Genealogy Research in Cemeteries: 10 Tips

[@lynnie3387]

My suggestion is always look on all 4 sides of a monument / stone. There is often info on the sides and back.

[@jveebklyn1644]

@lynnie That's a great tip. I've been on find a grave dozens of times, but yesterday was the first time I saw a photo of information on the back of the tombstone.

[@staceycoates1418]

That is actually how I found out that my great grandmother had two baby brothers that died in infancy before she was born. The second one was born in another state (with two of the other middle siblings) but had been buried with his older brother (the first born). Because some one took picture of both sides I was able to research it and find his birth and death records in the other state that had my great great grandparents listed.

[@GenealogyTV]

Excellent

[@wyattandwill12]

I've never thought of/seen writing on the sides. That's pretty interesting.

[@crusmonster1397]

I can not tell you how helpful wide shots of a grave have helped me locate a person from Find-a-Grave in person. It was so helpful, in fact, that when I add photos to memorials I include both a wide shot & a close-up. I love visiting cemeteries & seeing not only my family’s graves but the other beautiful ones all over. I highly recommend it to others.

[@GenealogyTV]

I totally agree.

[@smpylman3175]

Don’t forget if you have one ancestor at a grave site if you call the cemetery they will give you a list of other family members & maybe info but also the funeral home too. The funeral home or coroners office can give a cause of death among other things.

[@GenealogyTV]

Good point

[@martintolley9234]

1 I know this may sound a bit over-dramatic, but (especially here in the UK) old country church cemeteries can be a bit treacherous underfoot - concealed potholes and trip hazards. So I'd suggest never going alone, or at least ensuring that someone knows where you are. In the UK today most churches and most cemeteries don't have anyone easily to hand if you need help. 2) Along with a camera, I'd also suggest a pair of binoculars. In larger municipal cemeteries if you're "hunting" ancestors being able to spot from a distance can cut down a good deal of walking towards "dead ends". 3) If you are wandering in search of ancestors - be systematic, make a sketch of the area (along with photographs) to keep track of what you've searched - while you're there and for later if you need to return. In my experience, this is particularly useful if you have an "assistant" helping you!

[@GenealogyTV]

Smart ideas. You're not the first to suggest not going alone. Humm... maybe I'll do a follow up.

[@arlindanelson7928]

Great tips also.

[@staceycoates1418]

Oh my god yes! Be systematic! I 'knew' where my great-great grandmother was buried, my (still living) grandmother had been at her funeral and had been past the cemetery with my mom about six years prior. But when I went down there (I wanted to add it to find a grave and because she is my daughter's namesake) I had to walk almost the whole cemetery until I found it. It would have been horrible if I hadn't been systematic when I went. I even called my gramma when I was walking to see if she could remember any details where, and of course I found them while on the phone with her. It was a small cemetery and I was walking for almost two hours before I found them. And it was cold; it was October.

[@jennaolbermann7663]

Thanks for these tips! I have visited a cemetery where my ancestors are buried but sadly they don’t have tombstones but are buried in the plot of another family whose names appear on the fringes of my 3rd great grandparents. I did photograph the entire plot so I have the names of those people so who knows what I might learn in the future!

[@GenealogyTV]

We learn something new every day!

[@kevincall4641]

Some cemeteries don’t let find a grave volunteers or people photograph any non family grave. Some people like their grave pictures of their ancestors. Some of them don’t. Just need to be careful when you go out and take pictures of graves in any cemetery around the world. Don’t want to cause any much trouble. Billiongraves is most helpful in finding their love ones when putting the location of the grave so they will not bother the cemetery office for information. Also you can put the burial plot location on some of those find a grave memorials so people can find their love ones.

[@kevindice1092]

Good stuff, Connie! The mirror trick works very well, even on cloudy days to help reveal lettering. My wife and I have our plots in a local cemetery, and we recently discovered that the monument company that administers and maintains the cemetery has a map and records that go back to the 1850’s when this was a church cemetery. I plan on visiting them this winter to see if I can get copies, since I have close to 100 family members buried there.

[@GenealogyTV]

So much fun! Enjoy your trip.

[@suellenw561]

If copies aren't available, try taking a picture of the documents. If one pic of the whole page doesn't show well, take 4 or 8 or whatever is needed to get it all. Just be sure to overlap a little so you don't find gaps when (if) you try to put them all together.

