Genealogy Chat

Would all deaths before 1930ish have been burials? I am planning a visit to the cemetery which covers the area my family have lived in for over 100 years - but as they were a poor lot, I don't know if headstones, etc. were the norm. Should I expect to find anything? Any tips please? I don't have the dates of deaths, so will just be looking around for familiar names.

Julie I don't know whether you are aware, in some cemetaries after a certain length of time they remove the headstone and bury someone else in the same place. Despite this there should be local records which give information about all burials which have taken place there. Good luck in your search. Jane

Apparently cremation began in this country in 1874. Type in history of cremation UK websites only and you will get information. As for your visit to the cemetary if you find the office that deals with the cemetery,if you are lucky the staff will let you look through their burial registers. I went to a cemetery recently and the staff could not be more helpful, they let me look through for myself. The local council should point you in the right direction. Gen.

Talking of cemetaries - my mother's family were all buried in a chapel in Morriston, Glamorgan, which was demolished quite a few years ago. A block of flats was later built on the site and although the council promised to leave the headstones for anyone to look at, they never did this. My question is this.....Where are the Welsh church/chapel records kept and am I likely to be able to see them? I hope anyone can help me. Penny

Hi Julie, I wouldn't think you will find a headstone if they were not too well off. I have been told that headstones would have cost quite a few weeks wages. Even today, they are expensive. I also found out about a common burial ground today (Scotland). Something that I was not aware of. It's a section in the graveyard for those that could not afford their own plot. Instead of being buried with family members, you would be buried with any other people who died at that time who could not afford their own plot. I was delighted to find my Granmothers final resting place at last but sad to hear about the common plot bit. Thought that might be of interest for those who had not heard of that - like me! Regards Margaret

thanks for the info; best not to get my hopes up too much then!

A reply for Penelope; I believe the records for Glamorgan are kept in the record office in Cardiff. I am not researching there but a friend is (Merthyr etc) and they were told that's where the majority of records are. John

Both my ggrandparents are buried in common graves at Witton Cemetery in Birmingham. The lady in the office told me that if after 14yrs you did not take up the option to buy then other people were buried in that plot as well. My ggrandmother does not have a headstone and has upto 15 other people in the plot with her. Ggrandad is buried in a section of the cemetery that was added to in the 1950's and his grave is marked with someone elses headstone as they took up the option to buy the plot, again several other people are buried in the plot aswell. I don't know if all the info the office told me is 100% correct and/or if it applies to other cemeteries or just Witton but it is worth asking. Another point is most common graves did not have headstones but you can ask the cemetery to plot where your rellies grave would be and take a picture for reference. Plotting is only a temporary marking and is removed after a short time but at least you will know exactly where your rellie is. Good luck in your search Karen Birmingham

It's sad really, isn't it? But I suppose there weren't any other options at the time. Still at least we're remembering them.

Glamorgan Records Office is tel. 02920 780282

I should have added that Glamorgan Records Office are VERY helpful if you phone.

It is sad, but this is only a tiny island. If everyone who had ever died was given their own 6ft by 2ft plot of land for all eternity, we'd be living in buildings on stilts. Pardon me for being crude, but after one or two centuries, there isn't much left. On a programme about exhumations a lady had her baby granddaughter exhumed, intending to have her remains cremated. After almost 25 years, there were only fragments of the coffin and no trace of the baby left. I don't particularly like the thought of having a road built over me when I'm dead. Even so, it is unpractical for my grave to be my space for the next millenia.