Chula Vista (CA) Genealogical Society Meeting on Wednesday, 28 May Features Kate Penney Howard

 Wednesday, 28 May 2025, 12 noon PDT 

Chula Vista Genealogical Society 

General Meeting (in a Zoom Video Conference) 

"Adoption and DNA"

by Kate Penney Howard

Kate is a Genetic Genealogist. She is a full-time pastor, wife, and mother. She is not an adoptee or NPE, but her generous spirit and talent for interpreting DNA started her down the path of helping others identify their stories. She began by helping a cousin, then a friend, then a friend of a friend, and it snowballed from there.

She volunteers to do Search Angel work out of love for others, and a desire to bring healing and wholeness to them. She loves learning about different places and cultures, and she feels that through this process, she becomes a part of each person’s family who blesses her with the opportunity to become part of their story.

Kate is not only compassionate and caring she has a wonderful sense of humor. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, canning, and DIY projects. She lives with her husband, Preston, her Weimaraner Lucy, and her Roomba, Rosie. 

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PLEASE REGISTER for this event on the CVGS website (https://chulavistagenealogysociety.wildapricot.org/event-6100771). An event email and reminders will be sent to all CVGS members the week before the event.  A confirmation email will be sent to all those who register with the Zoom link and the last email reminder will be sent on Wednesday morning of the event.

Attendance is free but only 100 Zoom seats are available, so please register soon.

This program will be held online using the Zoom video conferencing platform for Meetings.  It will be hosted by CVGS President Terri Seat.   Contact presidentofcvgs@gmail.com if you have problems or register too late for the email.  

Please note that the meeting starts at 12 noon Pacific Time (3 p.m. Eastern time, 2 p.m. Central time, 1 p.m. Mountain time). The Zoom Meeting room will be open by 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time for visiting and helping attendees connect. The speaker handout and the program recording are available to CVGS members for one month after the event on the website. 

NOTE: The Chula Vista Genealogical Society offers an annual membership of $30. Besides the monthly General Meeting with a program speaker on the last Wednesday of each month, there is a monthly Research Group meeting on second Wednesdays on Zoom hosted by Randy Seaver at 12 noon Pacific time, an in-person Education meeting on third Tuesdays at Bonita-Sunnyside County Library in Bonita, Calif. at 1 p.m. Pacific time, and a DNA Interest Group meeting on third Wednesdays on Zoom hosted by Randy Seaver at 12 noon Pacific time. There is also a monthly 8 page email newsletter with  program announcements and recent genealogy news.

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Disclosure:  I am a lifetime member of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society, a former Treasurer (2003-2004), Vice-President Programs (2005-2006), President (2007-8), and am currently the Research and Queries chairman (since 2003) and Newsletter Editor (since 2009).

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/05/chula-vista-ca-genealogical-society.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  All comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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"It Could Happen To Me" Revisited - AI Analyzes Why the Birth Facts Were Hidden

 I wrote "It Could Happen To Me" -- A Sad Family Tree Story (it is AI-assisted historical fiction, not anyone's real story) and received a comment from Barbara saying:  "... it leaves me wondering about the foundational lie. Why were the facts of his birth hidden from him? Did a parent, aunt, uncle or other living relative have answers?"

(image created by X Grok 3 AI tool)

I went back to Google Gemini 2.0 Flash and asked the question.  Here is what Gemini suggested:

The story doesn't explicitly state why the facts of Elias's father, Arthur's, birth parents were hidden from him. However, we can explore some possible reasons based on common scenarios in genealogy and family secrets:

Possible Reasons for Concealment:

• Adoption: Arthur may have been adopted, and the circumstances surrounding the adoption could have been kept secret due to social stigma, the desire to protect Arthur, or a closed adoption process. 

• Out-of-Wedlock Birth: If Arthur was born outside of marriage, this was often a source of shame and secrecy in past generations. The parents might have concealed the truth to avoid social ostracism or protect the child's reputation. 

• Traumatic Circumstances: Arthur's biological parents' situation might have involved trauma, such as death, abandonment, or difficult social conditions, leading those who raised him to shield him from the painful truth. 

• Misattributed Parentage: There's a possibility that Arthur himself was unaware of his true parentage, perhaps raised by a stepfather or another relative who was assumed to be his biological father. 

• Desire for a "Normal" Family: Those raising Arthur might have wanted him to feel like he belonged to a traditional family unit and chose not to reveal a different or more complex reality. 

