Saying Good-bye to the Cemetery…




…not so fast!

Since there are two fantastic websites, Findagrave  and BillionGraves, it doesn’t seem like we need to visit the cemeteries as frequently as we have in the past!  However, don’t discount going to the local cemetery just because records are online.

Findagrave’s mission is to, “…is to find, record and present final disposition information from around the world as a virtual cemetery experience.”  (source)    Findagrave memorials are created from photographs of headstones and from cemetery records.  Findagrave is not comprehensive, so not all graves from every cemetery are online, and not all records or headstones from each cemetery is available online.  According to Findagrave.com:  “Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour. The site simply wouldn't exist without the million+ contributors.”(source)

The goal of Billion Graves is:  “… to preserve precious records found in cemeteries throughout the world. We use modern technology to capture images of headstones with their GPS locations so users worldwide can access those records anywhere. BillionGraves strives to do just that: preserve at least one billion graves.  And we won't stop there!”  (source)  BillionGraves is also not comprehensive, so not all graves will be found online.

There are still some benefits of traveling to the cemetery for research.  First by physically being at the cemetery, a researcher is able to see in proximity where other family members are buried.  This is helpful if you are not sure if same surnames are related.  Proximity does not automatically prove there is a relationship, but it can be a clue.

Not all graves have a headstone, another reason you may want to physically visit the cemetery.  For graves without stones, the sexton’s office or owner of the cemetery will be able to point you in the direction of the where your ancestor is buried.  Sexton’s records may also include more information than is recorded on the stone.  What information is available to the public depends upon the cemetery.  I have been to one cemetery that gave me copies of everything they had; which included the cost of the funeral and burial, and who paid for the funeral and burial.  I have also been to a cemetery that would give me nothing except a date; I already had the month and year.  With burial records, it doesn’t hurt to try and see what information you can get!  Besides, there is something exhilarating about searching a cemetery!

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