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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[African American Research|African American Research]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[African_American_Cemeteries|Cemeteries]]''  
{{AfrAm-sidebar}}''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[African American Research|African American Research]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[African_American_Cemeteries|Cemeteries]]''  


[[Image:{{MZCem}}]]Cemetery records often give more information than church burial records and may include the deceased’s name, age, date of death or burial, birth year or date of birth, and sometimes marriage information. They may also provide clues about an ancestor’s military service, religion, occupation, place of residence at time of death, or membership in an organization. Cemetery records are especially helpful for identifying ancestors who were not recorded in other records, such as children who died young or women.<br><br>
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| {{TOC left}}[[Image:Mount Zion African American Cemetery Georgetown DC.jpg|thumb|right|400px|<center>Mt. Zion Cemetery, Georgetown DC</center>]]Cemetery records often give more information than church burial records and may include the deceased’s name, age, date of death or burial, birth year or date of birth, and sometimes marriage information. They may also provide clues about an ancestor’s military service, religion, occupation, place of residence at time of death, or membership in an organization. Cemetery records are especially helpful for identifying ancestors who were not recorded in other records, such as children who died young or women.  


Information recorded on tombstones is of primary importance. Often, this information has been transcribed, indexed, and published and is found in manuscripts and books in libraries and archives. The Family History Library has copies of some of these books. Go to www.familysearch.org and click on FamilySearch Catalog. In the Keyword search enter "African American Cemeteries." {{Click|Image:AA_ORP.png|African American Online Genealogy Records|left}}Use cemetery records to:<br>•Find reliable death dates and other information <br>•Find family members burried in the same cemetery <br>•Find children who died young and were not listed in other records<br><br>  
Information recorded on tombstones is of primary importance. Often, this information has been transcribed, indexed, and published and is found in manuscripts and books in libraries and archives. The Family History Library has copies of some of these books. Go to www.familysearch.org and click on FamilySearch Catalog. In the Keyword search enter "African American Cemeteries."  
{{Click|Image:AA_ORP.png|African American Online Genealogy Records|right}}
Use cemetery records to:
*Find reliable death dates and other information  
*Find family members burried in the same cemetery
*Find children who died young and were not listed in other records<br><br>  


'''African American Cemetery Customs'''
=== African American Cemetery Customs ===


After the [[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|Civil War]], freed slaves began at once to establish their own communities and churches. During the years before the Civil War, slaves were often buried in a designated place beyond family plots so that tombstones marking their graves are rare. Often only field rocks or wooden crosses, which soon decayed, marked their graves.  
After the [[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|Civil War]], freed slaves began at once to establish their own communities and churches. During the years before the Civil War, slaves were often buried in a designated place beyond family plots so that tombstones marking their graves are rare. Often only field rocks or wooden crosses, which soon decayed, marked their graves.  
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Family plots do not traditionally exist in African-American cemeteries and placement of graves seems rather random. You will see many indentations and mounds that do not have markers. The markers may have disappeared over time or graves may never have been marked. While black cemeteries may appear to be neglected, this is often not the case at all, but is a reflection of a philosophy of death and burial.  
Family plots do not traditionally exist in African-American cemeteries and placement of graves seems rather random. You will see many indentations and mounds that do not have markers. The markers may have disappeared over time or graves may never have been marked. While black cemeteries may appear to be neglected, this is often not the case at all, but is a reflection of a philosophy of death and burial.  
 
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==== Content ====
=== Cemeterry Records Contents ===


Most African American cemetery records were created after 1865. They may contain:  
Most African American cemetery records were created after 1865. They may contain:  
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*Parents' names (rarely)
*Parents' names (rarely)


==== Tips  ====
=== Tips  ===


*Try to find the original sexton's records, which usually have more information than published cemetery records or indexes.  
*Try to find the original sexton's records, which usually have more information than published cemetery records or indexes.  
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*The cemetery where your ancestor was buried
*The cemetery where your ancestor was buried


==== African American Cemeteries - Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia<br> ====
=== African American Cemeteries in GA, MD, NC, and VA ===