• Family Shame or Scandal: The circumstances of Arthur's birth might have been tied to a family scandal or a situation that relatives wanted to keep hidden to protect the family's reputation.

Likelihood of Living Relatives Having Answers:

It's highly likely that a parent (if still living), or other close relatives such as aunts, uncles, or older cousins on his father's side could have had answers, depending on when and why the information was concealed.

• Parents: If Arthur's biological parents were still alive, they would undoubtedly hold the most direct knowledge. However, they might have chosen to maintain the secrecy. 

• Aunts and Uncles: Siblings of Arthur's biological parents or the relatives who raised him might have been privy to the truth, especially if they were involved in the circumstances surrounding his birth or upbringing. 

• Older Cousins: Depending on the family dynamics and the timing of the concealment, older cousins might have overheard conversations or been aware of family secrets.

Elias's Next Steps:

Elias now faces a complex and potentially emotional journey. He has the factual evidence from the DNA and records, but understanding the why behind the secrecy will likely require reaching out to living relatives on both the side he thought was his and the newly discovered side. This could involve delicate conversations and the potential uncovering of long-held family secrets.

The sadness of Elias's initial discovery might be tempered by the opportunity to learn more about his true heritage and the reasons behind his father's unknown past. However, it's a path that requires sensitivity and understanding.

I like the bullet points in the explanation -- they are all plausible scenarios.

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page.  Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is: 

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Ask AI: "What Is the Research and Documentation Process for Solving a Private Adoption Case Using Genealogy Records and DNA Testing?"

 The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT4, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta, CoPilot, GenSpark and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.

1)  I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with information about the process to research and document a private adoption.

(image created by ChatGPT4)

Here is my prompt for ChatGPT4:   What is the research and documentation process for solving a private adoption case using genealogy records and DNA testing?  Please provide a sectioned response and expand the descriptions with much detail. 

2)  The free ChatGPT4 response, after a prompt for more detail, to the request was:

Research and Documentation Process for Solving a Private Adoption Case Using Genealogy Records and DNA Testing  

Solving a private adoption case requires a combination of traditional genealogical research, DNA testing, and meticulous documentation. Below is an in-depth guide to each step in the process.  

1. Gather Known Information 

Before using DNA or records, compile everything already known about the adoptee, adoptive parents, and any possible biological family clues.  

A. Personal and Family Records

1. Adoption Papers (if available)  

• Some adoptions were closed, meaning records are sealed, while others were open, allowing access to information.  
• Adoption decrees may list birth names, adoption agency details, or court locations.  
• State laws vary—some allow adult adoptees access to original birth certificates (OBCs), while others require court petitions.  

2. Birth Certificate  

• If available, check if the certificate is **original or amended**.  
• Amended certificates list adoptive parents, but original ones (if accessible) may list birth parents.  
• Some states allow access to OBCs upon request, while others require legal action or biological parent consent.  

3. Family Stories & Heirlooms

• Relatives might have letters, notes, or photos that provide clues.  
• Heirlooms like old Bibles, baby books, or jewelry sometimes include family names or origins.  
• Even small details, such as unusual names or locations, can provide crucial leads.  

4. Obituaries & Newspaper Articles

• Search for obituaries of adoptive parents, as they may list “survived by” names that hint at biological relatives.  
• Newspapers sometimes publish adoption notices, particularly in older cases.  
• Birth announcements may exist, especially in small-town newspapers.  

5. Medical Records & Ancestry Clues  

• If available, medical records may mention hereditary conditions common in specific family lines.  
• Some hospitals kept records of births before adoption—these might still exist.  

B. Social & Governmental Records

1. Court Petitions & Sealed Records

• Some states allow access to sealed adoption records through legal petitions.  
• Contacting the county court where the adoption was finalized may provide details.  
• Check if mutual consent registries exist, where birth parents and adoptees can reconnect.  

2. Social Security Applications

• If the adoptee later changed names, Social Security records might reveal previous names.  
• Requesting a Numident file from the Social Security Administration can provide valuable clues.  

3. Church & Baptismal Records

• Some churches recorded biological parent names in baptismal records.  
• Catholic and Lutheran churches, in particular, often kept detailed records.  
• Contacting the church where the adoptee was baptized may yield useful leads.  

DNA Testing and Analysis

DNA testing is one of the most powerful tools in adoption searches, helping identify relatives even when no paper records exist.  

A. Choosing the Right DNA Tests 

1. Autosomal DNA (atDNA) Testing

• This test examines genetic material from both parents and is effective for finding close relatives (1st to 4th cousins).  
• Recommended companies:  

  AncestryDNA (largest database, best for genealogical research).  

