In cabinet 31, drawer 10, at the Clayton Library there is a very interesting microfilm set from the New York City Municipal Archives entitled “Bodies in Transit.” This film contains images of ledgers that record the transportation of corpses within, in and out of, and through New York state and were created in the interest of public health. The time period covered, 1859-1894, saw increased population growth with arrivals of many immigrants, occurrence of various epidemics, and the return of hundreds—perhaps thousands—of soldier’s bodies from the battlefields of the Civil War. These records of “bodies in transit” provided public health officials with important information concerning the cause and place of death and the final disposal of the body.

The records are on three rolls of microfilm: roll #1 (1859-1870), roll #2 (May, 1870-1873), and roll #3 (1874-1894). Although there is no overall index, all the names beginning with “A” are listed together within a given year, followed by all the names beginning with “B” and so on. Column headings in the ledgers are as follows:

1. Date of passage through New York
2. Name (of the deceased)
3. Age
4. Nativity (place of birth)
5. Residence
6. Place of death
7. Disease or cause of death
8. Date of death
9. Place of interment
10. Name and residence of person having charge of the body
11. Occupation of deceased
12. Remarks (normally the name of the attending physician)
13. Now at (this column was added in 1869)

1. April 24, 1865
2. Lincoln, Abraham
3. 56 years, 2 months
4. Kentucky
5. [blank]
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Pistol Shot
8. April 15, 1865
9. Springfield, Ill.
10. P. Relyea
11. [blank]
12. [blank]

Although the place of interment for the majority of the “bodies in transit” was a cemetery in New York state, many—like the body of President Lincoln—were interred in various other states. The places of birth vary even more. Please do not think these records are only for those researching New York ancestors. Take a look at this film, as it is fun and interesting. Who knows, that lost great grandpa you thought had been “beamed up” might be found in these records.