Pennsylvania, Obituary and Marriage Collection - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection includes records from 1977-2010. Newspaper clippings collected by the Old Buncombe County, North Carolina Genealogical Society.

Record Content
The Obituaries are from Berks, Lebanon and Lehigh County newspapers. The publication data is given for each article. They usually contain:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Age
 * Birth date and place
 * Death date and place
 * Names of parents, spouse or other relatives
 * Name of newspaper, date and place of publication

Wedding and anniversary announcements often contain


 * Names of the bride and groom
 * Residences
 * Marriage date and place
 * Names of parents and other relatives
 * Name of newspaper, date and place of publication

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:


 * Name of primary individual or individuals
 * Identifying formation such as the event date or names of family members

Search the Collection
As of June, 2014 this is a browse-only collection. It is not indexed. The obituaries are arranged in alphabetized groups, except for the largest A-Z surname group, which is an index to an unidentified book, with names and page numbers only (no dates).

To search the collection: ⇒ Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the "Record Type" category ⇒ Select the "Surname Range" category which takes you to the images

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. Be aware that you may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.
 * If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at FamilySearch Search Tips.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Compare what information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.

Next, look at the pieces of information given in the article for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the birth date or year to search for birth records.
 * Use the birth date along with relative’s names to find the family in census records.
 * Use the locality and relative’s names to locate church and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Information in these records may be brief so it is easy to confuse individuals.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been in the same locality or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * The name of the undertaker, mortuary or officiator could lead you to church, funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries.

Related Websites

 * People Smart
 * Pennsylvania Marriage and Divorce Records
 * Archives
 * Ancestor Hunt

Related Wiki Articles
Pennsylvania Newspapers

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.