Death Records by a Different Name (General)

We are not talking about obituaries, cemetery records, probate records, death certificates, Social Security death index data, private correspondence, or bibles-the records most of us regularly use to document the date and place of death.

We are embarking on a thrilling journey, exploring the many other categories of records where deaths might be documented. Remember to consider where such information might be recorded. Have you considered library circulation records? What about the ledgers of marble workers, woodworkers, or undertakers? There are many unexpected places where we might find death documented – have you pursued them all in the quest to document your ancestors’ deaths? Are there still a few rocks that have not yet been turned over and that might be part of a reasonably exhaustive search?

As we delve into almost 30 so-called substitute records documenting death, we’ll focus on some slightly more common record types that some researchers occasionally pursue, such as poor records, funeral homes, etc., while delving into some less researched and quite unexpected hidden gems.

Death records are so important to our research. We must determine when someone “should” be last found alive in records and cull information about assets, family members, geographic connections, and more. If possible, do explore where this often requisite information might be found – if nothing else, odds are that you will also add some additional “color” to the tapestry of your ancestors’ lives as you pursue this so-called vital record.