Features
by Jeffrey A. Bockman
Experienced researchers and their dates and places of birth, they had been born. A researcher
GenWeb volunteers are often asked and occupations? seeks answers to the above ques-
this question, “Where can I get the • Who delivered the baby? tions, but especially the identity of
birth certificate for my great-great- the parents.
grandmother, ‘Jane Doe’?” Unless If a birth certificate is not avail- Several years ago, I was looking
the person asking the question is able, keep in mind that if there is for the name of an infant relative
quite young, the answer is probably, proof that a person lived, died, and killed, in 1891, in a train accident
“I’m sorry, but they did not have was buried, got married, or had a near Aspen, Colorado. While
birth certificates back then.” family it is a pretty good bet that looking through the index of birth
Birth certificates, for most areas, records, at the Pitkin County
have been in use for only about the Courthouse, I was happy to see a
last 100 to 130 years. However, listing for the Ellis surname. When I
when they can be obtained they found the entry for the Return of
often help answer a number of ques- Birth, it gave the date and place of
tions, such as: birth, the child’s last name, and the
• Who were the parents? sex. The entry also listed the names
• What was the baby’s name? of the parents, their ages, their
• Where did the birth take place? birthplaces, and even the mother’s
• When was the date of birth? maiden name. Unfortunately, it did
• Where was the family living at the not list the baby’s first name. The
time? father’s name was mistakenly entered
• What were the physical character- as Frank L. Lewis, the wife’s maiden
istics of the baby? name, instead of Ellis.
• What was the mother’s maiden Even though I found the Return
name? of Birth record I still did not know
• What were the ages of the parents, his first name. I was finally able to
38 HeritageQuestMagazine.com
determine his full name, Clarence L. resources might be needed to deter- ical entries, different pens or inks,
Ellis, from the tombstone that the mine the remaining birth informa- and different styles of handwriting.
Railroad Company had erected for tion. A number of primary sources The handwriting would also change
the family in the Aspen Grove with birth information may have when the Bible was passed along to
Cemetery, overlooking the town of been created, as well as a number of one of the children. If it looks as
Aspen. (A photograph of the stone secondary sources, which help though everything had been entered
appeared in Heritage Quest answer questions. all at once, you will need to question
Magazine, May/June 2002, #99, p. 34.) the source. In the example of Jared
The recording of a Return of There’s No West’s Family Bible, it appears that
Birth, or any other record by a Place Like Home they started entering information
county or town clerk, provides an The best place to start looking is at between 24 August 1809 and 5
opportunity for an error or omission home. Births were often recorded in December 1810 (see illus. next page).
to be made. This birth record, like the Family Bible, diaries, or possibly A Hospital Birth Certificate is
most records, contains a combina- even the cookbook, shortly after the usually given to the parents, and
tion of both primary and secondary birth or as soon as the person heard includes at least the child’s name,
information. A male baby—born to about it. Parents usually kept copies the parents’ names, and the date and
a mother, on a given date, delivered of any records created by the time of birth.
by this attendant, at this specific hospital or jurisdiction. They may A jurisdictional Certificate of
place—all constitutes primary infor- have also kept birth announce- Birth is usually issued by the county,
mation, since the event was ments, cards or letters of congratu- or state health department. The
witnessed and recorded at, or lations, and any newspaper information included will vary
shortly after, the time of the event. announcements or stories. greatly by jurisdiction, and is based
Other information such as: the birth- On the Family Bible “Births” upon the original information
place, ages of the parents, mother’s page, parents often documented submitted by the attendant or
maiden name, and the father’s name their own births and those of any hospital. Generally, included are at
are considered to be secondary children that were already born, least: the child’s name, date and place
information, since it relates to when they obtained the Bible. of birth, the parent’s names and state
events occurring at a prior time, not Future births were then added in of their birth, date filed, and the date
issued. It can also include other infor-
mation such as: the parent’s ages, race,
occupations, address, the mother’s
maiden name, the number of other
children born to her, the number still
living, and some even ask, “Was this
one legitimate?”
Delayed birth certificates are
issued well after the birth. My grand-
mother, who was born in 1885, was
issued one in 1942. Home births may
not have been reported immediately,
or until the child needed a birth certifi-
cate to enter school. These certificates
were often issued based upon other
documents or affidavits.
