A Genealogy Tool – The Graving Kit

The following was published previously in Looking 4 Kin Newsletter by fishing ( a chatter in Looking 4 Kin Genealogy Chat)

A Genealogy Tool – The Graving Kit

I am no longer quite sure how the idea of developing a Graving Kit became a reality. It started off as a bit of a joke, but the idea was based on some previous experiences and the knowledge that on the day that the idea moved past the talking stage into an actual kit, four of us were just starting out to visit several cemeteries.

What is a Graving Kit?

To answer that, think about how many cemeteries you have visited and found the individual sites of your kin to be in a condition less than satisfactory. Even if the cemeteries are regularly tended, individual graves usually need some attention. Why not do a little maintenance while you are there?

There are any number of ways you can develop your kit and any number of items that can be included. Here’s what we did. We made up a list of what we thought should be the basic tools, keeping in mind that the kit needed to be portable and practical and then made our first stop at a Thrift Store. What we couldn’t find there we supplemented by a visit to other stores and from home supplies.

Kit Inventory

Packsack, small, well constructed.
Spray bottle(plastic)
Glass/Tile scraper plus spare blades
Trowel, small, pointed
Knife, 4” blade
Grass trimmer (hand size)
Clippers(twigs and small branches)
Brush ( medium bristles)
Whisk broom
Water container
Bleach (mixed weak)
Chalk (different colors)
Hand cleaner
Rags
Measuring Tape
Sketch Book
Pencils


And of course a camera. If you can you should have both a digital and a conventional camera.

There may be some question as to the last 3 items . In some of the older cemeteries, particularly those which are on private property, some of the family plot lines have deteriorated and some of the information on the stones is hard to read due to deterioration. It is good to try and redefine the boundries, make a rough sketch and write in what information is still legible.

One reminder, be careful while doing your cleanup! Weather and time take their toll on all of these sites, you don’t want to accelerate natures processes.

fishing

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