A name of a distant ancestor was given to you
at a family reunion, a name that you felt, being the diehard genealogist
you are, definitely needed further research. You spent hours going
though census records, days reading old-un-indexed tax rolls, months
calling sextons across the state until…YOU FOUND THE CEMETERY
WHERE THEY WERE BURIED! Unfortunately all cemetery records before
1950 were destroyed so you are now facing the daunting task of walking
a cemetery filled with literally hundreds, if not thousands of graves.
The following list has been compiled through
both my own personal experiences and by talking with genealogists
about their cemetery experiences.
| Lined notepad |
A lined note pad will help you to keep all the information
you gather in some semblance of order. This can be especially
important when you, pardon the pun, uncover more of your family
members in the cemetery than you originally thought were there. |
| Clipboard |
These are ideal for both holding your notes in place and for
giving you a firm writing surface. I prefer the “contractor”
clipboard because it features a storage compartment for your
miscellaneous notes, pens, pencils and any other ephemera you
may be carrying with you. |
| Pencils and Pens |
Extra are important. Let me say that one more time…EXTRA
ARE IMPORTANT, because if you bring only one inevitably it will
decide to stop working the moment you arrive at the cemetery
and not work again until you leave! |
| Camera |
I am in favor of either the Kodak instant cameras, or the
new high-tech digital cameras. The reason is, you can photograph
the stone and know instantly weather you have captured what
you need. Conventional cameras are fine, but nothing is more
disappointing than returning from a trip to find all of the
headstones you photographed are just large off white rectangles.
TIP
This tip was given to me by a genealogist who did frequent traveling
and swore by her standard, non-instant, camera. Every evening
at the conclusion of her day’s cemetery foray, she would
have her photographs developed at either a one-hour photo mart
or a twenty-four hour developing center to ensure that the photographs
y gave the results she desired. If not, she would make another
trip to the cemetery re-photographing the stones of most importance.
This ensured that she always got the images she wanted. |
| Food |
It is always a good idea to pack yourself some high energy
snacks to get you through the day. It is non-negotiable that
you will, I SAY YOU WILL, pack water to drink. Dehydration is
a serious affair and can strike you down in hot, mild and cold
weather. Do not fall victim to this preventable occurrence.
Pack water and carry it with you throughout your hike through
the cemetery. Remember to keep taking drinks even if you are
not thirsty! |
| First Aid Kit |
A first aid kit is essential for a cemetery foray. It should
contain your basics such as Band-Aids and antiseptic wipes but
should also include the following…
Sun Tan Lotion: It is truly amazing how fast one can burn, even
under shade trees.
Aspirin: Headaches always seem to arrive at the most inopportune
time.
Arthritis Cream: For the aching joints after the fifteen mile
walk through the cemetery which seemed to be uphill in both
directions.
Insect Repellent: Need I say more? |
You should also bring along anything you may need for your
own health, for example:
|
Blood Pressure Medicine (or any other prescription medication)
Bee Sting Kit (for those of us allergic to bee stings).
Snake Bite Kit (if you are in an area with poisonous snakes) |
| Cell Phone |
Good way to contact your friends and family if your foray
is going hours longer than expected…great way to contact
your friends and family if you have fallen and can’t get
up! |
| Mace or Pepper Spray (Yes, you read that correctly.) |
The reason for carrying mace or pepper spray follows: It seems
that an avid female genealogist, while traipsing through a long
forgotten cemetery, ran into a very mean dog who resided at
the farm next door. There was nothing to climb and running was
out of the question. As the dog came at her, she hit it squarely
between the eyes with her pepper spray slowing it down enough
for her to get to her car. She cautioned that if you are going
to carry such an item, be sure you know how to use it and be
sure to know the laws of the area in which you will be traveling.! |
|
When you find your ancestor’s grave stone you may want
to make a rubbing of it for a keep-sake. Rubbings can be very
beneficial especially if the stone is showing signs of significant
deterioration, or the cemetery is a target of vandalism.
|
| Soft Brush |
To wipe away the loose dirt… |
| Soft Towel |
To wipe down the stone, epically if it is damp or wet… |
| Trowel or Spade |
To uncover the lower printing on the stone as part of the
stone may now sit beneath the ground level. Do not dig too deep
however, as you may weaken the foundation of the stone causing
it to topple over… |
| Garden Clippers |
These are handy to clear away weeds and grasses that have
sprouted around the stone. Some cemeteries are very good at
keeping weeds, etc. trimmed back while other cemeteries let
them grow until they completely obscure the stone. |
| The rubbing paper |
There are several kinds of paper that work well with cemetery
rubbings, just consult your local art store and they should
be able to help. I prefer rice paper myself. |
| The rubbing material |
Pastel chalks, rubbing wax, or crayons all work extremely
well. It is up to you to find the one that you like the best.
