[Must-Visit Website]: Find a Grave

Because of the nature of my job, I spend a lot of time online. As a result, I come across some pretty cool websites, and I’d like to share these treasured finds with you.

In this new blog series, Favorite Websites, I’ll post my favorite sites with you, and will give you tips on how you can use these websites. I hope you enjoy!

Favorite Website: Find a Grave

Many people enjoy tracing their ancestors and creating a family tree. There are many websites available to help in this pursuit – some free to use, others that require a subscription fee. While these typical kinds of ancestry websites are extremely helpful, there is another less-known website that is also very helpful – and it’s free to use. It’s called Find a Grave.

Find a Grave – https://www.findagrave.com/

This website includes photos of headstones of the graves in the cemeteries. It also includes details about cemeteries and individual memorials for many people buried in those cemeteries. The memorials usually include the birth year, year of death, and oftentimes include photos, biographies and family information.

Find a Grave is made possible by volunteer contributors from around the world who submit new listings and photographs.

While this website may not seem like a helpful way to trace ancestors, I find it very helpful! Oftentimes a headstone will include the names of family members, or you can glean that information from the biographies or family information written on the listings.

For example, I use this website often when I am researching random families that are part of estate sales cabinet cards and photographs I find for my vintage shop. I’ve had great luck in using this website and have even connected with the family members of these strangers I have found. You can read about my latest encounter at Vintage Treasure Hunting Adventure – Part 13: The Cabinet Card Sequel on my vintage shop blog (I think you’ll find this story interesting)!

Make sure to read the information at the bottom of this page for my tips about using this website.

Use This Website:

To use this website, enter information about the person you are researching. Here’s how.

1. Go to https://www.findagrave.com/
   
2. Enter at least the Last Name of the person you are searching for – you can also enter the First and Middle Names, as well as the Year Born, Year Died, or Cemetery Location.
   The more information you enter, the more accurate your search results will be.
   If you want to enter even MORE specific information about a person, click on More Search Options and then choose the desired options from the list.
   
3. Click the Search button to see your results
   The screenshot below is an example of a search for Thomas Shiffer (a cabinet card I found at an estate sale). From his listing, I found a copy of the exact photo I have, as well as information about his wife, siblings, and children. The listings for his family members also includes copies of photos that I have from that same estate sale.
   

   

Additional Tips and Notes:

• To use this website to trace ancestors, I initially look for one person in a family and then read any supporting information included on that listing. Many times, the listing will include the names of family members, as well as how these family members are related to the person I searched for. I can then research further by searching for each family member – whose listing most likely contains even more names and information.
• When I have cabinet cards or photos from estate sales, I upload scans of the photos to the Find a Grave listings. I feel good about contributing these photos – you never know when a family member might land on the Find a Grave listing and I’m sure they appreciate the photos left there.
• You might want to register and create a free account at Find a Grave. By having an account, you will be able to send messages to contributors, request photos for people you are researching, upload your own photos to listings, add memorials, and so much more.
• If you need more information or help on using the Find a Grave website, make sure to visit their FAQs (frequently asked questions) and watch their tutorial videos.

I hope you find this website helpful and interesting. Enjoy!

Have a question? Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you.