In addition to Harleigh Cemetery, I have called Camden, NJ, Public Works Dept.(hold records for New Camden Cem.) on several occasions, and they also look up information for no charge as well as Lakeview Cem. in Cinnaminson, Rose Hill in Clayton, and Cedar Green Cemetery in Clayton, NJ. I believe the large majority still offer this as a free service. Joan In a message dated 5/24/02 9:08:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > When I went to Harleigh Cemetery and asked them to look up a name they > printed me the names of all the people in the grave site that had their > ages, date of internment, a map of the cemetery to find them and even a > will > that was on file there and wouldn't take a cent. > Evelyn > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lynn Jefferies" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 1:31 PM > Subject: Re: [NJCAMDEN] Colestown Cemetery wants $100.00 for my family's > cemetery records > > > > > > I've been reading with interest the Colestown Cemetery discussion. > > Several points. First of all, receiving records from a cemetery is not an > entitlement for a researcher. The second is that most cemeteries are not > non-profits, they are businesses. Today, you can't even dial directory > assistance for a telephone number without incurring a charge. So, why > should > cemeteries be any different? You are asking for a service, they are > charging > a fee for that service. Whether or not you decide to pay that charge is > your > decision. > > The sad fact is, that as genealogy grows as a hobby, more and more > strains > are placed on support staff in the cemetery offices. To compensate for > this, > more cemeteries are charging fees. Most not as high as Colestown, but they > do charge. Harleigh in Camden, the last time I checked, charged $18 an hour > plus cost of copies. > > As for reporting Colestown to the state. For what? Charging a fee. > > When you write to cemeteries, do you offer to pay copying costs? Anyone > connected with business knows that copier toner and supplies are expensive. > Or, in the case of non-profits, additionally offer to make a donation to > their perpetual care funds? > > From what I have heard through the researcher grapevine is that there was > a change in Colestown personnel several years ago. The new person in charge > is much less amenable to researchers. As a result these records have gone > from extremely accessible to almost inacessible. > > If you don't want to pay the fees, you have several options. Two books > have been printed recording gravestone inscriptions at Colestown. One is a > typescript done by a DAR chapter years ago. This book has the advantage > that > some genealogy is included with certain entries. The second was done > several > years ago as an Eagle Scout project. Both of these books are available at > the Camden County Historical Society and probably elsewhere. Another course > is to check the Cemetery Cards at the Camden County Historical Society. > These record county burials up to about 1937. > > Lynn > > > > > > > > > >