Hello Fellow Listers: This was sent to me by a friend in Colorado. She stated that she received it via a Genealogical Helpful Hint List. This may help to explain some possible questions you may have had on why your ancestor was buried beside a non-relative, etc.... Best Wishes... Donna HELLER ZINN of Newville, Cumberland Co., PA. ****************************************** > SOME CEMETERIES BURY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER > > When searching cemeteries, you should be aware that religion sometimes > had a lot to do with the way people were buried. Here's a good > example: In the old country, Lutherans were buried "in order" of > death. There was a row for children (with small stones), and one for > adults. When winter came, the church would dig six or seven graves and > cover them with straw in anticipation of coming deaths that winter. > That way, the church members didn't have to dig through frozen ground > or go to several different spots in a cemetery. When people died, they > were buried in chronological order. So, if you're visiting one of > these cemeteries and you can't read a stone that sits between two > others that are legible, at least you'll know the person's approximate > date of death. >