| For the loved ones that were living at the time of | | | | seem to disappear. Such an occasion may help |
| your ancestor's death, that event was a solemn | | | | you narrow down the ancestor's death date. Be |
| and sorrowful time. However, for those | | | | sure to check the census records of the children |
| descendants who are now looking to discover | | | | too, as often an aging parent may live to an old |
| more information about that same ancestor, | | | | age in the home of a child, grandchild (or even a |
| discovering historical deaths as a result of the vital | | | | nephew or niece). It's also happened that rather |
| death records, funeral home records, obituaries or | | | | than having died, they moved into an infirmary or |
| cemetery records can be exciting as we find the | | | | a boarding house. |
| data we've been searching for regarding that hard | | | | In the process of checking death records, after |
| to find ancestor. | | | | you find one type of record, be sure to use that |
| Various death records can be a plentiful source of | | | | information to locate the other types of death |
| information about an ancestor's life. Usually you | | | | records that may be available and which will often |
| can find the date, place and often, the cause of | | | | give more details about the person. If you know |
| death. The records may give the ancestor's | | | | the places your ancestor previously lived, that city |
| previous address, how long they had lived in the | | | | or town newspaper may have obituary notices |
| area, their birth date and place, their occupation, | | | | that can also give more family information. |
| and frequently the names of other relatives - | | | | Beginning your ancestral search with the death |
| both living at that time and those that had | | | | records is often the fastest way to get |
| preceded them in death. | | | | information and ideas for further research. Often |
| Death related records may contain the maiden | | | | these death records tell the cemetery where the |
| name of women relatives including the ancestor's | | | | person was buried and the date and place of |
| wife or mother. You may also find information | | | | death will give you ideas as to where to go |
| about other relatives that were buried close to | | | | looking for a helpful obituary. If you don't know |
| your ancestor. If siblings were born and then died | | | | the ancestor's death date, you might start with |
| - between census years, the gravestones in a | | | | the cemetery. |
| cemetery may be the only way you would | | | | The question then comes up - Which cemetery is |
| discover their existence. Once you have that | | | | the best place to start looking? Start in the |
| information, more searching of vital records may | | | | vicinity of where they lived. Some churches and |
| give a clearer picture of life events of these | | | | religions had their own cemeteries and death and |
| relatives. Tombstones also often contain | | | | burial records. It is usually a good idea to do an |
| references to the individual's membership in | | | | online search for possible cemetery grave |
| various fraternal societies, military services, | | | | indexes. One popular website that has a large |
| occupations and religious affiliations. | | | | number of cemetery records is |
| If a family member was away from home when | | | | It is also possible that your ancestor is buried a lot |
| they died, there may have been burial transit | | | | further away from where they lived or died than |
| permits issued which allowed the body to be | | | | what you might think. As towns grew and new |
| transported from one place to another. | | | | development took place, the dead sometimes |
| Remember to check out that possibility if you | | | | were moved to more open areas near the |
| want more information. | | | | outskirts of the city. |
| Vital death records and obituaries are often an | | | | An ancestor's body may have been moved to a |
| abundant source of historical information about | | | | different city or state for burial where other |
| the relative and their family (including maiden | | | | relatives lived or where there was a family burial |
| names and married names - for women). Often, | | | | plot. Because the movement of bodies was |
| an obituary has details about the person's parents, | | | | regulated, there may be burial permits or body |
| siblings and children. If the ancestor was an | | | | transit records available. Check with the Family |
| immigrant, the town and/or country of birth may | | | | History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of |
| have been included as well as information about | | | | Latter Day Saints. They have many of these |
| other events about the person's life. | | | | records microfilmed. In addition, check with the |
| It's good to remember to check out the death | | | | city, county and state vital records departments |
| records of all the family members. Many times in | | | | to discover these records. |
| the obituary or death records of a close relative, | | | | If you will start your search for an ancestor with |
| you can discover information about your ancestor | | | | their death, you will often find the quickest route |
| that you otherwise would never have found. | | | | to discovering a lot of interesting information |
| Some additional tips about death record searches | | | | about their life. Enjoy the discovery process as |
| may be helpful. Here are a few. Sometimes as | | | | you build a lasting family legacy that your family |
| you follow the lives of your ancestors through | | | | can cherish for generations yet to come. |
| successive decades of census records, they may | | | | |