The following are some of the many great tips readers sent in to help those of you who will be visiting cemeteries this summer.

When visiting cemeteries, I find it helpful to document the names on the tombstones on either side of my ancestor's, and also the one directly behind it and directly in front. Of course, landmark identifiers, like "tall pine tree three tombstones to the left," are helpful to note also. All these notes will be useful if I ever want to find the tombstone again, or if I want to tell another family member how to find it. I also write down directions from the entrance of the cemetery to the tombstone for the same reasons.

Gay S. Weston
Newbury Park, CA

I took a picture of a landmark with my grandparents' tombstones in the foreground. Unfortunately, the stadium was torn down and a high school was built on the site. This could be confusing if one was not aware that a new structure had been built in its place. If possible, obtain a plat of the cemetery or a map indicating the cemetery road intersection closest to the gravesite.

Kathy Lock

My mother was with me when I visited a cemetery in Waterville, ME in 1964. We visited several family plots, one of which I remembered was her grandfather's. When I began family research and contacted the cemetery for his information, I was told he was not found in the records. I visited the cemetery also and was told the same thing. I knew that he had remarried following the death of my great-grandmother, so a few years ago I asked the sexton to check for a family plot under the married name of his daughter by that second marriage--and so the lost was found! There was also a record of a very old, unmarked plot there, and I feel it must have been my great-grandmother's, whose records can't be located. So don't give up on the first try!

Helen Dotts

I wanted to share some information I obtained while trying to locate my grandmother's grave. I knew where she died because I had obtained a copy of her death certificate, but she wasn't listed in any of the nearby cemeteries. I got in touch with a local library to get a copy of the obituary, and the obituary mentioned a cemetery that nobody was familiar with.

There was only one cemetery in the area, and it had a different name. Eventually, I learned that the county had purchased the cemetery in 1944 and then changed the cemetery's name. I came upon this by calling the county recorder and having the deed to the cemetery located, which showed that the cemetery had been in operation during the time of my grandmother's death. The deed held the key I had been looking for. Once I located the cemetery, I found that they had incomplete information on my grandmother, and I was able to fill them in.

Barbara Tovrea

PS - Your articles are good resource information. Keep up the good work!

When visiting cemeteries this summer to pull weeds and grass from around tombstones, please watch out for snakes. We have found snakes more than once at some cemeteries we visited.

Maria Minear
Montana

In Massachusetts, many Roman Catholic parishes have their own cemeteries. If you write to the Church (or in this case, the Boston Archdiocese), which now has copies of many parish cemetery records, you may find out exactly who is buried in a particular plot.

Often there are more relatives in the plot than are listed on the marker. By checking these church records, you can find out about other family members that you may have been unaware of previously. The Church may also send you information about other gravesites with the same surname. This happened to me in the case of St. Leo's Cemetery in Leominster, MA. Other siblings who came over with your ancestors may be included; they could be buried in a family plot unbeknownst to you. Good luck to all!

M. Mitchell

I went to a cemetery where many of my relatives were buried. I filmed almost all of the headstones to show my parents, in hopes that they might remember one or two uncles or cousins they had forgotten. Things like this can jog an old memory and lead to other clues.

M. Price

I always keep a traveling file (very inexpensive, with handle on top) and load it with clipboard, chalk for use on headstones, pencil and notebook, boots, folding umbrella, a good magnifying glass, rice paper for tracing headstones, a roll of quarters for the copy machine, and an extra roll of film or two. These items are always ready to go. As I prepare to leave, I add a soft drink or two in a small cooler, along with some cheese crackers and/or a sandwich, and grab my camera, which stays at the ready. Of course, my handi-wipes are always in the car. I also keep a collapsible shovel (these can be found at Army-Navy surplus stores) in the trunk of my car for whatever reason, such as digging up weeds at cemetery markers, and a small hand spade and garden gloves. These are the very minimum needs when "digging up bones."

Another tip is that when you have to stop and ask directions, always note the name of the person who gives you directions, as well as a telephone number, if he or she is generous enough to let you have it. Take a moment to talk. I have had many breakthroughs in idle conversation with old-timers from the area, and I generally find them very helpful when approached in the right manner.

Geraldine Johnson

I get myself a county map. Then I check it for the cemeteries I want and highlight them, so I can tell at a glance just where each is. I use this to map out the way I would like to go, and so that I do as little backtracking as I can.

I take pictures of the headstones and have a pen and paper ready to write what is on the headstone in case the picture doesn't turn out. I take pictures of all tombstones with the family name, and most of them have turned out to be family. Some of the headstones also list marriage dates.

I also go to the local courthouse or wherever birth, marriage, and death records are kept. One place I visited let me check the books, and I made copies of anyone with the family name (I was looking up marriages at this time). I was lucky because I connected a lot of the names. Also, some marriage records list the parents of the couple getting married. On several of the records I found, I had the parents on file, but not the child. With the marriage record, I discovered the child, the child’s birth date (because sometimes the records give birth date or age), and the child’s spouse.

Elma Tew

When searching cemetery lists, databases, and indexes, watch for misspelled names. My great-grandfather was listed as Isaac Henney instead of Kenney. Also, some of the female headstones will have the maiden name instead of the married one. Isaac’s wife was buried as Emma J. Cooper instead of Emma Kenney.

Nancy Leavitt

Recently, I finally learned where my husband's father was buried. (Believe it or not, it was not an easy chore.) When I called the cemetery, they said they would copy the file and mail it to me for $5. I was thrilled, gave them the info, and hung up the phone. Suddenly I had a flash and immediately called them back. Lo and behold, he was buried next to his parents—no one in the family who is still living knew that. Now I have the documentation to continue my search. The morale of the story is, ask!

Caryn Johnson

Thanks to all of the submitters! I still have a few left and will be running another selection in upcoming weeks. If you have a cemetery tip you would like to share, you can send it to: editor@ancestry-inc.com.