Return of Birth for the Ellis baby. The quality of the secondary
information is dependent upon the
witnessed by the recorder. order. By looking at all of the accuracy of both the informant and
Since a birth certificate might entries and the Bible’s publication the person recording it. For
not be available, or it might not date, you can figure out when they example, a state abbreviation (with
include all of the desired informa- obtained the Bible or started to the first letter in common) might be
tion, a combination of other record entries. Look for chronolog- changed in the transcription—the
AUGUST 2004 39
birthplace, Illinois, might be copied
erroneously as Indiana—the most
frequent response on that page.
Going to the Source
Sometimes it’s possible to obtain
birth records not found at a family
member’s home. Some of these
records, or an index of them, may
have been published or are available
online.
The Family Bible may have
become part of an archive or histor-
ical society collection. Look for
online catalogs or collections. The
Library of Virginia has many old
Family Bibles in their Online Digital
Collection at eagle.vsla.edu/bible/. There
are also individual or family Web
sites that can contain transcribed
entries or scanned images. Queries
can be posted at the county GenWeb
site, or a Surname site, with the
possibility of a distant relative
sending you a scanned image.
Genealogical societies have
published transcribed Family Bible
records in their newsletters or quar-
terlies over the years.
Hospital records, other than for
yourself, are probably not going to
be available due to privacy laws.
Where a person was born is impor-
tant since that will determine what
records were created and where
they are located. The most conven- Jared West’s family Bible - Births.
ient hospital may not have been in
the same county where the family tion. Due to privacy laws, birth infor- Check the state and county GenWeb
lived, so adjacent jurisdictions mation might not be available until sites and the jurisdiction’s Web site
should be checked when looking for the person is over 75 years old, or to see what is available in a desired
a birth record. there is proof that they are area.
A jurisdictional birth record may deceased. The IGI (International
be available, if you know where and There are a few online sites with Genealogical Index) can be
approximately when the person was birth records, even though a number searched at www.familysearch.org. It
born. Everton’s Handybook for of them were removed after contains birth records that have
Genealogists, the county GenWeb 9/11/2001. An index to South Dakota been submitted by members of the
site (via www.usgenweb.org), or the juris- birth records prior to 1900 is avail- LDS church, or extracted from
diction’s Web site should be able at http://userdb.rootsweb.com/sd/birth/ filmed vital records, including
checked to see when they began search.cgi and Utah births from about foreign records with a large collec-
recording births. The availability of 1897/98 to 1905 are available at tion from Scotland.
copies and fees will vary by jurisdic- http://www.archives.state.ut.us/referenc/birth.htm.
40 HeritageQuestMagazine.com
Early New England town vital
records were originally created by
the town’s Congregational Church.
Many of these have been published.
They may include family records as
well as lists of births, marriages, and
deaths. The entry for Jared West’s
birth and family is shown in an
example from the records for Lee,
Massachusetts (right).
Church records may include
family listings, including birth dates,
or the date of a baptism or chris-
tening. You will need to know at
what age this was usually done in
that particular denomination. To
locate a church, start with the
closest assembly for a known reli-
gion or language, then start working
outward.
The detailed newspaper birth
announcements that are common
today are a fairly recent practice. It
is still a good idea to review local
newspapers for a week or so before
and after a known birth date. There
could be news or society articles
about family members coming to
town to help the mother, or care for
the family, especially if she was
confined to bed rest before or after
Cover page for Lee, MA and page 30 showing the Jonathan West family.
the birth, or if she died as a result of
giving birth.
the parents of a person, be sure to history records not only Granville’s
Alternative Sources look for information on the parents parents names, but also gives the
Fortunately, there are a number of of any known siblings. Sometimes, maternal grandparents, Henry H. and
other records that can help to iden- one family member may have left Mary, including her maiden name.
tify the parents, the state or place of more clues than the others. Suppose You’re on a roll! The name
birth, and the year, month, or that you descend from Granville Dunteman, a distant cousin known
possibly even the date of birth. Johnson of Illinois, but know little to be from the same area, comes to
These may provide enough informa- about his parents, when you find his mind. In a 1906 county history, Past
tion, or narrow the date range, so 1896 biographical sketch in The & Present of Bureau County, IL,
that a primary source record can be Biographical Record of Bureau, the entry for Ernest Dunteman is
obtained. Having a birth date and Marshall, and Putnum Counties. It found. It states that on “22 June 1876
location will make it easier to find states that his father, Henry M. [Ernest] married Amanda Hall
any available records especially if Johnson “went to Xenia, Greene widow of Ransom Hall. Her father
the records are not indexed. It will County, Ohio. . . . There he wedded Henry J. Long was born in
also help to narrow the selection of Miss Margaret Long, a native of Rockingham County, VA in 1800.
