Carved in stone

Information about ancestors can be gleaned from other sources than paper records. Tombstones are a great resource for birth and death information. Some stones may even list where a person was born, their marriage date, how they died, or even their occupation. Some cemeteries have been read by genealogists, meaning the inscription on each stone has been documented. This is usually done by genealogy or historical societies or sometimes individual researchers. These records are sometimes published and available for purchase in a book form, but more often they are kept in the research library of the organization that compiled them.

While finding the record of a tombstone in a book is helpful to furthering research, many cemeteries have not been recorded. In this case it is necessary to visit the cemetery and find the tombstone to learn what information has been left there. The best practice is to take a picture of the tombstone once you find it. Not only is this a good way to record the information on a stone without damaging the stone, it also creates a record of the physical condition of the tombstone. When searching a cemetery I like to take along a partner. I find that a second set of eyes makes it easier to find a specific stone in what can seem like endless rows of granite. But not all of your family and friends will understand your interest in hanging out in cemeteries and taking pictures of tombstones so pick wisely. Sometimes it is impossible to visit a cemetery due to distance.

A wonderful website now makes it possible to view tombstones from all over the world. Findagrave.com is a collection of tombstone images. It began as a site for tombstones of famous people, but is now open to all persons around the world. Records are entered by volunteers so not every cemetery is complete. There is an option to request a photograph of a specific tombstone. Any member of the site can answer requests. Not only is this a great way to get images of your ancestors’ tombstones, it is a wonderful way to help other researchers.

Who do you take with you to the cemetery to find tombstones?

Can you find an ancestor on Findagrave? If you already use Findagrave, challenge yourself to answer another researcher’s request.