Suggested Methods for Book Revision

Old Cemetery Book is divided as follows:

Section I  - Church Cemeteries

Section II - Community Cemeteries

Section III - Family Cemeteries

In each category list cemeteries in alphabetical order

Give the location of the cemetery -- Section, Township and Range. Also give general directions such as County Road #, Community Name, etc.

A comment on the condition of the cemetery would be helpful such as "overgrown," "in heavily wooded area," " almost totally inaccessible," or "neatly kept."

In the old book, brief histories of churches are given. Early history is good and only known facts should be used. However, information about parsonages, number of Sunday School room and other current church programs are of no relevance for what we are trying to accomplish with this book. All histories included in the old book need to be reviewed and edited before being used again.

Copying Inscriptions from the Cemetery

When copying a cemetery I would recommend using the buddy system. One person should read information from the tombstone and the other record the information. As a precautionary measure, both people should double check the recorded information to make sure it is recorded accurately.

Before beginning the cemetery survey decide on a logical starting point and develop a system or plan of order in which you will go from one family plot to another. In a large cemetery this will help you avoid any ommision of graves.

In a family plot look at the graves and determine what appears to be the parents, patriarch or oldest graves. Record the father's name first, followed by the mother's name then the remaining graves.

Abbreviate the months of the year as follows: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Single space between each family and double space when leaving one family and beginning another. Example of the above recommendations:

A. D. Pate, Jan. 22, 1818 - Feb. 27, 1889

Mary A. E. Pate, Oct. 14, 1823 - Aug. 10, 1898

Miss Susie Pate, Oct. 28, 1858 - Dec. 12, 1925

Miss Augusta D. Pate, June 14, 1863 - Nov. 10, 1921

Only copy names, birth and death dates and other important information such as genealogical, marriage and war service. Examples:

John Barber, Born in Glenwherry, Antrim County, Ireland and married Sarah Carmichael in 1790 and emigrated to Fairfield District, S.C. in 1791, whence he removed to this state in 1839. Died aged 78 years.

Margaret S. Johnston, wife of J. G. Anglin, Sept. 2, 1842 - Aug. 11, 1926

John James Clark, Died March 24, 1913. Aged 65 years. Co. "A" 8th Confederate Cavalry Reg. CSA

Joseph Schuessler, Feb. 16, 1852 - Feb. 21, 1861. Son of Lewis & Mary A. Schuessler was killed by a shot from a pistol in the hands of fellow pupil.

Other Suggestions

There are MANY old family cemeteries in Chambers County that need to be copied and are not in the old cemetery book. I would sugeest advertising in the local papers and asking for the public to assist in locating these cemeteries. In the next issue of The Voice, there will be an annouoncement about this project as well. We need to recruit as many CVHS members as possible to help in surveying cemeteries now that the weather is cooler and crawly critters are about to go into hibernation.

The problem with the old book is the early cut off date of 1880 births. I suggest we use December 31, 2005 as the cut off date for deaths. Obviously, this is going to be more than one volume, but I feel that this needed.

The book needs a GOOD index. I would suggest we do a complete index rather than just the surname index as the old book has.

Submitted to the CVHS Board by member Virginia Weldon.