United States, Cemetery Abstracts - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

Record Description
This collection includes abstracts from cemeteries in the United States, compiled by various missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The collection also includes records from Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, New South Wales, and New Zealand.

Record Content
 Cemetery abstracts may contain the following information:
 * Name of the decedent
 * Birth date
 * Death date
 * Name of the cemetery
 * Location of the cemetery
 * Notes regarding insignias on the tombstone
 * Relationships

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * Your ancestor’s name
 * Approximate year of death
 * Location of death
 * Possible place of burial

Search the Collection
To search the collection by name: Fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination.

To browse the collection by image: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "State" ⇒Select the appropriate "County and Town" ⇒Select the appropriate "Cemetery" which takes you to the images

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.
 * Your ancestor could be buried in a cemetery outside of the area where he or she died.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors. The following examples show ways you can use the information:
 * Use the burial information to locate a birth record.
 * Use the burial information to locate a death record.
 * Use the burial information to search other records about your ancestor in the same locality.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.
 * Continue to search the cemetery abstracts identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been buried in the same cemetery, or surrounding cemeteries.
 * If your ancestor used multiple names throughout their life, look for all their names.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

{{Tip|Don’t overlook the FamilySearch Library Catalog. You may find records listed in the catalog under: {{FHL|Cemeteries|keywords|disp}} For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interst, see the wiki article Cemeteries.

General Information about These Records

 * The cemetery abstracts are typed.
 * The cemetery abstracts were created by various missions of the LDS Church.
 * Reliability of the cemetery abstracts should be questioned. The tombstones were not abstracted in the order they appear in the cemetery. The abstracts do not show who is buried next to your ancestor.
 * The quality of the record is good, with noticeable bleed through on the onion skin, the paper used to type the information.

Related Websites

 * Find A Grave
 * Interment.net
 * BillionGraves

Related Wiki Articles
Cemeteries

Citations for This Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Record citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image citation: