If anyone can offer suggestions... What's the best way to search for a death record from before 1882 (the year the Health Dept starting recording them officially)? I've started the cemetery search, but if anyone has other suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Thanks so much Connie

Many places DID record them before then -- just weren't required to do so, so be sure you check with your county as well as city and township health departments and courthouse. Some were put in various books even along with the births and marriages (amazing how many counties I have encountered who did this or who put on little cards they filed. First place I check is the cemeteries, followed by church records followed by mortitian records (even when mortitian died he oftentimes leaves these to a township trustee or to a relative and sometimes even to the local cemetery trustee or public library. Same with the doctors'. Check also the hospital where he may have been treated and died -- I have found throughout the country where sometimes doctors reported deaths at the hospital even when the person did not even go to that hospital -- same with some of the older births. Wills, estate sales, trusteeships (for guardianship of the minor children), probate court records, newspapers, old family Bibles, etc. are all good places to hunt too. Judy M. At 07:16 AM 12/10/2001 -0500, you wrote: >If anyone can offer suggestions... > >What's the best way to search for a death record from before 1882 (the year the Health Dept starting recording them officially)? > >I've started the cemetery search, but if anyone has other suggestions, I'd love to hear them. > >Thanks so much >Connie >