Genealogy Chat

I'm about to make my first visit to a graveyard in search of ancestors! I have found out that several are buried in Harehills, leeds and would like to have a look at the gravestones to see what turns up. BUT, as this is virgin territory for me, I could do with some tips. What should I do before I get there? Presumably, rather than amble around the thousands of graves there will be a way I can ascertain the correct locations of the ones i want? Any body got any tips please?

I am no expert, but contact the local family history society for the area you are visiting. Someone may have already transcribed the MIs. Also try the local library incase someone has deposited a transcription index there. I read recently that gently rubbing chalk into worn lettering can bring it up without causing permanent damage. A drop of water or rain will lift it off again.

Is it a churchyard or a cemetery? If it's a cemetery then the cemetery office or local county council will have a cemetery map of where everyone is buried and should be able to tell you exactly where your ancestors are to be found. If it's a churchyard then you could ask at the church where the records are kept. Kath. x

I would advise contacting the council where the cemetery is that you want to visit - look on google, and then check for cemetery details. I did this before going to the Cemetery at weekend, and they were able to tell me the grave number and roughly whereabouts in the cemetery to look. They were also able to give me the cemetery opening times. If you have time, have a look at the graves round and about as I found a grave that I didn't know about for some family members about 20ft away from the one I'd gone to see:-) Good luck Bev X

In addition, if you know where (Harehills) they are buried, phone the cemetary ahead. If you can give them an approximate date, they may allow you to view the cemetery record for you ancestors interment. We certainly were when we approached them about a burial in Bradfrod. It can give you additional information.

I would find the contact details for were you are going and find out where their records are kept. If you have names and dates they should be able to give you an idea of where to look. If it's not too big a place the fun is in reading the stones for familar names. You should be able to work out where the older stones are compared to newer ones. Out of politness I have always contacted someone ( usually the vicar ) to ask permission. Especially if you intend to take photos. Take a BIG notepad and Pencil / pen to note down what is written on stones. I always try to draw the stone and put the words in the same place ( Hope that makes sense ). don't forget to look inside the church if you can - you never know what memorials might be inside. Usually there is someone around who looks after the church - talking to them can be very helpful. Try to pick a dry day to go ! Esta

Or you could contact the parish church. A friend of mine, with advise from various sources managed to track down the funeral directors who conducted my great grandfathers funeral. A map of the churchyard with details of where he is buried despite a headstone was obtained from the parish records. Be prepared that your rellie may not have a headstone. My great grandfather doesnt have one and I was so upset until I found out exactly where his plot was from the parish records/funeral directors. Fi

Have a look on the WWW, many councils have a website with contact details. It varies from place to place. Some are able to give details of a burial over the phone, sometimes the local library / archive will have a copy of the index. You can often get a copy of the burial grant (I think that is the name), this lists the occupants of the grave with dates, ages and address so you can often pick up some useful bits of information. Try and get a map out of the cemetery office if you do contact them. Often they will be able to give you a photocopy which will get you to the right area of the cemetery. It can be very difficult otherwise as again the markings of graves varies. Some have every headstone markes, some the end of each row will be marked. Once you work out the system then you can usually find a grave even if there is no headstone. If you are there during working hours then most cemetery staff or even undertakers/stonemasons will know their way around the cemetery and often can be helpful. Much of my time in cemeteries is trying to find war graves. I print out the full list of war graves in the cemetery from the CWGC website. I then use that as a guide i.e. find a war grave then look up the grave number on the list. This can be helpful in 'decoding' the numbering system. The numbering might be duplicated. You can find a Row A in the East part and another Row A in the South part of a cemetery so you need make sure you have the right part. They are also often subdided into Church of England (or just Church), Non Conformist, Catholic etc. The Catholic area is usually easy to spot - lots of white marble and angels! Even something like a group of Polish war graves or Italian graves can be a clue. Martin

All sound advice, the only thing I would add is if they are old gravestones you are looking for they could be very weathered and near on imposible to read, my tip is a big bit of paper (or several if you are feeling optimistic) and a crayon, then you can do a rubbing of the grave if you cant read it. I have found that a rubbing can reveal dates and words that were just unreadable otherwise. Good luck and have fun

Yes I'd definitely contact the cemetary office before you go. I went to a funeral up north yesterday and wanted to find a grave that I couldn't find the last time I went up even though I thought I knew which part of the cemetary it was in. Yet again I couldn't find it and the cemetary office was shut. Rang them today and he was very helpful and he emailed the details plus a map of the cemetary. Oh and the grave was roughly where I thought it was but now I have the grave number I will have a better chance of finding it next time I go up.

Just a pointer, although they may be buried at the cemetry/churchyard you think, please be prepared for the fact that some of them may not have any markers and therefore you will be unable to find them. Contacting the relevant authorities might be able to point to the plot number in the cemetry. I am in the process of writing to the vicar/minister of the church where my I know my Great Grandmother is buried but she has no marker at all, but we do have photosgraphs (lucikly took at different angles) so we have been able to say roughly where she lays, but the church records should be able to confirm the exact spot