Delaware Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection combines two collections. The first collection, Delaware Church Deaths, 1750-1886 consists of an index to Delaware church records, mostly from the city of Wilmington. The second collection, Delaware, Death Records, 1855-1961consists of a name index and images to Delaware statewide death records.

Death records include certificates, returns, physicians’ certificates and coroner’s returns. Death returns were turned into the State by county clerks prior to the creation of death certificates.

On July 1, 1913, the state of Delaware established a law requiring the registration of births, deaths, and marriages and created the Bureau of Vital Statistics as an agency of the State Board of Health. Death records have been submitted to the Delaware Bureau of Vital Statistics since 1913. The city of Wilmington also has a register of vital statistics.

The Delaware Public Archives has death certificates created since 1855 up to 1961. The Archives also hosts files of early death records that were compiled from sources including tombstones, newspapers and family Bibles. The Public Archives also has records of some deaths that have not been indexed.

Death records are considered to be primary source records. Information in these records is usually reliable, depending on the knowledge of the informant. For example, a coroner would be able to give reliable information about the date, time, and cause of death, but might not know personal details about the deceased.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name of deceased
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Age, gender and race of deceased
 * Father's name and place of birth
 * Mother's maiden name and place of birth
 * Marital status of deceased
 * Occupation of deceased
 * Cause of death
 * Place of residence
 * Date and place of burial
 * Name of undertaker
 * Date of burial
 * More place of death information, (name of village, hundred, etc.)

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * The date of death
 * The place of death

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.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s death record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family.

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

 * Use the information from this index to locate the original death record
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth to find birth records
 * Search for the family in census records
 * Search church records
 * Search 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

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the surnames
 * Search the related collection Delaware, Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Delaware.
 * United States Death Records
 * How to Find Delaware Death Records
 * How to Find United States Death Records
 * United States, How to Use Death Records
 * Delaware Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Delaware Church Deaths, 1750-1886
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying you sources helps others find the records you used.

Delaware Death Records, 1855-1961
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying you sources helps others find the records you used.