As a genealogist, I find that most online research leads to more questions than answers. Like most, I utilize Ancestry and Family Search for the wealth of information these databases hold. For me, these are surface-level facts and numbers. By themselves, they do not tell the story of an ancestor. Their value comes in providing data that often leads to enough evidence to be considered proof. At the age of ten, my aunt took my to graveyards as she conducted family research. I learned an early lesson that gravestones contribute to research for genealogical evidence.
These databases utilize another database called Find a Grave. If a family story says that Great Grandma died in 1900, a gravestone can be the source useful to confirming this information. Often, a hint (popular on Ancestry) from Find a Grave will allow one to see a picture of the gravestone. However, it would be best to remember that gravestones are both primary and derivative sources, not evidence. The validity of the date on the tombstone depends on the informant and their knowledge of the event. The person providing the date of death was probably there at the time. However, if the person who died was in their 80s, we can assume the informant was not at the decedent’s birth. Therefore, the date of birth has to be verified.
Understanding Sources, Information, and Evidence
SOURCES provide INFORMATION from which we select EVIDENCE for ANALYSIS. A sound CONCLUSION may then be considered “PROOF.”
Gravestones as Genealogical Evidence
Find a Grave does not include enough source citations to make a case for proof, but it can be a good place to start. What are some things that it does provide?
- Name of the Cemetery
- Name(s) on the gravestone
- Links to other relatives.
We can google search the cemetery to find an affiliated church. Church records may have original source documents regarding the birth and death. If the gravestone has a spouse listed, we can look for marriage records. Furthermore, a death certificate, an original source with possible derivative information, must be found.
Validating Gravestone Data: Birth and Death Records
Key Steps for Using Gravestones in Research:
- Verify dates with birth and death records.
- Look for clues about family relationships on gravestones.
- Research associated cemeteries or church’s for more information.
Is a gravestone evidence by itself? No, it is a source that can lead us to information. However, this is where the real fun in research begins. We have a starting point to start building this person’s life. It is hard to imagine that a person’s final resting place can help us start telling their story.
Q: Are gravestones considered evidence in genealogy?
A: Gravestones are sources that provide information. Their validity depends on the informant’s knowledge and must be corroborated with other records.
What clues have you discovered from gravestones in your research? Share your stories in the comments!
Source:
Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained, Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 3d ed., digital ed. (Baltimore, Maryland, Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 2012), 3.
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