Subject: Fw: [INPCRP] Fw: Tiptoeing Through The Graveyard
I thought you might like to read this. It was forward to the
preservation
group from the Henry Co., Indiana list. Diana Mahan in
Indiana
----- Original Message -----
To: Henry Co., Indiana List
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 9:43 AM
Subject: Tiptoeing Through The Graveyard
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Tiptoeing Through The Graveyard
A Guide to Discovering Your Ancestors in Cemeteries
The practice of marking the final resting place of a loved one goes
back
thousands of years. The ancient pyramids are conceivably the greatest
example, standing today as a reminder of the ancient Egyptian
glorification of life after death. Roman catacombs, a subterranean
burial
place for early Christians, contained niches where the fully clothed
bodies
were
placed and which were then sealed with a slab inscribed with the name
of
the
deceased, date of death and a religious symbol. Many of the elaborate
grave
markers erected in the 19th and early 20th centuries were styled after
the
memorials of the ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations.
Following
the first World War, grave markers started to become smaller and less
elaborate - plain crosses and simple, upright stone slabs decorated
with
carvings, symbols and epitaphs.
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Cemeteries are living lessons in history.
People who buried their dead said much about themselves and the ones
who
had died. While not considered a primary information source,
gravestones
are an excellent source of dates, birthplaces, maiden names, spouses'
names and
parents' names. They can also provide evidence of military service,
membership in a fraternal organization, and religious affiliations.
Why should you visit the cemetery if you already have a birth and
death
date for your ancestor? Because you never know what you may find.
Nearby
gravestones can lead you to other family members. Little grave markers
can
tell the story of children who died in infancy for whom no other
records
exist. Flowers left on a grave may lead you to living descendants.
Other than a few records and documents and, perhaps, some family
jewelry
or heirlooms, your ancestor's tombstone is the only physical evidence
of
the life they lived. There is nothing in your genealogical research
that
will
connect you to your ancestor more than to stand in the one place on
earth
which contains their mortal remains and to see important pieces of
their
life carved into stone. It is an amazing, awe-inspiring experience.
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How to Locate a Cemetery
The first step in cemetery research is the obvious one - you need to
learn
where your ancestor is buried. Death records will often contain this
information, as will obituaries. Published cemetery surveys may list
your
ancestors. You should also be sure to not overlook family members -
they
will often know of family burial locations or may be
able to track down a mention on a mass or prayer card or in the family
bible.
Funeral homes and morticians can be great allies in helping you to
locate
in finding cemetery records. Funeral records may still exist which can
contain a wealth of information, including the burial location.Funeral
directors will 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 area funeral homes as they may know where the old
records are located.
If you know your ancestor's religious affiliation you may want to 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 or family history society is another good place
to
turn. These groups are continually working to conserve valuable
cemetery
information and may have compiled cemetery indexes or be able to
provide
clues to little known burial locations, especially family cemeteries.
Old
local histories can also prove useful in identifying
former names and locations for cemeteries which have been moved.
The Internet is fast becoming a useful source for cemetery records as
well. Many sites offer links to online cemetery records or you can use
your
favorite search engines to search for a specific cemetery. Special
geographic place name search engines can also help to locate a
cemetery,
though the information available on the Internet varies widely by
country.
The U.S.
Geographic Names Information Server, for example, allows you to narrow
down your search by selecting cemetery as the feature type.
If you have narrowed down the area, but aren't sure which cemetery may
contain your ancestor, then maps can be of great assistance. Use land,
tax
or census 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. Topographic maps or locality maps may
show
cemeteries, roads, houses and farms.
Even little details such as elevation features can be useful as
cemeteries were often erected on high ground.
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Visiting the Cemetery
Now that you have located the cemetery where your ancestor is buried,
a
little advance planning can really help to make your visit to the
cemetery
a success.
If you have a choice in the matter, the best time to visit a cemetery
is
in the spring or fall - especially if it is one which is neglected and
overgrown. Brush and grass will not be as high in the spring, which
will
help you to notice holes, rocks and such obstacles before you trip
over
them.
Sometimes the season can have an impact on whether you even find the
cemetery at all.
I have located several family cemeteries in the southeastern U.S.
which
are situated in the middle of cornfields.
Needless to say, it is nearly impossible to find such cemeteries when
the
corn is taller than you are!
The well-dressed cemetery researcher wears long pants, a long-sleeved
shirt, sturdy shoes and gloves to help ward off critters such as
snakes,
gnats, ticks and mosquitoes.
