Who out there is up for a challenge? I've been at this for almost a decade and have not found what I
The records for the birth of my 3rd great grandfather George Barnard are in-congruent regarding location. Some say he was born in New York and others says at sea. One US Census even says he was born in Pennsylvania. In some of the records George reported that his parents were born in England. Their names are never stated anywhere. Again, any help would be much appreciated. I have felt a great desire over the years to figure this out. Thanks, Jake
George Barnard
• 1850 US Census, Warren Illinois- birth abt 1822 Pennsylvania- He is living at this time with the family of Loretta Myers who would become the wife of his future brother in law Robert Smith.
• 1850 Illinois marriage records
• 1860 US Census, Spring Grove, Warren, Illinois- birth abt 1818 New York
• 1870 US Census, Monroe, Fremont, Iowa- birth abt 1819 New York
• 1880 US Census, Sidney, Fremont, Iowa- birth abt 1817 New York
• 1885 Iowa State Census- birth abt 1817 Atlantic Ocean crossed out and “Other countries” written in
• 1895 Iowa State Census- birth Atlantic Ocean
• 1900 US Census, Sidney, Fremont, Iowa- birth Dec 1816 At Sea and something else is crossed out
• Find A Grave- birth 1816 Aboard a ship in the mid Atlantic
• Iowa Cemetery Records- birth 27 Dec 1816
• Department of Iowa Grand Army of the Republic- birth 27 Dec 1816 Middle of Atlantic Ocean, Sailing Vessel, Hudson; Served in Mexican American War
Answers
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Hello, Jake,
I would highly recommend that you address your excellent and challenging question with the "Military Records" (U.S.) Group. They should be able to correctly steer you to the Mexican American Army records--including the muster book and/or pay rolls (which every soldier had to be paid, so records were--or should've been kept). Perhaps there are also applications and Soldiers' service records--perhaps and hopefully citing the parents names of George.
In case you haven't accessed the following ones already, here's a short-list of key record sources for which you will want to search:
- George' obituary
- his military and/or militia pension file (if any--he was in the army for the short duration)
- death certificate - often the later U.S. post-1900 certificates ask for parents' names--including mother's maiden name) but they don't always provide that detailed info
- diligently seek after a family Bible that might've been passed down, among distant relatives
- **have a DNA study done--if you haven't already. Online databases are continually increasing the numbers of contributors/participants, thus broadening the depth and scope (and success) ratios. I believe Ancestry.com offers tests where (now) you can share Results with one or more other DNA entities for ultimately even better results--for free
- search thoroughly the 1850 census (which provides names of each household inhabitant) of the general neighborhood of George Bernard--for any other 'B*rnard" families or individuals--and assume a possible connection between them and your George, until you've conducted research on everyone of them to ensure there is (or there is not) a relationship which might give you more evidence or clue[s] as to the birth origins of your George.
- Check the cemetery where George lies, to see if there are any additional "Bernards" in the same burial plot area which you may have not yet discovered, such as older headstones or markers; also, while you're at it, search the cemetery's office sexton records for clues regarding George's origins.
- Funeral home record for George
- Hospital records sometimes may give clue[s]
Again, the Military Records Group here on the Community Tool should provide you with some terrific direction from here.
Good luck in your continued quest to find George's family origins in England.
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Thank you Phil so much for taking the time to give a thorough response to my quest. I will check with the Military Records Group and complete the things on your list that I have not done yet. Thanks again, I really appreciate it.
Jake
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I know how frustrating a confusing search can be. I searched 20 years for birth records for my grandfather. I had his death certificate in Canada but he was born in London England. I finally enlisted the help of a friend in England and they sent me a copy of the telephone book pages for London, England that had the surname I was researching and the addresses. . I wrote to every person listed with my grandfather's surname and sent a self-addressed envelope (international stamps). It was amazing the responses I received. Finally found him! His death certificate had the incorrect parents listed, which is why I could not obtain a birth certificate. Just to note, I never could find him in the census records either. It turns out a great aunt was still living and one of my letters made it's way to her. She was my grandfather's sister, 85 at the time, and supplied me with all kinds of information and pictures. The point is, NEVER give up. There will always be a way. Good luck in your research.
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Thanks Donna. I appreciate your words of encouragement. I will not give up.
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@Military Records do you have any suggestions?
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When we @mention, we are referring a post to a different group. I noticed that Phil Dunn suggested that the Military Records group might be able to help with this question.
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Oh ok. Thanks. I already did post this question on the "Military Records" group. I will wait to see if anybody from Military Records has a response.
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Jake - I have spent some time on your request. There is a George Barnard from Illinois who served in the Mexican-American War as a Private in 1847. He served for a volunteer unit under the leadership of a Captain Reid. That's about all the record says, and it is found at https://www.fold3.com/record/641359192-george-barnard-private
This could be your guy, but unfortunately, it doesn't expand on anything you didn't already know, it doesn't look like.
