Genealogists Help Please!

[chicksgalore]

I am trying to wrap up a book I'm writing about my grandfather (sort of like a bio) here within the next week or 2. Most of it is just word of mouth from his kids but I did do some research on census records and the like and I did find some interesting things but it brought up a few questions as well. For instance, I am trying to find out when his step-mother passed away--I know the year but am trying to find the exact date. Is there a free place where I can find death records? I have tried lots of different things and haven't found any free death records but I also can't find her on any census's although I've found some of her siblings and her parents.

It just seems strange that some people keep coming up in the census's and others you can't find anything at all. I actually can't find my grandmother/grandfather on any census's either. Strange.

 

[Sam The Yam]

I can help you! If you want to email me any information, I have a great website through our church that I can do a search with. I would be more than happy to assist.
[email protected]

Please let me know.

 

[chicksgalore]

One more thing that is not jiving that maybe some of you who are more familiar with these things can explain. I found a copy of my great grandfather's registration card and it's dated Sept. 12, 1918. The age he put on the card jives with that date. However, I also found record of his death and that was supposedly on January 5, 1918. Any ideas??

 

[EweSheep]

I, too, have a major problem with some of my ancestor's information. Lack of it as well and so many missing census which I didnt find any in the Ancestory or LDS websites. It was pretty disapppointing.

 

[keljonma]

Quote:
Your writing is not clear ... so I am not sure what you are saying.

Are you saying that your ggf registered for WWI draft on 12 Sep 1918?

And that your ggf's date of death was 05 Jan 1918?

If both these are true, then the question I have is How are you sure the WWI draft card you found was for your ggf?

 

[keljonma]

Quote:
You could be looking in the wrong enumeration district, city, county, or state. I have entire families that moved from Pennsylvania to Arkansas and then only a portion moved back to Pennsylvania - all within two census.

You could try using the Soundex coding - which will give you a larger search. Back in the day, people weren't always as particular about spelling. Also, a person didn't fill out the census forms, they were filled out by a census worker. The census worker would have written down what they heard. For instance, my ancestor Joshua McNeil became Joshway McNeal in the 1870 census.

You might be able to locate a LDS Family History Center near you. They will have access to all the records stored in Utah. Research there is free.

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp


Edited to add: Don't get discouraged. Sometimes when you hit a brick wall, you have luck by working on the person's siblings or children. Cyndi's List is a great resource..

http://www.cyndislist.com/

 

[chicksgalore]

Your writing is not clear ... so I am not sure what you are saying.

Are you saying that your ggf registered for WWI draft on 12 Sep 1918?

And that your ggf's date of death was 05 Jan 1918?

If both these are true, then the question I have is How are you sure the WWI draft card you found was for your ggf?

The card says "Registration Card" so I am assuming it is for the draft. I'm positive it is my ggf because it has his entire name and birthdate. It is dated Sept. 12, 1918 but his death date is coming up January 5, 1918. Also, I have a family picture of him that is not dated but I am sure it is later in the summer of 1918 because it has his youngest son on it who was born in March of 1918. I'm wondering if the records should be saying he passed away in January of 1919. Are errors like that typical? I'm not sure how to confirm this?

And a family tree book says his wife passed away 1918 also but gives no exact date and I haven't been able to confirm this either. I can't find her anywhere.​

 

[chicksgalore]

You might be able to locate a LDS Family History Center near you. They will have access to all the records stored in Utah. Research there is free.

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp

I was not aware of this but I did find one not too far from me. Is it possible I will be able to find marriage/death records there? What about deed/will info. or is that a courthouse thing?

I really need to get this done and it's not that easy for me to go out on my own to do research so I'm trying to make the most of the time I have and figure out what will be worthwhile.

Thanks so much for your tips and help!​

 

[#1California Chick]

It is possible that he died in January 1919. You know how hard it is to remember to put the new year's date on your checks in January???? Maybe someone recording the death also had this problem!! Also 1918--/1919 would have been the time of the Spanish Flu Pandemic. Lots of people died in the US. So having both of them die within a short period of time would not have been unusual.

Good Luck!!

 

[chicksgalore]

Yes, I am thinking the year almost has to be mixed up. Thanks for your input!