Funeral cards are an overlooked free genealogical resource. They often contain Birth and Death years and are a substitute for birth and death records (Vital Records). Now they are not a true substitute for vital records but it's a good place to start! To find out what are true Vital Records see Genealogy Without Sources is Mythology

Unfortunately these death records are scattered and there has not been a repository for funeral cards until now. I'm trying to create the best funeral card database on the net. If you have death records such as funeral cards, please give them a home by submitting them to Ancestors At Rest.

Brian's Notes: This isn't the usual Funeral or Memorial Card, it's more of a Memorial Photo probably taken as part of Charles' Funeral services. I had a good look around and found the following information on Charles and his family:

Found in the 1880 census for 7th Ward, Auburn, Cayuga, New York

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace

Joshua C. CHETHAM Self M Male W 37 CAN Scythe Polisher ENG CAN
Addie M. CHETHAM Wife M Female W 29 NY Keeping House NY NY
Birdella CHETHAM Dau S Female W 11 NY At School CAN NY
Hattie L. CHETHAM Dau S Female W 9 NY At School CAN NY
Charles R. CHETHAM Son S Male W 7 NY At School CAN NY
Lucinda COWELL MotherL W Female W 65 NY Keeping House VT NY

Source Information: Family History Library Film 1254813 NA Film Number T9-0813
Page Number 336A

Is this your family? Charles R., Joshua (his father), Adeline M (his father), and Hattie L. Chetham are all buried in Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn New York. View their birth and death information plus exact grave location

I also found Joshua Chetham, Scythe Polisher, in the 1900 Directory for Auburn New York, living with Harriet L. and Raymond E. (Street and number given)

Also found Raymond E. Chetham buried in Soule Cemetery Sennett Section Raymond's WW1 information is also found here

Try this Ancestry Free Trial to Ancestry.com to search all the U.S. and Canadian Census records.

I also found Lucinda Cowell, who I guess must be Addie M's mother, buried in Soule Cemetery - Auburn Section, Town of Sennett New York LUCINDA E. COWELL 1815-1904 L.E.C. If she is your ancestor, you will need to check this out because she's buried with another family, I don't know how they fit with her

Where Can I Find More Funeral Cards?

Or try a Ancestry Free Trial Ancestry has more genealogy records than any site on the net and they often have free trials and special promotions.

Online Searchable Death Indexes

Other Online Searchable Records

Try a Ancestry Free Trial Ancestry has more genealogy records than any site on the net and they often have free trials and special promotions.
Genealogy Today Lots of unique one of a kind genealogy databases

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This Death Records Database is an ongoing project and I have many more funeral cards to add so check back often.