WILLIAM HENRY SMITH

Death certificates are legal documents issued by the government following a death. The information on the form is supplied by an informant who is usually a close family member.

The information on death certificate varies based on the governing agency and time period but the following information is typical:

• Name of the deceased (married women usually by maiden name)
• Birth date
• Birth place
• Death date
• Death place
• Name of spouse
• Parent’s names
• Birthplace of parents
• Residence address at time of death
• Gender
• Race
• Age at death
• Marital status
• Occupation
• Military information
• Attending Physician’s Name
• Dates and duration of final of medical care
• Burial Place
• Burial Date
• Undertaker’s name
• Informant’s name and address

Death records began in 1871 for people who died inside city limits and in 1907 for people who died outside of city limits.