SEARCHING FOR DEATH RECORDS

Working backwards is the best way to do genealogical research. Which means we should start with an individual's death date. If you didn't find this information on the Social Security Death Index, there are other ways of finding it. Family Tree Maker's Death/Burial Date and Location Guide provides a comprehensive list of places to start.

In tracking down the location of your ancestors, remember that they often moved in with family, particularly their children. These relatives may not have been in the same state where your ancestors lived most of their life. So further research of the children may be necessary.

Even if they died in a different state from where they were born, they may be buried in a family cemetery. Cyndi's List-Cemeteries & Funeral Homes is a good place to start searching for the burial location of your ancestor.Another search site is Family Workings Donated Cemetery Research Index, a list of cemeteries where people have cataloged burials. You can donate a cemetery and add to their available data.

As I am writing this on Veteran's Day, I want to add three good sites where you can find information about your ancestors who died in military service:

USIGS Military Collection - Links

Memorials and Casualty Lists by Bill Navey, covering Pearl Harbor to Beirut

Genealogical Research at the National Archives, where you can scroll down to Military Records

When you have located the records you need for your death certificates, it is time to send for them. Start by reading Vital Records Information - Guidelines. Then, the next stop is Vital Records Information - United States which will give you the information on where to obtain vital records from each state, territory and county of the United States.

Once you have the death date, you can use a handy device that lets you calculate the birth date from death date and age of death in day/month/year format at the JavaScript Birthdate Calculator.

HOT TIP OF THE WEEK: If all your searches fail there is a site where volunteers will do look ups at institutions near them, the Genealogy Helplist. This is another site that will be happy to have you sign on as a volunteer.

Next Week: Genealogy and Adoption

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic