Adoption records Virginia 1920
Sgt. Ernest Louis Pugh was born in Bella Vista Virginia in 1920, and was either orphaned or adopted. He was listed as Missing in Action in WWII on September 16, 1942, when his plane went down in New Guinea. In 2023, his plane wreckage was found, and human remains are present. There were 9 servicemen on this plane. The other 8 have blood relatives to give DNA in order to identify the remains, but we have no blood relatives for Sgt. Pugh. I have requested a birth certificate but am unsure if they will allow me to receive it. We have copies of military records, but no information about family is there. The only information that we have is a copy of his marriage license and US census from 1930 and 1940 when he was living with the "Walker" family for some reason. Any help that anyone can provide regarding this matter is greatly appreciated. For more information, please look him up on Find a Grave and see all the information that we have posted. Thank you in advance!
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@BarbaraKing64 Barbara, this is a great place to get help as there are over 800 people in this Group.
Have you tried any AI searches to find resources that you can use? I have to say that getting information on ancestors is more difficult than for yourself.
Good luck in your search!
David
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@BarbaraKing64 ChatGpt gave these instructions on how you might proceed.
1. Check Official Records from His Lifetime
Start with all known information and expand:
a. Birth Records (Bella Vista, Virginia, 1920)
- Virginia began statewide birth registration in 1912, so a birth certificate might exist for Ernest Louis Pugh.
- If he was adopted, the certificate may list adoptive parents, but an original birth certificate might still be retrievable through court petition or state archives (if legally permissible).
b. Census Records (1930 and 1940)
- Look up Ernest Louis Pugh in the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Censuses to see:
- Who he was living with.
- Whether he was listed as a son, adopted son, foster child, or boarder.
- Location and household members.
c. Military Records
- WWII enlistment records may list next of kin, place of residence, and birth information.
- Obtain his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) from the National Archives (NPRC, St. Louis).
- Look for:
- Beneficiary designations (life insurance, emergency contact).
- Application documents that might include a birth certificate or information on family.
2. DNA and Genetic Genealogy
Since no living blood relatives are known, genetic genealogy may be the most powerful tool available.
a. DNA from Remains
- If the remains believed to be his can yield viable DNA, that DNA can be used for Y-DNA, autosomal, or mtDNA matching.
b. Upload DNA to Public Databases
- Once a profile is created (by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, for example), it can be uploaded (with permissions) to:
- GEDmatch
- FamilyTreeDNA
- Possibly MyHeritage and Ancestry (with cooperation)
- This could identify cousins, even if distant, which can lead to identification of his parents through family tree triangulation.
c. Use Forensic Genealogists
- The U.S. military has partnered with organizations like Identifinders International or Parabon NanoLabs to conduct this kind of work.
- These experts build family trees for DNA matches to narrow down parentage.
3. Newspaper Archives and Orphan Records
- Look for adoption notices, obituaries, or local news around Bella Vista, Virginia.
- Search for orphanage records or court records if available.
- He may have been placed with a family after being orphaned.
4. Possible Steps Forward
- Contact DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency): They likely have taken custody of the remains and will be attempting DNA identification.
- If you’re a potential relative (even a descendant of a sibling, cousin, etc.), contact them.
- If you're trying to help with this identification, a crowdsourced effort or family tree building for Pugh families in Virginia circa 1920 might help.
Summary:
As of now, no confirmed biological parents are identified for Sgt. Ernest Louis Pugh, but these methods can help:
- Search birth, census, and military records.
- Use DNA from his remains to create a profile.
- Employ forensic genealogists to identify relatives through DNA matching.
- Explore Virginia orphan or adoption records if available.
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@David A Wilson The military wants to do the DNA backwards. They want the family to give DNA samples so that they can match up the remains that have been found verses giving anyone any DNA on remains found. It is very frustrating. I am still waiting on the birth certificate, so I am hoping that this will be the key to finding blood relatives to submit DNA. Thank you for all of this helpful information.
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@BarbaraKing64 You are welcome!
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