Free Death Records

Using free death records is an excellent way for a genealogist to document family history. A death record not only documents the passing of an ancestor, it also includes facts about that person's life.

Documentation of a person's death can come from a range of sources. Each source provides different information and can be found at different locations.

Death certificates are the type of document that most people look for when investigating a deceased person. These are, however, a relatively modern development. Most states in the United States did no start requiring them until the late 19th century and early 20th century. A certificate contains many specifics about an individual, such as:

• Date and place of death
• Date and place of birth
• Parents' names and places of birth
• Spouse's name
• Cause of death
• Burial, cemetery and funeral home information
• Home address and length of residency
• Occupation

Wills and probate are another form of official record. These court proceedings were used to transfer property from a deceased person to the heirs. Probate proceedings will usually identify the spouse and children of the deceased. Historically, however, not every person had a will or probate proceeding. If there are such documents, they will be found in the county where the deceased lived.

Other types of official governmental documents that include death information are Social Security listings, military service records and inquest proceedings.

The loss of a loved one is a major event in a family. Families of the past were no different than today. They held religious funerals to honor their loved one, bought caskets and cemetery plots and purchased elaborate tombstones. Each of these actions may leave a paper trail for a genealogist to follow. Church records may contain information on a funeral service or ministry to the dying. Funeral records still survive in some cases. Tombstones are the physical memorial of a long ago passing of a loved one. These are all avenues to check when looking for documentation.

It was customary for families to list their births, marriages and deaths in a family Bible. It was a way of documenting the events before official government records were required. These family heirlooms have often been passed from generation to generation. If you can locate a family Bible for your family, either online or from a relative, it can be full of valuable information.

Even today, newspapers print obituaries of deceased members of the community. These obituaries can give a great deal of biographical information on an individual, including the names of family members, cemetery locations and even parents' names.

News stories of the day may also provide information on a person's demise. These stories appear for a variety of reasons, such as:

• List of victims of an epidemic or disaster
• Murder or suicide
• Military casualty lists
• The passing of a prominent citizen

There are numerous free genealogy databases and listings on the Internet. Some of the most popular are:

There are other places to look online. Some state archives may have state or local death information on their website. For example, the Tennessee State Library and Archives has a statewide listing of Tennessee deaths from 1914 to 1929.

You can also try an Internet search using Google or Yahoo. Search on an individual's name and the results may show an obituary online. Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet is a listing of genealogy websites, including those which have free death records.

Looking for documentation about an ancestor's death can be challenging, but it is well worth the effort. The information may open new avenues of research for you, as well as provide insight into that ancestor's life.

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