CEMETERY BURIALS
A project spanning several years has resulted in a database of more
than 40,000 records detailing all known burials in the County, in nearly
100 cemeteries. These range from the village-owned Lakeview Cemetery in
Penn Yan, with more than 14,000 burials, to tiny family plots with one
or two graves; and every conceivable type and size of burial ground in
between.
Readings were made of every stone, and where possible either confirmed
or reconstructed from census records, obituaries, vital records registers,
and earlier readings. An effort has been made to document "lost" cemeteries
and other recorded but now missing graves.
New York State did not require the recording of deaths until after 1880,
and researchers have been forced to turn to other methods and sources of
documentation. The gravestone may give clues to birthplace, family ties,
the ever-elusive maiden names of married women and other facts about the
deceased person's life. Because of Yates County's small size and population
it was possible to imagine the completion of such a project within a reasonable
amount of time. Even though a few previously-unknown graves continue to
turn up, the vast majority are now recorded in this database and available
only by writing or visiting the Office.
For those who wish to have the database available in printed form, a
set of six volumes has now been published and may be purchased. A copy
of one or more volumes may be reserved via email; see the detailed
description
elsewhere, in which a list of the County's cemeteries may also be found.