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Question:My great grandma's mother was adopted. All I know is her adopted mother's last name. According to family there was a fire at the courthouse which burned all the vital records. Does anyone have any suggestions where I would need to go from here?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My great grandma's mother was adopted. All I know is her adopted mother's last name. According to family there was a fire at the courthouse which burned all the vital records. Does anyone have any suggestions where I would need to go from here?

You don't mention the possible locations for these people -- and that is key. You need to concentrate on the location in order to find records. If there are no courthouse records (and I would check into that a little more) perhaps there a library, historical society, newspaper, school, university, genealogical society in the county which has the information in other forms.

A genealogical society may have even attempted to regather or recreate the data.

The state archives MAY have copies of the records as well, depending on the timeframe.

Also, county lines often change. The current boundaries of a county weren't the same in the past. Records may be available in nearby counties.

If you edit your question to include the towns and/or counties, I'll see what I can find re: record availability.
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I'm still confused after I read your additional info. Could you please list:

Your grandma's name(s), dates, locations (unless she's still living)

Your great-grandma's name(s), dates, locations

and what you know about your great-great-grandma?

Also, if your great-grandma was Beatrice Beldon Sackett, then your great-great-grandma's MARRIED name would be Beldon, not her maiden name or her adopted name.

You haven't said which country you are asking this question from, you would need to include dates and names as well, remember don't include the names if the person is still living.
I found these for you which one of them is it if any,
1920 United States Federal Census
about Beatrice Beldon
Name: Beatrice Beldon
Home in 1920: Whitley, Moultrie, Illinois
Age: 21 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1899
Birthplace: Illinois
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Father's Name: Umrie
Father's Birth Place: Indiana
Mother's Name: Ida
Mother's Birth Place: Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Sex: Female
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 312
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Umrie Beldon 61
Ida Beldon 59
Beatrice Beldon 21
Blanche Beldon 19

I found this one as well,
1920 United States Federal Census
about Beatrice Beldon
Name: Beatrice Beldon
Home in 1920: Grassy Fork, Jackson, Indiana
Age: 4 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1916
Birthplace: Indiana
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Father's Name: Hugh
Father's Birth Place: Indiana
Mother's Name: Jessie
Mother's Birth Place: Indiana
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Sex: Female
Image: 129
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Hugh Beldon 33
Jessie Beldon 28
Howard Beldon 8
Beatrice Beldon 4

Could you let me know where Beatrice lived which state, and if you think any one of them are her.

Got a little confusing with the grandma / great grandma additional information you provided.

You stated that your grandma's mom (that would be your great grandma) name was Beatrice Beldon but that you didn't know her birthdate. You then followed that by saying your great grandma (same person?) was born in 1916. See the confusion.

Who was born in 1916?? Beatrice Beldon?? I did find a couple candidates named Beatrice Beldon in the 1920 census in Indiana and Ohio with birth dates abt. 1916.

All the grandma's and mom's got a bit contorted.