A Reliable Informant for Mary A. Nelson's Death Certificate

I particularly love my ancestors who shared their family history, or at least their parents' names, with their children and spouses.  Since the early 1900s, Ohio death certificates ask for the first and last names of the deceased's parents and the mother's maiden name, as well as where they were born (though I have yet to learn a hometown from a death certificate).  Knowing parents' names makes finding the next previous generation so much easier.

My pursuit of Robert Nelson and his family led me to a record for one of his daughters, Mary A. Nelson.  Mary married William Watters in Steubenville, Ohio, in August, 1867.  Without the fact of their marriage I would be less certain this death certificate was for Robert and Jane Nelson's daughter.    

Below is Mary A. (Nelson) Watters's death certificate (viewable at FamilySearch with a free account) followed by an extraction of information from the document.

Extracted Information

Ohio Death Certificate for Mary A. Watters
White, female, widow
of 137 Wildon, Steubenville, Ohio
Died Oct 12, 1923, in Steubenville, Ohio, of cerebr[al] hemmorhage [sic]
Born February 4, 1849, in Steubenville, Ohio
Father:  Robt Nelson, born England
Mother:  Jane Watson, born England
Informant:  George Watters
Burial October 15, 1923, at Union Cemetery, Steubenville, Ohio 

A Thought
The informant, George Watters, is likely Mary's son who was born ~1884.  He appears in the 1910 census with his parents, Mary and William, and two other children.  I think it's important to know the identity of the informant.  A reliable informant who is a family member or close friend can provide the golden hint:  the deceased person's parents' names, including the mother's maiden name.  Without that name, it's hard to continue searching for ancestors.  If it happens that I know the informant's name but not the relationship, or don't recognize the name at all, I spend time trying to learn more about the person. 

Now I can more confidently search for a marriage record for Robert Nelson and Jane Watson.

And a Note
Concerning the word "reliable," it's often hard to know when an informant is reliable, and for me, reliability is on a continuum.  A person whose name I don't recognized and is not a family member I would consider unreliable until I researched the person.  I would consider a family member more reliable, but I would still research the individual to ascertain his or her relationship.  And, of course, even a "reliable" informant can give inaccurate information.  A daughter of one of my ancestors gave the information for her father and answered the questions as if for herself instead of her father's information.  The grief of death can rattle a person.  

—Nancy.

Copyright © 2025 Nancy Messier.  All Rights Reserved. 
Do not copy or use any content from this blog without written permission from the owner.  .