Find a Grave, unverified information.

Question

Can I Please ask members to think very carefully before they quote 'Find a Grave' as a source. Unless data has been properly verified, with solid documentary evidence, it is little more than a 'finding aid' at best, and at worst mere speculation.

I know that there is currently a drive to find that proof, and I applaud that move, but until such a time that this can be completed, a little discretion would be well advised.

Comments

I am aware that in the UK, The Federation of Family History Societies has had volunteer historians visiting all parishes in their areas, painstakingly making copies of all burial records. These are made available on CD as part of a National Burial Index, and should be reasonably accurate. I have personally taken part in this project in my area, but I would add that there are quite often cryptic comments made by the incumbent of the day written in the margins. These are often omitted from the copies, but they can offer a surprising insight into the data subject, and are well worth investigating.

It is unfortunate that few of the original Sexton's notes have survived, these were often scribbled in notebooks, only intended for the Sextons use and reference, but these would have given the exact location of the grave within the cemetery.

Answer 1

I'm new, so my answer may be way off base, but....

FindAGrave is a source, and it's derivative, but it can and should be cited with the collection of evidence that might lead to proof. In that respect, it's not much different from using the US census to see probable family relationships, occupations, etc. The names and dates, even engraved on the gravestone, may not be correct, but are usually close. Sometimes there is a gravestone, but the person is buried elsewhere (https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Scranton+&GSiman=1&GScid=65174&GRid=66319927&  with breadcrumbs to lead you to sources.)

Depending on the location and timeframe, there may not be any local government or religious records, or any that did exist may have been lost to fire. As an example, Daniel and Eunice are buried in a small cemetery which is about .2 mile from a church where Eunice was one of the early members about 1832. That church has no early records. Despite an incorrect date of death, we can still conclude that Julia and Calista were their daughters. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sands-1887 https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Sands&GSiman=1&GScid=2253542&GRid=20775638&

Comments

Kay, I can appreciate the problems you have in the USA, what with the poor record keeping in the past, the apparent almost haphazard practice of burial almost anywhere. How often do we hear of folk discovering that their homes have been built on top of old cemeteries, and  "may not be correct, but are usually close..." is not so good, we are searching for truth, not speculation.

This is one of the reasons why I confine my research to the UK. Here I can easily visit the Parish Churches, Records Offices, and so forth. There is also the added complication that some manors had their own churches, not necessarily always affiliated to established church organizations, particularly in times of religious persecution, and their records can be hard to locate.

Answer 2

Great point Tim. 

I personally view find a grave as a breadcrumb (Information that leads up to a source)

However I think its important that we remember that a source is the identification of where you obtained information. Even if the source is derivative in nature its difficult to enforce. However I will put emphasis on the importance of utilizing the policy and style in your sourcing.

We look at the breakdown of sources that are spoken of in the source help page

2 Examples

• 2.1 Book
• 2.2 Periodical
• 2.3 Census
• 2.4 Web page
• 2.5 Family bible
• 2.6 Cemetery headstone
• 2.7 Second-hand information
• 2.8 First-hand information (yourself)

All these listed can be loaded (Have fake information) also you have to remember that there are many genealogist who are still starting out on there genealogical journey.

 

This kind of stuff brings out the true value of the Honor Code. This is how collaboration happens and where multiple people can help lead new genealogists and sometimes very experienced genealogist to better sources. 

 

Best regards

Comments

Well said Steve.

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I would agree pretty much with your comments, Steve. However, your list of sources leads me to an obvious question - you make no reference to Parish Registers, still the most accurate source we have, often back at least into the 1500s. By this, I mean of course the originals, not transcripts that are often subject to frequent errors. Whilst I appreciate that many overseas members perhaps have difficulty in researching these documents, citizens of the UK have a legal right to view them, they are within the public domain, and all you have to do is ask. I prefer to go to the local records office rather than central office in London, simply because it is less complicated.

In a few cases the Parish Chests have survived, these are useful, particularly for Settlement documents and Bastardy records. There are also Manor Court Records, often giving employment details of the parishioners, their residences, and their families. All of these sources are of value, and should not be overlooked.

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That list is in no way complete. Every record is subjected to error. I personally view profiles as a work of art never complete and always open for collaboration and additional information

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When researching a specific individual within a known parish, I always purchase microfiche of that Parish Register. This avoids the risk of transcription error, being photographic evidence from the original document. This often gives me access to more than one generation of that family, and also information of spouses, enabling me to search their families also. I do this because the male line is only one half of the story. It takes time, and a great deal of effort, but if a thing is worth doing, then it is worth doing properly.

Answer 3

Find a grave is not a main source, if I was you I would try to look for the main sources, yes it a great starting point, I have found some things to be wrong on their, but Yes some times, you must use it as a source, but I would check all records to find the orginal source, if you can't and you have gone through the pain and hell to find the main source, that is when and only when you can count it as a source, but before counting it as a main source you can say this is where I found some info and you can tell what the info you found was, that way when you go back to the name you wont have to redocument it.