Obituaries, Death Certificates Good Sources

The two best ways to document an ancestor’s death are with death certificates and obituaries. Both are fairly easy to find, and while each yields personal information on the deceased, there are differences between the two records.

Newspaper obituaries often pre-date official death certificates. Even in the smallest frontier communities there was a hunger among folks to know the details of their neighbors’ lives, and so small newspapers sprang up almost immediately. Funerals and wakes were often big social and community events and deemed newsworthy.

The mechanics of how to find a newspaper obituary will be left for another column. Today, let’s just become more aware of the information they can provide to convince you that obituaries are worth the search.

Obituaries often contain: date and place of birth, parents’ names, date and place of marriage, in-law statistics, mention of previous marriages, names of all children, including those who may have preceded parents in death - and in later times, even a photo of the deceased. The funeral home, funeral arrangements and cemetery are also usually mentioned.

Newspaper-clipped family obituaries can be found in odd places. Try searching through the old family Bible; obits were often tucked between the pages. Look behind the photos in old albums, in boxes of old family items such as school report cards, greeting cards, etc. Search the bottom of drawers in dressers, buffets and desks. Ask other relatives to search these same places.

Proving that “you just never know,” I obtained a newspaper obituary on a great-grandfather from the descended relatives of his first wife. Our family came from the second wife, and I had never pursued the first wife’s line. However, a descendent saw my query in a national magazine and wrote to me. She even had photos of him as a young man - when he was married to that first wife.

Obituaries are often accepted as proof of an ancestor’s death when no other records are obtainable. Keep in mind, however, they can contain errors, so it’s wise to cross-check the data whenever possible.

Death certificates provide much the same information as obituaries, but there are some differences.

Often, a death certificate gives the exact time of death, the specific cause of death and how long the person was ill. The form might also indicate if the person was to be buried where they died or sent elsewhere. It gives the name of the attending physician and the informant - the person who gave the deceased’s information to the authorities - both of which could lead to further records. The informant’s name can be quite important, for it’s often a close relative.

I have seen the places of birth for the parents listed on death certificates. However, the veracity of that information is only as good as the informant’s knowledge. (Would you know the birthplaces for your mother-in-law’s parents if you were asked?)

Death certificates issued after about 1905-‘15 were recorded and kept at the state level, usually the state capital’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. Statewide recording of vital statistics varied from state to state. Ancestry’s “Red Book,” and the government pamphlet “Where To Write For Vital Records” both give this exact date for each state. Forms to order certificates are available in Thomas J. Kemp’s book, “International Vital Records Handbook.” Some states have excellent indexes to many of these records; Washington has a death index covering 1907 to 1973. Other states, such as New York, have laws prohibiting access to the records within a period of about 75 years.

Before states began recording death records, the statistics were kept at the county level, usually in the county courthouse. The previously cited sources, plus “The Handy Book” from Everton Publishers, gives the address and phone number for each county courthouse. These sources will also tell if the record exists or was lost, as in a fire.

I suggest researchers call to verify the correct fees. The booklet, “Where To Write For Vital Records,” available at any genealogical library, lists the telephone numbers for each state. A recorded message tells the correct amount. It would be a shame to have your letter sent back from Oklahoma (in your SASE!) saying that you need to send $1 more.

There’s a small, ongoing controversy about whether it’s worth the time, effort and money to collect more than one piece of documentation for any event in an ancestor’s life. Why not obtain the cheapest and easiest and stop there?

My answer to that is, if you were to collect the death certificate, the funeral home record, the funeral program card, the cemetery record and both obituaries - want-ad and editorial - I’d bet each document would contain a tidbit or two of new information.

Prove it to yourself on your next ancestor hunt.

Today’s tip: Ulla Przewolka, Eastern Washington Genealogical Society member, will gladly share her talent of translating old German script with anyone who needs help. Contact her at 838-1528.

Today’s laugh: A recent rerun of “The Waltons” told the story of a neighbor who had searched out her family tree. At show’s end, when the family all says good night, a child’s voice asks, “Gramps, when are we gonna get a family tree?” The gravelly voice comes back, “You’re in one!”

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The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review