Help Finding Great-Great-Great Grandparents

kenionchristopherharvey1

Hello all,

I am new to this group, and hope that asking for help here is okay. I am glad to be part of this group and look forwards to participating! I also apologize in advance for the length of this post; there is a great deal of context and information that I feel I need to include in order to fully illustrate the problem.

My name is Kenion Harvey, and my maternal Grandfather was from Puerto Rico. My mother and I have been working over the last couple of years to find as many of our Puerto Rican ancestors as possible. I have run into a particular road block regarding my Great-Great Grandmother and her parents that is troubling me significantly to the point of wondering if the information I have is even correct at all, and was wondering if any here in this group would be willing to help point me in the right direction. 

The Context and Question: My Great-Great Grandmother was Evarista (Eva) Lopez de Rodriguez Estremera. I am trying to find information about her parents, who are listed on multiple birth certificates of Eva's children as Jose Rodriguez and Juana Estromera. What little information the certificates give indicate that both were from Lares (as was Eva), and that both had died by 1904, when my Great Grandmother's eldest sister was born. Where I run into trouble is this: Eva herself changed her age multiple times on census records, her marriage record, and the death certificate of my Great-Great Grandfather Marcial. These various ages she provided would place her birth year as anywhere between 1881-1892. Further troubling is that Eva's parents' names both change at least once: one of her children's birth certificate lists her mother as "Angela Estromera" instead of Juana, and two certificates change Jose's name: one to "Miguel Rodriguez", and another to "Antonio Rodriguez". I have tried finding Eva's birth certificate or index entry, as well as any records of the parents with the names provided, but have been unable to find anything concrete. I have also been unable to find Eva's death certificate and truthfully don't know for certain when she died, though I believe she died some time in the 1960's or 70's. She was at least alive in 1950, as she is listed in the Census as living with my Great Grandmother in New York.

I am having some suspicions as to whether or not the information I have been able to find is true, with regards at least to her parents' names, their birthplace, and perhaps even Eva's birthplace. My question is this - is it possible that she was orphaned and adopted, and if so, is there any possible way to find this information in Puerto Rican or Spanish records? Given the timeframe of when she was likely born, I know that she would have been a Spanish citizen at birth. I've perhaps even wondered if it was possible that she wasn't born in Puerto Rico at all, and that I've perhaps been looking in the wrong place. If it helps any: using DNA tests from me, my Grandfather, and my Grandfather's Cousin, we've been able to determine that my Great-Grandmother likely had more significant Spanish, Portuguese, and Basque ancestry (roughly 75% combined) in comparison to a smaller amount of African, Indigenous, and Levantine ancestry.

If she was not adopted, is there any other situation that may have led to inconsistent (or even non-existent) information about someone's parents and date/location of birth? 

Thank you in advance very much for any help, historical context, or guidance any of you have to offer. I am eager to dive deeper wherever I need to go to find not only my Great-Great Grandmother's parents and family, but also find the whole story of my Great-Great Grandmother herself as well. 

Thank you all!

PABulfinch

Hi, Kenion:

I have been working on family history for over 50 years. The census records can be a great resource for us; however, they are not consistent at all. Age, name, and place discrepancies are very common. I have a great-great grandfather whose birthplace was different on 3 censuses. Birthdates can vary up to 20 years, although it is generally 5.

With records being indexed, those errors have increased problems. My grandfather's birthdate was 24 Jan 1886. The 1900 census said Jan 1886. However, when you check some records, he got put in the 1887 year. So, when he entered the Navy, he was born in 1888.

Women frequently changed their birth year by 2 or 3 years on their marriage license in the 20s here in the United States -- I am not sure if that custom extended to foreign countries.

Men and women in Spanish countries do not take their father's name as their surname.

So, it sounds like you are being very careful as you review your records, which is wonderful!! Records CAN BE wrong!! Use common sense when putting what is on your records with what you know. It does not necessarily mean that the record is WRONG!! It just means the record is not entirely accurate. My grandmother's maiden name is misspelled--it should be Snell. They have Smell. That can really throw someone off the track.

Well, I hope this helps you, Kenion. Good luck to you. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you. PaulaAnn

kenionchristopherharvey1

Hello PaulaAnn,

Thank you very much for your response! I really appreciate you sharing these points, it is helpful and validating to know that inconsistencies in record information is natural. I will be sure to examine the records I find with that lens in mind, and try to look for valuable information I can still take from them. The bright side of various dates and ages, I suppose, is that it at least establishes the range of years to look for! :)

I will be sure to reach out if there is anything I need, and I am happy to help the community with any needs as well.

Thanks again for your help!