Tag Archives: sexton

Visiting Cemeteries

One of my favorite things to do on a sunny spring afternoon is walk through local cemeteries in search of ancestors who are buried there. No, I have not gone insane, nor do I have an infatuation with the dead or morbidity. Cemeteries are actually a very peaceful place to take a walk, and there is information on tombstones that can come in useful for genealogical research. Information that can be found on tombstones includes birth and death information, a woman’s maiden name, parent’s names, town of origin, and military service. You may also discover the nearby grave of an … Continue reading →

Sexton’s Records

A sexton is a caretaker of a cemetery whose role it is to oversee the maintenance and care of the cemetery, including the buildings and grounds. They may also be responsible for digging new graves. Sextons typically do not perform the actual maintenance, but they do ensure that the job gets done. Sextons are also responsible for keeping diligent records of those buried in the cemetery. These are called sexton’s records, and are kept by both public and private cemeteries. These records can provide valuable information to genealogists. Information that may be found on sexton’s records includes the name of … Continue reading →