Most cemeteries also maintain records. Family cemeteries may be an exception, but government, corporate and church cemeteries usually have a set of sexton's records, the sexton being the caretaker of the cemetery. These are always worth checking, but become even more important in cases where the gravestones have been lost, vandalized, or otherwise damaged. While the sexton's records won't generally contain the same information as the tombstone inscription, they still have their secrets to reveal!

Most often, the records will give the name of the individual buried, their plot, the date of the burial, and the name of the owner of the plot - another important clue to establishing family relationships. In some cases, you might find extra details such as the cost of the plot or the cause of death. You may even learn of connections to other plots (and other possible family relationships), as when disinterment and reburials take place.

The best place to find these records, not surprisingly, is at the sexton's office in the cemetery itself, but some older records may have been handed over to local genealogical or historical societies. If you're quite sure you have the correct cemetery, but there are no records available there, try some of these tactics.