Washington County Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes county death records from 1891 to 1907.

There is an index and images of deaths recorded at the county level before the state records were kept. The counties included in this collection are:


 * Clark
 * Grays Harbor, including the city of Aberdeen
 * Lewis
 * Mason
 * Wahkiakum

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name and age of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Gender, race and occupation of deceased
 * Residence of deceased at time of death
 * Length of residence in current locale
 * Sometimes, marital status is stated
 * Sometimes, name of spouse is given


 * Cause of death; name of attending physician
 * Birth place of deceased; sometimes, date of birth
 * Father's name and birthplace
 * Mother's maiden name and birthplace
 * Sometimes, name of informant
 * Burial information

How Do I Search This Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The location or date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Copy the citation below, in case you need to find this record again later
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find other county or vital records such as birth, baptism, and marriage records
 * Search for additional death or burial information in local cemetery and obituary records
 * Use the information found in the record to search for land, property, and probate information
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family. Witnesses were often family members

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching in other localities
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Washington.
 * Washington Guided Research
 * Washington Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1907 &#124; 1907-Present

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.