Event Types
Events are the building blocks of genealogical records. Each event captures a moment in a person's life. The below list of certain Events is what is referred to in this website as The Big Ten Events, the events that are key in most everyone's life.
Birth - The date and place of birth, including information about parents and any attending physician or midwife.
Baptism - The date and place of baptism or christening, including information about parents and any attending cleric person. Sometimes baptisms/christenings can be the substitute for when a person was born when a birth record is yet to be found.
Marriage - Marriage date, location, officiating minister, and witnesses.
Immigration - Ship arrivals, ports of entry, and country of origin.
Census - Federal (U.S. or Canada) and state census records showing household composition, occupations, and locations.
Will Written - Date and Place for when someone wrote their will. It often lists details of family members who are the heirs.
Death - The date, place, and cause of death when known.
Obituary - The article, usually in a newspaper, telling the public of the recent death of someone.
Burial - Cemetery name, location, and any gravestone inscription information.
Will Proven - Date and Place for when the will of a deceased person is finalized by the court. Often this is accompanied by an inventory of the estate.