Just when you think you know a fact, something comes up to make you question what you think you know. Generally, I’ve always considered the death date on a death certificate to be factual. However, in the case of Emily Swayze Darling I’m questioning. The death certificate is legible and clearly indicates that Emily died on April 5, 1918. The certificate was signed by the doctor on 4-6-1918 and the date and place of the burial are entered as April 8, 1918 and the document was filed on April 8, 1918. Everything on it looks proper, it is the right name, right birthdate, parents, home address, all is good and I accepted it completely. Until….
On Genealogy Bank I found a copy of the obituary. Much to my surprise it was in the March 7th newspaper. It too has the right name, right age, right home address, all is good except that it says she died on March 5th. So, the question arises, did the newspaper prematurely report her death exactly a month early or is the death certificate wrong? I comments or opinions? If so, I’d love to hear them.
