Indiana Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked.

For more information on census records, see Indiana Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration or vital records, were kept in Indiana statewide beginning in 1882, although counties may have kept earlier records. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however. In some states, church records were gathered to provide earlier certificates.

Births
 * 1773-1933: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at American Ancestors ($), Findmypast ($),  MyHeritage'' ($)
 * 1880-1920: Indiana WPA Birth Index at Ancestry; index only ($)

Marriages
 * Pre-1850: Indiana Marriages at Indiana State Library
 * 1487-2007: US Marriages – Indiana at Findmypast; index & images ($)
 * 1780-1992: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at at MyHeritage ($); American Ancestors ($)
 * 1800-1941: Indiana Marriage Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1802-1850: Indiana Compiled Marriages at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1802-1892: Indiana Compiled Marriages at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1810-2001: Indiana Marriages at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1811-1959: Indiana Marriages at MyHeritage; index & images ($)
 * 1811-2007: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1831-2008: Indiana, Marion Public Library Marriage Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1993: Indiana Marriage Record Index at Findmypast; index only ($)
 * 1993-present: Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at MyCourts.IN.gove

Deaths 
 * Pre-1882: Indiana Deaths at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1750-1993: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1812-2015: Grant County, Indiana, Marion Public Library Death Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1882-1920: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at Ancestry ($)
 * 1899-2011: Indiana Death Certificates at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1935-2014: US Social Security Death Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1936-2007: US Social Security Applications and Claims Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * Indiana Death Records & Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * at FamilySearch; index only

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Indiana, see How to Find Indiana Birth Records, How to Find Indiana Marriage Records, and How to Find Indiana Death Records.

Step 3: '''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1882. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers. - Obituaries
 * 1899-2012 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1984-2012: - index and images - How to Use this Collection


 * Indiana Online Historical Newspapers
 * Indiana Newspaper Archives (1804–1992) at Genealogy Bank, index.
 * Hoosier State Chronicles, Indiana State Library
 * Indiana Obituary Archive. Index and Images.
 * Mennonite Church USA Archives: MennObits
 * Online Indiana Death Indexes and Obituaries
 * Indiana Newspapers and Obituaries
 * — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Cemeteries


 * Find-A-Grave.com
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch How to Use This Collection
 * Cemetery Records at Indiana State Library Legacy
 * Indiana Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Indiana Cemeteries at The Cemetery Site
 * Indiana Cemetery Records at Interment
 * Indiana Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Indiana Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection

For more information, see Indiana Obituaries and Indiana Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Indiana, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Indiana, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Indiana Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Indiana Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Indiana Online Genealogy Records