Reviewing the whole census page is not just about locating other people with the same last name who were neighbors. Looking at the whole page gives you an overview: –occupations in the location –family structures in the location–many had extended family or boarders –migration patterns into the region –home ownership (if the census year is right) –other demographic details We don’t look at everyone else on the census page just to find other relatives. We can also get a view of the area as well.
Generally speaking and making some broad assumptions, information on a death certificate does not just come from the “informant.” More than one person provided the information–either directly or indirectly. There is the person who provides the “biographical” information–typically the informant. There is the person who provides the medical information–cause of death, underlying causes (if stated), length of illness (if stated), date of death, perhaps even date and place of death. There is the person who provides the burial, or disposition of remains information. In some places and time periods one person provides all three functions. Even if one person provides all the information, they potentially obtained some information from someone else. The takeaway here is to know how the information got into the record you are using–that helps […]
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