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From:
Subject: Re: [LDR] owner ship of the burial plots!
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 17:24:32 EDT
Ray and Everyone,
I've been active on various lists"** for about four years. Many county
lists.
The reading, care, vandalism, location, possible destruction of cemeteries --
and requests for advice on these subjects -- has been a constant subject. I
never really understood the importance, emotional connections here until I
went to my Ozark Missouri Counties last summer.
After visiting cousins, friends, etc., I quickly decided that rather than go
for completeness of data at the libraries, genealogy societies and
courthouses, I'd go for visiting all of the cemeteries (about nine) and
locations (ahem..how's that deed project coming anyway?) of my ancestors'
land, etc. The only one I did fairly well was cemeteries, and I was
completely overwhelmed. One small cemetery on private property was
completely overgrown, and it's a wonder that I, beling very allergic to
poison ivy, didn't end up in an emergency room somewhere (tens of miles
away). Upon my return home I quickly contacted someone else in TX who I
knew had ancestors there, who I "met" on the local lists, and she called a
local fellow to deal with it -- who had supposed to been dealing with it all
along. None of my cousins there even realized that Powhatan Choate, d. 1870s
there was an ancestor.
Rootsweb lists were also used in a road work case near St. Joe Missouri, when
workers widening a road found several graves. The names were determined and
calls went out all over the place. In that case, I think the concerned
families were located via the phonebook, and made arrangements for moving the
graves, stones, etc. The email kept appearing for weeks after all over
kingdom come.
Well that's my two cents worth clogging things up. So Ray, for me seeing the
land/homes (yeah, even if it is the Exxon station or my close call with the
Walmart parking lot), the burial locations, etc. makes me feel much more
connected than looking at a will, deed, census record etc. And in the
unimaginable event that I saw the current owner with a backhoe anywhere near
the Choate-Bowles little plot, you'd be sure I'd ask my Dade Co list for
advice. Of course, my mother was his third grade teacher, and he recalls her
well. She might be the only resource I needed :-).
Footnote: From Merriam-Websters, Middle English defn: of List: 2 plural but
singular or plural in construction a : an arena for combat (as jousting) b :
a field of competition or controversy. :-)
Best Regards,
Janet Hunter
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