This week, we'll look at death records through time. They all contain a trove of information, but their presentation varies.
Our focus Dane, Rasmus Knudsen, was born in a small community and moved to Aarhus. He died in Aarhus in 1902. This is the entire ledger page showing his record:
The columns in this book are: record number, death date and location, burial date and location, name, family information, age, pastor or officiant, and notes. Here is the detail of Rasmus' record:
Arkivalieronline.dk: Aarhus, Hasle, Aarhus Domsogn, 1901-1906
The family data entry is chock full of details. His reads:
Arbejdsman (laborer), fodt (born) in Hinnerup 12/24 26 (24 December 1826) of Knud Johansen and Kirsten Rasmusdatter. Enkemand (widower) of Ane Botilla Martens, dode (died) 17/1 98 (17 January 1898)Let that sink in. We get name, birth date and place, parent's full names, spouse status and name, and spouse's date of death. I wish all my ancestors were Danish!
Here are a couple more examples from other time periods:
Margrethe Rasmusdatter 1819-1920 (!)
Arkivalieronline,dk: Aarhus, Ning, Tulstrup, 1892-1923
Johanne Knudsdatter, 1771, age 73 and Ane Nielsdatter, 1771, age 60
Arkivialieronline.dk: Aarhus, Ning, Maarslet, 1738-1813
There are some variations across the years, but Danish vital records are loaded with useful information. I am eternally grateful for this obsession with names and dates and genealogy. The Danes have made my number-crunching fun!
© 2013 Sally Knudsen
