It might seem strange that a death certificate, which is a document of an ending, could be the beginning of your journey into your ancestor's life. However, a death certificate can hold a wealth of information that either directly tells you things about your ancestor that you didn't know, or points you to where you can find more substantial and important information. You've got to study the death certificate closely, though. Don't skim over or ignore any line. Each line on the certificate can tell you something useful about your ancestor. Here are the top things you should be examining (but again, remember not to ignore any line):
Marital Status: Most death certificates ask whether the deceased was married, single, divorced, or widowed. This is their marital status at the time of their death, not necessarily their usual marital status. If you were wondering whether an ancestor died before or after their spouse, this will tell you that. This information tells you whether to look at dates before or after this ancestor's death to find the spouse's death date.
Full Name: An unknown middle initial or even a full middle name you didn't know might be revealed here. Middle names are often family names, such as the mother's maiden name or a name passed down through generations. It will give you clues about what to look for when searching for other ancestors on this line.
Names and Birthplaces of Parents: This is extremely useful if you didn't already know this information. It takes you back another generation in your research.
Informant: This is the name of the person who gave the information for the death certificate. It is usually a relative, but not always. The informant will give you clues as to family relationships, and an idea as to why some information on the death certificate might be incomplete or incorrect
Cause of Death: Useful if you're putting together a family health history.
Name of the Attending Physician: If the physician's office still exists, or if the physician was a prominent local figure, you might be able to obtain medical records from the office or the local historical society regarding your ancestor's illness or accident and the physician's care or treatment.
Method of Disposal: This tells you whether your ancestor was buried, cremated, or removed to another location out of state or out of town for burial (or if some more unusual arrangement was made, such as burial at sea or if their body was not found).
Place of Burial: If you didn't know where your ancestor was buried, this will tell you. You can now visit the cemetery to find the headstone or gravesite (if the site is unmarked).
Name of the Undertaker: With this information, you can contact the funeral home that handled the arrangements for your ancestor's funeral to obtain any records they may have.
There are many interesting and useful genealogical details you can find on a death certificate. Just remember that the information is only as accurate as the person who supplied the information for it. You may discover, for example, that the parents' names are wrong or missing entirely; the date of birth may differ from what you know it to be (or you may discover a birth date you didn't previously know). Examine the certificate thoroughly, write down all pertinent information that may lead you to further places to search, and get to know your ancestor better.
