Hit a brick wall - help? (find, search, free, surnames)
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I don't want to post too much info on the thread itself for privacy reasons, but I have a relative who I've hit a brick wall with.
What are some tips and tricks you can use to get past a brick wall?
Would someone care to private message me who enjoys helping with this sort of thing? I will share the name/info in a PM, just not on the boards. I'd really appreciate it!
I will share this much, in case there is someone else researching the same surnames: this relative is connected to Carter, Oynes, Wells, Green, Ivie, and Babb.
Well, why don't you tell us more about the situation, without telling us the names? What is it that you're trying to find, parents names? Vital data? What locations are you researching in? What time period? We might be able to point you in the right direction for where to look for certain records that might help you give us some more info, we don't need names unless we're going to go looking for the specific records ourselves.
I'm trying to find out what happened to this person towards the end of their life. I know quite a bit up to the 1960's, then this person just vanishes. I don't know cause or place of death or where they are buried. Locations could be Chicago, California (Los Angeles area) or Hot Springs Arkansas area (best guesses, anyway...).
The trouble you're probably having is that it's such a recent time period, a lot of records won't have been yet been released. Directories might be your best bet.
Yeah, that's super-recent. Maybe local libraries in those areas would have old telephone books and they could do a look-up for you? You could also find out the major newspapers in those cities and search (online or ask libraries) for death notices/obituaries.
I guess I've been lucky, for anything that recent I would just ask my parents about the person.
Did you try the Social Security Death Index? She'd have to be in there. At least you'd get a death date and maybe the place she died.
I'm trying to find out what happened to this person towards the end of their life. I know quite a bit up to the 1960's, then this person just vanishes. I don't know cause or place of death or where they are buried. Locations could be Chicago, California (Los Angeles area) or Hot Springs Arkansas area (best guesses, anyway...).
If it's a female, she may have remarried and if you don't know her most recent married name, the SSDI probably won't help you. But I do agree with the other posters about the SSDI.
Sometimes, you get lucky and they are listed in a city directory. I have a subscription to Ancestry.com and some newspapers. If you PM me, I could give it a whirl .
The last married surname I have for her is Green, which is part of the reason why I think I'm having such a hard time - it's soooo common.
I don't have a birth date, but I do have a birth year. I have checked SSDI but there are too many listings to know for certain which one is her (and no mother maiden name listed). The name is so common.
I am searching city directories and voter lists. That is probably my best bet right now.
Again, too many listings on Find A Grave to know which one is her.
Is familysearch.org a free site? I am already paying a monthly membership to ancestry.com.... I don't know if I really want to pay for another monthly membership site.
Thank you everyone for your help. I appreciate the suggestions.
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