My great-grandmother died in 1922, and my great-grandfather left my grandmother behind with relatives, while he moved to California, possibly Santa Barbara. The last she knew of him, he had remarried, and then, he died in 1943, at about the age of 60. I have tried every geneaology site, contacted newspapers in CA, checked for online search engine hits, I just don't know. We are only trying to find out whether he had a second family with this other wife, as my grandmother would like to contact them if they exist.
2006-07-27 05:55:06 · 10 answers · asked by A B 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
As I mentioned, I have looked through every website, like geneaology.com and ancestry.com. I was hoping for someone to have a more obscure suggestion, but thanks for everyone's input so far.
FYI, his SSDI does list that he died in Santa Barbara, but its listed birth year of 1883 conflicts with the one that is calculable from his listed age in the 1920 census, 32 years. I can only guess that it might have been a typographical error that resulted between for the mixup between 1888 and 1883.
2006-07-28 00:23:42 · update #1
Oh, and my additional obstacle is that I am in New England.
2006-07-28 00:25:40 · update #2
go on the internet
2006-08-01 02:12:47 · answer #1 · answered by ... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is usually a paper trail for every person. If he married, there is a marriage license, especially since it was fairly recent (in genealogy the 1900s is recent). So, Marriage certificates for Stanta Barbara is one clue. The state of CA should also have records of marriages in the state.
His SSN is another clue. There are records of payments from companies that he may have worked for.
If he owned a home, there will be a Deed. When he died there should be an OBIT. The Obituaries and Cemetery records are a wealth of information - who survived him, where he lived, etc. You have lots of clues. His death certificate should show his Wife's name also, and last known address.
Tracing this down is detective work. Find the agencies that are the purveyors of these documents, then find out how you can obtain the right document, then follow through. Sometimes they cost a bit of money.
Once you know where he lived, and who his wive was, you should be able to trace back to her family. You will be given clues along your investigation. Recognize that every name you get is a path to many more records. Good luck!!
2006-08-03 09:30:00 · answer #2 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried contacting the public library in Santa Barbara? They probably have a genealogy section, as it seems that most good-sized libraries do these days. Based on the SSDI (assume its him until you can prove its not - that birthdate discrepancy sounds like a likely error) they may be able to find his obit.
Another possibility would be to look for the CA state genealogical society (seems that every state has one). They may be able to do the local research for you, either for a fee or if somebody needs research done in your area.
Have you tried the Mormons? They do have the best records. Since you've checked websites you've probably already been there, but I thought it was worth mentioning it.
2006-08-02 17:48:12 · answer #3 · answered by pag2809 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend looking for him in the 1930 United States Federal Census and also the California Death Index. He might also be in the Social Security Death Index. This would help you find out where he was living when he died (the death indicies) and also whether he was married and had other children by 1930 (the census). Sometimes you have to get very creative in searching for people, especially if they did not want to be found. May God bless and keep you.
2006-07-27 14:47:53 · answer #4 · answered by blowry007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The federal census for 1930 is available at most family history centers and libraries. I understand that it would be very tedious looking through the microfilms family by family, but that may the only way you will find the name of his second wife and their children. There are many things that are not listed in Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. unfortunately.
2006-07-29 21:48:28 · answer #5 · answered by correrafan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The public library in Santa Barbara could be helpful...do you know if it was the city of Santa Barbara or the County though? I live in Santa Barbara county and could possibly help :)
mateus805@msn.com
2006-08-03 20:29:16 · answer #6 · answered by upagnstthewall 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might try www.ancestry.com. They are a geneology web site with online access to various records, including cencus from hundreds of years back. You can also connect with other people, maybe even relatives looking for the same person. I think they even have a free trial.
2006-07-27 13:37:03 · answer #7 · answered by allison e 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ake a vacation to Salt Lake City, Utah. They have geneological records up the gazoo, said to be THE source for traceing such things.
2006-08-03 13:03:21 · answer #8 · answered by Beejee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Geneology.com They will give you social security records, Birth and Death records, Military records. Such as that. As long as you know the name and date and what city they went to you can search the social security records and you can find out what happened to them.
2006-07-27 22:03:54 · answer #9 · answered by Wanda R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check out your local library and do the research there for the the genealogy and the information you will need
thank you
2006-07-27 15:00:04 · answer #10 · answered by cooks delight 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