Comments on: Learning. Six Feet Under.

By: Priscilla

Priscilla — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:27:17 +0000

You should check out findagrave.com you can search cemeteries all over the world and search specific names. You can also post a request for a volunteer to photograph headstones.

By: Karen Hansen-Rey

Karen Hansen-Rey — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:07:23 +0000

Jeanie – Thank you for your article – I have made a few cemetary visits over the past 2 years and attended a “cemetary tour” in the rain, 80 miles from home – it was fascinating and fun to be searching other than behind a computer – there are many cemeteries within a 100 mile radius from my home where I can gather information on several sides of my family tree – however, I find the task a but daunting – 1) to find the probable cemetary 2) make sure it is open to the public (I drove 2 hrs once to find one locked up), and 3) map out a trip with all the probable markers to find – I was hoping that ancestry would provide a “field” for researchers to list information that pertains just to burial site information and then provide a “tree” or listing(s) that would reflect family members located at each burial site(s) –

By: Jack Pickens

Jack Pickens — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:00:58 +0000

Anyone who has ever “walked” a cemetery searching for an ancestor and felt the warmth of a “find” never forgets the feeling.

I am 25 years (and 2900 names) into my family research and running out of time and health, but thanks to FTM can continue hopefully on most days on the project via computer snd email.

Your article (and the responses) took me back to 1988 when I was “walking” the State Street Cemetery in Athens, Ohio; I was working that day with the best genealogist I have ever known, a lady named Mary Birchfield, who had been recommended to me by a local cemetery manager. We were searching, at Mary’s suggesstion, a cemetery known for having war veterans going back to the Rev. War. I was searching for my 4th g/g/father Jeremiah Burnham (1759-1839) of the Mass. Burnhams.

Almost finished, and with no results, it began to rain and we had no umbrellas — being a gentleman,
I yelled at Mary “we’d better quit before we get soaked” — to which she replied “We’ve only got 4 rows left to search, let’s go on” — so we did.

Walking the next to last row I came upon an overturned tombstone. I’ve never walked past an overturned stone, before that day or since, so I leaned over and straightened it up into its place.

You’ve already guessed it, I’m sure — the aged etching on the old grey stone read “Cpl. Jeremiah Burnam” with his dates and unit as well. Tears came to this old codger’s eyes as I yelled, “Mary, come over here — you’re not going to believe this”.

She looked at the stone and said, “Jack, you’re the luckiest researcher I’ve ever known”, and from that day on she called me “Lucky” Jack. With the help of the county clerk’s office and FTM I have been able to trace his line back to England in 1642, along with numerous stories regarding the family.

Thanks for the reminder — it made my day. I can’t get out these days, but I’m still looking for “stones”

Lucky Jack

By: Jerri Griffith

Jerri Griffith — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:58:37 +0000

I actually found a group of family graves accidentally last summer. We had set out with several likely cemeteries programmed into our GPS. After being detoured by several miles we came upon a crossroads and saw a small church with an ancient graveyard behind it. We decided to get out and stretch our legs and make it our first “unofficial” stop of the day. To my surprise I immediately saw the family name in bold relief on one of the larger stones. With a little further investigation, we confirmed it was that of a great uncle, and next to his were those of two siblings and my maternal great-great grandparents! Now every time I pass a cemetery I can’t help but wonder…

By: Peter Louwrens

Peter Louwrens — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:38:50 +0000

I must say that I agree with the expensive site. Yours is certainly the most costly. Secondly, your support is almost non-existant. My account was recently cancelled because I was informed that I had cancelled my subscription. When I queried it I was told to call your help line in the United States. I live in Africa so that was not a viable solution.

However, I do believe your sites provide a fantastic wealth of information. A think that the focus on the USA is a bit of a problem. Not everybody originated there!!

Regards

Peter

By: Marie Ventura

Marie Ventura — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:30:08 +0000

I guess I was a wierd kid. The cemetery for Mobridge, Walworth Cty, South Dakota was close to my Aunt Jane’s house. Where several times as I was growing up, I was sent to live with her and my cousins.
But my only resource for peace and quiet was when I went to the cemetery. I read the Headstones, cried for the baby who had a Huge
Angle as it’s stone. and wondered about the lives of those who abided there.

So I still think of them places of peace 70 years later.

By: Joyce Law

Joyce Law — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:59:31 +0000

My husband could not remember where his brother was buried as we had moved out of the area 25 years ago. We went searching for him. In the process I got interested in different cemeteries and have walked and recorded a lot of the names and locations for use on the internet.

By: Ed Mahoney

Ed Mahoney — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:07:48 +0000

I have received my Great Grandfathers 1879 Bible from a fellow member of Ancestry.com. When
our Family Trees Crossed, he emailed me. I have the “Trempe” family bible he said. I couldn’t believe it. After a sincere phone call, he offered it to me since I was a direct decendent. What a great day for me. It is now a treasured keepsake.

By: Joan Adkins

Joan Adkins — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:58:51 +0000

I have been working on my ancestry for abt 6 yrs and have run out of cemeteries to go to… when i am at a cemetery I leave this world and find myself in their time. I get a feeling of peacefulness and closeness. YES, I talk to them also. I’d want them too talk to me, if it was turned around! I’ve probably been to 10-15 cemeteries. I say TRY IT!

By: Al Cary

Al Cary — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:46:37 +0000

I too had a conflict with the US GOV about my grandfather’s tombstone located at Jefferson Barracks Nationa Cemetery located in St. Louis. In the late 1980′s I discovered that my grandmother who was suppose to of been shown on the back of his tombstone was in fact not shown. After a few months of correspondence with the people in charge I finally won. They agreed that she was indeed in the grave site and they took steps to get a new tombstone, with him shown on the front and her on the rear. It had been like this since 1944.