Hi! I am wondering if I might have found a record that indicates an ancestor's name was changed. I
I found a birth record index for an ancestor born in 1918. Several of the kids are listed there. One child, previously unknown, is on the index, a Perry Gordon Pedersen. His known brother, Willard Weldon Pedersen, is not on that birth index and I can't find a birth certificate. A draft registration gives his birthday as the same day the index gives his brother's birthday. Could his name have been changed later?
Thanks for any help!
Anne
Best Answer
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Yes, he could have changed his name and not bothered with the courts. That said, I'd be very careful and follow the paper trail to make sure these are not two different individuals. You need to resolve the conflicts in information before you can confidently say these are the same individuals.
A professional genealogist would research both families.
I just recently had to fix a mistake I made. I had Domenico Zito married to Maria la Peruta. Today I discovered a birth record with a note in the margin saying Domenico Zito married Maria della Peruta. The two men were born 1843 and 1849. I had birth records for both. I had no death record for Domenico Zito born 1843 but his parents did not match the 1849 Domenico Zito. I had a death record for Domenico Zito born 1849 and it said he was married to Maria la Peruta when he died.
So I had two Domenico Zito's married to Maria della or la Peruta and I had four children attached to the 1849 Domenico so I had to look closely. Domenico 1849 had two wives and I had a marriage date for the first wife. The children with Maria la Peruta were born before the marriage with the first wife but Maria la Peruta was alive after the first wife died. The children did not belong to this relationship and I had to move them to Domenico born 1843.
Further research is needed to determine if Maria della Peruta and Maria la Peruta are the same person and happened to marry men with the same name.
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Answers
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@annesampson annesampson
Anne
Question: WHAT "Country" (and, "Locality") for "Birth" is involved?
That, may help others, help you.
Brett
ps: Remember:
▬ 'FamilySearch' has Records from ALL around the World.
▬ And, is used by Users/Patrons from Countries/Unions ALL around the World.
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Thank you Brett. I guess I didn't want to feel like I was asking too much and have someone do it for me! If anyone wants more detail, here it is:
Williard Weldon Pedersen was born in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington on 20 July 1918. The record for his brother's birth is found here (hopefully the link works): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DT8L-BJPZ
Parents are Peder Pederson and Eva May Dadisman.
Thank you!
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@annesampson annesampson
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Anne
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Ask away ...
Ask as much as you want ...
Put as much detail in as much as you can ...
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That is what the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum is all about ...
Users/Patrons HELPING Users/Patrons ...
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As an aside ...
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I am "Tagging" this (General) 'Question' of yours in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, to two (x2) specific 'Groups' in the Forum being:
(1) "Western United States Research"
...... [ which includes, Washington (State) ]; and,
(2) "United States Genealogy Research",
in the hope that, the members of those groups may be able to answer/assist you.
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Both, those Groups, are "Public", which you can join, if you wish.
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Plus ...
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Take a look at the "Resources", for the 'Group' being "Western United States Research", found on the 'right-hand-side' of that 'Group'; as, it may give you ideas/links to somewhere you have not yet tried.
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Brett
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@Western United States Research
@United States Genealogy Research
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate you putting me in the right direction!
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@annesampson annesampson
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Anne
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Oh, I forget ...
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Short Answer to "Change" of "Name": 'Yes'
[ Or, even, "Name" on "Military" Records differing for actual (Birth) Name ...]
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I am from "Downunder" (Australia) ...
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But, I have Ancestors (from Scotland) who "Died" in Washington (State) ...
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While we were "Travelling around the USA, a few years ago ...
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I obtained "Certificates" from "Washington Sate Department of Health" ...
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Using their and Other websites ...
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Washington Sate Department of Health
Vital records
Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce Certificates
https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/VitalRecords
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Washington State Library
Vital Records in Washington State
https://www.sos.wa.gov/library/vitalrecords.aspx
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Plus ...
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The 'FamilySearch' "Wiki" ...
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Washington Online Genealogy Records
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Washington_Online_Genealogy_Records
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Washington Vital Records
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Washington_Vital_Records
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I hope these help ...
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Good Luck ...
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And ...
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As a further aside ...
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While I think of it ...
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I am ALSO "Tagging" this ( General) 'Question' of yours, in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, to the 'Group' being "Military Records", in the Forum; so that, the members of that group can answer/assist you.
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That Group is "Public", which you can join, if you wish.
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Brett
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@Military Records
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Thank you so much! I have definitely tried to find the documents, but haven't wanted to pay that much for them yet! Hahaha!
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Thank you so much! I know this is going to be a very tricky one to figure out! Do you happen to know where I would look if he or his parents legally changed the name?
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Here's a link how to change your name but that is for today. Note that it says most states will let you change your name just by using the new name. You can try the court in the area where he lived, but most likely, he just started using a new name. That's what happened with most of my family name changes. https://www.findlaw.com/family/marriage/how-to-legally-change-your-name.html
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Thank you!
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