Indiana Adoption - Virgil Herbert Walker ID KVGW-FSH
My paternal grandfather was born in Brownsburg, Hendricks, Indiana in 1901. His birth father was Ora Clarence Gray. However, Virgil, is in the 1910 Census, living with his mother Daisy and J.M. Walker and is listed as son. Daisy was married to Ora in 1900 following the death of first husband William Gregg. From the time of the 1910 Census forward, Virgil's last name is listed as Walker. I am unable to find any evidence that Virgil was adopted by John Walker. Any suggestions on how I would find a record.
Answers
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Good luck....If it is anything like my family, they just start using the new surname and never bother with a legal adoption. In fact, there is only one legal adoption in my family that I know of....and they got his birth date wrong! He was born Aug 1909 and appears on the 1910 census, but the adoption papers say born Aug 1910! This type of adoption (a step-parent married to a biological parent) I don't believe is under the same adoption laws for locking the case. I would check the Juvenile court records. I have no idea where or how to get them for Indiana though. I have found numerous records of my grandfather being called before the juvenile court because he wasn't supporting his minor children. So apparently anything to do with children may show up there.
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Steve, I suspect that Anne is right that many times step-family adoptions just happened. I have seen many instances of name changes within my own research, and many were for family living in Indiana. during a similar time period to your grandfather.
I have followed one family that included a couple that both parents brought children into the marriage. The wife ends up widowed and repeats the process. It is not uncommon for kids to change surnames on census records. This might happen because the neighbor identifies the children and doesn't know their biological surname.
Indiana has opened their adoption records. I am not sure how this applies to people searching for parents or grandparents records. It might be worth a call to see if you could learn more about this. I would love it if you would share this information with this group. There may be others that would like to know whether Indiana adoption records would be accessible to descendants as well.
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In review the Indiana State Department Depart of Health website which includes information regarding adoptions. Information regarding an adoption may be requested by submitting a form for a review of records. I am uncertain whether I would be eligible to submit a request, but I have submitted an email explaining my situation and asking for a determination of my eligibility.
It is possible that as is the case of so many others in similar situations as my grandfather, that either he was not formally adoption and that his mother subsequent used the last name of Walker, or that my grandfather just went by the last name of Walker.
Standby for more updates.😎
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I have often found useful information by asking questions. If your request is denied, you might call and dig for information. Sometimes the clerks have been asked similar questions and they know what to suggest and are willing to do so. Other times, the clerks either don't know the answer or they don't want to help. I love it when I get an adoption friendly clerk that will give me clues or suggestions about where I might discover information that she might not be able to provide me. I can't wait to hear what you find out.
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