Searching For Gold

There are many reasons why genealogical research can feel like a treasure hunt. However, even the most eager treasure hunter can completely miss the mark if he/she misinterprets the map or overlooks key landmarks. Successful treasure hunters always seem to have a thirst for the chase backed by a keen ability to track down the gold. They're successful not because finding treasure is easy, but because they're dedicated, know how to read clues, are equipped with the necessary tools, and do not give up.

From Indiana Jones to Benjamin Gates in National Treasure, the silver screen has brought to us the adventures of many characters on their quests for treasure. Sure, these are fictitious characters, but the portrayal of the treasure hunters' spirit and grit seems rather accurate. Those who may watch Josh Gates in his show Expedition Unknown on the Discovery Channel know of his genuine excitement when discoveries are made. In fact, all three of these treasure hunters are so entertaining to watch, but why? What if Benjamin Gates didn't dig deep to look for and understand clues? How fun would Doctor Jones be if he wasn't as dedicated to finding the treasure? Would Josh Gates be as entertaining if he never investigated or found anything on his show? In many cases, the treasure ultimately acts as a puzzle piece that helps to tell a story or solve a problem. The genealogical treasure hunt, when successful, helps to breathe life into stories and in many cases can be healing and/or solve problems. Valuable information and sometimes unanticipated detail, which may help tell a story or solve a problem, can easily be missed if the person doing the research isn't on a treasure hunt.

For example, when searching for a gravestone online, one may find a basic photo of the front inscription and think that's all there is to see. At first glance, the first picture below seems to show a gravestone simply encased in cement to help prevent it from cracking or being destroyed. While that's usually the case, a researcher who is on a treasure hunt may be more likely to discover additional valuable gems. It's certainly exciting to search and finally find a picture of a gravestone for a specific person, but should the search for treasure really stop when the first piece of gold is found? What treasure hunter would really stop and be satisfied with just one piece of gold?

Looking at this gravestone from another angle reveals that this is in fact two tombstones joined and preserved together by cement. This husband and wife are the only two tombstones in this location centered in the middle of a walkway behind a church. Being satisfied with just the image of the first gravestone leaves behind a wealth of information. Just from seeing the second photo and visiting the grave in person, I immediately have additional questions to explore with my research. Why are theirs the only tombstones behind the church? What is on the side of the cement block holding the two together?

Further research reveals that in the 1930s the town wanted to beautify certain areas by creating a park. The location where the town wanted to establish a park happened to be an old cemetery that city leaders claimed was unkempt. Generations of families were buried in this cemetery, many of which were founders of the town and Revolutionary War veterans. It was documented that even General George Washington toured the cemetery when he was staying an evening in the town during the great retreat of 1776. Revolutionary patriots encamped on the grounds that same evening. Despite this site being one that should have been preserved and protected for future generations, it was demolished save the gravestones of only two. The gravestones for this man and woman were saved because of how highly revered they were by many in the town. The woman lived to be 105 years old and the man died just a month shy of his 100th birthday. Many knew and respected these two and their memories. This man was a Revolutionary hero who is said to have led efforts that saved Washington's army from being intercepted by the British. In place of the many graves that were removed, a monument was erected behind a church to honor those who were soldiers and this man's gravestone was cemented to his wife's and placed in a new location behind the church about 75 feet from where it originally was. A number of people attended the unveiling of the monument including their grandson who actually lived with them for 11 years as a boy. On the side of this new memorial, the birth location is given for each. A bolt and shaft bearing from the gristmill where the man was born is also encased in the cement preserving it for future generations to appreciate.

In addition to further context given to the lives of these two people, we learn about the man's family grist mill. Clearly, this was something that they were proud of throughout generations as the bolt and shaft bearing were important enough to save and add to the cement memorial. Clues like these open doors and guide the genealogical treasure hunter toward further nuggets of research gold. My advice to all is to never settle for the first piece of gold that you find. Always assume that there's more out there to be found. The trick is in knowing where and how to look for that treasure!