Susanna Fredrich (née Koenig), my second great-grandmother, left behind a death certificate filled with clues that helped me learn more about her life and connect her to other family members.
Every family history researcher should know what clues to look for in a death certificate. However, the information is only as accurate as the person providing it. In this case, the informant was Susanna’s son-in-law, August Guhse, who was married to Ottilie Fredrich.
Here are some key details from Susanna’s death certificate and how they contributed to my research:
1. Full Name and Variations: Susana Fredrich
The name listed on a death certificate may include middle names, initials, or alternate spellings. Comparing it with other records can confirm identities and reveal new leads. I have found Susanna’s name spelled as Susana, Susan, and Suzanna. I have chosen to use Susanna, as found on her baptismal record.
2. Date and Place of Death: November 4, 1906, at 187 Lincoln, 1st Ward, Manistee, Michigan
This information helps locate obituaries, cemetery records, and probate files, which may provide more details about the deceased’s family and final years.
I found Susanna’s obituary in the Manistee Daily News on November 4, 1906, at the Manistee Public Library. The obituary states she died at the home of her daughter, Ottilie Fredrich Guhse. I haven't looked for her probate file.
3. Birth Date and Place: December 28, 1808, in Germany
Birth details can lead to earlier records such as birth certificates, church records, or census entries, helping track an ancestor’s early life.
I have found Susanna’s baptismal record, census records, and immigration papers. Her baptismal record states:
"Entry of birth of Susanna Koenig, birth and baptism on January 4, 1810, in the afternoon at half past two, in Wolfhals. The inhabitant Friedrich Koenig and his wife, Catharine (born Burger), had a daughter who was baptized Susanna."
This suggests a discrepancy between her reported birth year and the actual record.
4. Parents’ Names and Birthplaces: King (Koenig) and Unknown in Germany
Parents' names are crucial for identifying previous generations. Be sure to check maiden names, as they can open doors to new family branches.
The death certificate lists her father as "King" from Germany and her mother as "Unknown." Her baptismal record provides both parents’ names: Friedrich Koenig and Catharine (born Burger).
5. Spouse’s Name: Not Stated
A spouse’s name can confirm marriage records, track family movements, and lead to additional documents like census records and wills.
The certificate states that Susanna was widowed, but it does not list her husband's name. Further research shows that Susanna Koenig married Christoph Fredrich.
6. Cause of Death: Senile Debility
While cause of death is primarily a medical detail, it can hint at hereditary health conditions and lead to medical records for further insight.
Susanna’s cause of death was listed as senile debility, not surprising at the age of 96. Imagine the life she witnessed: born in 1810, she lived through nearly a century of changes before passing in 1906.
7. Informant’s Name and Relationship: August Guhse
The informant is often a close relative, which helps verify family connections and can lead to further research into their lineage.
Susanna’s informant was August Guhse, her son-in-law, who was married to her daughter Ottilie Fredrich Guhse.
8. Place of Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, Manistee
Cemetery records provide additional clues. Visiting the grave or checking burial records may reveal other family members buried nearby.
Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee, Michigan, does not have a record of her interment. Find a Grave does not list a Susanna Fredrich or Koenig or King buried in Manistee County. Despite this, her obituary confirms that she was buried in Oak Grove.
Obituary (Manistee Daily News, November 4, 1906):
"Mrs. Susanna Fredrich, a widow, died today at the home of her daughter, Mrs. August Guhse, 187 Lincoln Street, at the age of 97 years and 10 months. She leaves other daughters, Mrs. Engelhuber, Mrs. John Zobel, and Mrs. Radtke, and one son. The funeral will be held at the Guhse home Wednesday at 2 p.m., with burial at Oak Grove."
Further research into her burial location could involve checking funeral home records or a burial permit.
9. Occupation: None
An ancestor’s occupation can lead to employment records, union records, or historical context about their trade.
I have never found a record indicating that Susanna worked outside the home.
10. Address at Time of Death: Not Stated
Knowing where an ancestor lived can direct research to local archives, newspapers, and city directories for further insights into their daily life.
Although the death certificate does not specify where Susanna lived at the time of her death, one can infer she was living at 187 Lincoln Street with her daughter, Ottilie Guhse.
The 1900 U.S. Census lists her living with the Guhse family at 185 Lincoln Street, Manistee. Checking Manistee City Directories from 1900-1906 could clarify whether the two addresses were the same or if one record contained an error. A quick Zillow search shows that 187 Lincoln was built in 1900, meaning both addresses could be correct.
Final Thoughts
Susanna Fredrich’s death certificate provided numerous clues about her life. While some details raised new questions, such as her burial location, it confirmed important connections and led to further research opportunities. Death certificates are powerful tools in genealogy, when cross-referenced with other records, they can eliminate doubt in your research.
