24 November 2014

Neighboring Stones

Tombstones in Bethany United Church of Christ Cemetery,
Tioga, Hancock County, Illinois; photo taken 2004 by
Michael John Neill
When visiting a cemetery, do you note the stones that are adjacent to the one for your "ancestor of interest?" Married daughters and other relatives with different last names may have a permanent resting place next to your actual "ancestor of interest." Transcribe those nearby stones, or at least get good pictures of them and make a diagram showing the relative positions of the neighboring stones.

Or better yet, just take plenty of pictures.

2 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 25, 2014 at 8:23 AM

    Also stop by the Cemetery Office for a map and maybe copies of their burial cards showing name, lot, burial dates and maybe other information that isn't on any stone. I have family that are buried in one cemetery that you need to drive to the next stone.

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  2. AnonymousNovember 25, 2014 at 2:44 PM

    Sometimes the Cemetery Office also has records of contested plots and releases with addresses from relatives who had a right to be buried there. I also have one interment list that has a first wife and a child no one knew about. They aren't on the stone and they were moved from another site.

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