Virginia, Danville City Cemetery Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
These records are for the years 1863 to 2005.

Record Description
These records are of various types for several cemeteries in Danville, Virginia. They have burial records, deed books, and plot books. The cemeteries included are:


 * Green Hill Cemetery
 * Grove Street Cemetery
 * Highland Burial Park
 * Leemont Cemetery
 * Mountain View Cemetery
 * Oak Hill Cemetery
 * Schoolfield Cemetery.

Record Content


The records may contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Name of cemetery
 * Location of grave
 * Birth and death dates (usually year only)
 * Names of close family members such as spouse, parents, or children
 * Undertaker or mortuary

How to Use the Record
When you have located your ancestor’s burial record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Burial records are often brief so it can be easy confuse individuals. Compare what is information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.

Next, look at the pieces of information given in the burial record for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the birth date or year to search for birth records.
 * Use the birth date along with relative’s names to find the family in census records.
 * Use the locality and relative’s names to locate church and land records.
 * The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral and cemetery records which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname, this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have been buried in the same cemetery or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries.

Record History
Cemeteries begin keeping records as soon as they are opened. The purchase of a burial plot is a land transaction and is recorded with a deed.

Why this Record Was Created
Cemetery records are kept as a permanent record of who was buried and usually who purchased the burial plot.

Record Reliability
The information in these records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant.

Related Websites
Virginia Genealogy Archives

Virginia State Cemetery Records

Online Virginia Cemetery Records

Virginia Cemeteries at Cemetery Junction

Virginia Cemetery Records

Related Wiki Articles
Virginia Cemeteries

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection
"Virginia, Danville City Cemetery Records, 1833-2006." index and images. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 19 May 2011.) entry for Berda R. Adkins; citing Cemetery Records, Danville City Cemetery, Singed graves, Plot index, image 3; City of Danville Public Works Department, Danville, Virginia.

Sources of Information for This Collection
“Virginia, Danville City Cemetery Records, 1863-2005,” index and images, FamilySearch ([http:// http://]familysearch.org/); from the City of Danville Public Works Department. FHL digital images, 40 folders, Family History Library Salt Lake City, Utah.