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Before you begin your cemetery research, you will need to know in which cemetery your ancestor is buried. This article will assume that you have already completed that part of the investigation puzzle.
Don’t expect to trot to the cemetery unprepared, walking briskly and finding your ancestor’s grave by chance. Most of the time it is much more difficult, although sometimes a little luck is needed. Graveyard investigation can mean you’ll spend hours wondering back and forth, at some point possibly forgetting which rows you’ve already covered and having to backtrack. Do small parts of the graveyard at a time so you don’t get confused.
The first thing you will consider is what clothes to wear for this research trip. Common sense dictates that you dress casually and according to the weather. You will want to visit the cemetery when there is less chance of weeds, tall grasses and shrubs growing. Fall is a great time to do family history research outdoors. Early spring is also good on warm but not hot days. Summer can get brutal with the heat and of course winter is too cold. In hot weather, chiggers, ticks, and snakes can be a concern if you walk in a more private cemetery. Cemetery terrain is often uneven and can easily lead to rockfalls, potholes, and sunken graves.
When conducting cemetery research for genealogical purposes, it is recommended that you do not go to the cemetery alone or near the dark. There is usually no one in authority guarding cemeteries, so you may feel strangely lonely and vulnerable. Once when we were visiting a graveyard in the hills of remote Kentucky, we were taunted by a group of visibly intoxicated youths. Be prepared for these incidents, whatever it takes. If possible, have a cell phone and GPS with you and make sure someone knows where you went. Bring water and snacks with you if you expect a hot or long drive.
Pack the necessary items for this type of genealogical adventure (and it really is). We usually pack a backpack, which we have specifically for the cemetery investigation, with a small shovel, a broom, paper towels, a spray bottle of water, gloves, bug spray, suntan lotion, a small emergency kit and grave rub items. . A cane is not a bad idea. We keep our “graveyard” backpack in our car at all times. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses. Of course, you will need one of the most important genealogy tools, a camera!
If available, visit the cemetery caretaker’s or manager’s office for maps and other information (history) of the cemetery. We found this to be a great help in finding graves quickly, especially in very large cemeteries. They can often tell you exactly where your ancestry is buried. Ask permission if you are tracing headstones. A tomb map will speed up your day. You usually have to call ahead to get an appointment or at least the hours someone will be there. It is not always easy to work with or locate cemetery caretakers.
Expect the unexpected. It is not unusual to visit a cemetery that is supposed to have the remains of your ancestor according to some record and never find the grave site. Not all were buried with a tombstone. Headstones also sometimes sink into the ground or are unreadable. Many if not most of the oldest cemeteries do not have complete records of who is buried there.
Cemetery research for genealogical information and tombstone hunting are adventures any genealogist will eventually want to get involved with. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll be addicted to this more hands-on form of family history research.