Help on finding an illegitamate father.
I have an ancestor named Caroline Jenette Sande born 27 May 1901 in Winneshiek County, Iowa to Sigrid B Sande (1880-1942) who was born in Norway. Sigrid married Henrik C Fadness (1879-1946) in 1911 (Caroline was 10) and he is listed as the father on her death certificate.
However, I found a confirmation record from 1916 (15yo) for a "Caroline Genetta Sande" born 25 May 1901 in the right church listing her parents as "Piga" Sigrid Sande and "Henry O Förde". On family search I found a Henry O Förde from the same area who would have been 18/19 at the time of her birth.
I also found an index birth record for a "Caralina Heneeata Forde" 27 May 1901 in Winneshiek County, Iowa with parents "Henry Forde" and "Sekre Sande". I can't really find these people existing outside of this record which makes me wonder if the original indexer just really messed names up.
Am I on the right track? What other resources can I check to be sure? Thank you for any help you can give!
Answers
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Can you provide an ID number for Caroline on FamilySearch so the documents can be examined? In the information about the document, does it say where the originals are? Are there images for you to look at or only indexed information? Also, please provide an ID number for the Henry that you found on FamilySearch.
You might try to go to the FamilySearch Wiki for Iowa here:
On the right side, there is a large menu of links to click on. At the bottom, you will find "Local Research Resources." Those links will lead you to local libraries, societies, government repositories, family history centers, and more. If you can see the original for the documents you mentioned, you may be able to contact the repository that houses it and see if they can validate the indexed information. I have done that before and have gotten amazing results. Sometimes, finding the original is the only way to verify information.
I would look at census records for Caroline, Sigrid, and Henry. Follow Henry and get more information about him. With his Norwegian name, you may search for immigration records to trace him further. Comparing the migration of Henry and Sigrid may help you see how often they were found in the same location.
I don't know if this was helpful information or not! Please provide more information as asked above so others can view these people on FamilySearch and get a more clear picture. What an interesting puzzle for you!
Tricia Hornbeck
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