Where are Delayed Birth Records Usually Kept?
I tried 15 years ago to find my grandfather's; I first tried the county he was born in and was told that it would be kept in the place where he lived when he first applied for Soc Sec. I tried them and they told me it should be at his birth county.
Please! Which one should it be?
(He was born in Nevada Co, AR in 1890, but lived for the last 22 years of his life in Fresno Co, CA.
I would also like to track down his sister's; she was also born in Nevada Co, AR - in 1891 - but lived in Shelby Co, TN for at least the last 40-something years of her life.
Thank you!
Answers
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Usually they would be issued and kept in the state where the birth occurred.
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Thank you very much! I suppose I could try calling again - or what do suggest as the best way to find out? (call, email, or write?)
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Since you already tried the county courthouse, maybe try the State Department of Health. Might want to wait until the Covid 19 crisis slows down a bit - I bet the health departments are swamped with calls right now! You can also check out the FamilySearch Research Wiki and learn more about the record keeping in the state.
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OK, thanks so much!
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@Loralee Wellington_1 It isn’t my understanding that all birth records are kept within the state/county in which the person was born ... however youd need to check with that place and find out when they started keeping birth records, some states keep them at the state Dept of health, some have them in the county records... most likely you’ll find the bc with the state or county archives division. if you’re willing to share the names and the parents names, county, dates etc there are lots ignorance very helpful and resourceful volunteers here who may be able to assist with your research. 😊
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@Loralee Wellington_1 the following information may be helpful: Statewide registration of births began in 1914 in Arkansas with general compliance by the mid-1930s. Births from 1881 thru 1913
In 1881, some Arkansas counties and cities, such as Little Rock and Fort Smith, began recording births. If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.
For births that exist during the time period, try the following database:
Includes Index OnlyArkansas Births, 1812-1965FamilySearch - Free; incomplete; index only
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I just did a quick search for Nevada county Arkansas 1890 using the link I posted above, there were matches so you may be able to find the indexed info there 😊
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Thank you very much X24mom!
I checked the index for both of them, with no luck - even with a blank 'Smith', which you'd think would bring up someone!
I'd be very grateful for some help, thank you!
Walter Wesley SMITH, born 7 Sept 1890 in Prescott, Nevada Co, AR.
Sister Mary Blanche Smith, born 15 Dec 1891
Parents: Frank M. (someone pointed out that he might be a Francis instead of Frank or Franklin, and that Francis Marion was very popular then... So maybe?...) and Mary/Mollie WILLIAMS. (1)
Half brother William Pugh MECKLIN -- Mary married Joseph Bingley Mecklin 16 Dec 1877, he died, she married Frank M. 1 Nov 1887, and he died 15 Nov 1894. (2)
According to all of the censuses that say where Walter and Blanche’s father was born, he was born in either:
SC (Blanche and Walter 1900),
FL (Blanche 1910),
AL (Walter 1910, although, they got Mary’s place of birth wrong on that one)
AL (Blanche 1920)
AR (Walter 1920), although they got Mary’s place of birth wrong)
AL (Walter 1930)
FL (Blanche 1930)
(1) On Walter's Death Cert, SS application, Pugh's Death Cert., and Mollie's death cert.
(2) On Mollie's pension application
Anything else that might be helpful?
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most all states have birth certificates at the state level - not county or city,
and normally a delayed one would be stored/accessed in the same way a non delayed one would be.
but if the person was born in 1890 chances are there is no birth certificate - delayed or original - as the year is too early.
most states only started in the 20th century with vital record certificates- and didnt go and retro-create them before that.
a delayed cert is usually a cert made in the 20th century- whereby for some reason the birth was not recorded when it should have been recorded.
also see:
https://lisalisson.com/5-things-learned-delayed-birth-certificate/
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Thank you for replying... My understanding is that people had to provide proof of their birth or being a citizen to get Social Security. Wasn't that the reason Delayed Birth Records existed in the first place - because they were born before the official record start date?
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That is why we had to obtain a delayed birth certificate for one of my grandparents. As I recall, an inscription from a family Bible was used for proof with affidavits from older siblings.
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I dont know all the facts - but I would have to think that to get SS there would be other forms of proof of birth besides a birth certificate (original or delayed) Im not sure just because a person has SS that such is proof they had an official birth certificate. But of course - yes - this was a major reason that many people did get delayed certs - Im just not sure it was the only way to get SS.
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That is also who I hope to find a DBR for - as well as his sister and brother. I have a very difficult set of circumstances to deal with in finding their parents...
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In Pennsylvania, I believe it is the Orphan''s Court, but that may be just that State.
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Thank you! I will pursue that idea!
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