The informant: it is one of the most important sections of a death certificate. It provides an indication of the accuracy of the personal and familial history of the subject. If it was a sister or brother, then the parents’ names are likely, but not always, correct. If it was a parent, then the parents’ names are probably correct and the birth date might be trusted. If it was a spouse, we would like to trust the information but should be skeptical. If it was someone at the nursing home, hospital or funeral home, then all bets are off.

But what if the informant was the dead person herself?

Here is the name and address of the deceased:

Here is the name and address of the informant:

This is the first time I have come across this. I don’t know how common it is. I imagine that whoever filled out this section must have questioned Annie C. Ogle prior to her death (and not after!)  and used the information she provided.

The information about her parents agrees with other sources. The only new information on this death certificate besides the date and place of death is her birthdate and given the close relationship of the informant to the deceased I’ll accept it. For now.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Registered No. 31515

Place of death: 2306 Adam St, Ward 31, Philadelphia

Full name: Annie C. Ogle
Sex: F
Color or race: W
Single
Date of birth: Aug 27 1845
Age: 72 yrs
Occupation: Retired
Birthplace: Delaware
Name of father: Benjamin N. Ogle
Birthplace of father: Delaware
Name of mother: Clara A. Mathiews
Birthplace of mother: Delaware
Informant: Miss Annie C. Ogle, 2306 E. Adam St.
Date of Death: Dec 31, 1917
Burial: St. Georges Cem. Del, Jan 5, 1918
Undertaker: Wm. H. Eppley, 3200 Fkd ave
——

Original source citation:
Pennsylvania, Department of Health, death certificate 31515 (1924), Annie C. Ogle; Division of Vital Records, New Castle.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death
no. 104381

Place of death: County of Philadelphia, City of Philadelphia, Kensington Hospital
Full Name: Mrs. Catharine Rose Nuttall
Sex: female
Color: white
Date of birth: Sept 19 1892
Age: 25 years 11 months
Occupation: Housewife
Birthplace: Phila., Pa
Name of father: Louis Kober
Birthplace of father: Phila. Pa.
Maiden name of mother: Eliza Todd
Birthplace of mother: Ireland
Informant: Tom Nuttall, 3530 K St
Date of Death: Sep 30 1917
Burial: North Cedar Hill Cem., October 4 1917

——

Original Source Citation:
Pennsylvania, Department of Health, death certificate 104381 (1917), Mrs. Catharine Rose Nuttall; Division of Vital Records, New Castle.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death
no. 119344

Place of death: County of Delaware, Township of Lower Chichester, Market st. Linwood
Full Name: Mrs. Mary C. McNeil*
Sex: female
Color: white
Married
Date of birth: January 7 1881
Age: 29 years, 11 months, 8 days
Occupation: Housework
Birthplace: Linwood, Pa.
Name of father: Andrew Mahla
Birthplace of father: Germany
Maiden name of mother: Eva Horneff
Birthplace of mother: Phila. Pa.
Informant: John McNeil, Linwood
Date of Death: Dec. 15 1910
Place of burial: Lawn Croft Cemetery, Dec 18th 1910

*Note: all other records I have found, including the marriage of Mary C. Mahla and John McNeal, have the spelling of McNeal

——–

Original Source Citation:
Pennsylvania, Department of Health, death certificate 119344 (1910), Mrs. Mary C. McNeil; Division of Vital Records, New Castle.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate of Death
no. 54199

Place of death: County of Delaware, Borough of Marcus Hook, Market st. above 10th
Full Name: Jacob H. Mahla
Sex: male
Color: white
Date of birth: June 16th 1879
Age: 27 years, 11 months
Married
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Name of father: Andrew Mahla
Birthplace of father: Germany
Maiden name of mother: Eva Amelia Hornef
Birthplace of mother: Pennsylvania
Occupation: Printer
Informant: Andrew Mahla Jr., (address) Allegheny
Date of Death: May 16th 1907
Place of burial: Lawn Croft Cem., May 19th 1907

———

Original source citation:
Pennsylvania, Department of Health, death certificate 54199 (1907), Jacob H. Mahla; Division of Vital Records, New Castle.