Finding forgotten burial grounds

Genealogists like to hang out with dead people, weird as that may sound, and this is the time of year when we visit cemeteries searching for ancestral gravesites. Many of these sites are located in populated village or town limits but if you’re heading into the wilderness for a cemetery hunt there are a few commonsense things I recommend to keep you safe.

First of all, if you are in a rural area don’t rely on your GPS to locate a road or a cemetery. I’ve noticed our GPS is usually unreliable in many parts of Piscataquis County. It once directed us to Millinocket to locate an address in Greenville. So, to find your cemetery rely on a good map and it’s best to call the town clerk’s office in the town where the cemetery is located to get directions and a map if available and to learn about the road’s condition. This is especially important if your ancestors are buried 10 miles in on a deserted logging road.

Secondly, take a friend with you when you head out. If your friends have no interest in cemeteries then make sure someone knows where you are going and approximately when you should be back. If you have car trouble or are injured, be sure your friend is instructed to call the police when you haven’t touched base by a certain hour. And be sure your friend has directions.

Third, don’t rely on cell phones. We have vast areas in northern Maine where cell phone coverage is non-existent or spotty at best. So, have your phone with you but be aware it may not work in backwoods parts of the state.

Fourth, dress appropriately. This is no time to worry about fashion. Wear good walking type shoes — uneven cemetery ground is no place to wear your little sandals. Bring bug spray and long sleeves — no shorts or tank tops. You may get covered in ticks or bitten badly so dress for cemetery stalking and have an extra sweater or jacket with you in case you get stuck and it turns cold.

Finally, be sure you take plenty of water and something to eat with you such as energy bars. If you get stranded in the woods overnight you’ll want to have something to nourish you. Also, have a flashlight along.

All these suggestions may seem excessive but I knew an elderly, partially disabled lady who ended up on a little-used logging road miles from the nearest house. She had serious car trouble late in the day. She was unprepared, no food, no water, and no warm jacket or blanket, and no one knew where she was. This might have ended tragically but fortunately a hunter came along and rescued her. She was lucky.

My philosophy in life is always better safe than sorry and this is especially true when you venture into the Maine woods in areas where there are no close houses or a road is seldom used or repaired. So, take precautions, enjoy your cemetery hunt, and stay safe.

Nancy Battick is a Dover-Foxcroft native who has researched genealogy for over 30 years. She is past president of the Maine Genealogical Society, author of several genealogical articles and co-transcribed the Vital Records of Dover-Foxcroft. Nancy holds a MA in History from UM and lives in DF with her husband, Jack, another avid genealogist. You can contact Nancy at nbattick@roadrunner.com.