Cemetery and Death Records Trace Family History
Using Burial Records, Death Certificates and Obituaries in Genealogy
Aug 2, 2009
In the world of vital records, birth and marriage records are the ones in the limelight—every family historian, seasoned or new, looks for these records for each of their ancestors. Death records, on the other hand—perhaps due to their somber nature—are often in the shadows. At times, they may even be neglected after the discovery of their more glamorous cousins.
The Benefits of Finding Death Records
Death records, however, are valuable documents amongst the wide range of genealogy resources available to family history researchers. An able genealogist will certainly include death records as part of the essential records to find for each ancestor. Death records, such as death certificates, obituaries, and cemetery records, have much to offer in family tree research.
One important advantage of searching for death records is that, by nature, they are the most recent record available for any given ancestor—this means that they will likely be easier to search for than older records. Some ancestors, such as those that immigrated to the United States, may not even have other vital records associated with them in this country.
Another key benefit of death records is that often they will provide more than just the verified date and location of death. They may contain other facts of interest to a family historian, as well as open up paths to further research.
Genealogy Information on Death Certificates and Cemetery Records
What, specifically, can be found on death records besides the date and location of death? Death records can contain important facts and interesting details about an ancestor that help bring a family history alive, such as the ancestor’s occupation, current residence, cause of death, and place of burial. In addition, by locating an ancestor’s tombstone or reading their obituary, it may be possible to learn even more about them—about their best-remembered traits, their proudest accomplishments, and other things that were important while they lived.
Death records also provide clues for finding other family tree information or genealogy records. Some death records may contain the person’s date and place of birth, or they may include the person’s marriage status and/or the name of their spouse, valuable hints that can help a researcher locate the person’s birth or marriage records. Death records can also help trace your family tree by providing the names of an ancestor’s relatives, such as their children or their parents.
How to Find Death Records
What a death certificate may not provide, a cemetery record might; or what can’t be found in a cemetery record might be found in an obituary. As the information on various death records can vary, it is wise to search for all types of death records when possible.
With the rise of the internet, the search for death records has become much easier than before. There are many online databases dedicated to death records; some may be specific to the type of record while others may encompass a variety of records.
It is sound research practice, however, to always seek to verify what is found on the internet by obtaining an actual copy of the record. This may include a visit to the local public library for obituaries or to the cemetery for cemetery records. Death certificates are issued at the state level and are usually obtainable by requesting it from the state or local vital records office, although the details may vary depending on the state.
Before rushing headlong into a whirlwind search for birth records or marriage records, it may be a prudent decision to search for death records. Using death records wisely, a family tree researcher may find vital clues to enrich his family history with wonderful details and new discoveries.
