Daily AncestorBurns
Burns or burned on an old death record means death from fire, scalding liquid or other heat, a common household accident in the age of open fires and candles.
Most burns come from flames, hot liquids or hot objects, and in the past the home was the main place of danger. Cooking over open hearths, heating with stoves and lighting with candles and oil lamps all carried risk, especially for small children.
A record may say burned, burnt, scalded or clothes caught fire. Newspapers sometimes reported such accidents, so search local papers near the date.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Annie Moore, 4, F, W, Jan., Burns, accidental
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Burns." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/burns. Last checked 2026-10-01.