I've had great success doing geneology for my family...for years. Until now...I'm STUCK!
I know all about a person who was born in 1865...his life, marriage, date of death, etc.
However, I am totally unable to find out who his parents are. All that I know is that they came from Germany, and he was born in Ohio.
Without birth records (weren't available at the time), or clear information on ANY of the images I have obtained, what is the best way to try to track down his parents?
Even the death records did not have the information, unfortunately.
2007-01-09 06:06:33 · 7 answers · asked by ♦♦pixiechix♦♦ 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
I think I got the information that it was not required (by law) to have birth records until some later time (1890's?), so I don't know where to even start looking for a birth record.
We've obtained the death record, which unfortunately did not list the names of his parents (by some fluke).
I've researched many of those websites extensively, but I really am hitting a brick wall.
Thank you all so much for your help, though. There are a couple of ideas I may try here.
Unfortunately, it was sort of a common name, so it looks like I will be kept busy for awhile!
2007-01-09 07:22:16 · update #1
Hey Pixiechix,
His death certificate should name his parents, as should the marriage and birth. There are several options open, I just don't know what you have tried.
Family Search? Actual Certificates (BMD) obtained from the state? Obits? There is the GENFORUM too, for a surname, and you might find someone interested in the exact same name there, maybe they have the information.
Cemetery Records too. You can assume his surname is his parents, and search immigration records too. Ellis Island is free, and if he was traveling with parents, they would be on the Manifest, if they went through that port.
2007-01-09 06:29:32 · answer #1 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have any information on when and how they came from Germany. Immigration records, shipping records, usually very good to obtain list of passengers and from what ship. This in turn will lead you to port of embarkation and go from there. I am stuck in the same manner, but mine were English and made it to America by serving in the Englis Navy and jumping ship in the 1700's I am still at the brick wall. Be leary of spelling, officials in those days were not the best writers and often changed the names of some people to fit the space or spelled it as it sounded, even dropping some letters along the way, specially if the person was foreign ( not english descent) as other languages were not written the same. Good luck in your research, just remember, the information is out there somewhere, you just have to find it.
2007-01-09 14:35:22 · answer #2 · answered by P.A.M. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was there a newspaper where he lived? Can you go thru old copies? I found an announcement of my great great great grandmother's 90the birthday by a fluke. It was in the same paper on the same day that had an account of my great great grandfather's (on the other side) death. Luckily we have strange names on both sides. For additional information I went to the cemetary where many relatives were buried and came up with a 15 year old boy who died with our name. We have no records of him and he's in an unkept grave. He must be ours but there is no record. Newspapers have tons of info. Look on those important days to see if there was any type of article or obit. Hope it helps.
2007-01-09 19:47:14 · answer #3 · answered by towanda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sources provided are good places to start and will likely be helpful in light of how much information you already have.
FamilySearch.com is free and has a lot of official information as well as many reader-provided leads you may find helpful.
Ancestry.com provides a great deal of information free, although a subscription is well worth the money for anyone looking to document their finds.
The 1880 U.S. Census is free on both sites.
2007-01-09 14:19:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They had birth records in 1865. Are you sure he doesn't have one? I'm not sure how you know that he was born in Ohio without it.
You know is surname, and you know that his parents came from Germany. Starting with the year he was born and going back about 20 years, check immigration records for others with that surname who settled in Ohio. It's a long way of doing it, but you might find them easily.
2007-01-09 14:16:00 · answer #5 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you thought about trying to track down his siblings? You also might want to try and find other relatives of that era. Also, if you know where he was born then you might want to see who the neighbors where because often they were related (but not all the time). Good luck.
2007-01-09 14:16:26 · answer #6 · answered by geglefty 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he should be on the 1870 census reports and that would have his parents listed.. same with the 1880 census reports..
2007-01-09 14:32:03 · answer #7 · answered by TC_43 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