The American Man
- Member for
- 6 years 9 months 14 days
- Find a Grave ID
Bio
As an amateur genealogical researcher, I have over four years of experience in grave finding, restoration, and preservation. I take great pride in locating lost and forgotten cemeteries and burial sites, particularly throughout the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. My fieldwork is ongoing, and many of my documented findings will continue to appear on Find A Grave.
I strive to present accurate and well-sourced information. Any memorial I create without a death certificate, obituary, or headstone will include a note clearly explaining the supporting evidence for the individual's interment. I do not add memorials with "unknown" burial locations unless under exceptional circumstances where strong evidence exists.
For both photo requests and general documentation, I do my best to provide clear, readable, and well-composed images. I carefully clean stones using water, soft brushes, D/2, plastic tools, and other non-invasive methods that preserve the integrity of the marker. If a stone is illegible, I make every effort to transcribe what I can and will update the memorial accordingly.
Cemeteries found in unknown or unrecorded locations are submitted to Find A Grave with GPS coordinates—always with the landowner's permission. Out of respect for the property, those wishing to visit must contact the landowner for access. While laws generally protect public access to cemeteries, I encourage all visitors to act respectfully and responsibly.
When documenting forgotten cemeteries, I photograph and record all identifiable and unidentifiable headstones, including field stones. I also create basic plot maps where feasible, which can aid in future genealogical research and help families locate relatives through spatial context.
My guiding principle is simple: I may be the only person to document this site—so I strive to do it right.
It's a joy to contribute to preserving local history and helping others discover their heritage. Find A Grave's community makes this work meaningful, and I'm grateful to be part of it. Thank you.
As an amateur genealogical researcher, I have over four years of experience in grave finding, restoration, and preservation. I take great pride in locating lost and forgotten cemeteries and burial sites, particularly throughout the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. My fieldwork is ongoing, and many of my documented findings will continue to appear on Find A Grave.
I strive to present accurate and well-sourced information. Any memorial I create without a death certificate, obituary, or headstone will include a note clearly explaining the supporting evidence for the individual's interment. I do not add memorials with "unknown" burial locations unless under exceptional circumstances where strong evidence exists.
For both photo requests and general documentation, I do my best to provide clear, readable, and well-composed images. I carefully clean stones using water, soft brushes, D/2, plastic tools, and other non-invasive methods that preserve the integrity of the marker. If a stone is illegible, I make every effort to transcribe what I can and will update the memorial accordingly.
Cemeteries found in unknown or unrecorded locations are submitted to Find A Grave with GPS coordinates—always with the landowner's permission. Out of respect for the property, those wishing to visit must contact the landowner for access. While laws generally protect public access to cemeteries, I encourage all visitors to act respectfully and responsibly.
When documenting forgotten cemeteries, I photograph and record all identifiable and unidentifiable headstones, including field stones. I also create basic plot maps where feasible, which can aid in future genealogical research and help families locate relatives through spatial context.
My guiding principle is simple: I may be the only person to document this site—so I strive to do it right.
It's a joy to contribute to preserving local history and helping others discover their heritage. Find A Grave's community makes this work meaningful, and I'm grateful to be part of it. Thank you.
