Obituaries are a valuable resource in genealogy research, offering a wealth of information about our ancestors and their descendants. A well-crafted obituary includes not only information about the descendant, but also information about their parents, children, and siblings.
Obituaries often include the full name, birth and death dates, and places of birth and death. They may also provide insights into the deceased's occupation, interests, and affiliations, such as military service or membership in organizations.
They typically list surviving family members, including spouses, children, and sometimes extended family like siblings and parents. This can help build family trees and understand family relationships.
Obituaries can provide a glimpse into the cultural norms and historical context of the time, which can be useful for understanding the life and times of ancestors.
Websites like Ancestry.com, GenealogyBank.com, and Newspapers.com have extensive collections of digitized obituaries. FamilySearch also offers access to many obituary records
Local libraries, town halls, and historical societies often have archives of local newspapers that may not be digitized. These can be crucial for finding obituaries in smaller communities.
Ethnic newspapers and specific databases like Ethnic NewsWatch can provide obituaries for community members not featured in mainstream publications.
Using obituaries in genealogy provides a comprehensive view of ancestors' lives and helps fill in gaps in family history. By combining obituary information with other genealogical records, researchers can construct a more accurate and detailed family history.
If you have documents describing life in Southampton County that you would like to share, please tell us about it using the link below.