Arizona, Maricopa, Mesa City Cemetery Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Arizona Maricopa County

What is in the Collection?
The collection consists of images of cemetery and other records from the Mesa City Cemetery. The collection includes:
 * Permits for graves
 * Tax roll
 * Block book
 * Sexton ledgers
 * Burial records
 * Funeral records

This collection covers the years 1885 through 1960. It is being published as images become available.

Sample Images
These records usually contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Death date
 * Burial dates and places

In addition, they may also list the following:


 * Age
 * Cause of death
 * Residence
 * Birth year
 * Names of children
 * Mortuary or undertaker
 * Name of purchaser of the plot
 * Location of the plot

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search you will need to know the following:


 * The person’s name
 * The approximate burial or death date

Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors 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 compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "County" ⇒Select the appropriate "Record Type, Date Range and Volume" 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.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this 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 records which often include the names and residences of other family members.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * 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.
 * The cemetery these records are from still exists today. Family members of those found in the records who died after the records were written may also be interred in this cemetery. Mesa Cemetery maintains a website with additional information on those later burials.

I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking for, What Now?

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

General Information About These Records
The Mesa city cemetery began keeping records when it was established in 1891. It is currently operated by the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation, and Commercial Facilities Department. The records were created to keep track of who had purchased the lots and who was buried there. The records are generally reliable, but the information depends upon the reliablitiy and memory of the informant or purchaser of the burial plot.

The cemetery these records are from still exists today. Family members of those found in the records who died after the records were written may also be interred in this cemetery. Mesa Cemetery maintains a website with additional information on those later burials.

Citing 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.

Collection Citation:

Image Citation: