Q: How can volunteers accurately document these veterans, given unreadable stones, missing markers, or misidentified graves?

Krista: That’s a really good point, and you’re absolutely right - not every veteran will have a clearly marked, readable, or even existing gravestone. Some graves may never have had a marker, and others might be worn beyond recognition. That’s why this project isn’t about “verifying patriot status” or confirming service records in the field.

Joe: What we’re really aiming for is to capture what’s physically there today, readable or not. Even if a stone only has a partial name or a war marker with no date, that’s valuable data for future researchers. And if you do a little digging and find, for example, that a marker might be for someone born decades after the Revolution, we still appreciate that information too. You can leave notes or context in the Survey123 app submission form so it can be reviewed later.

Krista: The end result of this project won’t be perfect — and it’s not meant to be a final, definitive list. It’s a current photographic and location-based snapshot of known and suspected graves. Every contribution helps paint a clearer picture, even if it raises new questions along the way.

Q: Is this something I can do from home, or do I need to visit cemeteries in person?

Krista: That’s a good question, and while some aspects of research can definitely be done from home, like looking up names and locations, this particular project is really about gathering current, on-the-ground information.

Joe: Right. We’re asking folks to head out to cemeteries, take current photographs and collect GPS points using the Survey123 app for as many grave markers as possible. This is the first project of its kind to attempt a full statewide survey like this in Ohio, and having up-to-date data will be a huge resource for researchers in the future.

Krista: It doesn’t replace older records or local surveys, as those are incredibly valuable, but it does give us a snapshot of what’s out there right now, which is something we haven’t had before.

Q: How do I know what graves and cemeteries have already recorded for this project?

Krista: Head over to our Live Results Map, which updates in real time. You can search by veteran’s last name or by cemetery name to see what’s already been documented.

Joe: And for you numbers people out there, we also have a Live Results Dashboard that shows how many graves and cemeteries have been documented so far. As of right now, Public Researchers across Ohio have documented over 897 grave markers and 182 cemeteries. It’s incredible to see the public get involved in this way.

Q: My community has already done some work locally documenting veteran graves — can we add that to your project?

Krista: Absolutely! We would love to include it. If your historical society, township, or community group has records, get in touch with us. The Guide to Field Collection for Public Researchers has our contact info and next steps for sharing.

Q: How can I figure out which Revolutionary War veterans might be buried near me?

Joe: Great question! Honestly, you might be surprised at how many resources there are to help you find that out! A good first step is to use the research tools we've collected on the project website. These are in no way the only tools to use as records and resources can be found at the local, state, and national level.

Krista: Speaking of, if you’re part of a local historical society, or your library has a history room, those can be great places to dig up information using paper records, too. It’s a bit like a history scavenger hunt – you never know what you might find!

Joe: Pair those with websites like Find A Grave, which can help you narrow down the location of a grave marker before you go out searching for it, and you’ll be able to build a pretty good list of potential graves to document.

Have more questions for our experts?

Visit the Guide to Field Collection for Public Researchers to get in contact with us. And if you haven’t yet, help us document these important sites. Every record adds to Ohio’s Revolutionary War story!