As each burial ground kept their own records, they vary slightly. Some early records contain less detail than later ones. Some records described as registers are really just notebooks of the burial ground clerk. For cemeteries one or some of the following has survived:
Registers of Burials
These are a list of people buried in the cemetery. The entries are in date order and are not usually indexed by name. Most registers contain:
- Name, age and occupation of deceased
- Date of burial
- Name of minister
- Number of grave
- Some registers give the place and date of death
Register of Graves
These vary greatly in the detail they contain. Some are similar to burial registers but contain information about the purchase of the grave. Others are a list of graves by number with the names of those buried in the grave.
Notices of Interment
These were documents sent to the clerk of the cemetery so that they could arrange for the burial to take place. They contain:
- Name, age and occupation of deceased
- Date and place of death
- Date and time of funeral
- Name of minister
- Number and description of grave
Lists or Registers of Purchased Graves
These record the purchase of graves. This could be just before a burial or many years before. They usually note:
- Date of purchase
- Name and residence of buyer
- The fee paid
- Number of the grave
- Religion
- Details of the burial including name of deceased and date of burial.
These can be useful as they tell you who paid for the grave. This is usually the next of kin.
Plan of the cemetery
Plans show the layout of the graves. Usually this gives the plot numbers. Some plans are marked up with the name of the person who is buried there or has purchased the grave. These may still be held by the burial authority. They have not survived for all cemeteries.