HIDDEN TREASURES AT THE CEMETERY

I am participating in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, a writing challenge encouraging genealogy researchers to write about their ancestors. The challenge is hosted by genealogist, blogger and podcaster Amy Johnson Crow.

Here's my post for Amy's Week 22 prompt: At the Cemetery

By Nancy Gilbride Casey

There are hidden gems to be found at the cemetery, if you are willing to look a little closer. A single plot might be used for multiple family members, and even friends, neighbors, or more distant relations. Names of persons buried in a plot may—or may not—be listed on the headstone, and cemetery records can reveal terrific information about relationships. Here's what I've learned about cemetery research. 

View the Headstone from Many Angles
I obtained a headstone photo of my Gilbride 4x great grandparents James Gilbride and Mary Hart Gilbride, from a Wayne County, Pennsylvania-based Find A Grave volunteer last year. It was a treasure to see this very informative stone, located in Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery in Hawley, which clearly spells out several relationships in the family, showing that Mary Hart was James' "wife," and that Francis was "their son."

Gilbride family headstone, placed in 1904 at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley, Penn., memorializes James Gilbride, Mary Hart Gilbride and Francis Gilbride. (Photo by T. Gross)

 

Imagine the excitement of discovering recently that there was more info on the back side of the headstone, and there were two more children buried in the plot. Mary Gilbride McDonald and Patrick Gilbride were two other children of the couple, who sadly died young, and within a few years of the family's arrival in the United States.

Back of Gilbride headstone reveals two additional family members are buried in the plot at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley, Pennsylvania. (Photo by T. Gross)

 

The headstone of my great-grandparents John Gilbride and Margeret McAndrew Gilbride located at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio, also held a surprise. One of their sons and their daughter-in-law were also buried in the grave, but the information on each individual is located on the side of the headstone, invisible unless the grass and dirt is pulled away.

Gilbride headstone, Calvary Cemetery. (Photo by BAB/FNB)

Inscription for John and Margaret Gilbride, Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio.
(Photo by BAB/FNB)

Inscription for Lavinia Lessard Gilbride, Clarence Gilbride's wife, Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio.
(Photo by BAB/FNB)

Look Around for Relationships
Paying close attention to those stones around a target headstone can yield big benefits, as often, family members are buried close to one another in the cemetery. In this example, my 2x great grandfather Michael Gilbride, is buried in a family plot along with his second wife Mary, several of their children, a grandson, and even Mary's second husband Thomas Hart.

Gilbride family plot holds the remains of an extended group of family members, from the patriarch Michael Gilbride and his 2nd wife Mary, to a grandson Gerard, and Thomas Hart, Mary's second husband. (Photo by K. H. Donaghey)

 

Immediately next to that stone is a single stone for Michael Gilbride's namesake son, Michael, who served in WWI and has a military headstone. (In a new mystery, another marker was uncovered next to Michael, Jr.'s stone: a tiny stone with the name "Jordan," which merits future research.)

The larger Gilbride headstone stands next t the military headstone memorializing Michael A. Gilbride, WWI veteran, at Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. (Photo by T. Gilbride)

 

This Jordan marker is at the foot of the grave of Michael A. Gilbride - a new mystery to solve. (Photo by T. Gilbride)

Back at Queen of Peace Cemetery, the family plot for Owen Gilbride's family (Owen was another son of James and Mary Gilbride), is located just next to a stone for Catherine Curran. Though the stone reads "Mother," she was not the mother of Owen as it might seem. She was his daughter, and it appears the stone was placed by her children.

Graves of Catherine Curran, and Owen & Bridget Noone Gilbride, Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley, Pennsylvania. (Photo by T. Gross)

Check the Records
Cemetery records can also uncover relationships which might not be evident from names placed—or not placed—on stone. At Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the stone marking the graves of Loretta Gilbride Gilgallon and her first husband Joseph Gilgallon, is also the final resting place of Mary and Donald Clark.

Gilgallon grave, resting place of Joseph & Loretta...and the Clarks. (Photo by N. Casey)

 

Though their names do not appear on the stone at all, the cemetery record shows Donald was buried there in 1974 while Mary, noted as "Mary Gilbride Clark" on the plot record, was buried there in 2012. A newspaper search for Mary's obituary revealed that Mary was Loretta Gilgallon's niece.

Cathedral Cemetery record for the Clarks and Gilgallons, buried together at Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

Relationships can be untangled and others revealed— in records and on headstones—and you can find them At the Cemetery.


Until next time...

Subscribe to "Leaves on the Tree," to see updates to this and other family history stories, right in your email box. Click the green Subscribe link above.