Guidance on finding Deaths please

[Braytons]

With help from some kind people on here and ancestry I have been able to make real progress with my family tree.  I have well documented births, marriages and lots of census records.  I am having trouble finishing these people off though, as so many of the death records are just an index without names of relations.  Or am I missing something?   

Any recommendations for pinning down deaths would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Braytons

[aghadowey]

You need to give us an idea of country and period but in general, what you will probably find most commonly available online are indexes.

[FionaO]

Hi Braytons,

No, you’re not missing something – deaths are quite difficult as usually very little info was recorded pre 1837 and as aghadowey says there are normally just indexes to search.

Some places are better than other so perhaps give us a couple of examples and we can try to help.  It’s always useful if you know a rough area they could’ve died in, when born and if you have a rough idea when they died (i.e. last known event), etc.  Of course, an unpopular name always helps and a tragic death is even better.

Fionaoh

[Braytons]

Hello

Thank you all for your suggestions.  I am vaguely pleased that I deduced that it was difficult!  I have quite a few candidates as you can imagine but if anyone can help find the death of say George Hobbs born Lambeth about 1838.  He was married to Eliza (maiden name Bird) and lived in Lambeth all his life.  He had 9 children, one of which is my grandfather.  Any ideas?
Thanks  from Braytons

[bearkat]

The age at death was included in the GRO indexes after 1866.

It also worth looking for a headstone, a newspaper obituary or a will as these can list family members and help pinpoint your man.

[groom]

if anyone can help find the death of say George Hobbs born Lambeth about 1838.

When was the last census he appeared in? It is often helpful if you find some one in say the 1891 census and then in the 1901 the partner appears as a widow or widower, as that narrows down the timescale of the death.

[Braytons]

Thanks Groom that's a very good point.  I will do what you suggest.  As you say that would certainly narrow it down.
Braytons

[groom]

Also look for the date of birth of the last child, particularly in the case of a woman who is missing off the next census. Quite a few women died in childbirth or shortly afterwards.

[maddys52]

There is a death for George Hobbs in Lambeth registered in the March quarter of 1907 age 68 which puts him at the right age for your George on FreeReg.  If you ordered the certificate it may give you more details to confirm.