Locating an Ancestor's Place of Origin
by Theresa G. Gold, 10 October 1996

Some types of records are better than others in pinpointing the exact place of birth. For example, we know that U.S. Census records before 1920 show only the state or country of birth, not the exact town. However, 1900, 1910, 1920 have information about arrival and citizenship status.

Here are some suggestions about the types of records that might show where he or she was born. These are the records will want to locate anyway as you complete your family history:

• Family personal papers -- a Bible, letters, diaries -- and records the family may have brought with them, such as passports and church documents. If your family does not have these papers, try to locate any and all other descendants of this same immigrant. These papers may be in the possession of a very distant relative.
• Naturalization records, particularly the Declaration of Intention or "first papers"
• Other court records -- probate, guardianship, divorce, criminal, civil
• Passports, if they returned to the old country
• Death certificate
• Birth certificate for a child
• Church records -- confirmation, death/burial, marriage, baptism of a child
• Obituaries -- especially in foriegn-language or church-related newspapers
• Other newspaper accounts -- birthdays, anniversaries, advertisements for missing heirs
• Gravestones and cemetery records
• U.S. Military records -- pension applications, WW I draft records
• Organizations' records -- lodge, insurance, etc., also these groups' newspapers
• Passenger arrival records
• Emigration records -- Hamburg passenger lists, published records
• County or church histories or other publications where the ancestor may be mentioned

Once you find the name of a town, check where it's currently located and where it was located at the time of emigration. The town didn't move, but the political jurisdictions and the name of the town may have changed. If that town is not found in a current detailed atlas, look for a specific historic atlas of that country. For Germany look in Meyers Orts= und- Verkehrs=Lexikon des Deutsches Reichs (L.D.S. microfilm 496,640 and 496,641; fiche 6,000,001 - 6,000,029). Or send the name of the town to:

• Omega Translations
  P. O. Box 745
  Iowa City, IA 52244

with $10.00 per name and a SASE.

Then, you can see if records from that town have been microfilmed by the L.D.S. Or, you can write to the town registrar, church, or archives.

RECOMMENDED: "Research Outline: Tracing Immigrant Origins" from L.D.S Family History Library, item #34111, 75 cents. Order from:

• Distribution Center
  1999 West 1700 South
  Salt Lake City, UT 84104-4233

  or call 1-800-537-5950