How can I find out an ancestor's maiden name?

Question

Her name was Martha and she married samuel h. newkirk.She was born in tennessee in the 1840s and died after 1930 probably in etowah co,AL.

Iam trying to find out her maiden name.

thanks if anyone can help.

Answer 1

it should be on the marriage certificate if you can find that.   Or the death certificate.  Your local public library might be able to help you find some sources to check in the state of Tennessee

Have fun hunting.  Good luck.

Answer 2

The basic ways to find a maiden name are

1) Death certificate

2) SSN Application

3) Marriage record (Civil or Church)

4a) Find an in-law living with them in the census from 1880 - 1930, when they asked relations. Father-in-Law is ideal. Unmarried sister-in-law under the age of 18 is good too. Older than that and they might be using their married name and the "Single" is a mistake. Mother-in-Law will sometimes have a second, third or fourth husband's name instead of the wife's maiden name. Brother-in-Law might be the widowed husband of the husband's sister. Any in-law is a clue. So is a niece or nephew. Father-in-law is almost proof positive. (F-in-L might be a mistake, and he could be step-father in law.)

4b) Find the couple living with her parents on the census. It helps if it is the 1880 - 1930, and the relationship is "Son-in-Law", but if you find them when he is 22, she is 20 and the H-of-H is over 40, chances are good the H-of-H is her dad.

5) If the wife leaves something to "My brother, John Doe" in her will.

In your case I couldn't find anything. No relatives 1900 - 1930, and they eluded me on the 1880. If you can find James or Miranda's death certificate, it might have Martha's maiden name.

(Census entries AS INDEXED; I didn't read every one of them and transcription errors in th eindex are legion.)

1900: Cox, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T623 16; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 157.

Samiel h Newkirk 56  

Martha Newkirk 54  

Marandy c Newkirk 25  

James H Newkirk 23  

Samiel h Newkirk 20  

Hiarm Newkirk 16  

Jakney b Newkirk 13  

Mary B Newkirk 11  

1910: Cox, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T624_13; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 67

Samuel H Newkirk 63  

Marth E Newkirk 63  

Marand c Newkirk 25  

Mary B Newkirk 18  

1920: Cox, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: T625_15; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 105

Samuel H Mewkirk 71  

Martha E Mewkirk 69  

Maranda Mewkirk 43  

Minerva Lee 45  dau

James Lee 42  S-in-L

Carrie Newkirk 7  Gr-dau

1930: Curtiston, Etowah, Alabama; Roll: 16; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 58;

Maranda C Newkirk 40  

Martha E Newkirk 86  

Carrie B Newkirk 16

Answer 3

Have you posted your query on rootsweb.com, a free Q&A forum?

Answer 4

Maiden names are standard operating procedure.  It will be on a death certificate, assuming the person died at a time when those were required.  (those won't be, once you get into the 1800s).  Other usual places are obituaries, knowing who a male sibling was; funeral records, place of burial (ie in family plot); marriage record; birth certificates of her children (sometimes even their obits may have this).  You often will find that parents/ inlaws wind up living with married children in the census. Daughters can be named in wills or probate files of parents (you might find her husband is shown.. since at certain times, they owned any property on her behalf).

There are other ways, as well.  I am wondering, by the wording of the question.. if you have been locating documentation as you go along, or are only using family info. It sounds like you have not yet established the date of death, which is far more recent than her birth.. and this date should have a death record.  Like many genealogical items, it isn't guaranteed to be online.