Comments for Genealogy Soup

Comment on Find A Grave – Memorialize and Research Your Ancestors by keyholes

keyholes — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:01:32 +0000

Find-a-Grave is a valuable service; however, I would apply some caution with this site. There are a few pitfalls–namely, the confusion on its purpose. The site states it is primarily a “memorial” site, secondly a “grave registration site,” and thirdly a “genealogy” site. (I’m paraphrasing, and I may not have the first two purposes in order.)

That said, buyer beware. I’d been caught off guard with Find-a-Grave (and yes, I have posted some gravestones there) in two situations. First, my mom had died late last year. Within 48 hours of her death, the MORNING her obit had been published, someone had lifted her obit and posted it on Find-a-Grave (word for word, and listing survivor names, clearly against the terms of service). While I was not upset someone totally unrelated to us did this, I was upset that this happened so quickly (I have Google alerts for specific names setup) AND the fact that survivor names were left in (no permission given for publication other than the actual obit).

Secondly, I had posted some Polish graves using the male derivative of names (-SKI rather than -SKA) for a few of my female ancestors, knowing full well that is how my family and fellow modern Polish researchers would immediately seek these members. I’d gone through a bit of grief over that for NOT following the terms of service (“transcribe EXACTLY as the stone is”). Also–a few of my ancestors’ gravestones actually have the WRONG dates on them. So I used the correct dates of birth or death and that seemed to cause some dissention.

The support for Find-a-Grave is not immediate. It took me a few weeks to resolve my mom’s memorial situation (I had wanted it turned over to me OR have it corrected so no survivor names were there) and to deal with the fact I did NOT want my ancestor’s graves changed due to the name/date issue. Aye yi yi.

I won’t detail the administrative problems I had–but I would not jump into it head first. Read the discussion board, learn it for a few days before joining to see if this suits you. Indeed, Find-a-Grave CAN provide and share valuable data, but only if you are willing to put up with some of the administrative problems–and, if you do submit photos–risk that your photos likely will end up on someone’s tree or even website–without attribution to you as the creator. I’ve taken to putting a watermark and a very small piece of text on the photos now to indicate that I do indeed own the copyright.

Comment on California Genealogy by San Diego cemeteries

San Diego cemeteries — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:41:20 +0000

It is so tough to get over someone’s death especially if that someone is so dear to you. There are many decisions that must be made and the quality of the chosen cemetery will have a direct impact on the level of assistance you get during an emotional time of life.
Choosing the right cemetery is one of the most important parts of a burial plan. A cemetery should be a quiet place for contemplation and remembrance. Additionally a cemetery’s location should be in a location that was important in the deceased person’s life and near his or her family. There should be no compromise on any of the things which are involved in these proceedings.

Comment on Genealogy Researcher – Get Professional Help To Revisit Your Past! by lana

lana — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:37:04 +0000

Hi there,

I am currently in the process of trying to find information about some of my Metis ancestors to complete my Metis card application. I’m missing documents to link certain relatives to others, aswell as something that shows that the ones that have native blood in them are actually Metis. I do have some few copies of original documents but unfortunetly not enough to complete this process. I’m just wondering if you have any idea who can help me with this or any organisations that can help aswell..I’m currently located in London ON. I would love to find someone that can do the research for me if I pay them.

Thanks so much,
Lana Gagnon

Comment on Wandering Through Old Cemeteries, If I Wasnt Doing Research I Would Probably Get Shot. by C. Hogan

C. Hogan — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:00:48 +0000

taphophilia
1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries.
2. A love or fondness for funerals.
3. A love of funerals, graves, and cemeteries.
4. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries.
taphophiliac
1. Anyone who likes to visit cemeteries to see the various tombstones, etc.
2. In psychiatry, someone who has a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries.

Taken from: http://wordinfo.info/unit/2085/ip:1/il:T

Comment on Wandering Through Old Cemeteries, If I Wasnt Doing Research I Would Probably Get Shot. by Mr I.Bingham

Mr I.Bingham — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:53:56 +0000

Recently I saw in the newspaper a name for people who love visiting Cemeteries, but cannot remember what it was, now would you happen to know what the word is? it was something like ‘toxopholite’ I can find no reference in dictionaries, would be interested to find out as i am also one of those people

Comment on New York Genealogy by Patty Brierton Rupp

Patty Brierton Rupp — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:56:40 +0000

Looking for cemetary in Albany where my GG Thomas Brierton is buried. He died in 1906. Any info would very much be appreciated.

Patty Brierton Rupp

Comment on The Ireland Genealogy Forum Can Help You Retrace Your Roots by Patty Brierton Rupp

Patty Brierton Rupp — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:53:04 +0000

Am looking for Brierton and Groom relatives. GG Patrick Groom was born in 1844 in Offalay, Kings County and came to America, was naturalized Oct. 13, 1986 in New York. Sylvestri, Sylvestro, Sylvester Brierton was living in Quebec, Canada. His parents were born in Ireland but don’t know who they were or where they were born. Hopefully someone can help. If anyone knows anything pleas let me know.

Patty Rupp

Comment on Georgia Genealogy by cheri boyd

cheri boyd — Sat, 21 May 2011 02:22:49 +0000

Is there anyone in Waycross GA who can find death information on my grandparents, Peter and Perilee Boyd. US Waycross census for 1900 both are living, by 1920 Perilee is dead. Both I assume are buried in Waycross.

Comment on Shed Cemetery – Yell County Arkansas by Linda Enos

Linda Enos — Sat, 14 May 2011 17:59:15 +0000

Re: Sallie Thomas Enis and Samuel Valentine Enis/Enos CORRECTIONS

The graves in question may be Sallie Thomas Enis/Enos and her infant child #1 born to Sallie and Samuel Valentine Enis/Enos. Infant child (Etta) only lived a few days. Born: Jan. 16, l888 & died Jan. 26, l888.
Child #2 was named R.V. “TINE’ short for Valentine born l889 and died in 1975.
Child #3 was named Everett Howard Enis/Enos born 1890-1958.
Child #4 was named James Clayton Enis/Enos born l895 and died in 1954.

If Sallie died from childbirth, then the child born #4 James Clayton Enis/Enos is the child born in 1895 (year of Sallie’s death).

Are there dates on the tombstones? Thanks. Hope to hear from some of Sallie’s relatives.

Comment on Shed Cemetery – Yell County Arkansas by C. Hogan

C. Hogan — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:26:22 +0000

Thats quite possible, it wasnt uncommon then.