Cause of Death for Ancestors

Where to Find a Cause of Death 

For years I searched for death dates for my ancestors.  Death dates were found in family records, bible records, headstones, obituaries, death records, etc.  The death dates were not always combined with a cause of death.  And, if cause of death was mentioned, I did not always pay attention and record the cause.  I have since repented of my negligent ways and always try to find a cause of death, as well as the date of death.

Mortality Schedules

Mortality Schedules were included in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 US Federal Censuses.  The mortality schedules asked questions regarding those who died in the twelve (12) months prior to the census enumeration.  During the 1850 to 1880 time period, the mortality schedules are among the best sources for cause of death if your ancestor happened to die in the year leading up to the census. 

My 4th great-grandmother, Sarah McNeil, died in March prior to the census being taken on June 1st, 1860.  She is shown in the Parke County, Indiana 1860 Mortality Schedule on page 41, line 24.  Information given: Name: Sarah McNeal; Age: 60; Female; Born: Virginia; Died: Mar 1860; Cause of death: Consumption; Sick 14 days. 

1860 Mortality Schedule, Parke County, Indiana, line 24
Sarah McNeil, 4th Great-Grandmother
Died of Consumption

Death Records

Of course, the best place to find a cause of death is a death record/certificate.  Most states did not start recording deaths until the early 1900's, although some local health departments in larger cities began recording deaths in the mid-1800's. Most of our ancestors lived on the frontiers of Oklahoma and Texas in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  Death certificates were not widely available in Oklahoma and Texas until the 1920's and sometimes even into the mid 1930's - especially in Oklahoma. Thankfully by 1938 there was a death certificate for my grandmother's (Mabel Leffel Baldwin) cousin, Florida Tucker Stanford Leffel.  Her death certificate solved a big mystery, read about it here.

Death Certificate for Florida Melissa (Tucker Sanford) Leffel
Florida died of acute coronary occlusion 

County Records

Sometimes death information can be found in county records.  James Baldwin died in 1905 before death certificates were issued, but Robertson County, Texas kept a County Record of Deaths.  James Baldwin of Seale, Texas, 59 years old, died of pneumonia on 11 Feb 1905 in Seale, Texas.

 

James M Baldwin died of pneumonia on 11 Feb 1905
Robertson County, Texas Record of Deaths, Vol 1, pg 8

County Coroner records will also give cause of death.  A mysterious disappearance of Thomas Box Jr was solved with Arizona County Coroner records from 1884.  His remains were found in the Arizona desert and a coroners inquest was held on 26 Oct 1884.  Read here.

Other sources for finding a cause of death prior to death certificates being issued are obituaries, newspaper articles, military records, pension records, funeral home records, biographies, local history books, and family records/stories.

Obituaries

Sometimes an early obituary might mention a cause of death (but often times not).  The example below of the 1891 obituary for my 3rd great-grandfather, James Wilson (1814-1891), mentioned his cause of death as "tumor of the stomach".   

James Wilson Obituary
The Democrat. (McKinney, Tex.), Thursday, April 9, 1891 

Next is a 1903 obituary for Elizabeth Weiss Martin and her daughter, May Martin.  Both, mother and daughter, died of measles on the same day, March 8, 1903.

Mrs. John Martin and daughter, May, died of Measles.
11 March 1903, Rock Island Argus and Daily Union, pg 8

Newspaper Articles

In addition to obituaries, newspapers will sometimes mention a cause of death in a newspaper article.  Several examples are found in the Republican Banner newspaper (Nashville, TN).  In 1845, there was a news report of a tree limb falling on and killing our 4th great-grandfather Britton Medlin. 

Britton Medlin died when a tree limb fell on him.
Republican Banner, Nashville, TN; Monday, April 14, 1845

 In another 1854 article titled, "Health of Lebanon", our 3rd great-grandmother, Mrs Sam'l Medlin (Rebecca Morgan), was mentioned in a list of those who died of cholera.  

Mrs. Samuel Medlin died of cholera
Republican Banner, Nashville, TN, 8 Jul 1854

If death is caused by murder, there will almost always be a newspaper article.  Click here to read several newspaper articles about members of our extended family who were murdered.  Below is a news article about the death of Thomas Box.  Read more about his murder, click here. 

 

Arizona Stockman Murdered
Dodge City Globe, Dodge, Kansas
18 Nov 1884

Military and Pension Records

Other records that might show a cause of death are Military and Pension records.  I have found pension records a great source for death information.  In 1914, 2nd great-grandfather Henry Stewart left Oklahoma and traveled to a Military Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he died. His death record with cause of death was found in his pension file.  If he had stayed home in Oklahoma, he would not have a death record during that time period.

Henry R Stewart death record
Civil War Pension File

Books

Books, such as local history books, biographies, and family history books, will occasionally give a cause of death. David Miller Leffel's cause of death is recorded in the book, Tainted Breeze The Great Hanging at Gainesville, Texas 1862, by Richard B McCaslin.  David Leffel was one of 40 Union sympathizing men who were hanged by Confederates in 1862 at Gainesville, Texas.  David Miller Leffel is also listed on the Memorial Monument of the men who were hanged.

Monument to those who were hanged in
the Great Hanging at Gainesville October 1862

Montague, Texas county histories tell of the death of James Jackson Box in 1866.  James Jackson Box was shot, killed, and scalped by Kiowa Indians, his baby daughter was also killed, and rest of his family kidnapped on 10 Aug 1866.  To read about the Massacre of the Box Family, click here.

Cause of Death Pedigree Chart

Below is a pedigree chart of my direct ancestors.  I created the pedigree chart back four generations without names and only the cause of death (if known) and age at death for each ancestor.    

Related Posts: 

David Miller Leffel

James Wilson

Died of Cholera 

Henry Stewart Civil War Pension

Britton Medlin

Died of Measles

Mystery Solved

Murder in the Family

Remains Found in Arizona Mountains 

Box Family Massacre 1866 

Find A Grave Memorial links can be found here