Genealogy Chat

SO far I have been ordering birth and marriage certificates to verify ancestors. Can anyone tell me what you get on a death certificate? Is themaiden name there for example?

Information is: When and where died Name and surname (no maiden name on any of mine) Sex Age Occupation Cause of death Signature, description and residence of informant When registered Signature of Registrar. Hope that helps Julie

Thanks Julie - I was hoping for maiden name and name of spouse but that would be making it easy, wouldn't it? Jennie

Jennifer, Just to add that I have found the 'informant' of the death helpful - and sometimes the 'cause' especially in disproving some rather fanciful family legends! You get used to looking at such sobering documents eventually! Good luck, Jane

If there spouse is still alive they are most likely to be the informant. I find death certs most helpful. Julie

On a death certificate you get the place of death: which may not be where someone lived. You get what they died of, and the name and address of the informant and whether they were present at the death. Married women are usually described as wife or widow of, while children are usually son or daughter of their father. The early ones show ages, much later they show date and place of birth. It is a lottery as to how much detail you get, but it is sensible to buy the certificates as and when you can afford them. Even if you have a will and know where they are buried, you can still find extra details from a death certificate, especially if the informant is a married daughter.

I'VE GOT ONE ON HERE FROM 1971

Maiden names are on more recent ones, (looking at one here from 1981) and earlier ones eg. 1868 says wife of Joseph WHEELER, draper. Just looked to find one for a widow and that too, 1858 says who she is a widow of, and his occupation.

Hi Jennifer. I have one or two femail death certs and have the maidan name on them.Thats how i found out my grandmothers father was'nt if you know what i mean. She had her mothers maidan name. good luck Gill Bailes

Thanks very much for all the help. I will go ahead and buy then, I think.