Posted on 07/08/2009 4:48:51 PM PDT by KeyLargo
“whether the filled spaces would now be occupied by persons unrelated to me.”
The spaces are empty. even if the cemetery operators were crooked (unlikely)whatever monument space is attached to the graves precludes anyone selling the spaces to another party (who would expect to be able to put up a monument). That deed probhably gives you right of burial (It would in New York)
Actually I thought African-Americans have more success with genealogical research because way back they were considered “property” and more records were kept because of their value as such. Coming from poor white people who were here before the Revolution, I know records for my people are very sketchy.
Color me blonde, but don’t they have to have a court order to disinterr? That should eliminate moving bodies for profit. Oh, I forget, it’s CHICAGO!
When you say "property" I assume you are speaking of slave records.
Genealogical research through slave records is extremely difficult. I got a taste of it at the Georgia State Archives while trying to help my secretary, who is Black. At that time, Georgia's Archived employed a couple of specialists in slave genealogy.
Although pre-1850 census records for whites don't list all of the household members by name, you at least HAVE census records. With luck (and courthouses that never caught fire or weren't burned during The Late Unpleasantness), you have marriage records, wills, deeds, and estate inventories. You may have family bibles, military service records, and military pension records.
With slaves, if you're lucky, you may find a bill of sale for "Big Tom", or an estate with the names of slaves. The lists don't indicate families or husband/wife connections. The lists don't have last names. You'll find Blind Jim, Essie, Rufus, three Toms, and "Lula (crippled)" on the list.
The 1850 census records for whites (and black freemen) have the state of birth and age (I can't remember whether 1850 also has the birth state of each person's parents). Even 1840 and earlier have a tick mark giving an age range. The slave records are not likely to give you any information about where a slave was born or how old he or she was.
I'll admit that it's often hard to follow a poor white family into the 1700's and earlier. A lot depends on how common the surname and given name are, the luck of the drafting of wills or deeds that name other family members and their relationships, and other factors. Sometimes you just hit a dead end when the poor left no written records, or a courthouse burned, or a surname and given name are common.
Most Blacks are rightfully frustrated when trying to trace their genealogy.
"T: Federal and county officials are now holding a news conference at the site of the desecrated cemetery in Alsip, Ill. The Rev. Jesse Jackson has just joined Sheriff Tom Dart and State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. Jackson said, "There should be a special place in hell" for the perpetrators." 
It’s a black-on-black crime......
I’m sure when they’re tried the defense will be that they weren’t disinterring anyone— they were just digging folks up to help them vote. /sarc
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