*[http://www.blackcemeteriesportsmouthva.org/ African American Cemeteries of Portsmouth, Virginia]. A group of descendants and concerned citizens of the African American Cemeteries of Portsmouth: The Mt. Calvary Cemetery Complex (est 1879), Lincoln Memorial Cemetery (est 1912), Grove Baptist cemetery (est 1840), and Olive Branch cemetery.<br>  
*[http://www.blackcemeteriesportsmouthva.org/ African American Cemeteries of Portsmouth, Virginia]. A group of descendants and concerned citizens of the African American Cemeteries of Portsmouth: The Mt. Calvary Cemetery Complex (est 1879), Lincoln Memorial Cemetery (est 1912), Grove Baptist cemetery (est 1840), and Olive Branch cemetery.<br>  
*[http://www.aacemeteriesva.org African American Cemeteries of Tidewater Virginia and North Carolina]. A community for the advocacy and preservation of cemeteries for persons of African descent in Tidewater VA and NC. Other areas include Maryland &amp; Georgia. '''Virginia counties covered include''':&nbsp; Accomack, Arlington, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Currituck (NC), Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Gates (NC), Gloucester, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Westmoreland, York. '''Virginia independent cities covered include:''' Alexandria, Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Richmond, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg. '''North Carolina counties include''': Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Craven, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Durham, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Hertford, New Hanover, Orange, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Washington. '''Georgia counties include''': Athens-Clarke, Bartow, Clayton, Cobb, and Fulton.'''Maryland counties include''': Anne Arundel, City of Baltimore, Montgomery, Talbot, and Washington. <br>
*[http://www.aacemeteriesva.org African American Cemeteries of Tidewater Virginia and North Carolina]. A community for the advocacy and preservation of cemeteries for persons of African descent in Tidewater VA and NC. Other areas include Maryland &amp; Georgia. '''Virginia counties covered include''':&nbsp; Accomack, Arlington, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Currituck (NC), Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Gates (NC), Gloucester, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Westmoreland, York. '''Virginia independent cities covered include:''' Alexandria, Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Richmond, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg. '''North Carolina counties include''': Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Craven, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Durham, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Hertford, New Hanover, Orange, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Washington. '''Georgia counties include''': Athens-Clarke, Bartow, Clayton, Cobb, and Fulton.'''Maryland counties include''': Anne Arundel, City of Baltimore, Montgomery, Talbot, and Washington. <br>


==== Burial Database of Enslaved African Americans  ====
=== Burial Database of Enslaved African Americans  ===


[http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/inside_fordham/october_15_2012/news/fordham_to_launch_bu_89384.asp Sandra Arnold], is the foundedr and principal developer of the [http://www.vanishinghistory.org/ Buiral Database Project of Enslaved African Americans].&nbsp; The project is housed in&nbsp; the Department of African and African American Studies at Fordham University, a Jesuit University of New York.&nbsp; The project woks to document and memorialize burial sites of the enslaved, many had been abandoned and undocumented.  
[http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/inside_fordham/october_15_2012/news/fordham_to_launch_bu_89384.asp Sandra Arnold], is the foundedr and principal developer of the [http://www.vanishinghistory.org/ Buiral Database Project of Enslaved African Americans].&nbsp; The project is housed in&nbsp; the Department of African and African American Studies at Fordham University, a Jesuit University of New York.&nbsp; The project woks to document and memorialize burial sites of the enslaved, many had been abandoned and undocumented.  


'''FamilySearch Catalog'''
=== FamilySearch Catalog ===


Use the Place Search in the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] to find topics and records related to a specific area, such as a city, county, state, or country. If you are having difficulty locating a smaller area, you can start at a larger area (e.g., country) and then identify the smaller areas (e.g., states) by clicking the View Related Places tab.  
Use the Place Search in the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] to find topics and records related to a specific area, such as a city, county, state, or country. If you are having difficulty locating a smaller area, you can start at a larger area (e.g., country) and then identify the smaller areas (e.g., states) by clicking the View Related Places tab.  
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Tip: Once you have clicked a specific locality, you can click View Related Places to find localities related to the place you typed in step 4.  
Tip: Once you have clicked a specific locality, you can click View Related Places to find localities related to the place you typed in step 4.  


==== Online Resources  ====
=== Online Cemetery Resources  ===


To find cemetery records and locations on the Internet, see [http://www.findagrave.com/ www.findagrave.com]. This site:  
To find cemetery records and locations on the Internet, see [http://www.findagrave.com/ www.findagrave.com]. This site:  
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*Gives links to transcribed cemetery records
*Gives links to transcribed cemetery records


==== Book and Periodical Sources  ====
=== Book and Periodical Sources  ===


To find books and periodicals that have cemetery records, see the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), which can be accessed at www.ancestry.com (a subscription website). The PERSI provides the most comprehensive index to article titles in U.S. genealogy and local history periodicals  
To find books and periodicals that have cemetery records, see the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), which can be accessed at www.ancestry.com (a subscription website). The PERSI provides the most comprehensive index to article titles in U.S. genealogy and local history periodicals  
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*Gives:<br>o Location or mailing address<br>o Phone and fax numbers<br>o Clerks' contact information<br>o Years of operation<br>o Religious and other affiliations<br>* Alphabetical by state, county, and cemetery name
*Gives:<br>o Location or mailing address<br>o Phone and fax numbers<br>o Clerks' contact information<br>o Years of operation<br>o Religious and other affiliations<br>* Alphabetical by state, county, and cemetery name


==== Websites  ====
=== Websites  ===


*http://www.blackcemeteriesportsmouthva.org  
*http://www.blackcemeteriesportsmouthva.org  
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