[@alanwilliams5836]

Great video and topic Connie. Thank you! My issue with most cemeteries has been records. Find a Grave, Billion Graves and such are okay and DO many times provide the information that one requires. Many times however, the records on these sites are strictly based on readable tombstones. There are other ways to find out if an ancestor may be buried in a specific cemetery. Back in the early to mid 1900's there were a lot of local historical societies that conducted census' of the cemeteries, based on information other than simply reading tombstones. In some cases, one may find a name and date of internment in old cemetery registers. Sometimes these registers were held at either a municipal office, perhaps by a designated cemetery caretaker, or in other cases, at the church (in the case of a church cemetery). I tend to call these the "official records" of the cemetery. Sometimes... these records have disappeared. I am still trying to find records for a cemetery that a pair of great grandparents and one daughter had been supposedly been buried in. This country cemetery in the backwoods of mid Missouri has more unreadable stones in it than readable stones. Back in their time, there was a church and a school house on the same land as the cemetery. Unfortunately... nobody seems to know what may have become of the church records after it closed. Still hunting though!!!

[@GenealogyTV]

Check other churches of the same denomination in the area that are still open. They may have inherited the records and congregation. Also check the local library and state archives.

[@stitchengramie]

I am a Find-a-Grave voluntary. I have researched a lot of cemeteries and taken photo's of gravestone's. I found that when I go early in the mornings when the moss is still damp on the gravestones it easier to take a soft bath brush and a soft toothbrush to clean off older gravestones. Also, in some cemeteries look under the ivy on the ground and leaves. I have found gravestones in these areas. I also research the families that I am ask to locate and take photo's of their families gravestones just to see if there are some other family members in this cemetery As well.

[@GenealogyTV]

Have you run into any restrictions in the cemeteries?

[@stitchengramie]

@@GenealogyTV No! I have come across where a husband and wife were buried together in the same grave and a mother and her baby buried together in the same grave.

[@staceycoates1418]

I would also add wear pants if it is not a cemetery you are familiar with and to have sunglasses or a brimmed hat with you. I remember walking a well taken cared of cemetery in bright sun for about an hour and a half (I am related to about half to 3/4 of the cemetery, so I was snapping pictures of every last name I recognized... The sun gave me such a headache and made it hard to read the stones. Thank heavens I brought water. This was one of my first visits to a non-local cemetery (it was 30 minutes away). And I definitely learned more about what should be in my cemetery bag!

[@GenealogyTV]

Interesting calling it the Cemetery bag. I like it.

[@paulmurphy773]

Great video.... some other info I have about cemeteries where I am from in Ontario, Canada, that may help others in your areas. In the city where I am from, Sault Ste. Marie, there are 4 or5 cemeteries but here they are all run by the city and at the main cemetery is the cities cemetery office where u can get info for all of them, including print outs of your ancestors plots and where in the cemeteries they are and also who else might be in the same plot... An example, in my grandfather's and step grandmother's plot, the record showed that there was 3 still born infants buried there as well that weren't mentioned on the stone...and also the dates they were interned ... some checking with a cousin showed that they were still born infants of my aunt and uncle...always check at cemetery offices if there is one, u will be pleasantly surprised at what u might find.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes, it is similar in the UK.

[@gypsyrose813]

This is going to be my first trek through many cemeteries and I really appreciate the tips!

[@GenealogyTV]

Have fun! Several additional tips from comments said to not go alone, take bug spray.... and long pants.

[@gypsyrose813]

@@GenealogyTV yup, I got that!

[@blakefamily92]

One tip that I love is to contact the cemetery office to see what information they have on my loved ones. The key is asking the right questions. Once they say that my loved one is buried there, I like to ask if they know who purchased the plots, how many they purchased and who is buried in each plot. The point of this is that I have found little children that died, never appearing on a census record, and the parents were too poor to be able to afford a headstone. Those children need to be counted with our family as well.

[@GenealogyTV]

Great tips.

[@mat_teles]

Great tips, a cemetery is a open air museum, a great place to start the study in genealogy, get some good info and learn about the city by the people that lived there

[@GenealogyTV]

Totally agree!

[@terria9739]

Great tips for visiting cemeteries. Thanks. I haven't been to any since last year. I need to plan a trip!

[@GenealogyTV]

You should!

