Ohio, Washington County Inquest Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection consists of digital images of inquests into deaths from the probate records found in the Washington County, Ohio Courthouse in Marietta. The collection covers the years 1859 to 1902.

Record Content
The information in the records varies from case to case. You may contain any of the following:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Death date and place
 * Residence
 * Cause of death
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Birth date and place
 * Occupation
 * Physical Description
 * Names and relationships of family members, close friends or neighbors
 * Burial information such as burial date and place along with the name of the mortuary or undertaker
 * Other miscellaneous details surrounding the death

How to Use the Record
To begin your search, it is helpful to know:.
 * Name of the deceased
 * Other identifying information such as death date and place

Search the Collection
To search the collection: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the 'Record Type, Volume, and Year Range' category which takes you to the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of the deceased to locate census, church, and land records.
 * Use the death date and residence to search for other probate documents such as a will or probate packet.
 * Use the occupations listed to find employment records or other types of records such as military records.
 * Use the burial information to find cemetery and funeral records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * You may be able to use these records to identify heirs and relatives and to learn about land transactions, adoptions or guardianships of any minor children and dependents.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * The information in the records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the deceased or the testator.
 * Even though there is some variation in the information given from one record to another record, the information given is quite reliable.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities.
 * Be aware that not every death had an inquest.

Related Websites
Washington County, Ohio Probate Division

Related Wiki Articles
Ohio Probate Records

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection Citation:

Image citation: