Tricky adoption help needed please

Wallace, Megan Anne

My paternal Grandmother, Bette Jane Maxwell Family Search ID#(​KWZS-29C), was adopted possibly out of Brookville P.A. through Catholic Charities around July, 1929. Family stories always suggested her adopted and biological father where one in the same. I'm lost and discouraged after 8 years of searching always coming up empty. It gets better as I found out last year my grandmother put a child, possibly a son, up for adoption herself. This child was the result of an extramarital affair. My father and Aunt somewhat remember child's father and pressure he was a Dr. The time frame would be somewhat close to 1955-1962, Hialeah, F.L. possibly Catholic Charities was involved in this adoption as well. I would love to know I had an Uncle out there somewhere! My Dad isn't in good health and would love to know about his half sibling. Thank you for any advice as I am worn out and out of resources.

Brett .

@Wallace, Megan Anne​ 

Megan

Due to the nature of your 'Question' ...

I am "Tagging" this (General) 'Question' of yours, to the 'Group' being "Adoption and Unknown Family Research", in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; so that, the members of that group can answer/assist you.

Brett

@Adoption and Unknown Family Research​ 

LegacyUser

@Wallace, Megan Anne​ 

 

Hi, Megan. Have you applied to the State of Pennsylvania for a noncertified copy of your grandmother's original birth certificate (OBC)?

In PA, adopted persons and their lineal descendants are eligible to receive this record.

From the site:

"If your [your grandmother's] birth record was registered in Pennsylvania, we will issue you a noncertified copy of your original birth record if our records confirm that an adoption was documented by our office. This document will include your [her] original birth name, birth date, county of birth, and name(s) and age(s) of birth parents."

This single document may answer all of your questions about your grandmother's beginnings, Megan. If not, it could certainly make your search efforts more productive.

Here is the link to more info and the application form,

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Adoptee.aspx

The Florida adoption search may be more difficult. Adoption records (including adoptee OBCs) are sealed in FL. There is a Florida Adoption Reunion Registry (FARR), however, you may not have enough information to successfully register. You can learn more about it here, http://www.adoptflorida.org/reunionregistry.shtml

If you get discouraged again, please let me know. I may be able to help further. Best wishes, Megan!

Wallace, Megan Anne

Hi Alice, Thank you for responding to my question. I haven't done that. I've just been scouring over records for years. I have no idea where to look other than court records, orphans court etc. I'll definitely follow through with your suggestion.

As far as Florida records, you're right! I cannot find a single thing with my limited knowledge of what I'm doing. Any help at all would just make my whole year!

Thanks so much again,

Megan​

X24 MOM

@Wallace, Megan Anne​  you may be able to find some info here: http://www.adoptpakids.org/SearchReunion.aspx

JeffreyBryant1

Relatives can also be identified through autosomal DNA, such as AncestryDNA.

Wallace, Megan Anne

Hi and thanks for responding. I have actually done DNA but only thru MyHeritage. I was involved in an adoption project to find relatives thru DNA and was chosen for it coincidently because of my search for my Grandmothers information!

Wallace, Megan Anne

Thank you for this link! These records are so confusing to me, I'm not sure why either!