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Cemeteries
If you've already asked every family you can
find about information for your family history and you've visited various
libraries, contacted the National Archives, and checked out every church you
could find, you probably realize there are still gaps in the data. Don't
become frustrated because I don't think anyone will ever find all of the
information. However, there's some places we haven't discussed yet.
The reason I've devoted an entire page to cemeteries
is because my Mom and I share a common interest in what we call graveyard
stomping. We record the tombstone data to use as official dates when official
certificates can't be located. If you're wondering why we say stomping, it's because some of the
cemeteries we've visited are so overgrown that you stomp your feet as you walk
to scare off any snakes that might be hiding in the high grass. Yes, snakes.
Don't worry though, a lot of the cemeteries you may visit are well maintained
and you won't have to worry about any animals.
Sometimes, the hardest job in visiting cemeteries is finding the cemetery
in the first place. There are many older family plots located on private
property. If you know the name of the cemetery, someone in the area is sure to
have at least an idea where it's located. Write down the directions and see if
you can find it or ask them to show you where it's located. To be of help to
others in there searches, write down your own set of directions including road
names, mileage, and prominent landmarks.
There's a large variety of information that can be obtained from tombstones.
Usually at least the person's name, birth and death dates are on the
tombstone. However, in some older cemeteries, the grave site may only be
marked with a fieldstone with no information at all on the face. You may also
find it stated that this person was the son/daughter/wife/husband of someone.
Some stones even include the names of all of the person's children, a small
picture of the person, military service information, or organizations the
person belonged too. Be sure to write everything down in your trusty notebook.
Before heading out to the cemetery, make sure you're
dressed for the weather, have plenty of drinking water with you (there's usually not a
water fountain in cemeteries), read the following rules of courtesy, and grab
your notebook and stomping box (located after the rules of courtesy). |
| Rules of Courtesy |
1. Never attempt to conduct your
search in an area of the cemetery where a funeral service is being
conducted.
2. Never use a cemetery as your garbage can. If trash bins aren't available,
take your trash with you.
3. If the cemetery is located on private property, most owners don't mind
you visiting, but always make the
attempt to get permission first.
4. If you enter the cemetery through a closed gate, be sure to close it
behind you as you enter as well as when
you leave. There are many cemeteries located in the middle of
some farmer's pasture and you don't want to
let the animals out on the road or into the cemetery. If the
gate is locked, don't climb over the fence. Find
the owner and get the key. There's probably a good reason the
gate is locked.
5. Although it would seem unnecessary to say, don't cause any damage when
you're visiting.
6. This isn't a requirement, but it would be nice if you upright vases that
have fallen over, brush grass clippings
off stones that lie flush with the ground, and pick up any
trash that others have left behind. |
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Stomping Box
These are just a few of the important things to
take with you. |
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Blank white paper & charcoal: |
These aren't necessary unless you
enjoy making rubbings of tombstone inscriptions and designs. |
| Brush or small broom: |
To brush grass clippings, fall
leaves, and other debris from stones, especially those that lie flush with the
ground. |
| Camera & film: |
To take pictures of the
tombstones. Remember to write the information from the stones in your notebook
in case the pictures don't turn out clearly or the store loses your film. |
| Directions: |
Obviously, so you can find the
cemetery. |
| Flea collar: |
This may sound funny to some
people to take a flea/tick collar. From personal experience, carrying a flea
collar in your pocket will decrease the chance of having fleas and ticks get
on you when wading through high grass or shrubs. |
| Gardening tools: |
Trimmers to cut grass from in
front of stones so you can read them.
Digger to remove grass clumps growing on flush stones.
Pruners to remove larger brush - make sure it's not part of the planned
landscaping. |
| Gloves: |
To wear when pruning, moving
thorny vegetation, or in the event barbed wire fences are involved and you
must hold them to climb over. (If there's no gate, get permission first.) |
| Insect repellant: |
Self-explanatory. If the area is
damp, mosquitoes would otherwise eat you alive. Believe it or not, used dryer
sheets pinned to your shirt or placed in your belt loops are also effective. |
| Notebook & pencils: |
Always write everything down even
if you're taking pictures because you don't know if/when the film will get
misplaced. |
| Plastic dish scrubbers: |
To remove moss, fungus, and dirt
from the stones so they can be read. For a better alternative see the sidewalk
chalk entry below. |
| Sidewalk chalk: |
To make inscriptions more legible.
Using the flat side of the chalk, lightly rub the surface of the stone. Raised
letters will appear colored against a darker stone; engraved letters will
appear dark against the lighter stone. Sidewalk chalk (note: not any other
type) is safe and will wash off with rain, won't stain the stone, and doesn't
lead to further erosion as the scrubber pads may do. |
| Water & rags: |
To wash away dirt and other debris
from stones. |
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Copyright © 2004-2005 Sheila Rae Myers
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