By Richard B. Robertson
(Mounted April 27, 2001)
Cemetery tombstones are a unique source for genealogical information
which often provides an excellent starting point in pursuing further
study of
one's family history. My interest in genealogy was heightened by my
discovery of whom was buried in my maternal great-grandmother's plot.
His
name was Hiram Hooker, and such a unique and interesting name caught my
attention. Who was he? Where did he live? What was his life like? He
was
the first person buried in this family's plot. I found my information through cemetery
records, and it was from that point that I was launched
into
the genealogical pursuit. Through my initial inquiries, I was led to
discover many ancestral colonial tombstones in New England where I
resided
until 1999. Tombstones are an often unexpected source of information.
In
the library and manuscript collections of the Western Reserve Historical
Society and in collections across the United States, there are many
opportunities to take advantage of this unique genealogical resource
without
ever visiting a graveyard. (Although I heartily recommend you to do so
when
you find your illusive ancestor! It is almost a spiritual experience to
encounter one's roots....literally!!)
One collection which serves to stand out for Clevelanders is "Early Cemetery Tombstone Inscriptions", MS 3902. The collection lists tombstone
inscriptions from the following cemeteries, most of which have been
abandoned
or compromised by the encroachment of civilization: Broadview Road Cemetery,
Denison Avenue and West 25th Street Cemetery, Hillside (Valley View) Cemetery, Monroe Street
Cemetery, Old Berea Cemetery, Old Rockside Cemetery, Old Rockport Cemetery, formerly at Saint Charles Road and
Detroit
Avenue, Saint Mary's Cemetery, and Scranton Road Cemetery.
This small
collection holds nine folders which contain revealing family information,
including birth and death dates, place of birth and in some, place of
death
and the circumstances involved in the person's death, country of birth,
family relationships of those interred within the plot, veteran status,
branch of the service and military units and occupations. There are also
newspaper clippings, surname indexes, hand-drawn maps of the cemetery and major points of reference within the
cemetery grounds. Many of the
records
contain sketches of tombstone art and monuments. They provide reminders
that
these are records of people who were important and cared for by their
loved
ones and communities.
There is a great deal of information linked to early settlers from New
England. There are tombstone inscriptions which pre-date Ohio's statehood
and
are dated well into the 18th century. In addition to these inscriptions,
there is also a tremendous amount of information regarding immigrants and
their status at their deaths. They are primarily German and Irish
immigrants, and most of the German inscriptions are written in their
native
language. In some instances, the date of immigration to the United
States is recorded, as well as their point of origin in Germany and Ireland. There
are
also many British immigrants recorded with the same information. This
would
prove to be a wonderful starting point for those wishing to search abroad
for
their ancestors.
Another fascinating connection for Clevelanders or those with Clevelander
ancestry are the many inscriptions of men who perished digging the many
canals which linked Ohio to the rest of the world in the 19th century.
Many
inscriptions provide a solemn testimony to their sacrifice. The dead do
talk
to the living through many of the poetic epitaphs found in the
collection.
As a rule, most epitaphs were written by friends, family members or even
the deceased themselves while planning their final affairs. Epitaphs provide
clues to the character of the deceased. They give the genealogical
researcher a unique perspective of an ancestor. Some epitaphs tell the
story
of how the person lived or how they died. There are many stories which
have
yet to be told by tombstone inscriptions. Local historical societies have
a
race against time to transcribe and record tombstone inscriptions.
Wherever
you live in the United States, these sources are invaluable links to the
past
for public historians and genealogists.
This article was originally published by the Western
Reserve Historical Society and is reprinted here with their permission.
Richard Barclay
Robertson, M.Div., is a Manuscript Processor, Specialist in
Genealogical Collections, for the Western Reserve Historical Society in
Cleveland, Ohio. He has been a genealogist for over a decade and is in
pursuit of his certification. In addition, his educational goals include
furthering his studies in history at The University of Akron and obtaining a
Master of Library and Information Science with a specialization in archives
and record management at the University of Pittsburgh. He contributed this essay to the Public
History Resource Center while he was serving as an associate editor[return to
top]