  23andMe (detailed ethnicity and health insights, good for finding paternal/maternal sides).  

MyHeritage** (strong international database).  

FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA)** (offers Y-DNA and mtDNA in addition to atDNA).  

LivingDNA** (strongest focus on British ancestry).  

2. Y-DNA Testing (Male Lineage Only) 

• Males can use Y-DNA to trace direct paternal ancestry.  
• This test identifies surname patterns, which may help in adoption cases where the father’s identity is unknown.  

3. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Testing

• Both men and women inherit mtDNA from their mother.  
• Less useful for adoption cases but can confirm deep maternal ancestry.  

4. Ethnicity Estimates & Migration Clues

• Though not definitive, ethnicity results may help narrow searches, particularly if they reveal unexpected ancestry.  
• Some DNA companies show “genetic communities,” which can pinpoint specific regions where birth families may have lived.  

B. Interpreting DNA Matches

Once DNA results are received, analyzing matches is crucial.  

1. Sorting Matches by Relationship Strength

• Focus first on **close matches (1st–3rd cousins)**, as they are most likely to provide direct leads.  
• Use the **Shared Centimorgan (cM) Project** tool to estimate relationships (DNA Painter is useful for this).  

2. Identifying Maternal vs. Paternal Lines

• If one known parent has also tested (or a relative from that side), matches not related to them must be from the unknown biological family.  
• Tools like **Leeds Method clustering** help sort DNA matches into maternal and paternal groups.  

3. Building Mirror Trees

• Build family trees for close DNA matches and identify common ancestors.  
• Use records (census, birth/marriage/death) to connect DNA matches to potential biological parents.  

3. Traditional Genealogical Research

Even with DNA, traditional genealogy is essential for solving adoption cases.  

A. Census & Vital Records  

• Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates: Help confirm names and relationships.  
• U.S. Census Records (1850-Present): Look for families living in the adoptee’s birth area.  
• City Directories & Land Records: Identify potential relatives based on addresses and property ownership.  

B. Adoption-Specific Research Strategies

• State Adoption Laws: Some states allow adult adoptees to request original birth certificates.  
• Orphanage & Foster Care Records: Many states kept records of children placed for adoption.  
• Guardianship & Court Documents: Even sealed adoptions sometimes have accessible legal paperwork.  

C. Newspaper Archives & Social Media

• Newspapers: Search for birth announcements, adoption notices, and obituaries.  
• Social Media: Searching for surnames from DNA matches can help identify birth families.  
• Facebook Groups: Adoption search communities often provide valuable research support.  

4. Confirming and Documenting Biological Family

Once potential biological relatives are identified, verification and documentation are essential.  

A. Contacting Potential Relatives

• Approach Gently: Not all birth relatives will be receptive to contact.  
• Be Prepared for Rejection: Some may not want to reconnect, while others may be eager to establish relationships.  

B. Documenting Findings

• -Research Logs: Keep track of sources and findings.  
• Building a Family Tree: Organize relationships and evidence.  
• Legal & Ethical Considerations: Respect privacy and consent, especially with DNA testing.  

5. Final Steps: Reunion and Emotional Considerations 

Finding biological family is an emotional process.  

A. Seeking Support

• Many adoptees and birth parents find professional counseling helpful.  
• Online support groups can provide guidance.  

B. Setting Boundaries

• Some birth relatives may want full relationships, while others may prefer limited contact.  
• It's important to communicate expectations clearly.  

C. Handling DNA Surprises

• Unexpected discoveries (such as unknown siblings or different biological parents) are common in DNA research.  
• Be prepared for sensitive conversations and potential shifts in identity.  

Conclusion

Solving a private adoption case requires a mix of DNA analysis, traditional research, and careful documentation. By combining genetic data with historical records, adoptees can uncover their origins and, when possible, reconnect with biological relatives.

3) The response from the free ChatGPT4 tool seems credible and realistic, but we always have to verify information.  It is not a comprehensive response - there are books with chapters that address each of the bullet points above.  The challenge is very complex, and this response provides a roadmap fr dealing with it to obtain a successful conclusion.

4)  I asked Perplexity the same question and it gave me similar but not as detailed answers, and 7 sources to review!

