As genealogists a Death Certificate is our preferred
original source for primary information about the death of an Ancestor. While some states have documented deaths for a
long period of time it was not mandated by the U. S. Government until about 1900.
By the mid-1930’s all states were collecting mortality information.
This large gap, from the birth of our nation and until
1900, is sometime troublesome for genealogist when looking for an ancestor
death record.
This list was prepared to list some alternative sources
of death dates for ancestors.
State
Records
Death
certificate: – Preferred
document. Issued by the state at time of death.
·
Tombstone: - If a death certificate is
not found, the tombstone is probably the number 1 source for a death date. Do
keep in mind that a tombstone is not a primary source record; it is a secondary
source. It may have been placed shortly after a person death but it also may
have been placed many years later. Regardless, if you are using a tombstone
date as your death source it is a secondary source and should be confirmed by
other documents.
·
Sexton's Records: – Sexton
Records are records that are maintained by the cemetery. Most likely the
Sexton and the Sexton records will be found in the business office often on or
near the cemetery grounds. Sexton records are primary records for burial; all
other data most likely derivative in nature. I have had wonderful experiences
using sexton records at big cemeteries in town. However, out in the rural areas
of the south, which I am familiar with, there are no sextons at many of the
small rural cemeteries. Often you will find that no cemetery records have been
maintained.
·
Funeral
Home Records: - Records
maintain by the Mortuary that handle the funeral. Very detailed, concise and
well maintained. I have found that access to these records is restricted. Your
experience may differ. I think most of the problems with access to mortuary
records are identify theft and privacy issues.
·
FindAGrave:
– An
on-line resource with memorials created by volunteers documenting the final
resting place of millions of families and individuals. A priceless aid for
genealogist and family history enthusiasts.
The
Social Security Death Index:
Available on line at Ancestry.com. Comprehensive computerized Database created by the Social Security
Administration from the Death Master File. Excellent source for individuals who
have passed away since 1962 till now.
US
Census Mortality Schedules:
Census mortality schedules can be found for all states for
the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. While limited in nature they do provide
death dates for individuals who died in the year prior to the census being
enumerated. Not all states are included and the death is listed if it occurred between
1 June of the previous year and 31 May of the Census years.
Church
Records:
Funeral
Church Bulletins: These are the bulletins handed out during a
funeral ceremony. Can most likely be found on file in the church office.
Meetings
Minutes: Minutes
of meeting held by church officials.
Newspapers:
Obituaries: - Today’s newspapers have a designated page
for obituaries. Obituaries in most case are written by a family member in
concert with a Funeral Home official who distributes the obituary to the local
newspaper. Do keep in mind that prior to
the 1960’s or maybe later there were no indexes on the front page and
obituaries can be found throughout the newspaper.
Local
News/Community News: - Oftentimes
in older newspapers the death of an individual was printed in the local news
section. In many of these newspapers you have more than one section dedicated
to local news. Two of my great grandparent’s deaths were reported in local news
section of a newspaper.
Family
Bibles:
The Family Bible is always a good source for the birth
and death of ancestors. Copies of family
Bibles can be found in State Archives, Local Historical Society and State
Libraries.
Court
Records:
Estates: Estate folders are a great source for death date of an
ancestor.
County
Coroner’s Office:
The County Coroner handles deaths of individuals involved
in criminal or other violent means; by suicide, or suddenly when in apparent
health a person dies in a suspicious or unusual manner.
Land Records:
Land deeds can be used to determine about when your
ancestor died. The sale of and division of an ancestor estate lands is a
clear indication of his demise. This is
also a good source of the identity of children and their spouses which are often
named within a land division.
Tax
Lists:
Tax list can be used to pinpoint when your ancestors drop
off the tax rolls. If your ancestor drops off the tax rolls it may be because
he died, or he may have moved to another county or the ancestor may have fell
on hard times.
If you are aware of other sources where you have found
death records for you ancestor; please post a short note with details or send
me an e-mail.
