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From: " Charles S. Mason, Jr." <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Coffin Maker's Records?
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 06:01:50 -0800


Debbie,

Coffin makers were also normally the men who made furniture. The records may have been kept as seperate records or they may be mixed in with all the other orders for furniture.


The ones that I have seen contain the name of the person ordering the coffin. In some cases it is for someone other than a family member. Most of them have given the type of wood and the length of the coffin in feet and inches. Some of them indicate the type of medal used for any hardware. The record also normally indicate who the coffin is for, but may not name the person. For example: for his wife, for his child or a child, for his mother in-law, for his grandchild, etc. If a peerson is named it usually is not a family member.

The cemetery where the person was buried is often listed if the coffin maker also dug the grave. This has been very helpful in the case of one cemetery in Gloucester Co., NJ. The cemetery dates back to before 1776. Today there are only two tombstones that are still standing. There are a number of markers that the bases are still in place but no information is left on that protion. I have found one transcription of the tombstones done in the 1950s but none of the markers are for the people in the coffin maker's records.

The records I have found give the price of the coffin and what the coffin maker charged to dig the grave, if he dug the grave.

As to finding the records they could be almost anywhere. I would check with historical and genealogical society libraries. They may have the originals or copies. Also any library that might have a manuscript collection may have been given old records.

Although there are not easy to find and many have not survived, if you can find them they can be a great help.

If anyone knows of a collection of these records, please share with the rest of us.

Chuck

--- wrote:

From: "Debbie Freeman" <>
To: <>
Subject: [APG] Coffin Maker's Records?
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:55:30 -0800

Hello Chuck & list members,

These records sound like a good source.

I have not heard of them before now.

Could someone explain in more detail about these records?

How would you find these records?

What information is usually in these records?

What time period?


Thank You
Debbie Freeman


Chuck Mason
Fairfax Co, VA

They also have coffin maker's records from the late 1700s and early 1800s.






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