Virginia, Winchester, Evening Star Obituaries - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection includes the years 1899 to 1909.

Record Description
The collection includes obituaries from the Winchester Evening Star and an index. The obituaries are arranged by year, then alphabetically by name.

Record Content


These records generally contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Residence
 * Names of family members
 * Cause of death
 * Date and place of burial
 * Undertaker

How to Use the Record
To begin your search you will need to know the following:


 * The person’s name
 * The approximate death date
 * The person’s last known residence

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

If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries.

Record History
Newspapers included obituaries from their beginning issues.

Why this Record Was Created
Obituaries were written as a public announcement of death.

Record Reliability
The information is generally reliable, but may contain some inaccuracies.

Related Websites
Handley Regional Library

Related Wiki Articles

 * Virginia
 * Virginia Newspapers
 * Virginia Vital Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection
"Virginia,Winschster, Evening Star Obituaries, 1899-1909" index and images, FamilySearch (https://www,familySearch.org: accessed 6 October 2011). entry for Lena Johnson, died 30 November 1901; citing Newspaper Records, FHL microfilm 4,206,430; image 00,264; Handley Regional Library, Winchester, Virginia, United States.

Sources of Information for This Collection
“Virginia, Winchester - Evening Star Obituaries, 1899-1909,” database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org); from the Handley Regional Library, Winchester. FHL digital images, 11 folders, Family History Library Salt Lake City, Utah.