Researching a family member? But with problems?

Question:I am trying to find out my family history so I can one day tell my boys about it. But their is a huge snag. My grandmother's father was orphaned at 12 (maybe). He was sent to live with his uncle and never really talked about it to his girls. All I know is his named and a birthdate. State of birth. Is there a way to find out more. Like news papers, dating back to the early 1900's? I want to find out more but don't know how. Tried ancestery.com but there are a million same name date and state, drew dead end there?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am trying to find out my family history so I can one day tell my boys about it. But their is a huge snag. My grandmother's father was orphaned at 12 (maybe). He was sent to live with his uncle and never really talked about it to his girls. All I know is his named and a birthdate. State of birth. Is there a way to find out more. Like news papers, dating back to the early 1900's? I want to find out more but don't know how. Tried ancestery.com but there are a million same name date and state, drew dead end there?

Did you search the census on Ancestry? Try the first federal census after he was born; limit it to his state of birth. Try an age with one year's leeway. Maybe that's what you already did, and got too many results?

You can go to www.rootsweb.com and use the bulletin boards to post a question about that person. Maybe someone will reply. You can also use the metadata search on that site to search for the name, but that tends not to be too good for births.

You can go to www.cyndislist.com: scroll down the table of contents to United States, then click on the state he was born in. You'll get a list of subject headings. Choose the one that has vital records in the title: it's usually not the first word. Then plow through the sites: you are looking for one that might have the birth records themselves, not info on how to get a birth certificate (although that might be of interest to you too.)
Many states have tightened up the access to birth records so you may not find anything.

The newspapers others have suggested are also a possiblity.

Good luck on your search.

Look for the newspaper in the city of his birth. It's possible that they will have birth records posted in their old papers, and that they still have copies on microfiche. If they don't have them, it's likely that the local library will, and the research librarians can help you find the records.

I'd also look for the hospitals in the same city. It wouldn't surprise me if they had records there that they could share with you.

Working massive datastores such as ancestry.com is sometimes an artform. There are many people supporting this area that have a lot of years of experience working through stuff like that efficently and usually accurately.

Sounds like you have this information - so if you could provide as additional info (what you have) on your gradmother's father - his name, his date/place of birth - AND - the same for his uncle if you know it.

Might be able to wring the information out of the massive datasets.

I'm wondering if a marriage license or certificate might have his parents names as part of the records. If you know where he was married most churches kept very good records.
Just a thought.

Ok, where his parents died there could be probate and guardianship records - or the guardianship may be filed where his uncle lived. You would need to go to the courthouse or archives in those counties to see. Where he was born might be in an obit or death cert for him - and his parents and birthplace might be on his marriage application or church register of the marriage - it all depends how far back you are talking about and where (less info the further back). Also there might be county history books that record contributed biographies and perhaps photos.

Old newspapers are usually on microfilm at the their local libraries. There are a couple databases that are putting some papers online - however I highly suggest you browse the names of the papers before you subscribe to any, as the locality of your family might not be included.

What I would suggest is that you get a book on genealogy in your state if possible, and check out a few from the library. And remember the major rule, start from now and work back - your grandmother's obit might have a story to tell.

Also go to rootsweb.com and check to see if your grandma or gr-grandpa come up in someone's posted tree or a forum. Also if your grandma and her sibling are still alive you might want to talk to them more, there are often little things that are remembered differently and one might know a lot more (esp a eldest or youngest).

For newspapers try the links below, start with the second one on the other two you might have to subscribe.

Good luck and good hunting