Cemeteries in Delaware: Source List
The map and database of cemeteries in Delaware were compiled from many sources, including previous DGS publications, transcriptions and publications by other genealogical societies in the State, past published surveys, and Find a Grave. A list of published sources is shown below.
Barry, Regina. “Mount Olive Cemetery – Wilmington, Delaware; Relocated Historic African American Cemeteries.” http://www.mtolivecemeterymaufcmpde.com/INDEX.html
- Regina Barry’s website documents the locations of older African American cemeteries in Wilmington, including many burial records.
Dill, Raymond Walter, Willam Martin Dill, and Elizabeth Ann Bostick Dill. Souls in Heaven, Names in Stone: Kent County, Delaware, Cemetery Records. Baltimore: Gateway, 1989. The Delaware Historical Society has a copy of this book.
- Raymond Dill collected Kent County cemetery records until his death in 1985. William and Elizabeth Dill followed his dream and published his records in 1989. The book runs to nearly 1400 pages, including an index. All of the cemeteries he recorded are included in the DGS cemetery list.
Downstate Delaware Genealogical Society. Tombstones of Sussex County Delaware, 5 vols. Dover, DE: Downstate Delaware Genealogical Society, 2001-2015. No longer available on the DDGS website. Some volumes are available for sale online.
- The Downstate Delaware Genealogical Society recorded cemetery locations and tombstones from the 1950s to 2020. All cemeteries they identified are included in the DGS cemetery list. Their listings include cross references to both the Hudson and Tatnall cemetery records.
Hudson, Millard F. Cemetery Records of Sussex County, Delaware. On microfilm at the Delaware Public Archives (DPA) (RG 9020-002-002). Viewable as film #8217944 at FamilySearch.
- Millard Hudson recorded Sussex cemetery tombstones in the late 1920’s. He found over 630 cemeteries in a county of only 938 square miles. His typewritten manuscript runs to 820 pages, including a last name index.
Redden, Robert J. Hudson and Tatnall’s Cemetery Records of Sussex County, Delaware. Lewes, DE: Colonial Roots, 2005. Also available at the Delaware Historical Society.
- Robert Redden included an Index to his large transcription of the Hudson and Tatnall’s cemetery records. It provides an invaluable cemetery cross reference to the works of Hudson and Tatnall.
Reynolds, Taylor, Chief of Cultural Resources, Delaware State Parks.
- Taylor Reynolds provided a list of 8 cemeteries in Trap Pond State Park. These are maintained by Trap Pond State Park staff and volunteers.
Tatnall, Walter G. Tombstone Records, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex County, Delaware. On microfilm at (DPA) (RG 9020-002-000). Viewable as film #8619012 at FamilySearch.
- Walter G. Tatnall (1856-1929) was a Delaware state archivist. In the 1920’s he recorded cemetery records across the state. His typewritten manuscript runs to 1230 pages.
Zebley, Frank, The Churches of Delaware. Wilmington, DE: no publisher, 1947.
- Frank Zebley’s work is referenced in several FindAGrave listings of church yard cemeteries.