How would I go about finding out who my real great grandfather was? My mother says that my great gradmother?

Question

worked for a wealthy family and that one of the sons was my grandmother's father. Although on her birth certificate another man's name is listed. My grandmother looks white and does not resemble her other half brothers or sisters. Where do I start? Plus I beleive that my grandfathers both have indian blood - I would like for my children to know about their heritage but I dont know where to begin? Any advice?

Answer 1

You would need to do a family tree on that family.  You will also need to check out your grandmother's birthday. & the guy she had to marry.

and do some checking on the likely suspect.    

Start with www.rootsweb.com to start tracing your roots.

Answer 2

Your first step is to take a deep breath, and see if the living sister will talk to you.  Since you mention that there was fondness, it is POSSIBLE that she knows the truth and may be willing to discuss it.  I am putting this first, due to her age, and the fact that she may be the only person able to answer your questions.

I would also contact one of the companies that does dna testing.  Normally, I don't lean to this.. but it may be possible for someone desc from your grandmother, to test and compare to someone from this other family.  Again.. that will depend on the feelings of the above sister.

As for the other ancestors.. those born prior to 1930 will normally show up in census records, which includes racial designation.  You still need to start within more recent family, collecting such items as birth/ death certificates, etc. ALWAYS ALWAYS work from the present back.. and use reliable records, since memory is good, but also fallible. If you confirm each connection as you go back, you run less risk of having errors.  Too many people try to "jump" way back, without documentation, only to have their research fall apart.

If you would like.. you can send me some of the names related to the family you suspect, with a time frame and location. I'll do a bit of searching in ancestry.com for you.

Answer 3

You are caught in a dilemna of immense proportions>  

1.  What state was this in?  It couldn't have been too long ago; as my great grandfather was born in the late 1800s and I am 67.

2.  Plantations kept meticulous records and if they were on a plantation after the civil war there should be records.

3.  Find the records of the family they worked for, and trace the children of that family; when you come to the sons in that family, look for birth certificates with that name, or death certificates with that name.  he may have lived long enough to be registered for social security, in which case check the name on the social security death index.

good luck.