If the cemetery is in a wooded or rural location you may also want to
bring along a hoe to help cut down brush and a friend or fellow
researcher
for safety.
Whether the cemetery is public or private, you should do a search for
existing records. Most commonly known as sexton's records (a sexton
is a
caretaker responsible for the cemetery), these records can include
burial
registers,
plat maps and plot records. These records will vary greatly by country
and
time period
and may not exist, but never assume! A sign outside of the cemetery may
be
able to point you to its caretaker. Turn to the local phone book to
contact
area funeral directors or churches. Check with the area library or
historical/genealogical society for tips on possible record locations.
You
may be surprised by what you can find.
One last thing - before you visit a private cemetery, be sure to get
permission from the land owner.
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Plan Ahead for a Successful Cemetery Visit
~Dress appropriately
~Bring paper, several pencils, a camera and plenty of film
~Consider bringing optional "toys" such as a video camera, tape
recorder
or a Palm Pilot
~Extra batteries for anything that may need them!
~If you plan to do any tombstone rubbings, then be sure to bring the
appropriate supplies
~Water, rags and a soft nylon bristle brush for cleaning stones, plus
clippers for clearing away grass and brush
~If you are looking for unmarked cemeteries, you may want to bring a
map
so that you can mark their locations as you locate them
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Stories in Stone
The highlight of any trip to the cemetery is reading the stones. Once
you
have taken that irresistible quick peek for your ancestor's headstone,
however, you should stop and plan out your route around the cemetery.
Methodical might be boring, but it greatly decreases your chances of
missing something important.
If the cemetery is not too large, and you have enough time, it can be
very
helpful to make a complete transcription of the cemetery. Even if you
only
make note of the names and dates on each tombstone, along with their
location in the cemetery, this can save you a trip back in the future
as
well as help other researchers.
There is a lot of information and advice available on the proper
methods
for transcribing tombstones. While these can serve as great reference
guides, there is really no need to worry about formality. The
important
thing is
to make a note of everything that you see.
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Make Your Visit Count
Write down names, dates and inscriptions exactly as they appear on the
stone.
It is very easy to make assumptions in the excitement of the moment,
and
it will be very beneficial to have an accurate record as you move
forward
(or backward as the case may be!) with your research.
Be sure to sketch any symbols that you are unfamiliar with so that you
can
look them up later. These symbols or emblems may be valuable clues to
membership in an organization which may have records about your
ancestor.
Make a note of the relationship between tombstones as well. Family
members
will often be buried together in the same plot. Nearby graves may
belong
to parents. Small unmarked stones may indicate children that died in
their
infancy. Neighbors and relatives may also be buried in adjoining
sections.
As you make your way around, be sure not to miss the back of the
stones
as
they can also contain important information.
Another good way to record cemetery information is to use a cassette
recorder or even a video camera as you move around the cemetery. You
can
read off names, dates and inscriptions easily and make note of
important
information, such as when you start a new row. It also provides you
with a
backup for any written transcriptions that you have made.
Pictures are worth a thousand words and are much better for tombstones
than chalk or shaving cream.
Use hand-held clippers to clear brush away from the stone and then use
a
nylon (never wire) bristle brush and plain water to clean the stone
from
bottom to top, rinsing well as you go. A bright sunny day and a mirror
to
help reflect the sunlight on the stone can really help to bring out
the
carvings.
Enjoy yourself! Visiting cemeteries is one of the most rewarding parts
of
genealogy research, so stop and take the time to commune with your
ancestors.
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For More Information Cemetery Research
Lots of great links for online cemetery records and cemetery research
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How to Do A Tombstone Rubbing
A fun way to preserve cemetery history! Learn the correct way to do
this
to minimize possible damage to the stone.
( Note from Breif: I have added this to the information for easy
access
go to bottom of page and click on link for more information on this
topic
the site is just full of more information.
http://members.aol.com/TombView/rubbings.html)
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Cemetery Do's and Don'ts
Tips for researching responsibly in cemeteries, including cleaning and
maintaining cemeteries and tips for reading those illegible
inscriptions
without causing damage to the tombstones.
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Tips for Photographing Gravestones
Techniques for recording cemetery information using cameras and video
cameras, including tips for getting great pictures, ideas for video
transcriptions and the use of digital photography.
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Tombstone Symbolism and Iconography
Learn the meanings of the various carvings, symbols and icons found on
gravestones.
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