How to Find Out Who Is Buried in Unmarked Graves?

Cemeteries hold a wealth of information on the deceased buried within their walls.

While searching for ancestors, you might want to take a trip to the cemetery. Cemeteries can tell you a lot about your ancestors. Grave stones usually contain the name of the deceased and some form of a birth and death date. Military service and organizational service may be indicated through words and symbols. Some graves are not marked which makes locating information on that person or discovering a new family member more difficult. Locating who is buried in an unmarked grave in or near your family plot can be done by consulting the cemetery office records.

Instructions

1. Visit the cemetery office. Obtain a copy of the cemetery plot where the unmarked grave is located. You will need to provide the name of at least one person buried in the plot. The plot sheet will outline the graves and indicate who is buried in each grave.

2. Identify the grave that is unmarked on the plot map. This may require you to visit the plot again to compare the plot layout sheet to the actual plot.

3. Return to the office after identifying the grave site on the plot sheet. Obtain records on the deceased buried in the plot. Cemeteries hold additional information beyond a grave plot. Full death date, funeral home and next of kin information may be available.

References

• Arlington National Cemetery: A Guide to Burial at Arlington National Cemetery