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How to Find Your Grandfather’s Birth Records Online

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Who is my grandfather?” If so, you are not alone. Every day we receive hundreds of questions from our members regarding their family history searches. Many of these inquiries are just looking to find any references that can give them a glimpse of their grandparents past. At GenealogyBank, our sole focus is to help you get closer to discovering your family history.

Thousands of Americans go through life wondering,”who was my grandfather?” and search for more details about their heritage. If you can relate to this, take the initiative today, and reveal the truths of your family’s past. At Genealogy Bank, we are here to answer life’s simplest questions, including; Who were my ancestors? How can I find my grandad? What are their stories and how did it lead to me? With just minimal information, dive in deep to our historical resources and unfold the truth behind your lineage.

You deserve to know what makes you the person you are today. That’s why we strive to uncover your history and help you connect the dots. You don’t have to go through live longing to know your undiscovered past. The time to find out who is your grandfather is now. Let us help you identify what makes you, you.

To illustrate exactly how we have helped our clients, here is one of our many cases that we’ve been able to solve.

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.

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.

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 online at FamilySearch.

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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