[@mabelconner6918]

I contacted cemeteries where my ancestors are buried. Not all of them yet. Some I had to pay money for to get copies of everyone connected with my ancestors. I noticed when I was able to go see the tombstones in person. Some had Father, Mother, Brother and Sister written on the top of the stone.

[@GenealogyTV]

Interesting. Good to know.

[@Bluegrassgirl45]

While whetting my desire to go, search, find & photograph my ancestors tombstones and plaques in Paris & Carlisle Ky and further south in London & Harlan Ky, which are just a small selection of areas where I know many are buried in my home state... Falmouth too - my shame reference the burial of my closest family members locally - is that out of seven close members, only two have Markers. My mother had an inscribed vase base, which was all I could afford and as of a year and a half ago was missing. Promises to be restored had not happened last time I checked. The family before never marking the graves didn't even jump out at me as how unusual it was until I got interested in researching further back. I really feel sad & ashamed these dear loved ones had no visible record of their burials established. When purchasing the vase plaque in 2013 I inquired how I could possibly mark the others' graves & it's just prohibitive. As one of the last of this small family group I'd bought into the fact no one further is going to care. Now I just don't know. I'd even _years_ ago inquired about placing markers I could purchase for 1/10th of the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Erlanger Ky's price and was told it wasn't a possible solution. Sooo.... Now, based on the world's condition and my beliefs - it may really be a non issue now. Sorry to go on so. Just wanted to thank & comment & it turned into a rant. Love your videos 💘

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you for the compliments and sharing. You can make sure your family is memorialized on Find A Grave and Billion Graves if you haven’t already.

[@Bluegrassgirl45]

@@GenealogyTV ~ I will definitely look into doing this. I will get a log of the placements from Forest Lawn and submit them. I think I use Find-a-grave most. Also love the list of things to bring! A tip on how to start ? I know one of the Find-a-grave family is on my paternal side via my grandmother! A Frederick Lincks with a story and everything! One of my most interesting German Immigrants!

[@tmpatklk]

Thank you for sharing your tips, Connie. I appreciate your recommendations of things to take such as clippers and a brush. Fortunately, most of our relatives are buried in properly maintained cemeteries. Some, however, have ground-level markers that mowers can go over leaving clippings on them. I joined findagrave.com in order to add, photograph, and suggest changes. I try to link family members together. The Billion Graves site doesn't have many listings for the cemeteries of our families so I rarely consult it. One thing I've found while working on a family tree and history is that engraved dates are often wrong. Some birth and death dates do not match birth and death certificates and published obituaries. I plan to watch your video about art and symbols of tombstones and vaults. My wife and I enjoy the artistic value of cemeteries as well as the serene and religious aspects.

[@arlindanelson7928]

Great tips. My fav is #5. I would probably forget some of those items. I never heard of Cemetery Search. Tfs

[@GenealogyTV]

Oh... well you're in for a treat!

[@wyattandwill12]

Great video for going to cemeteries, thank you! I'm hoping to move to Jacksonville some time next year and one of the perks other than being in the city to have better jobs/amenities/warmer weather is being able to research the lines that lived in the area whether it be looking through the newspaper microfilms at the library or, of course, cemeteries. I haven't gotten to go to Seagate in Wilmington yet on my past trips with my grandpa but that'll definitely be on my list. Blessings!

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks Wyatt

[@CmrlsLibMsUs]

These are great tips, thank you!

[@GenealogyTV]

You're so welcome!

[@staceycoates1418]

Any suggestions on what to do if I 'famous' cemetery is in disrepair? This local, beautiful cemetery just doesn't have the funds to keep up with the maitence and stones are beginning to fall over, there is water damage on most of the mausoleums (including the recieving vault where President McKinley stayed while they were building the adjoining monument). A stone of a baby cousin of mine is now missing. There is a lot of history of my city and it is is quite literally falling apart. It is so sad and I just don't know what I can do. (If you are interested in looking it up it is West Lawn Cemetery in Canton, Stark County, Ohio.)

[@GenealogyTV]

I’m wondering if you can take it up with the county commissioners. It depends on who owns the cemetery.

[@libbynester1814]

Thanks for the awesome video.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you

[@alicesulzer1412]

Thank you, great information !!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lynnie3387]

I found the names of all the children w their birth dates on the back of my great grandparents stone and on another the parents names of another great grandmother.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes it’s not uncommon for people to continue to add the entire family tree to a large monument.