potential parents in the area, if they Greene county, in January, 1841. She When about 10 years of age removed
are unknown to you. was the daughter of Henry H. and to Green County OH and there
If you are having trouble finding Mary (Walden) Long.” This county married Mary Walden who was born
AUGUST 2004 41
in the same county as her husband contains limited family information. departed this life on or about the
in 1801. Mr Long was a cabinet- It has the couple’s names, their ages, first of October last, that before and
maker and joiner. But mostly and the witnesses, who may have at the time of his death he was an
farmed.” Another entry found is for included a parent or other relative. A inhabitant of the town of Jackson in
Henry Dunteman stating “married parent’s consent was needed if a said county, leaving a widow, named
Almeda Long, born Green County person getting married was a minor. Sarah, and children him surviving to
Ohio 15 Nov. 1929. She is the A father may be listed if he posted a wit, Mary wife of William Robertson,
daughter of Henry H. Long bond or was a witness. A marriage Jane wife of William Stevenson Jr.,
(deceased) [See Mrs. E. application or the Return of the Phebe wife of Malcom McNaughton,
Dunteman].” Marriage License, if available, may Eliza wife of Ludwig Eamon, and
From these three brief sketches include other useful information. your petitioner, . . .”
we begin to piece together an earlier The 1912 Marriage License, returned This probate file petition is very
generation of Granville’s maternal to Kane County, Illinois, for John helpful, since it identifies everyone
line, with his grandmother as one of Stevenson and Viola Johnson in the family, and gives the
three sisters, whose parents, Henry included their places of birth, the husband’s name for each of the
Long and wife Mary Walden, came names of their parents, and even daughters. Some wills may not give
to Ohio from Rockingham County, their fathers’ signatures, as names, stating only, “my wife and
Virginia. witnesses. children.”
A number of records that are Wills and probate records can Census records are very handy,
created when a person dies can be often document a parent-child rela- especially if you can find the person
helpful in finding birth information. tionship. While trying to find the as a child in his parents’ household.
Death certificates often give the correct last name of a ‘Jane’ who Then discover him as an adult with a
parents’ names and the deceased’s was married to William Stevenson parent or in-law in his household, or
date of birth. This is secondary (1805-1860), in Cambridge, New nearby.
information and really depends York, the Washington County Census records between 1850
upon the accuracy of the informant. archivist quickly located the 1840 and 1870 will show the names of
The Social Security Death Index probate file for a John McDoual, possible children listed in the
includes the person’s birth date. An which included the following: parents’ household. Confirmation is
obituary may contain their age and “The petition of Samuel McDoual still needed because the census
possibly the number of years, wherewith, that John McDoual taker was not required to ask about
months, and days that they lived.
From that information you can
figure out their birth date. Old obitu-
aries rarely contained information
on deceased parents, but may have
given notice that the funeral service
was to be held at the home of a
living parent, sibling, or child. This
can help to connect family members Bible Records
together, appropriately. Tombstones Birth Certificates (Original or Index)
may also have the birth date or
“years, months, days” lived.
Church Records (births, christening, baptisms, family records)
Cemetery office records vary Hospital Certificate
greatly, but some have the date of Newspaper announcements
birth and a few may even list the
parents. A person might be buried
Cemetery and Burial Records
next to a parent that does not have a Census Records (1850 and 1870)
tombstone. Be sure to check any Children are listed under parent (Confirmation is needed)
cemetery records to see who owned Older parent or in-law living in child’s household or nearby
the plot, and to find everyone that is
buried there.
Census Records (1870-1920) – Relationships are listed.
A marriage license usually Death Certificate (may list parents)
Funeral Home Records
42 HeritageQuestMagazine.com
relationship. The Census Records
from 1880 to 1930 show a person’s
relationship to the head of the
household. If the person was alive in
1900, look up the census record to
obtain the stated “Date of Birth—
Month, Year.” Be sure to check it
against other sources. Sylvester
Lewis’ entry from Columbus, Ohio,
gave his birth month and year as
February 1871 and his age as 29, and
birthplace as Ohio. However, over
the next three census records his
age is given as 38, 46, and 62, none of
which suggest a common birth date.
