Hi Pam, I have two infant deaths in my research. They were buried in Chicago abt. 1880 and 1881. Most information given to me so far is that it is likely they were buried in "term graves" and that, if I am lucky, records may remain at the cemetery office. A term grave is used again after the term has expired (generally 25 or 50 years). I gather this may have been a practice in Europe and continued in Chicago. Where else it was common I don't know. My grandparents are buried in a Catholic cemetery in Minneapolis. Deaths were in 1922 and 1935. The cemetery has perpetual care and recent photos indicate the cemetery is beautifully maintained. The person sending the photo thought burials were still occurring there. The family plot was purchased for his parents' burial by my father. My husband's relatives are buried in a commercial cemetery in Virginia. The first burial in the family grave site was in 1925. I continue to pay annually for upkeep on the family grave site. I suspect there are grave sites there that have been reclaimed by the cemetery for newer burials. The cemetery is almost 200 years old and doesn't seem to fill up. If someone doesn't continue (after me) to make annual payments . . . . . . . Makes one think doesn't it? Elaine Pam Villanueva wrote: > Great question!! Please post the replies to the list. Thanks! > Pam in CA > > >Date: Wed, 01 Jul 1998 15:17:55 -0700 > >From: Janis <firefly@ctaz.com> > >Reply-To: firefly@ctaz.com > >Subject: CEMETERY PLOTS > >To: GenTips-L@rootsweb.com > > > >I was wondering how burials and cemetery plots were handled waaaay > >back. Were there plots for sale or were they given to the deceased if > >it was a church? If it was a private cemetery I imagine they were > >buried there free? What about a large cemetery in a town? Were the > >deceased's families charged for burial plots? I'm talking about 1850's > >or before. > > > >Thank you very much > > > >Janis in AZ > >