Remember, if you are using the chalk be sure and bring along
a spray can of “fixer” to keep the chalk from smudging,
just never, NEVER spray the fixer to the paper while it still
attached to the stone! |
| Tape |
To attach the paper to the stone. Some prefer freezer tape
as it works well on cold and damp materials. I prefer drafting
tape which does not leave a residue on the stone or on the paper
and is available at most art supply stores. |
| *Remember, when conducting a rubbing be sure
and treat the cemetery with respect. When you leave, the stone
and the area around it should look the same (if not better)
then when you first arrived. |
| TIPS
One genealogist noted that he made a rubbing of a family stone
in a very old cemetery. Upon returning to the cemetery the
following summer, he found the stone completely missing. After
several inquiries he discovered that a sever spring thunder
storm had knocked a large branch onto the stone completely
demolishing it. The only record he now had of his ancestors
was his rubbing from the previous year..
To make a rubbing you must keep the following
in mind:
A) Consult with the local officials to make sure rubbings
are permitted.
B) Never, NEVER do anything to a stone
that cannot be undone.
C) Do not spray the stone with foreign
cleaners and do not scrub the stone with a stiff brush. Both
of these actions may cause irreversible damage. There is no
feeling worse than knowing you were the one who destroyed
an object that has survived for over two hundred years!
D) If the stone is extremely fragile, do
not attempt a rubbing.
One gentleman told of attempting a rubbing
of a very early stone. Iin the middle of the job he felt the
stone shift and then slowly keel over onto its back. As it
hit the ground it shattered. He did the right thing and had
a new stone made however he admitted he should have checked
the stone’s stability before even starting.
|
What to wear What to wear depends on the cemetery you are visiting
and the time of year the visit takes place. Obviously a cemetery
that has been neglected for fifty years will require a different
form of dress than, lets say, Forest Lawn. Likewise, conducting
your visits in mid August will require different dress from
late November. The list below is a neutral guide line and can
be applied to all times of year and all types of cemeteries.
|
| Sturdy shoes or boots and a pair of thick socks |
This will help protect your feet from insect bites, stubbed
toes, poison ivy etc. |
| Long pants, such as blue jeans |
No matter what the weather, long pants protect you from poison
ivy and insect bites. They are also good for kneeling, helping
to protect your knees from rocks, dirt and the like. Remember,
cemeteries are outdoor places so leave your nice clothes at
home. |
| Jackets |
Always bring a jacket and a rain poncho. You never know when
the weather should take a sudden change for the worse. |
| Gloves |
These serve two purposes. 1) They keep
cold hands warm and dry. 2) They protect hands when working
on an old cemetery stone. |
| Hat |
For protection from the elements a hat is a wonderful item.
It can keep the sun off your head, help keep the rain out of
your eyes and keep your ears warm. A hat is a must at the cemetery. |
TIPS
A genealogist spoke of traveling to a cemetery on a bright,
sunny 83 degree day. While walking the graves, a freak weather
front passed through with some wind and a small sprinkle but
the temperature dropped over 30 degrees. Fortunately she had
packed a coat and she was able to continue her quest.
If a storm should arrive during your foray be sure and retreat
to the safety of your automobile or any other suitable structure.
Hale is not fun to experience in the open with no cover and
lightening is very unforgiving. A gentleman was researching
at a very old cemetery when a storm blew up. Even though the
sun was still shining thunder could be heard and flashes of
lightening seen in the distance. He convinced his friend to
retreat with him to the cemetery’s chapel until the
storm blew over. His friend felt this was ridiculous but went
with him anyways. They had been in the chapel for no more
than two minutes when a bolt of lightening struck a large
tree near where they had been researching. During the course
of the storm, lightening struck the cemetery no less than
three times.
REMEMBER, DRESS FOR THE WEATHER AND ALWAYS WEAR LAYERS. Layering
allows you to adjust your comfort level by removing items.
It is easier to take something off than it is to create something
out of thin air to put on!
Cemetery research can be fun and exciting
if you plan ahead. Hopefully these ideas will help to make
your cemetery foray a delightful and informative one. |
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