Certificate of Death
County of Philadelphia
City of Philadelphia

715 East Ontario 33 Ward
Anna M. Carman
Sex: Female
Color or Race: white
Married
Date of Birth: Jan 31, 187? [difficult to read]
Age: 57 [51?] years 1 mos 21 ds
[marriage record says she was born 30 Jan 1876]
Occupation: Housewife
Birthplace: Penn
Name of Father: Joseph Funston
Birthplace of Father: Phila
Maiden Name of Mother: Annie Funston
Birthplace of Mother: England
[Informant] Joseph Carman, 715 E Ontario Street [husband]
Date of Death: Mar 21 1928
…
Place of Burial: New Glenwood Cemetery
Date of Burial: March 24 -28
Undertaker: Geo. W Barrell, 1323 W Lehigh Ave

———–

Original Source Citation:
Pennsylvania, Department of Health, death certificate 22204 (1928), Anna M. Carman; Division of Vital Records, New Castle.

Mamie (Mary) E. Garrison Death Certificate

State Department of Health of New Jersey
State File No. 09544
Place of Death:
  County: Salem
  City or Borough: Elmer
  Length of Stay: 2 mo
  Address: 326 S. Main St.
Usual Residence: 140 S. Broadway, Pitman, Gloucester, NJ
Name of deceased: Mamie (Mary) E. Garrison
Date of death: Feb. 8. 1960
Sex: Female
Color or Race: White
Marital status: Widowed
Date of Birth: July 3, 1874
Age: 85
Usual Occupation: Retired
Kind of Business or Industry: Esterbrook Pen
Birthplace: Camden, NJ
Father’s Name: George Ware
Mother’s Maiden Name: Mary Kranner
Was deceased ever in the US Armed Forces? No
Social Security No. 157-05-3184
Informant: Milford Garrison – Son
…
Burial:
  Date: 2-11-1960
  Name of Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery
  Location: Camden, NJ

———

Original Source Citation
New Jersey, State Department of Health, death certificate 09544 (1960), Mamie (Mary) E. Garrison; Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, Trenton.

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.