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When it comes to researching ancestors, the trail stops at the cemetery. This is the final resting place — and the gravestone can be a source of useful information.

Of course, this is genealogy, so even a gravestone isn’t a primary source. There is no way to discern who provided the information on it. My great-grandmother and one of her daughters died within a day of each other from influenza in 1913, but the gravestone has only one date. It may have been cheaper than carving two dates. So, always back up the information with primary sources, such as a death certificate or obituary.

Gravestones also might sport military, religious or organizational symbols that provide information on your ancestors’ clubs, church or military service. My grandfather’s middle name is Seymour and I never knew its significance until I visited the family plot in Suffield, Conn., and found a huge stone with SEYMOUR in the middle of the plot. Now, I have to research that connection.

Some cemeteries will have cenotaphs (a marker without a grave if the body is buried elsewhere) or a monument to identify unmarked graves. The gravestone depicted here is my seventh great-grandfather’s, Nathaniel Mighill of Rowley, Mass. I found the photo on gravematter.com (see below).

The best plan of attack is to find the death record. If you can’t, look for a church record; or, if you know their religion, decide which cemetery is the best bet in that town or city and check with the cemetery office. My maternal great-grandmother is buried in the cemetery attached to the Catholic church she attended in Pawtucket. Most cemeteries and/or churches keep good records.

A couple of times, I’ve simply driven to a cemetery. This only works for small colonial cemeteries. And, it still took hours to find what I wanted in Rowley, Mass. But, if the weather is nice, it can be a pleasant outing and I found other relatives in adjacent plots.

Funeral homes

Funeral home records are private, but call them. Most have records going back quite a ways and can be very accommodating if you are polite and don’t rush them. Since the late 19th century, the funeral home and burial location is listed on the death certificate.

I have a friend who called a funeral home in a small town in Virginia where her family lived. They sent her everything they had about the funeral. She contacted the pallbearers and found a cousin who had a family Bible.

Check city directories for funeral homes in the town/city where they died. Most funeral homes have websites these days and are easy to find. Visit funeralnet.com and search by state or country.

Gravestone symbolism

The abstract symbolism on gravestones is fascinating. The winged skulls, coffins, spades and skeletons with scythes on early colonial graves point to the Puritans’ stern views on mortality and death. Then, slowly, over the next century, the focus became more about the Resurrection and the after-life with angels, hearts, trees, fruits, flowers and more positive symbols. And, some gravestones are carved with the symbols of fraternal or veterans’ organizations.

Helpful websites

• Cyndi’s List has 2,470 sites under “Cemeteries & Funeral Homes,” 577 under “Death Records” and 460 under “Obituaries.” Her portal site is free. Click on Categories on the home page.

• The Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) at www.gravestonestudies.org. The association was founded in 1977 “for the purpose of furthering the study and preservation of gravestones.” Find answers to questions on gravestone studies, how to do gravestone rubbings, how to clean gravestones and remove graffiti, the symbolism on markers, and more.

• The R.I. Historical Cemetery Database has most of the state cemeteries, except the big Catholic ones. The master index for the transcription project is on the U.S. GenWeb Project (http://usgenweb.org) and New England Historic Genealogical Society (www.americanancestors.org) websites. The database itself can be accessed from the R.I. Historical Society in Providence and American-French Genealogical Society in Woonsocket.

• Check the Tombstone Project on the U.S. GenWeb site (above). Click on Projects and then the tombstone transcription project to see what’s happening in each state. At this point, in the East Bay, there are listings for Little Compton and Middletown. You can submit transcriptions and photos.

• If you only know the name of the city or town, look up cemeteries at epodunk.com.

• Sites with cemeteries, photos of gravestones and more include findagrave.com, gravematter.com, Interment.net and searchforancestors.com.

• The U.S. Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs has a listing of all national VA cemeteries listed by state. Not every state has a national cemetery. Rhode Island doesn’t, so they have state cemeteries listed, too. Each cemetery lists a contact name and number.

Lynda Rego has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lynda.rego where she shares tips on genealogy and other topics. Stop by, click on Like and share ideas for upcoming columns.