This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/hFB.2ACE/1749.1 Message Board Post: I think death certificates started about 1897. Before then the ledger record was the primary document. From 1897 on there 'should' be an underlying death certificate, if the death was recorded. The state has the copies of the original records (the counties may not). The county microfilm index transcriptions have all of the available infomation reported for deaths before 1897 (subject to transcription errors). If you order a death certificate from before 1897 the State will type you a new death certificate from the index information. From 1897 on you may get some more detailed cause of death type info, but if the index is missing a parent name or place of birth, most likely the original certificate is too.. Hope this helps, Rod