How to Find a Dead Relative
The popularity of genealogy has prompted many to look up an historical figure or a dead relative. If a family tree is missing such vital statistics such as a birth or death date or a place of a birth or death, finding and researching a dead relative may be necessary. Here is how to find a dead relative for research purposes.
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Things You'll Need
- Newspaper obituary
- Cemetery tombstones
- State and governmental vital records
- Family bibles or scrapbooks
Instructions
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1
Talk to older family members that lived during that time period. Oftentimes, siblings or cousins will be great sources of information as they may have grown up with the dead relative and may offer clues on when and how they grew up and lived.
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2
Read your family bible and any old scrapbooks your elders had or currently own. Notes and pictures inside of those great family reference articles may have pictures with dates and research starting points inside. Look to see if any pages have places where charts of births and deaths have been created or filled in.
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3
If you live near to the area the dead relative you are looking for lived, take a trip to the local cemetery. Family plots often have relatives near each other, and the tombstones often have such records as dates of birth, dates of death, where they lived or where they died. This vital statistic information can be cross referenced and researched further.
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Take a trip to the local library as it will have a wealth of information. Some libraries have a genealogy section inside with their own volunteer staff. If you know where the dead relative lived, a trip to a local library will be worth it. Some libraries that have a genealogical section may also have a town or city historical archive section with information on local people. The volunteers will also have knowledge of certain areas that have been rebuilt and houses that have been torn down or where certain buildings or houses are located.
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5
Look up old newspaper obituaries in the library or newspaper archival offices. These are often on microfiche film and some newspapers may be saved and wrapped in special archival paper to actually look up certain columns.
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Inquire at the state health and vital statistics department for birth and death records of the dead relative you are looking for. Some may charge a fee and some may require proof of who you are, so bring identification with you just in case.
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7
Join ancestry and genealogy groups. These are especially helpful when researching a dead relative with a specific ethnicity. These groups may have their own records and travel documents tracing back the group's origin to a certain country, church or family.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jemsweb: Flickr.com
