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

Record Description
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.

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.

Record Content
Cemetery 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 to Use the Record
To begin your search you will need to know the following:


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

Search the Collection
Some of the volumes begin with an index. If the volume you are searching is indexed, be sure to search it first. The index lists names and page numbers.

To search the collection image by image 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 the images one by one 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.

Using the Information
Once 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 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 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.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

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

Related Websites

 * Mesa Cemetery
 * BillionGraves page for this cemetery. All the records on this site, inscriptions of the headstones in the cemetery, will also appear in the BillionGraves Index (FamilySearch Historical Records) on FamilySearch. Burials through most of 2012 will be found in this index.

Related Wiki Articles
Arizona Cemeteries

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should 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 suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata &gt; San Ponciano &gt; Matrimonios 1884-1886 &gt; image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clemtina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata.

Sources of information for This Collection
"Arizona, Mesa City Cemetery Records, 1889-1953." Images. FamilySearch (FamilySearch). Mesa City Cemetery, Mesa, Arizona. FHL digital images. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The suggested format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections is found in the following article: How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.