Genealogy Chat

Great, thanks Tom, Lot of asking around to do then, should keep me busy for quite a while lol! Jen

It is always worth asking the council - I e-mailed Wakefield council and asked if they would be able to tell me when one of my rellies was buried. I knew they date of death and I thought he would be in a certain cemetery. Anyway, got a mail back telling me the exact date of burial, plot number etc, but also the info of the three other people in the plot, all family members which meant that I was then able to order the death cert of one I had been trying to find for ages! They even went out to see if there was a grave stone, but sadly there wasn't. So, the moral of the story? If you don't ask, you'll never get!

Thank you Jane, so far I only know of one cemetery in Manchester where I have ancestors burried, but it would be worth contacting them. Jen

I contacted the council where I knew there was a family grave, if you can give them thename and date of death they can search for you. Mine cost nothing and they also found that there where 3 members of my family in the same plot. regards Jane

Thanks John & Jacquie for your contributions, I will make a note of that addie Jacquie. It will be useful to me. Jen

Some burial grounds were originally attached to a church but the church subsequently closed and may have been demolished. Many burial grounds, especially if they are little-used, are locked for security. I attended a burial recently. It was in a triple-depth family plot where the mum and dad were buried around 1940/1950 and the daughter (died aged 95) was buried a few weeks ago.

Jen - you can search some dates online for the City of London if that is of any interest. either Google city of london burial, or go to www.cityoflondon*gov*.uk (replace * with .) and you'll find it. Good Luck, Jacquie

Thanks Glen, Well I'll know not to ask them to look up anything for me......how expensive! Thanks for all the info all..........I shall make a start and get organised.........think London's best place to start, had lots of ancestors here. Jen

I have found some info by googling the area i'm interested in. For instance 'lincoln cemetaries' brings up details for the dates when the churchyard burials were coming to an end,and info about the dates and location of the large cemetary that was then created. The local council have cottoned on to the 'value' of a search,and make a hefty charge for each lookup you request. Glen

Thankyou Rod and Merry, Thats very helpful info. I presume that for local church burials then, one would still need to contact the main council, cemetries manager for the area you are interested in, to find out about the local churches? Jen

The date will make a difference. Cemeteries were first opened around the same time as cilil registration began. They were first used in London and then other large cities, but people in very rural areas would still have been buried in the local churchyard as a general rule. The switch to cemeteries was gradual, but by 1900 I would think virtually all city and large town burials would have taken place in a cemetery (unless the family had purchased a grave space years before). Rural areas gradually caught up over the next couple of decades. Merry

You can even ask them to look up for you but the area I tried they wanted £35 a look up when you can go to the office (generally the council offices) and do it youself for free.Ask for cemetaries manager. Rod

your ancestors are actually burried? Would it be best to contact the local council/Town hall, for a list of cemetries in the area's they were living? Jen