There is also a Barnard, George R.A. who has a pension certificate, but no dates are given in relation to this roster of certificates. Do the initials "R.A." mean anything to you? This George was also from Illinois, a private, but served under a Captain Stapp.
Don't know if any of this helps.
- Glenn Whicker
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Thanks so much Glenn for taking time to help me. My 3rd great grandfather used the name George Richard Alfred Barnard in reporting on some of the census and other records. For a few days there Fold3 had a free membership and I did see the 2 records of "George Barnard" in the Mexican-American War. Not sure if they are both him or just the one with the R.A. I couldn't find any new info on Fold3 about George, but it is a site that I am not familiar with.
Thanks again for your help. I will not give up on this because I feel very strongly about finding his parents.
Jake
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@Jake Barrett Barnard i also take advantage of the “free” fold3 days, it can be a confusing site to search and navigate for sure! But it can also provide a wealth of information! I would just like to suggest that you search newspapers.com which has been my very best source for clues and information ... I’ve gotten so much further in my research by using newspapers.com than I have anywhere else ... I would offer to search for you but my trial ended a couple of days ago:( however if you sign up for the ancestry “all access” free trial, you get 14 days of ancestry, fold3 and newspapers.com... just be sure to choose the “all access” trial... and if you don’t want to get charged make sure you cancel before the 14 day trial ends good luck! 😊
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Have you tried ChroniclingAmerica.loc.gov? This is a free newspaper site and I have found some absolute gems at this site!
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Thanks for your response. I will try newspapers.com.
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I have never heard of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. I will check there as well. Thanks
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I love Chronicling America. You can set some filters for the state and the time period. Look around for advanced features. I would love to hear if you find anything useful here.
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Chronicling America sound like a great resource. I have added this site to my list of resources to use my in personal research for my ancestors.
Thanks @Carolyn Webber 😎
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I love that we can share good resources with each other. I love learnign from you as well!
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Thanks x24mom for checking back with Jake. I too would like to know if he has made any discoveries.
Jake, have you checked for County related books in GoogleBooks or Archive.org? Sometimes you will find a historical sketch about an ancestor (or about one of their relatives) that will give useful clues.
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Thanks for checking in on me. I did find some very interesting info. It's kind of long to explain, but I will try.
George Barnard lived in Fremont County, Iowa from at least 1870 until his death in 1908. I found 3 other Barnards in the same county in the 1870 US Census. Based on my research, I am convinced that these "3 other Barnards" are brothers with each other. They are all just younger than my grandfather George. In the 1870 Fremont County, Iowa "U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880" there is a "Geo Barnard" in the line right under another Barnard "Phil".
Anyways, Barnard is not a very common name. There are other clues that lead me to believe that these "3 other Barnards" may be related (brothers, cousins, etc.). These "3 other Barnards" were born in Kentucky. So, I am trying to somehow connect this together. I worked with the Family History Consultant in my ward yesterday and he was not able to provide any additional help.
If anyone wants to help me or answer some of my questions, let me know. I also have some questions about the DNA testing and how that might be able to help me. I have done the AncestyDNA test.
Thanks again for checking in. I appreciate it.
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Jake, you can ask your DNA related questions in the Genetic Genealogy group: https://community.familysearch.org/s/group/0F93A000000DHn0SAG/genetic-genealogy-research
DNA is a wonderful tool in any family history researchers toolbox. You can discover so much!
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Thanks Carolyn. I will check out that group.
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vieleicht können wir uns austauschen suche uropa frank Berk geboren 1888 in parciaki können sie mir helfen informationen zu finden
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I just wanted to give an update on the search for the parents of my 3rd great grandfather George Barnard. I have seen some miracles.
I went through my DNA matches one by one on Ancestry and found a match with a DNA tree showing Caroline Barnard born 1819 in New York. Based on my research, my ancestor George Barnard was born around 1816-1817 either in New York or on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean. So I decided to do more research about this Caroline to see if she was possibly a cousin or sister of George.
I found that in one census she reported her parents being from England, which is what George reported in the Census. Then, I found her (with her married name) living literally a few doors down from George in Warren County, Illinois in the 1860 US Census. At that point I was almost positive they were brother and sister.
I contacted the DNA match. He had a marriage record he sent me saying that Caroline Barnard was an orphan. He also had an obituary of Caroline stating that she had 1 living brother named George living in Sydney, Iowa. That is when I knew for sure that they were brother and sister. Pretty neat experience.
My guess is that George was an orphan like his sister. I am finding that orphan records that far back are pretty non existent. I will not give up though.
I asked the DNA match to upload his DNA onto GEDmatch, which he did. I did a DNA triangulation and found one person that matched both of us. She is researching her lines to see where she connects with me.
Just thought I would give an update. If anybody can think of anything else to help me, I would appreciate it. Thanks everybody for your help.
Jake
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Wow, Jake! That is just plain incredible! You are some sort of super-sleuth, using DNA to that degree of investigation. My hat's off to you, man! What a neat experience. Thank you so much for sharing it with us all! @Kendall One-Name Study & DNA Project @Midwestern Midwestern @Midwest
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