Cemetery Research

By Clint Williams

Cemetery Research

• Intro• Cemetery humor• Our topic today – a dead issue• Cemetery terms, online tools and books are in

the presentation on the website

Cemetery Research

• Intro• There are college courses on Cemetery

research• What we will look at – – Background– How to find cemeteries• Research

– Ask relatives – genealogy notes– Online– Books

Cemetery Research

• Finding a cemetery – Before you get into the car and drive around– Ask relatives where they lived– Ask people who lived in the area– Death certificate– Probate– Use genealogy information, cemetery books– Maps – USGS, county, Tobin. Historical, county appraisal

district, county road and bridge – Library – county and family history, dates of creation– Large cemeteries have a person who keeps track of burials

Cemetery Research

• Getting in the car and going– Water for you and to clean stones– Walking stick or hoe– Take all notes, sketches and maps– Copies of research– Wear older clothes – can be torn or cut– Do not bring commercial cleaners or use them– Camera and extra battery

• Mirror• 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM best time

– Tools• Small straight shovel, loppers, rags,

Cemetery Research

• First burials– Where they died – Bible times, Egyptians– Customs change over time – • Wooten and Jones burial on owned property• then town cemeteries

• Top ten largest cemeteries • http://

10formation.blogspot.com/2013/01/10-biggest-graveyards-around-world_12.html