Grayson County
Deaths
*The Grayson County Death
Records can be found in the county courthouse.
Their page for document
ordering.
Death records
in Texas were officially recorded starting
in Texas in 1903, however, it was not
mandatory until 1909 when the state
started to fine the county clerks.
The city of Denison kept earlier records
than the county, they started in 1879. But
it only contains information for people
living inside the Denison city limits, the
limits have been changed over the years.
This collection has been moved to the county
clerks office and included in the
computerized system you find there. We no
longer can look at the originals.
The City of Whitewright had a town doctor
who took down death information that early
also, but this book is missing from city
hall. Last seen about 15 yrs ago. Hopefully
it will turn up!
FamilySearch
has actual images of Texas death
certificates
online and several Death Indexes (All
free)
And Yes, some people have
death certificates that never got
properly filed with the state or
county! I read a death certificate
made out in the City of Sherman's
records. I went to the county records
(in the county courthouse, same
room), and it was not filed in
the county records and as a result
never got sent and recorded in
the state vitals records. That was a
1978 death record!
So check everything if it doesn't pop
up.
The
Mortality Index & Transcripts
The US Government took several
non-population schedules for census
years, this included the 'Mortality
Index' Taken in 1850, 1860, 1870 and
1880. All four mortality
Schedules are searched in
FamilySearchs' Mortality
Index search page.
*The originals
sometimes have more than the Volunteer
Indexers caught. You need to have a
login and be signed in and then click
on these to see the originals. It's
all free.
When a
person was a baby the age is shown
as a fraction. 5/30 for a 5 days,
3/12 for 3 months.
You can start in the search box in the
catalog and just put in the microfilm
no. or click on these links.
Viewing TIP
You must be signed
into FamilySearch to see the actual
images. A screen will pop up to sign you
in if you are not already signed in.
When
Viewing a Mortality Schedule in
FamilySearch; you can go into the
catalog-Search by place or by
the microfilm number if you have it.
Click on the camera Icons to see images.
When
the set microfilm images pop up they are
in a grid pattern, the county names are
placed on whole pages thumbnails so you do
not have to stop and enlarge an any images
to find out if you are viewing in he right
county. And remember the 1850-1860 are on
the same microfilm. Go
here, scroll down to find what film to
view for other counties.
This
section coming soon- GRAYSON
COUNTY DEATH NOTICES
If you have
information regarding a burial location, that
isn't listed in the cemetery databases, please
email me.
Death dates
can be found in many places. Cemeteries,
death, probate & will records,medical
records, funeral homes and many
other places. Looking
in many city directories you will find a
widow listed the year after her husband
died, and sometimes his name is beside
her listing in parenthesis.
Many
libraries have obituary collections and
often they have 'vertical files' which are
clippings of articles and things like
pamphlets and funeral cards and
announcements. Frontier Village
Genealogical Society has a collection of
obituaries and will look them up for a
fee. Also, see Newspaper Information below
on this page.
How to
find Free online newspapers to look for
articles and obituaries.
Newspapers contain
the usual wedding, birth and death articles,
announcements and obituaries. The larger the
town the less the obituary will have unless
they are wealthy or well known, or it was a
sensational news death.
Luckily for most places in Texas were in
smaller cities and communities. It is also not
uncommon to look up obituaries for Grayson
County and find it published in the city of
Dallas. I have a great-grandparent, a poor
farmer living near Abilene, who's 50th
anniversary and obituary were published in the
Dallas Newspaper. No one paid for them, it was
an item of interest. Another great-grandparent
was shot on his ranch in Bandera county and
the story is ever in St Louis, Mo.! Check
everything!
Look for the towns they lived near and where
they lived; but you need to also check the
county seat and other nearby major towns or
cities as they often contain columns with news
bits from the outlying communities. There is where so
many wonderful clues about your families is
found, though brief usually. You will find all
kinds of details, like family reunions and
where folks came from on a visit, who is
moving and where, and many more bits and
pieces. I have even found the community note
of a horse that belonged to a doctor in the
town and how he would be missed as he let the
Doctor sleep in his buggy while he knew the
way home.
Babies and little children often have no
obituary at all, but they are found in these
columns, they always mention the loss of the
children and give sympathy. You often follow
the illnesses or accidents that caused the
death. Also, Church, club and school
activities also are of interest. You will find
out when someone joins the army or are back on
leave or at the end of a war. Of course if
someone was in an accident or murdered there
will be articles but don't stop at the first
article. There will be a string of them over
months and sometimes years. There are lawsuits
and witnesses and so on each with new notices
and information.
Be sure to check the paper after the death
dates and look for articles after deaths,
about the settling of the will and probate
court notices. Much can be learned about that.
In the old days they had to advertise for the
contact of various relatives that might be
needed for settling the estate. This lets you
know where the relatives were last living! Remember too,
the ads were for finding anyone who was owed
money by the dead, a last call for settling
this part of the estate.
Free Newspaper
Sources
Check my newspaper Page
& how to find what newspapers were
available for Grayson County in the
time period you need.
Susan Hawkins
©2024
If
you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a
message.
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