• https://advancinggenealogist.com/resources/adoption-research/
• https://www.lynmeehan.com/dna-and-adoption-research
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/vh9y3d/finding_a_child_my_mother_gave_up_for_adoption/
• https://www.findmypast.com/blog/getting-started/adoption-records-and-genealogy
• https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Illinois_Adoption_Research
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6123268/
• https://www.gedmatch.com/blog/how-to-find-and-use-adoption-records-in-your-genealogy-research/

5)  For responses on other free AI tools, I refer you to these responses:

• Claude Sonnet 3.7:  https://claude.ai/chat/8945a150-0f90-4c33-98bc-e73e5b268f63
• Grok 3:  https://x.com/i/grok?focus=1&conversation=1896664654983860613
• Perplexity:  https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-is-the-research-and-docum-51UjD8BKQrqszSjeGCUYTA
• Gemini 2.0 Flash:  https://gemini.google.com/app/22be1a5a7165eea0
• Meta:  https://www.meta.ai/c/9b33e0d5-f52f-4d08-b5bd-1d64b3e53b00

As always, "fishing" in a number of AI ponds provides varied responses.  In addition, a user can ask additional questions about specific issues and receive more detailed answers.  

6)  I am not an expert in this subject, and have never had the challenge of finding birth parent(s) of an adoptee.  I asked this question because I was curious. 

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My blog posts, and those of other genealogists, using Artificial Intelligence tools are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/03/ask-ai-what-is-research-and.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Chula Vista Genealogical Society Meeting on Wednesday, 29 November Features Mags Gaulden

 Wednesday, 29 November 2023, 12 noon PST

CVGS General Meeting (in a Zoom Video Conference)

“Betty Jean’s Story: Forensic Genealogy And Adoption”

by Mags Gaulden

Betty Jean was abandoned in Asheville, North Carolina in 1927. All her life Betty Jean wanted to know who her parents were, but her search ended abruptly in the 1950s when she was shown her very empty files by a clerk at the courthouse. Until her cousin contacted her asking about some family papers. "You know I am adopted?" and the cousin answered, "you know, helping adoptees find their families is one thing my business does?" Follow along as we work the history, we find connections and ultimately find Betty Jean’s Family.

Mags Gaulden is a genetic genealogist based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She has dedicated decades to researching family histories and exploring the role of genetics in genealogy. Born and raised in the United States, Mags developed an early interest in family history and genealogy. She started researching her own family tree, which led her to discover the power of genetic testing in genealogy.

In addition to being a sought-after international speaker and workshop coordinator, Mags is the founder of Grandma’s Genes, a genealogy consultation firm in Ottawa, and mitoYDNA.org, a free and accessible Y and mitochondrial DNA database for the genealogy community that is a 501(c) 3 non-profit based in Maryland.

Mags is a leader at WikiTree, a collaborative, community-based genealogy website. She works with the DNA Integrators Project to further the DNA features of WikiTree and has been recognized for her contributions to the site with the prestigious Leader badge.

She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, among other organizations. Her passion for family history, combined with her expertise in genetics and genealogy, has helped many people uncover their family histories and connect with their roots.

PLEASE REGISTER for this event through the event email that will be sent to all CVGS members or on the CVGS website (https://chulavistagenealogysociety.wildapricot.org/event-5471621).

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This program will be held online using the Zoom video conferencing platform for Meetings.

Please note that the meeting starts at 12 noon Pacific Time (3 p.m. Eastern time, 2 p.m. Central time, 1 p.m. Mountain time). The Zoom Meeting room will be open by 11:45 a.m. PDT for visiting and helping attendees connect.

Members and non-members can register on the CVGS website for this meeting at   https://chulavistagenealogysociety.wildapricot.org/event-5471621.  and look for the email with the Zoom meeting reminder after registration, or on Tuesday, 28 November, with the link to JOIN the Zoom meeting. Contact randy.seaver@gmail.com if you have problems or register too late for the email.  

Attendance is free but only 100 Zoom seats are available, so please register soon.

NOTE: The Chula Vista Genealogical Society offers an annual membership of $30. Besides the monthly General Meeting with a program speaker on the last Wednesday of each month, there is a monthly Research Group meeting on second Wednesdays and a DNA Interest Group meeting on third Wednesdays, all at 12 noon Pacific time, plus a monthly 10 page email newsletter chock full of program announcements, research tips and program reviews.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/11/chula-vista-genealogical-society.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

All comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

"Connect Our Kids" Program at RootsTech 2023

FamilySearch provided this information yesterday:

NOTE: If you are not attending RootsTech 2023 in person, you can watch this session online https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/connect-our-kids-general-session-2.

