How can I find my grandfathers date of birth when I have little or no information?

Question

I am trying to research my paternal family`history,but have very little info,and no surviving relatives to ask.I have my grandfathers marriage cert dated 1899 which gives his age as 24.and his father name ,although his father was deceased by the date of the marriage.

Answer 1

If he was 24 in 1899 then you need to start a search in 1875,  that age would have been his age last birthday so try 1876 as well, the Birth index's can be viewed on line but also some local studies library's have them on Micro fiche, just a though but have a look on www.familysearch.org, you might just find a baptism record for him which should also give his parents.

Good luck and good hunting

Answer 2

If you have the marriage certificate your best bet would be to contact whatever legal authority issued the certificate. Chances are if it's a courthouse or something similar they may have more information. If you're really lucky he was married in the same town he was born in and you can get a birth certificate as well.

Answer 3

You know he was born in 1875. Have you tried going to the City where he was born and asking for public records from that time period? You might want to ask a professional genealogist.

Answer 4

I would suggest you look for your grandparents on the 1901 census ( you can do this by paying for units on several websites rather than paying a year's subscription if you can't afford it.) The census will tell you the place of birth. Then you can either try to find him on freebmd or in the St Catherines House records (available online if you pay for units or free at a Family History Library in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (look in the phone book for your nearest one). You can then order his birth certificate, but if you order it online make sure you go to the official registry office website (a certificate will cost around £7) as some websites charge up to £25 for a birth certificate.

Answer 5

If you are in the UK it's easier. You need to subscribe to Ancestry.com and then literally trawl all of the births for the few years he could have been born in.

Just incase you don't know:

Go to the BMD index. Select births. I would start with the obvious year, being 1875 and trawl the four quarters' records. If that doesn't come up with anything, then search the years around it.

You will have to put in his surname and you only need look at the names under that surname, unless there could be an obvious spelling mistake - like Forrester and Forester, in which case look under all variations of the surname.

That should give you the quarter your grandad was born in. Take the reference, then order the certificate from the General Records Office. It can be done online.

Good luck!

Answer 6

1899 less 24 = 1875.

What country was he born in would help.

if uk then try this free search site to look

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.p...

or if elsewhere

http://www.familysearch.org/

happy hunting

Answer 7

You can get a birth certificate with minimal information.  As long as you know where, approx year, father's name and name of person you are searching for then they should be able to find it.

I didn't have my greatgrandfather's date of birth but I still managed to get the birth certificate on the minimal info.

Good luck!

Look on this website.

Answer 8

UK answer.

I have ancestry.com world deluxe membership and I would be happy to do the search for you if you would like to post your grandfathers name and place of birth if you know it. You could also email me through my yahoo profile I will be happy to help no matter which way you decide.

Answer 9

Would it be worth looking at the 1901 census. It may help you put a few details in place ie where he was living at that time, dob, and so on. Just a thought.       Good Luck

Answer 10

If you have any idea where he was born you could search the births, deaths and marriage records in that town.

Answer 11

If you can get your great-grandfathers name then you can get his name.  but it may cost money because you will need a place like ancestry.com and it will give you your familys background.  you just need one name

Answer 12

have you looked on your parent's birth certificate, I think it will be on there.