Primary evidence checklist (as used by the Mayflower Society)

• vital records- birth, death, marriage
• church records
• bible records
• marriage bonds and licences
• mortality schedules and cemetery records
• Probate records
• deeds
• guardianship or orphan's court records
• family letters and records (originals)
• tax assessment or exemption lists
• Federal/State census records which show family relationship

Secondary evidence checklist

• County or Community Histories
• Published family histories
• Federal/State census without family relationship shown
• Newspaper obituaries
• Newspaper marriage accounts
• photos of gravestone inscriptions and/or showing juxtapositions of graves