Trying to locate birth record from Portsmouth, Virginia

William Farrell_1

Commonwealth of Virginia_Report of Divorce or Annulment_12 Oct 1967_Thomas James Singler_Lucille Maria Ennis.jpg

Hello,

I am trying to locate a birth record for Lucille Maria Ennis. According to a Virginia divorce record (attached) she was born in Portsmouth on 13 Jul 1935 but after looking through city directories, census records, and available birth records I've been unable to locate a birth record.

Lucille was an African American. She married a Thomas Singler in New York in Feb 1955 but they divorced on 12 Oct 1967.

I'd appreciate any guidance/suggestions to help me solve this.

thanks,

Bill

Bill Farrell

BRMiller

Family Search wiki for Virginia says you'll have to try to obtain a certificate from the state office. OTHER OPTIONS MENTIONED AT END.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/How_to_Find_Virginia_Birth_Records#Births_after_1913

Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:

To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:

       The person on the certificate

       The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate

       The spouse of the person on the certificate

       The child of the person on the certificate

       The sibling of the person on the certificate

       The legal guardian of the person on the certificate

       Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the birth certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.

*** The sentence above has a link "other records with birth information" that you can try. Good luck! ***

William Farrell_1

Thanks -- I did not know of restrictions. I wonder if a granddaughter would have legal interest? I'm helping someone research their family and believe the person whose record I'm trying to track down is a grandparent.

v/r

Bill

BRMiller

Bill,

The list of accepted relationships lists child, but not grandchild.

Since birth records are state records, each state can make their own rules.

Betsy

William Farrell_1

Thanks, Betsy. I may reach out to someone in the state government in Virginia and ask the question, even though I know what the likely answer will be.

v/r

Bill

Randall Jay Philpot

I noticed a listing for a Lucille Maria Lee (born Ennis) in Lucille Maria Lee (born Ennis) - MyHeritage Family Trees - MyHeritage with a death date of Oct 14 2011. It also lists former partners (Lee and Singler) and a daughter Francesa Denise Singler (1955-2018). A grandchild I believe is eligible to receive copies of a death certificate and possibly birth certificate if grandmother and mother are deceased. Just a thought.

I hope this information may prove useful.

William Farrell_1

Hi Randy,

Thanks for the information. That tree happens to be managed by Lucille's granddaughter and Francesa's daughter. Can she receive a copy of Lucille's birth certificate (from Virginia) and Lucille's death certificate (from New York)?

Thanks,

Bill