United States, Cemetery Abstracts - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Cemetery abstracts
 * Name of the decedent
 * Birth date
 * Death date
 * Name of the cemetery
 * Location of the cemetery
 * Notes regarding insignias on the tombstone
 * Relationships

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor.
 * The approximate year of death.
 * The place were the death occurred.
 * The possible cemetery of burial.

Search the Index
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.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
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.

I Found Who I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * 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.
 * 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.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.