Assessing Strangers' Death Notices [SEE: Post of 8 July 2010 titled "DEATHS--mid Feb 1906 NYT--Pt. 1." References will be made to that sample newspaper listing of deaths. You may want to print it, and cross reference it, while you read this post.] It's efficient to eyeball alphabetized surnames in Death Notices seeking only known family surnames, and then dismiss the list when none appear. "Why should I read death notices of strangers?" you think. Final Answer: Death Notices offer clues that may advance your own genealogy! Now, let's look at yesterday's post of 20 deaths, for general observations. Isn't it amazing how many died outside of NYC? If you haven't found a death certificate for your ancestor, this is your prompt to not only "think outside of the box," but to search outside of NYC for that DC. Not all notices give as many specifics as the one for LANCE, which tells other cities that will publish the notice. If your ancestor had family living out of town, or their occupation required traveling, or they summered in the same place each year, or they died during summer vacation time, it's wise to search other locations for that missing DC. What can we surmise from deaths in the burbs, or out of state that are posted in a NYC daily, as with BELLOWS, CANNON, CLARKE, HOLBROOK and KITTREDGE? Perhaps they emanated from NYC. Perhaps their progeny or siblings resided in The Apple. Perhaps immediate family own a business or commute for daily business into NYC. Obviously, each family had a reason to post the passing of their loved one in NYC newspapers. What is it? Only documentation can resolve this question. What other facts can be gleaned from Death Notices? Church addresses in 1906. The LONGACRE notice tells us that the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was at the corner of 60th St. and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The MILLER notice tells that the West End Collegiate Church was located at 77th St. and West End Avenue. Since the CLARKE notice tells that the deceased died in NYC, but was buried at New Haven City Burial Ground. Perhaps this will lead a CLARKE to seek a family plot there. We learn 1906 funeral practices. Wakes and funeral services predominantly continued to be held at "the late residence" or in a family private homes, especially by non wealthy families. YES! Grandma might have laid out on the dining room table for a couple of days, while mourners engaged condolence bearers. Kind of scary to the young ones living there. 1935 was the last one of these in my NYC clan. The CLARK and WOOLVERTON funerals were held at exclusive apartment buildings of the day. The LAIGHTON death notice reflects more about funeral traditions of 1906, and the era. Since the 1850s burials in Manhattan proper became illegal, thus promulgating burials in Kings, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. "Motor cars" were not the familiar transportation of the day; horse drawn vehicles still monopolized urban transportation. Ferry service from Manhattan's East side carried funeral processions up the East River to Newtown Creek, and directly to Calvary Cemetery. Trains came into play in the 1870s, thus it was not uncommon for published death notices to include the time and location of train departures for those interested in paying tribute to the deceased, as depicted in the LAIGHTON notice. Finally, the phrase "interment at convenience of family" may remind you of Norman Bates in the movie "Psycho," but wasn't the case. Telegraphed messages conveyed death data to newspapers in 1906, and speed was the priority. Thus, funeral details may have been specified in the next edition of the newspaper, or the family was yet making arrangements. The next time you see a list of Death Notices in historical newspapers, perhaps you'll read them from the vantage of how they can assist your genealogical research. Barb NYC Researcher @ BL , 7/9/2010