Have you ever questioned whether the information on a tombstone was accurate? For the most part, I have not. However, I usually am able to find information that supports the information written in stone.

As I was working to update my Ostrander research, I came across data that for Anthony Ostrander (son of Dr. Edward Ostrander) and his family in the 1870 census living in Vigo County, Indiana.

When I entered the 1870 census record into Anthony’s profile in my RootsMagic 9 database, I got a red exclamation mark warning. The ‘problem’ is that Anthony supposedly died in 1869 and thus can’t be living and recorded on the 1870 census.

Thus, I needed to verify Anthony Ostrander’s death date. The primary source I have for his death date is his Find a Grave record. Anthony Ostrander’s tombstone clearly indicates that he died in 1869.

So, now I need to find other sources to support the 1869 death date – or – to disprove it. My first thought was to find an obituary. So far, that search has been unsuccessful.

My next step was to try and find a will or probate record to try and pinpoint a death date. Thus, I turned to the new United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search tool on FamilySearch. While I didn’t find a will or court record, I did find a quit claim deed that identifies Lucinda Ostrander as the widow of Anthony Ostrander. Unfortunately, the land records for Vigo County, Indiana require me to go to an affiliate library or family history center to view the images. However, the transcription of the deed is still available!

Since the transcript is of the two pages that the image links to, it is probable that some of the information on these two pages does not relate to Anthony Ostrander and/or his family. Based on the wording at the top of the transcript, I think that the previous page will also need consulted. However, this transcript suggests that Lucinda’s husband, Anthony, likely died in 1879.

Vigo Deed record
Vigo County, Indiana
v. 54, Jan 25, 1879-Dec. 5, 1879

State of Indiana Vigo County SS
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said
County this 22nd day of July 1879 Lucinda Ostrander widow of Anthony
M Ostrander deceased Phebe B Myton wife of James A Myton Sarah St
Mercer and Henry R Mercer her husband Joseph W Ostrander unmarried
and Aaron W Ostrander unmarried acknowledged the execution of the
annexed Deed
Witness my hand and seal
John F Graham J P
State of Illinois Clark County SS
Before me B L Adams a Notary Public in and for said
County this 4th day of September 1879 James A Myton and ack
nowledged the execution of the annexed deed
Witness my hand and seal

Notarial Seal
B L Adams Notary Public
Received for Record September 5th 1879 at 2 ¼ oclock P M
Chauncey R Pritchard Recorder
This Indenture Witnesseth That Lucinda Ostrander widow of Anthony
M Ostrander deceased formerly Lucinda Lyons of Vigo County in
the State of Indiana Release and Quit Claim to Phebe B Myton of Vigo
County in the State of Indiana for the sum of One Dollar and natu
ral Love and affection the following Real Estate in Vigo County in
the State of Indiana to wit Fifty six 56 acres off of the East side
of the North West quarter of Section number Twenty five 25 in Town
ship number Thirteen 13 North of Range number Nine 9 West
In Witness Whereof The said Lucinda Ostrander has hereunto set
her hand and seal this Twenty second day of July A D 1879
Lucinda Ostrander
State of Indiana Vigo County SS
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and
for said County this 22d day of July 1879 Lucinda Ostrander
widow of Anthony M Ostrander deceased acknowledged the execu tion of the annexed Deed
Witness my hand and seal
John F Graham J P
Received for Record September 5th 1879 at 2 ¼ o clock P M
Chauncey R Pritchard Recorder
This Indenture Witnesseth That Lucinda Ostrander widow of Anthony
M Ostrander decd of Vigo County in the State of Indiana Release
and Quit Claims to Joseph W Ostrander of Vigo County in the State
of Indiana for the sum of One Dollar and natural love and affec
tion the following Real Estate in Vigo County in the State of In
diana to wit The West ½ of the South East quarter of section Twenty
five 25 in Township Thirteen 13 North in Range Nine 9 West con
taining Eighty 80 Acres more or less Reserving however to the Gran
for herein a life estate in the above described land
In Witness Whereof The said Lucinda Ostrander widow has here
unto set her hand and seal this Twenty second day of July A D 1879
Lucinda Ostrander
State of Indiana Vigo County SS
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and
for said County this 22d day of July 1879 Lucinda Ostrander
widow of Anthony M Ostrander decd acknowledged the execution
of the annexed Deed
Witness my hand and seal
Received for Record September 5th Chauncey R Pritchard Recorder
This Indenture Witnesseth That Clarissa Green wife of John S
Green of Vigo County in the State of Indiana Quit Claim to Sam
uel Holms of Vicio County in the State of Indiana for the sum
of Three Hundred sixty six 66 100 Dollars the receipt whereof is here
by acknowledged the following Real Estate in Vigo County in
the State of Indiana to wit The East half of the North West
Quarter of Section No 9 Nine Town Eleven No 11 Range 2 West
In Witness Whereof The said Clarissa Green has hereunto set her
hand and seal this 17 day of September 1867
Clarissa Green
The State of Indiana Vigo County Set
Before me Linus Moyer a Justice of the Peace in and
for said County this 17 day of September 1867 came Clarissa Green
and acknowledged the execution of the annexed Deed
Witness my hand and seal
Linus Moyer J P

Is this deed enough to convince everyone that Anthony M. Ostrander did not die in 1869 as indicated on his tombstone? Probably not. However, it does provide support for an 1879 death date.

Further ‘proof’ is found on Ancestry where a user shared a copy of an 1879 deed and an image of an obituary clipping. While the obituary clipping does not contain a date, it does indicate that Anthony M. Ostrander was 75 years old at his death. This further supports an 1879 death date.