Jade Small
Jade Small
October 31, 2024 ·  3 min read

9 Kinds of Ancestor Death Records You Should Look For

When tracing your family history, genealogists often begin with a death record and work backward. But this step can sometimes be tricky. Records may not exist due to lapses in early vital record-keeping or might list names in ways that differ from your family records. If you can’t find a death certificate, there are still ways to piece together your ancestor’s final days. By exploring alternative death records from that period and region, you might find a more complete picture of their life. Even if you’ve already located one record, it’s wise to search for others, as each might contain unique details to confirm dates and relationships.

Obituary

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Obituaries and newspaper death notices are invaluable for genealogists. They often provide precise death dates, family connections, and other personal details about the deceased, like affiliations or contributions to their community. Obituaries can give insight into surviving relatives and may highlight important events or relationships in your ancestor’s life.

Cemetery Record

SAVANNAH GEORGIA USA 06 28 2016: John Herndon Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He was also a record label executive, who co-founded Capitol Records
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Cemetery records offer multiple ways to uncover details about your ancestor. Aside from tombstones and burial records, cemeteries sometimes kept extensive caretaker records, known as sexton records. These may reveal birth, marriage, and death information, as well as religious or fraternal ties. Checking local cemeteries can provide helpful details, particularly if state records are unavailable.

Church Death Record

old church record book in the archive for genealogical research
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Churches were often diligent in keeping death and burial records, especially when they had dedicated burial grounds. While these records may be harder to locate than official state records, online resources are making access easier. Church records can offer unique insights into your ancestor’s life, particularly if they were active in their religious community.

Probate Records

Person Writing Last Will and Testament Document Beside Keyboard and Mouse on Wooden Desk
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Probate records are prepared following a person’s death as their estate is settled. These records can identify family members, confirming names, relationships, and sometimes even specific life events like births and marriages. Probate documents can also be invaluable for understanding the distribution of assets, which often indicates family structure and relationships.

State Death Certificate

Death certificate
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Once states began to implement vital records systems, standard death certificates became common in most places starting in the early 1900s. These certificates, filed at both county and state levels, usually offer details like name, age, birthplace, cause of death, and burial location. Privacy restrictions may apply for more recent records, but older ones are typically accessible to the public and are worth pursuing.

Local Death Record

Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India-Dec 14 2022: Genealogy registers of families, maintained by Brahmin Pandits known locally as ‘Pandas’, who work as professional genealogists at Haridwar
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Before statewide records were established, many cities and towns issued their own death certificates. These local death records vary in format and detail but can be invaluable when a state death certificate isn’t available. Local libraries, state archives, and genealogy sites often hold microfilmed or digitized copies of these records.

Death Register

Billericay, UK - March 20, 2022: Registrar of Births and Deaths sign on a wall in the High Street, Billericay, Essex, UK.
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Some towns and counties maintained death registers, which recorded information in tables rather than formal certificates. Death registers generally include details like the deceased’s name, death date, cause of death, age, birthplace, and possibly their parents’ names. These can be accessed in libraries, local archives, and sometimes online.

Census Mortality Schedule

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In the mid-19th century, census takers collected information on deaths that occurred in the year preceding the census in specific schedules. These mortality schedules cover 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885 and include information on names, ages, occupations, and causes of death. This unique snapshot of the population can be highly useful, especially for hard-to-find early death records.

Burial Permit

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Burial permits were required to allow a deceased person to be interred in a specific cemetery and were often filed by funeral homes or cemeteries. Although simpler in detail, these permits confirm burial places and may help link the deceased to relatives. Funeral homes or cemetery records are great places to find burial permits if they exist.

Each type of record adds another layer to the story of your ancestor’s life, and together, they can offer a fuller understanding of their history. Happy searching!

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