For Tombstone Tuesday, I decided to do something different. Instead of posting about a tombstone, I thought I would update you all on my efforts to add records to Findagrave.com.
I had 16 entries in the database prior to moving. Then I lost the binder with all my Holy Cross Cemetery file card copies. Last night, I found the binder, so I input the rest. These included people from the Jones, Jackson, Bourne, Desmond, Jenkins, Burke, Pohley, Kelly, Dolan, Meincke, and McSwegan families.
I still have many more names to input. However, I thought it best to do the file cards first since they have the most complete information.
I then spent considerable time linking everyone together. I have a couple of links that I could not do because the entries are being maintained by other people. I’ve sent requests and I hope that they will update their entries. It will be nice to see the families connected.
So, with this group, I have now input 50 people into the the findagrave.com database. It feels good to have done this. I hope that someone connected to these lines will appreciate the information. Maybe it will encourage someone else to input their cemetery entry. In this way, we might all find a relative’s tombstone photo or cemetery information one day.
I have benefited greatly from other people’s efforts at findagrave.com. I’ve found numerous cousins entries. But, best of all a volunteer photographed the tombstones of my ancestors at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.
Next, I will probably work on the people who I have tombstone photos for. These would involve St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oakland, CA, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, CA, and a couple of cemeteries on Kauai, HI.
It’s all about paying it forward and keeping that genealogy sharing spirit alive, isn’t it?
