Every day we receive questions from our members regarding their family history searches. We are here to help!
Here’s a genealogy question we just received.
GenealogyBank Member Question:
My grandfather Hugh Cornwell was born in Prairie Grove, AR, 4/6/1883. I have been searching for a birth record for the past 20 years with no luck. Any suggestions?
“Ask the Genealogist” Response:
Arkansas vital records do not begin until 1914.
So, while you can possibly obtain a church baptismal certificate, you won’t be able to find a government birth certificate for your grandfather.
I found your grandfather’s California death certificate, which does give his date of birth along with the family surnames of his father and mother. His death certificate is available online on the FamilySearch website at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VPW3-9Q3.
There is another record for your grandfather in the 1900 census, which also states that he was born in April 1883. His census record is available on FamilySearch.org at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9PK-R7K.
Here is a third document with genealogical information about your grandfather: his World War II draft registration card, also showing that he was born on April 6, 1883. You can view your grandfather’s military record at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V48Y-54Q.
So, while you cannot get a formal birth certificate—here are three U.S. government documents, created over the past 112 years, that give his date of birth. That should be the evidence you are looking for.
Let’s see how we can help you make progress in your own family history research.
All the best in your genealogy research.
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