GENEALOGY – Start to research

Now that you have put all the genealogy information you know on your Pedigree chart we will focus on the blank spots. Do not attempt to fill everything in at one time. Focus on someone from the most recent generation where there is missing information.

The first thing you will want to prove for this individual is that he is indeed dead. As an accurate researcher you will always want to verify your information, and keep a record of your source. This will be beneficial to not only you, but to others with whom you may share your information. Since you may have to rely on other individuals to share what they know with you, remember you what to be the same gracious type of researcher. Accurate sources will be appreciated, which allows the recipient to verify your information.

There are several ways you can verify an individual’s death.

1- The Social Security Department has provided the records of deceased individuals to the public. Social Security records are sketchy for years prior to 1962. After 1962 the record will appear only if a SS benefit was paid for the individual.

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

http://familysearch.org/

http://rootsweb.com/

2- State death indexes. All states have different laws pertaining to the availability of death records. You will find several states on Ancestry.com, which charges a membership fee. Some of these same records are available for free from other sources.

LDS Family Search has a test site for some records. These are not complete but they may provide the information you are seeking.

http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=allCollections;r=0

A Google search may lead you to other free sites but you will need to remember that many of these will lead you back to the top fee based genealogical site on the internet.