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Grave Issues Develop With No Death Certificate

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By SHARON TATE MOODY, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 17, 2008

Many family researchers are shocked out of their "today" socks to learn that official death certificates weren't required until the 20th century.

In fact, for many years when someone died, the neighborhood women came together to wash and dress the deceased and lay him or her out on some item - frequently the dining table - for visitation by friends. This preparation actually was called "laying out the dead." Because the body was not embalmed, the visitation or wake went quickly.

As genealogists, how do we find records of these burials that occurred before death certificates were issued?

Chances are there are no written records. In substitute, we rely on dates chiseled into tombstones. But sometimes our ancestors couldn't afford tombstones, or the area had no one to carve the stone. Thus many graves are marked only with fieldstones, and we are left to speculate that it is Great-Great-Grandpa buried under that old oak on the hill behind the family farmhouse.

We can't even be sure he was buried in a coffin, but if he was and if the coffin-maker kept good records that have been preserved, those may be the first records to seek.

Think Inside The Box

Through census records, look at the ancestor's neighborhood to see if anyone had an occupation of casket-maker or furniture-maker. A casket is not a piece of furniture, but the skills of the furniture-maker make him a logical choice to supply coffins.

Another way to find coffin-makers is by reading local histories - there might be some mention of such persons in the community. Old newspaper advertisements may also lead you to the local coffin-maker.

Once you've identified him, you can do research to find his descendants and ask whether they might have inherited and maintained his records. You might even post a notice on a message board (through roots web.com) for a specific geographic area. For example, the notice could say you are "seeking descendants of the Robert Smith identified in the 1880 census as a coffin-maker."

Records of some coffin-makers have included the dates the coffin was made and who paid for it. Often, he also dug the grave, and he may have entered the location of the grave in his records. This may provide verification of an ancestor's resting place under specific fieldstones.

It is possible the descendant of the coffin-maker realized the genealogical value of his relative's records and donated them to a local library or historical society. By all means, make inquiries at such facilities in your ancestor's community. Don't forget to check in special collections at archives and college libraries.

Inquire With Funeral Homes

Also, the records of funeral homes can contain valuable genealogical information. As communities grew and society developed, funeral homes opened to cater to the families that could afford their services.

As is true of most records, the earlier the origin of funeral home records, the less material they likely will contain. Most will give you that valuable date of death and names of some relatives. You may find a date of birth. If the deceased was a military veteran, proof of his service may be in the file. Letters and even pictures are often there.

By their nature, people who operate funeral homes are friendly and supportive. And genealogy has grown to the point that most of these businesses are accustomed to inquiries from family historians. But funeral homes are private businesses and under no obligation to open their records. When making an inquiry, be direct and to the point about what you're seeking. Your best approach is to be polite, or even humble, in your requests. Strong demands may get doors firmly closed in your face.

If you contact the funeral home by letter, be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a return reply and offer to pay for copies of the records you seek.

Funeral homes no longer in business may have donated their records to a library or historical facility. Check the ones in the area where your ancestor lived and died.

The Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) has microfilmed many funeral home records. Go to familysearch.org and click on the "library" tab and then the "catalog" tab. Enter the words "funeral home" or "coffin maker" in the keyword box, and you will get a list of all the available records you can request through the nearest LDS Family History Center. Locations of these history centers and their contact information also is on the Web site.

Sharon Tate Moody is a certified genealogist by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Send genealogy questions and event announcements to her in care of BayLife, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606; or stmoody0720 @mac.com. She reg

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