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. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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.

    ReplyDelete