The Beverages

 

Insights from Cemetery Records

 

The sources offer a glimpse into the lives and demographics of individuals buried in the Beverage Cemetery. These records, while lacking detailed narratives, provide valuable insights into family structures, lifespans, and potential causes of death during specific historical periods.

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Family Groups: The cemetery records clearly depict family groupings. The listings often show parents and their children buried in proximity, allowing researchers to reconstruct family units and trace lineages. For instance, the record of Uriah W. and Virginia E. Beverage lists several of their children, including an infant son who died in 1879, Charles, and Mattie C. This arrangement showcases the traditional practice of burying family members together, providing a visual representation of familial bonds.

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Infant and Child Mortality: The records reveal a poignant reality of the past: the high rate of infant and child mortality. Numerous entries document the deaths of children at very young ages, highlighting the vulnerability of life during those times. Examples include the infant son of Uriah and Virginia Beverage and the passing of Wiley Infant in 1933.

These entries serve as stark reminders of the challenges faced by families in the past, where diseases and limited medical care contributed to higher child mortality rates.

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Lifespans: By analyzing the birth and death dates recorded, one can glean insights into the average lifespans of individuals buried in the cemetery. While some individuals lived well into their 70s or 80s, many others died in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. The records do not specify causes of death, but the prevalence of shorter lifespans likely reflects the impact of historical factors such as infectious diseases, limited access to healthcare, and potentially hazardous working conditions.

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Military Service: The cemetery records occasionally note military service, offering a glimpse into the individuals' contributions to historical events. For instance, the record of Winfred Garland Beverage includes his service in the U.S. Army during World War II, specifically as a PFC in the 17th Airborne Division. This detail connects an individual's life to a significant historical event and provides avenues for further research into their military experience.

 

Limitations of Cemetery Records

While cemetery records offer valuable information, it is essential to acknowledge their limitations:

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Incomplete Information: Cemetery records may not always contain complete or accurate information. Some entries might lack birth or death dates, or family relationships may not be clearly indicated. The reliance on handwritten entries introduces the possibility of errors or omissions.

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Missing Individuals: Not everyone who died during a specific period is necessarily buried in the same cemetery. Families might have moved, or individuals might have chosen to be buried elsewhere, resulting in gaps in the cemetery's record of the local population.

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Limited Context: Cemetery records primarily provide basic demographic data. They seldom offer insights into the individuals' lives, occupations, personalities, or causes of death.

Conclusion

Cemetery records, such as those from the Beverage Cemetery, serve as valuable historical sources, offering insights into family structures, lifespans, and connections to historical events. While they provide a glimpse into the past, researchers must recognize their limitations and seek corroborating evidence from other sources to create a more comprehensive understanding of the individuals and communities they represent.