The importance of vital records

Vital records can be, and usually are, a genealogist's dream. Marriage certificates and death certificates usually contain the names of parents. This can give the researcher an entirely new generation of ancestors. I should note that some states either had a period where the names of parents were not required or have never required that information. The District of Columbia, for example, has never required the parental names of either the bride or the groom. This saved me what would have been an unnecessary trip to D.C. a few years ago. Luckily for me, I first called the vital records office to determine their hours and asked about the availability of their marriage records and told the clerk my intent to recover parental names. The helpful clerk told me that the District had never required nor recorded such information.

 In the state of Pennsylvania, there was a short period at the end of the 19th century (for approximately five years), where the names of parents were not required. Following that period, they once again began requiring the parental names. Additionally, in some states, if either the bride or the groom is under 21 years of age, a parent must agree to the marriage and sign a form. This form is attached to the marriage license application itself. Another source of valuable information! Also, in many states, if either the bride or groom is divorced, a copy of the actual divorce papers are attached to the marriage license application. The information contained in it can lead to additional, valuable information.

Like marriage certificates, death certificates usually contain the names of both the father and the maiden name of the mother of the deceased person. One should note, however, that the information is only as reliable as the knowledge of the informant giving the information for the death certificate. In some cases, the information on the death certificate is complete and reliable. In yet other cases, only a first or last name is given. The death certificate will also contain the place of birth. Another added bonus of a death certificate is the informant's name. The informant is usually a relative whose name can be researched. In some cases, especially in very old death certificates, the informant may sometimes be a neighbor or close friend.

Since I began my genealogy research in 1983, my now elderly mother told me of an "Uncle Willis Basey," who in the memory of the child she was at the time, was "very old" when she was a child. My mother remembers even her grandmother, Elizabeth, calling him "Uncle" Willis. Since Elizabeth's maiden name was Pryor, I always wondered how Willis Basey was her uncle. I long wondered if perhaps Willis was a brother of Elizabeth's mother, Easter Pryor. I long ago found the marriage license of Easter and her husband Thomas Pryor. Easter's last name was Matheson and she was listed as 17 years old and a widow. So, I surmised that Easter had a first husband whose surname was Matheson. Could Easter's maiden name have been Basey? That question remained in the back of my mind for years. I should mention here that I assumed that Easter and her husband, Thomas Pryor, died in Virginia where they had lived. Several years ago, I discovered Easter, now with the last name of Carter living in Pittsburgh along with one of her daughters and the daughter's family. Further research led to the discovery that Easter died and is buried in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania now has its death indices online. Searching that, I discovered the date of death and death record file number for Easter. I sent for Easter's actual death certificate and patiently waited the 10-12 weeks to receive it. Last week, I received the death certificate in the mail. On it, were the names of Easter's mother and father, Gellis and Fannie Basey! I now know that "Uncle Willis Basey" was the brother of Easter's mother, Fannie Basey.

 As always, I caution the reader to document your sources, do not rely on your memory!

 Blessings, 


Tee