In looking for him as a child in the
1880 U.S. Census every-name index
on FamilySearch.org, there was no
Sylvester listed as born in 1871.
Immigration records may include
a number of helpful clues, especially
if your relative entered the U.S.
through a port such as Ellis Island.
This record gives their age in years;
the “name and address of nearest
relative or friend in country whence
alien came”—this was often the
father; “whether going to join a rela-
tive or friend”—often a brother,
sister, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, or
even a parent who had come over
Marriage Return for John Stevenson & Viola Johnson. earlier. Look up the records for
those relatives if they are available.
Naturalization records contain
the Petition for Citizenship, which
IGI Computer – look up by person or parents, place, and date range includes a person’s birth date and
IGI fiche (by State, Last Name, Child’s name or look for parents) their place of birth along with the
Immigration Records names, birth dates and places for
their spouse and children.
Land Records – a portion or all of the property may have been passed You can try to narrow a person’s
or sold to children. birth date range by using their ages
Marriage Application – more information than on Certificate at various events. Create a timeline
Marriage Record – parent may have given consent, posted bond chart from their records such as:
or been a witness marriage certificate, children’s birth
Naturalization Records – Names and birth dates and places certificates, death or burial records,
and all of the census entries. Note
including husband and children
both the actual date and enumeration
School or Military Records may show parents dates, along with any other record
Wills & Probate of Parent that includes a date and their age.
County Histories (MUG Book) check all people with the same Charting the dates and ages
last names and known siblings.
Published/Original Genealogies/Family
Histories – check/verify AUGUST 2004 43
Caption needed here.
taken from the few available located her Ellis Island record, so an event timeline to try to determine
records, I tried to determine the didn’t really expect that her natural- more closely the birth date and age of
birth date of my elusive grandfather, ization papers would give much your elusive ancestor. Perhaps you,
Alvar Bockman. additional information. One very too, will find previously undiscovered
pleasant surprise turned up in her information. I
With the 1920 census, only an age Declaration of Intention, filed on 25
of 28 would have given Alvar a birth September 1930. She listed 25
Jeffrey A. Bockman, MBA, was a three-term
date within the range of the others. January 1891 as the birth date of her president of the DuPage County (IL)
Taking the highest Low Birth Date husband, Alvar, residing at Genealogical Society and a four-term vice-
and lowest High Birth Date gives a “Unknown.” This document also president of the Illinois State Genealogical
range of January 2nd to February gave the names, birth date, and place Society. He has been doing genealogical
research since 1987, and has been active in
societies, teaching classes, and lecturing since
Using Event Dates and Ages to Narrow the Birth Date Range 1994. He has lectured at several FGS and
Event Date Alvar’s Age Low Birth Date High Birth Date Comments other conferences, and has had numerous
Wedding 5/13/1917 26 5/14/1890 5/13/1891 articles published in the FGS Forum,
Birth Child 1 6/17/1918 27 6/18/1890 6/17/1891 Heritage Quest Magazine, UK Family Tree
1920 Census 1/1/1920 27 1/2/1892 1/1/1893 Obvious Error Magazine, and in the Internet publication,
corrected 28 1/2/1891 Missing Links. He is the Webmaster for the
1/1/1892 Had to be 28 DuPage County, ILGenWeb Project. E-mail:
Birth Child 2 2/25/1920 29 2/26/1890 2/25/1891 jeffb@anet.com. Web Page: http://www.JeffBockman.com.
Birth Child 4 5/21/1925 34 5/22/1890 5/21/1891
Low Birth Date assumes that the birthday will be tomorrow, and the age will increase. High Birth Date assumes
that today was their birthday, and the age just changed.
25th of 1891 for Alvar’s birth date. of birth for all of her children.
The more you can narrow the date Knowing from family sources that
range, the easier it may be to find a Alvar Bockmann was born in
jurisdictional or church record, Nicaragua, I am hoping that with an
especially if they are not indexed. exact date for his birth, the church
Often, looking for a record that records in Bluefields, Nicaragua,
you don’t think you really need, can might be able to provide informa-
yield surprising results. I had found tion on his parents.
my grandmother’s church records For help in finding birth infor-
noting her parents, at her birth, and mation, refer to the “Helpful Hints”
also upon emigrating from Slovenia sidebar, a checklist of sources. Use
for Calumet, Michigan. I had also the dates and ages you find to create
44 HeritageQuestMagazine.com