[The image above is of the historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York – where several Sheldons are buried.  The beautiful gothic entrance is still standing and untouched today.]

Hello Sheldons!!

We are starting a new and exciting project that anyone can participate in.  Our goal is to search out and collect the information for every Sheldon grave around the world.  Lofty, I know.  But this isn’t the type of goal that will be completed anytime soon.  Rather, it will be a long and rewarding process as we discover lost Sheldons and record final resting places and memorials so that they are never forgotten.

Our Family Tree database on our website has a new section dedicated to Cemeteries and recording these locations.  As an example, you can see our new entries for the famous and historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York where several Sheldons are located – including a few that are already included in our tree.  Find the page here: Green-Wood

As you’ll be able to see, we have all of the 90+ Sheldons at that cemetery listed, having gathered the information from the cemetery’s official index.  For most, it is the very basic information: name, burial date, and plot location.  But for a few, we know that the graves are unmarked, and for a couple more we have a headstone photo.

How can you help?

1. Gather information!  The first step, and perhaps the most important, is to check with any cemeteries near you to see if they have any Sheldons listed.  Try to get the: (1) name, (2) date, and (3) plot location.
2. We always recommend checking with the cemetery office (if there is one).  Ask if they have any records that are available.  Most cemeteries will give any information they have for free, and some of these records could include lost gems like the funeral and site expenses, obituaries, Will’s, photographs, etc – an often overlooked resource.  These little details add to the overall story of the individual.  This can often be done from home by email, but in-person visits can often be more rewarding.
3. Visiting the site!  Armed with the name and (hopefully) exact location of the grave plot, we can visit these Sheldon graves for the final details.  The three things we want to get from an in-person visit:
   1. Clear photos of the tombstone.  It’s best to take a few to help ensure you get a shot in which the details are legible.  Check all sides to make sure all writings are captured.  Also check for lot markers, if a family has an entire lot the surname may be listed along the border.
   2. Note all of the stone writings.  Some stones are too degraded to read off of a photo.  In-person it can be easier to make out what is written, sometimes requiring to trace the etches with your fingers, so it’s best to write this down in case it can’t be read later.
   3. Exact geo-coordinates of the grave itself.  With these coordinates, others will be able to easily pinpoint the exact location for future visits.  This can be done by dropping a pin on the location with Google Maps on your phone, or the basic Apple Maps app that comes with your iPhone.  Be careful to drop the pin as close to the exact location of the grave as possible.

Please let us know if you would like to help with this project!  Please do not feel obligated to do each part of the process, any part of it that you are able to participate in will be greatly appreciated.  If you can only get the names, it will be easier for another volunteer to visit the cemetery at a later date.  If you are new to this we are happy to offer any tips and support you may need.

Happy Hunting!