16
votes
Accepted
Why would someone born in the U.S. file a petition for naturalization?
The crucial question here, for the women who married alien couples, is when did the couples marry? Between 1907 and 1922, women who were US-born lost their US citizenship when marrying a foreign (aka &...
- 25.4k
16
votes
Accepted
What does VSP mean in the book The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783?
The book 'The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783'' by David Dobson is also available on archive.org. Abbreviations are listed at the beginning of the book, but as you observed, VSP ...
- 5,165
14
votes
11
votes
Accepted
What is the teacher's last name?
The teacher's name is Elizabeth Ullrich.
From the report card, we can see that the school was in Rhode Island. There is a report titled RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL REPORT, prepared for the Rhode Island ...
- 5,165
10
votes
Accepted
Does a bequest of $1 or "to be paid on their demand" mean it is a minor child?
This answer is based on my experience with English probate records. While the probate process in the British colonies differed from that of the colonial power, the process was no doubt modelled on its ...
- 18.7k
9
votes
Accepted
What do these extra numbers mean on this ship manifest?
Adrian is correct -- as he suggested in the earlier answer, we can find some clues in Marian L. Smith's Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations.
Let's look at the two lines you are most ...
- 25.4k
9
votes
Two ships, two manifests, same passengers?
Entries on passenger manifests were lined out when the passengers did not sail, were changed to a different class of travel, or did not embark or disembark at the port stated on the manifest header.
...
- 25.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Is Unregistered Death possible after 1900 in U.S.?
An article at ohiohistory.org seems to have some clues as to where to look, and has some general information on the requirements in Ohio at that time. It appears your relative may have died during a ...
- 818
9
votes
Were bodies shipped overseas to be buried?
It would have been very uncommon, if it ever happened, in the 1600s. And if it did happen, I imagine it would have only have been for a person of significant wealth or importance.
The journey across ...
- 18.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Identifying numbers on the United States Immigrant Identification Card
The immigration visa number (8) is the number used to account for visas issued by the US Department of State at each consulate. This one is the 8th visa issued by the consulate at Stockholm for that ...
- 146
8
votes
Seeking list of Jewish Cemeteries in the USA
Your best bet is to check the International Association of Jewish Genealogy Societies: IAJGS International Jewish Cemetery Project.
On their United States Page, they have almost 1400 Jewish burial ...
- 16.7k
8
votes
Evaluating birth year when different on SSDI and gravestone?
My first question in response to this would be why you are settling for only two sources that give direct evidence about when your research subject was born, and trying to decide which of them is more ...
- 25.4k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of the handwritten notation on the pension record of Charles Clements?
The descriptive pamphlet for NARA microcopy publication T718 is a reproduction of its entry in the print catalog of microfilm publications. It contains a roll list and a brief description of the ...
- 25.4k
7
votes
Accepted
What uniform is this (US Army branch, where and when)?
The uniform is from the time around World War I (see, for instance, World War 1 Uniforms and US Enlisted Uniforms 1900 - 1918: Part 2: Uniform Patterns (Enlisted) Army).
The uniform style doesn't ...
- 3,877
7
votes
Accepted
What year does this toy tricycle appear to be?
I had a quick look for the tricycle. I found a few similar ones on ebay and such, without any firm date information. The most useful example appears to be this auction for an "Antique Vintage ...
- 4,427
7
votes
Death before certificates were issued statewide in Georgia?
Georgia registration of deaths statewide began in 1919 and was generally complied with by 1922. But there may be records at the local level. Unfortunately, marriage records in Georgia didn't record ...
- 25.4k
7
votes
Accepted
1882 Local News Item -- What Does "in the shade" Mean?
What an interestingly-written column…
A fairly quick search for "laid in the shade" doesn't bring much up. The common result is the literal interpretation of people or animals taking shelter from the ...
- 4,427
7
votes
Accepted
Deciphering part of 1799 probate from USA?
The "widow's third" was a portion of a man's estate guaranteed to his wife after his death, regardless of what his will stated. This excerpt from "Material Culture in America: Understanding Everyday ...
- 4,427
7
votes
Accepted
Where is (was) the Mormon Post Office in Utah Territory in 1860
The easy way to find census locations on a map is to consult William Thorndale and William Dollarhide's Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1920 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, ...
- 25.4k
7
votes
Accepted
How to help adoptee find her father without outing him?
You should be very, very, careful with this. My alarm bells are set off, because despite the emphatic denial of your father's second cousin, he is still a strong candidate. He could know and not want ...
- 16.7k
7
votes
What year to record for info discovered in annual City Directories?
Don't just look at the alphabetical listings -- examine the entire directory for clues.
The best internal evidence I have for the lead time so far is in some of the Price and Lee directories from New ...
- 25.4k
7
votes
Was this common usage of "mother-in-law" in late 19th century in US census?
Consider that the "mother-in-law" could actually be a stepmother. It would not be unusual for those two terms to be used interchangeably.
Also consider that mistakes happen, and it may not ...
- 18.7k
6
votes
What uniform is this (US Army branch, where and when)?
Well, building off of Robert Shaw's answer, it appears to me that the person in the photograph is wearing a Type I unit disk, which puts the photo somewhere between 1910 and 1937.
According to both ...
- 863
6
votes
Resources for researching family from Greene County, Tennessee?
Try to look on this problem as an opportunity for learning something new instead of a roadblock to overcome. You can't find your person in the 1840 Census because it doesn't list him by name. What ...
- 25.4k
6
votes
Tracing Japanese ancestor who immigrated to Hawaii?
It sounds like you have a fascinating heritage in your grandmother's family. The best advice I can give is to start with what you know and work systematically back, step by step.
Since you do not ...
- 18.7k
6
votes
Meaning of job recorded as "USAF – AFSC#29430"?
If I am not mistaken this speciality code used for Airman who were linguistic experts working for the A F Electronics Security Command. The majority of whom I met, worked within top secret facilities....
- 61
6
votes
Accepted
Finding records of Berlin Airlift Service by a Whitehead?
The "Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation" have a website with a fair amount of information. That includes "The Men Who Participated". That has a list of units that were involved, only some of which ...
- 4,427
6
votes
Meaning of "Map" as birthplace on NY 1855 Census?
Historically, the letter "s" was often written more like a tall, looped "f", and a double "s" could look like "fs", or "p" if close together. So I'd guess this is "Mass", i.e. Massachusetts.
It's ...
- 4,427
6
votes
Records of miners in the California Gold Rush?
When we can't find a person in a collection of historical records, or don't have enough information to know if it is our ancestor or not, it helps to widen the search -- and the same is true for ...
- 25.4k
6
votes
German POWs in Camp Upton and Fort Dupont
The Delaware Military History organization may have some useful material, including pictures and camp activity reports and newsletters.
The National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) has basic ...
- 226
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