Possible adoption

LoriBranham

I was on ancestry last year and found a birth record of a baby. The mother was my grandma and was only 15 at that time. On the birth certificate it says the father was in prison. I was wondering how do I find out if the baby was adopted. My grandma passed in 1996, she never told my mom she had him. He was born in Connersville, Indiana on April 6, 1931 was given the name Robert Raymond Whipple. He was born alive in the hospital. Which is why I think he was adopted as she had her other kids at home. I'm sure if he lived, he's no longer here but I just want to figure it out. Any help pointing me in the right direction is appreciated.

RobertWessel

@LoriBranham

The birth certificate lists the father as Paul Woodworth residing at State Reformatory in Pendleton, Indiana and appears to be an image of the birth certificate issued at the time of birth (note that the birth certificate was filed on April 28, 1931, just before the end of the month of the birth). The doctor probably filed birth certificates at the end of each month. If there had been an adoption, the state would likely have issued a new birth certificate with the adoptive parents listed as the parents and the original birth certificate would either be destroyed or sealed and not be publicly available. Your grandmother may have given the child up but the fact that an original birth certificate exists indicates that there may not have been a legal adoption.

I would search for a death record or for a Robert Raymond of the appropriate age living with a relative of your grandmother.

LoriBranham

I did search for a death record, couldn't find one on ancestry. The reason I thought adoption was he definitely wasn't raised with my mom and I found an article on newspapers.com that the father, Paul, went to prison for ****. He was in prison before the baby was born. Makes sense that he wasn't adopted out legally if I can see his original birth certificate. I'll keep searching, just wonder if he passed away as a child, but then again no death certificate. Thanks for your input, I appreciated it.

JeffreyBryant1

If he or a descendant has done a DNA test they would be a match to you. So I suggest DNA testing.

RobertWessel

@LoriBranham

DNA seems like a good choice. He could still be alive.

WKathleenM4

@LoriBranham

I would definitely search for a Robert Raymond of the appropriate age living with a relative of your grandmother.

seashe11s

@LoriBranham

A possibility -

Robert Raymond Huser (1931-1982) - Find a Grave...

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128865573/robert-raymond-huser

Born on 6 Apr 1931. Died on 22 Dec 1982. Buried in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

birth certificate https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2832803:60871

death certificate https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4617335:60716

many trees on Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/70906755/person/372352493303/facts

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GZJT-3PJ

WKathleenM4

@LoriBranham

I would check with the person who added the sources to him on family search. They may be able to give you more information. It does not seem likely that this man was adopted due to the order, range and age of siblings. Can you send a link to his other Birth certificate.