of the stones as they can also contain important information.

Visiting cemeteries is one of the most rewarding parts of genealogy research, so stop and take the time to commune with your ancestors.