Death certificates are notorious for having incorrect information. Given the circumstances under which the information is given that’s not surprising. Just remember that those “wrong” places of birth may be clues as to where the family lived for a time and someone got where Grandma was born mixed up with where she grew up or where her parents were from.
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9 Responses
Thanks for the hint. It’s quite possible that the only ones who really know–the person’s parents–are long gone.
In early census records, my husband’s grandmother is listed as being born in Arkansas. Everything later says Iowa. Her parents did live in Iowa for a time; they also lived in Texas and later Kansas, but I have no record of them living in Arkansas. This may take some research. I guess you can’t trust anything but the actual birth record–and I have not found it yet.
I saw a death certificate once where, under the name of informant, it said, “The decedent prior to his demise” . . . and was signed by the doctor. I guess this is one way to make sure the information on the death record is correct!
After having found my ggrandfather’s death certificate, I saw a glaring error. His wifes name was used where his mothers name should have been used.
Also, many of the ages are way out of whack. At least I do know that they existed. LOL.
Nancy
My husbands 3X great grandmother was shown as having been born in Ontario on a Census record, then in Germany on another census record, and then in Holland on her death record. So, it is going to be difficult until I find the actual birth record.
My husbands 3X great grandmother was shown as having been born in Ontario on a Census record, then in Germany on another census record, and then in Holland on her death record. So, it is going to be difficult until I find the actual birth record.
Death certificates are not the only documents to have wrong place information.
When someone thought their family “always” lived in a particular place, this can color / warp any narrative, including family lore published on the web or in a mugbook. The researcher should take into account that a story-teller is usually limited by their own experience, which may not have much historical accuracy. Deeds, court records and tax lists may tell quite a different story.
You’re right that any document can easily contain incorrect information and what an individual thinks they know is colored by what they have been told, the impression family members wish to leave, etc. That’s why when I hear someone say “I have three sources that agree,” I know that it doesn’t mean anything if those three sources have the same original informant for their information.
Ancestry’s transcriptions for Pennsylvania Death Certificates 1906 – 1963 are also a big source of incorrect information. Checking what it actually says on the certificate always a wise thing to do as the number of transcription errors seems greater in this database than in other databases.
My mother died last year and I was the informant for her death certificate. Her mother’s middle name was Rosealtha. I had no idea whether or not it had an “e” in it, and still don’t. You definitely cannot trust that aspect of death certificates.