Cemeteries can be a fundamental source for genealogical information on
several levels. On the surface, the researcher gains important information about
the dates of death and often the dates of birth of an ancestor. The inscription
of the stone frequently contains additional family information such as the name
of spouse(s), parents, or children. In rare circumstances, the place of birth or
location of the parents may also be recorded on the stone. Beyond the basic data
recorded on a headstone, a visit to the cemetery can provide important
information to assist in putting family groups together. For instance, whom an
ancestor is buried alongside can give the researcher information not easily
obtained elsewhere. As well, the absence of an internment in the last known
location of an ancestor gives additional information to add to the puzzle.
The first challenge is that of locating the grave for a given ancestor. The
usual place to start is the location where your ancestor was last known to be,
and certainly the location of residence at the time of death if known. Often the
death certificate will list the place of interment, and published family
genealogies and town histories are another source for burial information. Most
early New Hampshire towns had a cemetery associated with the church. Burial
records are available for some church cemeteries, and helpful in determining
burial locations if the individual's church affiliation is known. The simplest
procedure is to contact the church directly, but be aware that some early church
records are housed in historical society collections, sometimes not known to
church officials. Don't give up easily.
Burial customs in the early days did not dictate burial in a cemetery, making
family burial plots quite common. Sometimes these family plots are found in
deplorable condition. An example, found on the web, is William Meacham's
discovery and subsequent restoration of two family plots in Kentucky. Unfortunately, such conditions
befall family plots in New Hampshire as well.
Each town established other burial grounds as needed in the development of
the town. The records of the establishment can be found in the early town record
books. There is no index to assist in this type of research, but reading the
records of a given town will give clues to what cemeteries were established at
what time in that locale. Microfilmed copies of these sources are on file at the
New Hampshire State
Library, 20 Park St., Concord, NH, 03301, or through the numerous Family History Centers of
the Church of Latter-day Saints. The index to the town records is available at
the NEHGS Library located at 101 Newbury Street in Boston, MA, 02116, and the DAR Library
located at 1776 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006-5303. (See "Early
New Hampshire Town Records," by Edward F. Holden on this site.) Each town
was responsible for any records, (or the absence thereof) regarding burials in a
town cemetery, and there is a wide discrepancy in cemetery records from town to
town.
Obituaries frequently contain the name of the undertaker who handled
arrangements for the family. Many old and most of the more recent newspapers
have been microfilmed and are available through libraries and research centers
across the country, while the early New Hampshire papers are available at the
New Hampshire State Library. If the researcher is fortunate enough to have an
ancestor who was interred by an undertaker that is still in business, there will
likely be burial records available to assist in the search through that source.
Refer to the American Blue Book of Funeral Directors, available in most
public libraries' reference section for contact information. When a funeral home
no longer exists, check with local historical societies and libraries to see if
the location of their records may be determined. All of this adds to the
complexity of finding any given ancestor's resting place!
The US Department of the Interior has a Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which can be
searched on the web. This site allows the researcher to search for all
cemeteries in a given town, county, or state. A form is provided that allows the
user to enter information via drop down lists to complete the query of the
database. All that is needed for this purpose is to select the state, which
enables the county to be selected. Next, the user will select the cemetery in
the drop down list titled "Feature Type." If a specific town is known, the user
can then type that town name into the field titled "Topo Map Name." The results
will be a listing of all cemeteries known in a given state, county, and town
with links to maps of the location. The latitude and longitude are given for the
location that can then be used with a GIS hand-held device (click here for more information about GIS
[Geographic Information Systems]). After a specific cemetery is selected, the
most helpful map choice for location by automobile is "Show Feature Location
using maps produced from the U.S. Census Bureau's Tiger Map Server." After
selecting this item, scroll down the page and use the zoom-in feature several
times to get a street map for the selected cemetery. The information you receive
is only as good as the information in the database. In this instance, a search
for all cemeteries in Bradford, NH includes one that is actually located in
Sutton, NH and the Presbury Cemetery in Bradford is listed under Hillsboro Upper
Village, NH. However, one of several family plots located in Bradford does
appear on the list.
Transcriptions of the gravestones of many New
Hampshire cemeteries have been made and printed copies deposited in various
libraries and historical societies. These transcriptions are attributed to
members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Works Progress
Administration (WPA) groups, or other historians. An impressive collection can
be found at the New
Hampshire Historical Society Tuck Library located at 30 Park St, Concord,
NH, 03301. In preparation for a visit to the library, a search of their collection
for a specific cemetery can be done online. Entering the search word "cemetery"
in that search engine produces 327 items. The NEHGS Library also has an online catalog. Using that
search, it is necessary to search for variants such as "Gravestone Inscriptions
New Hampshire" as well as "Cemeteries NH" to get a more complete listing. The DAR Library in
Washington, DC has many transcription records in their holdings. A search can be
completed online for these as well. The most effective way to isolate your
search on that engine is to enter a search for a title as follows: "Cemetery
Records {Insert Town Name}, {Insert State Abbr.}." It is also a good idea to
check with the local historical society when the researcher has an idea of the
location of an ancestor's burial to see if they may have transcription records
not published or deposited elsewhere. The benefit of these records is that the
researcher can check out a hunch of an ancestor's burial location and if luck
prevails, obtain inscription information without an intensive stroll through the
many cemeteries of a given locality.
The next step is a visit to the cemetery. You should first check with the
town to see what, if any, restrictions and guidelines exist for the cemetery in
question. The following items will assist you with transcribing the
gravestones:
- writing utensils
- paper
- outdoor clothing appropriate for the weather
- hat with visor
- sunglasses
- bug repellent
- sunscreen
- mirror
- flashlight
- cardboard roll such as an empty paper towel roll
- mild soap
- lots of water
- soft nylon or natural brush
- wooden scraper such as a popsicle stick
- grass cutters, trowel, etc.
- camera
Depending on where the light is at the time, and given the weather conditions
on the day of your visit, you may find the inscription difficult to read. By
maneuvering the light over the inscription using the mirror, flashlight and tube
you will find that readability can be greatly increased. Do not use any chemical
ingredients on the stone to highlight the inscription or clean it, as this may
damage the stone. You may find that lichen or other organic matter has covered
the inscription. In this event soak the debris with mild soapy water and work it
off with the soft brush or wooden scraper. Metal and chemicals should never be
used. Be sure to thoroughly flush the detergent from the stone when done. If you
intend to do plantings, trim grass or clear the base of a sunken stone, be sure
you have the tools you will need and know just what the guidelines are for the
cemetery.
It is important to record the inscription even if you intend to photograph
the stone. It's a good idea to take a thorough look at the stones surrounding
that of your particular interest. Take a record of anything that appears
remotely related, to avoid repeating a trip when some new evidence makes the
remotely possible now probable! Following these methods should assist
researchers in finding valuable information about their New Hampshire
ancestors.