[@dgrjazz]

Very helpful thank you

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks David

[@velondabe6868]

Have you been to Cove Burying Ground on Cape Cod? I would love to see a video of that cemetery.

[@GenealogyTV]

I’ve never been to Cape Cod.

[@debandrew2802]

Great tips.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you!

[@mystim9610]

I am planning a cemetery trip for April 2022 to a HUGE cemetery on Long Island, NY. Any tips on working with the main office to find the locations of graves? There are literally thousands and thousands of graves and frequently the same names. Thanks.

[@GenealogyTV]

Check their website and see if they have an online search for your ancestors, maps, and tips for visitors. Also look at Google earth for the layout. Tips for talking to the staff, I’m sure they get these questions all the time and might have a FAQ on their website too. Check there first before asking. Check with local historical and genealogical societies.

[@tiedyewitch8258]

Thank you awsome video

[@darlenefarmer5921]

Thank you

[@GenealogyTV]

Welcome!

[@judychambers919]

And always be careful, especially in unfamiliar locations. Having someone go with you is wise. Tell family or friends your plans.

[@GenealogyTV]

Agreed

[@glennyylrp]

My Great Grandmother doesn't have a tombstone, I don't know where can I find info about them.😞

[@GenealogyTV]

If the cemetery is still active, they may have a database or paper records.

[@cathyc6725]

I have had great success leaving flowers and my email on the websites. I also contacted cemeteries that have offices and let them know my name and contact info.

[@GenealogyTV]

Me too

[@suellenw561]

In that "bag of tricks" you're taking along on your cemetery visit, take a small shovel. Sometimes on the ground-level markers, the grass is growing over the edges. As for getting permission from the family to do certain things, most likely YOU ARE family. Who else would you suggest getting permission from?

[@GenealogyTV]

Good idea!

[@tanelise4673]

Greta tips! I'm trying to locate my great great grandmother's final resting place. Her death certificate simply says "Port Gibson", which is a city in Mississippi. I tracked down the funeral home which I was glad was still in existence, and asked if there was a cemetery that they referred to as Port Gibson and they couldn't say. There doesn't appear to be a cemetery by that name. She died in 1935 and I'm guessing perhaps she might have been buried in a cemetery specifically for blacks. Outside of contacting every cemetery in Port Gibson, is there a place where all burials in a state get recorded?

[@GenealogyTV]

If you can find a death certificate, it might be on the death certificate.

[@tanelise4673]

@@GenealogyTV I have the death certificate. It just says Port Gibson. I did some more digging after I sent my previous reply and I think she might be buried at Golden West Cemetery. It used to be known by locals as Port Gibson Negro Cemetery. I don't know if that was an official name or not but the land was appropriated for Blacks as a burial ground

[@GenealogyTV]

I would also check the local library, and the local historical society if there is one.

[@tanelise4673]

@@GenealogyTV Will do. I need to familiarize myself with what the libraries and historical societies have to offer. I just moved to a new state so now would be a good time to put that in motion.

[@davidbagley1783]

Ancestors Mom Grandma Iva 1919-2001 Isaac V Wamsley Jr 1875-1930 Isaac V Wamsley Sr 1836-1908 Isaac Wamsley III 1798-1868 Isaac Harvey Wamsley Jr 1778-1825 Isaac Harvey Wamsley Sr 1735-1825 Revolutionary War Veteran Leah Stout Wamsley wife 1742-1820 Daughter of Dr Jonathan Stout 1704-1775 Richard Stout 1678-1749 John Stout 1645-1724 Middletown NJ Son of Richard and Penelope.. Elizabeth Crawford Stout wife 1650-1730 Ayshire Scotland Daughter of John Crawford 1618-1698 12th Lord Patrick Crawford 1580-1649 11th Lord William Crawford 1560-1644 10th Lord Patrick Crawford 1530-1560 7th Lord Thomas Crawford 1505-1541 6th Lord James Crawford 1470-? 5th Lord Robert Crawford 1435-1513 4th Lord Archibald Crawford 1389-? 3rd Lord Thomas Crawford 1350-1401 2nd Lord Reginald Crawford 1317-1358 1st Laird Reginald Crawford 1283-1358 Fought at Bannockburn 1314 along with Robert the Bruce and received Lordship for his services. Hugh Crawford ? -1319 Sir Reginald Crawford of Loudon 1255-1297 Sister Margaret married Alan Wallace, mother of Sir William Wallace