Death Certificates best bet for genealogy search??

I have been ordering death certificates for ancestors in order to gain information on whom their parents were. Is this what everyone does?? It can become quite costly, $15/each (and this takes a long time to get). Maybe I am going about it the wrong way. Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated.

Debbie

Any documents that you can get are valuable. Death certificates, birth certificates and census records can give you a lot of information. It all depends on how far back you want to go. Church records are also valuable. Every little piece counts in the story of your family history.

How do I go about obtaining church records??

Debbie

I don't know what is listed on a Polish death certifcate. But you will not find parents listed on an English death certificate.

Find a web-site or book that explains exactly what is recorded on a birth, marriage, death certificate.

Remember that over the years the format of these certificates may have changed.

Also, keep in mind that certificates, for example, in England have only been in use for about 150 years. Certified copies from a church book are different.

Church records. In which country ?

Death certificates for illinois DO have parents names. I am trying to go back even further so I need to obtain some type of documents from Poland. My question was-How do I obtain church documents? Do you just write to the church and they send you copies?? I just keep thinking that I am missing a piece of the puzzle. I would also like to obtain naturalization papers but do not know how to go about it.

You need; polishroots... How To Apply For A Certificate From Poland.

You will find info and example letters.

polishroots.org/genpoland/certif.htm

If you are in Illinois then join the Polish Genealogical Society of America. It's based in Chicago and has reasearch Saturdays that people can come in and get assistance. go to pgsa.org to look up that info. Also there is an annual conference in the suburbs of Chicago. Great place to find all sorts of cool genealogy books and people.

The PGSA has a number of church records from Chicago and also obituaries from th Dzienik Chicagoski (polish paper) for many years. Church records from Poland are a different story and you'll need to know ancestral Village and then you can fid the closest Church. Inofrmation regarding the church may be on the web.

debbie, you can also get social security apps.. but you have to have the soc
numbers.. sometimes the death certs dont have the parents names cause they
didnt know them.. its risky,, but they do help.

social security started in 34 but the death index is online. for the older
records you would need to do the freedom of information act. and just
tell them its for genealogy purposes..

ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com

the above is for searches..

ssa.gov/foia/html/foia_guide.htm

that is for obtaining older records ( if you have the soc # from the death certs)
if they died before 1962 they wont be in the database.. and or if the family
didnt report it..

hope this helps :)

Thank you for the information...

Just so I make sure I have this right- The 2nd website you gave me is for deaths prior to 1962. So 1962 and later I use 1st website.

What I am requesting is a copy of the social security form they filled out, correct??

Everyday I am amazing at the knowledge out there. Thank you.

Debbie

yes :)

BBL going to watch a movie with my girls!! :)


ok back.. now the 2nd one is for the form.. but you can get earlier social
security apps if you know the soc # ( located on the death cert) or if you have
their soc sec cards of course.. you can obtain the original app they filled out.

in the 30s I dont think death certs had the soc numbers ( late 30s)
40s and 50s I believe they added that.. 60s I know they did and 70s.