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Helping Foster Children Learn Who They Are by Connecting to Their Past

RootsTech, the largest genealogy and family celebration event in the world, announced today that Connect Our Kids, a nonprofit organization pioneering technology to find families, build connections, and create community for children in foster care, will present their organization’s story live on the RootsTech 2023 main stage on Friday, March 3. Connect Our Kids’ Family Connections platform provides child welfare professionals tools to find contact information for extended families for youth in foster care—with the mission of finding extended relatives and natural support networks who will offer lifelong connections, support, and belonging. Find out more at RootsTech.org.

Jennifer Jacobs and Jessica Stern, co-founders of Connect Our Kids, will share their organization’s incredible story in person with the global, family-oriented community of RootsTech 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and live online at RootsTech.org.

”Knowing your family history helps you know who you are and where you come from. This information helps to heal trauma,” said Jessica Stern, co-founder of Connect Our Kids. “FamilySearch is an incredible and powerful tool for children in foster care to discover their roots, which leads to healing trauma and moving into adulthood with confidence.”

“The theme of RootsTech 2023 is ‘Uniting,’” said Jen Allen, director of RootsTech. “We are pleased to use the RootsTech platform to help raise awareness for this important cause of uniting children with family members who can help them succeed in life.”

Connecting Foster Children with their Families

Connect Our Kids relies on 300+ public databases to help child welfare professionals find potential connections to living relatives for those in the foster care system. Before Connect Our Kids, social workers and volunteers had only their own sleuthing skills and a combination of web searches, telephone calls, knocking on doors, and social media searches—an arduous and time-intensive process. With Family Connections, an online and mobile app, the search process can begin in seconds, right from a smartphone.

Research shows that foster placement in the home of extended family and natural support networks is safer for the youth and increases the likelihood of success significantly. This can include reduced trauma, higher participation in extracurricular activities, higher levels of employment, and preserved family connection. An estimated 100,000 children in the United States are currently waiting for permanent placement due to the termination of parental rights. Another 400,000 are in the foster system and could benefit from Connect Our Kids technology tools.

The Family Connections platform is available free of charge to child welfare professionals at ConnectOurKids.org due to the generosity of family foundations and private donors.

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The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  

Amanuensis Monday -- 1854 Adoption Petition and Decree for Andrew P. Seaver in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

 This week's document for transcription is from the 1854 Middlesex County, Massachusetts probate file for the adoption petition and decree for Andrew P. Seaver of Worcester, Massachusetts:

Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records - Case File 41270, image 3 of 3:

The transcription of this guardian's petition is (handwritten text in italics):

To the Honorable Judge of Probate, for the County

of Middlesex,

Respectfully represents the undersigned   William Seaver

of   Ashland   in the county of Middlesex,

with   Sarah F. Seaver    his wife,

that they are desirous of adopting as their own child  Andrew Penniman

   Seaver   a minor, under the age of fourteen years, and child of

    Leonard Seaver of     Worcester   in the County of

    Worcester & Cynthia P. Seaver who is

    now deceased.

that your petitioners feel that they are of sufficient ability to bring up said child

and furnish   him   with suitable nurture and education;

that they feel that they can ever     love, cherish, and care for    him

as their own.

Wherefore we pray your Honor to make a decree that said child shall be deemed

and taken, to all legal intents and purposes, to be the  child of your petitioners.

                                                                William Seaver

                                                                Sarah F. Seaver

The undersigned, the    Father

of said child hereby gives consent to the adoption of the same, as above prayed for.

                                                                Leonard Seaver

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Middlesex, ss.  At a Probate Court, held at   Framingham

in said County on the    thirty first   day of   October

in the year eighteen hundred and fifty    four.

                                    Upon the petition of   William Seaver

of    Ashland    in the County of Middlesex,

with     Sarah F. Seaver   his wife,

praying for leave to adopt as their own child    Andrew Penniman Seaver   

a minor, under the age of fourteen years, and child of     Leonard

    Seaver    of    Worcester    in the County of     Worcester

and the Court being satisfied of the identity and relations of the aforenamed persons,

and that the petitioners are of sufficient ability to bring up said child  and fur-

nish    him   with suitable nurture and education, considering the degree and condition

of the said child; and that it is fit and proper that such adoption should take

effect, and that the    Father   of said minor   as the mother

being deceased   has certified in writing    his    consent to such adoption.

It is therefore decreed and ordered that from and after the    thirty first

day of    October    aforesaid, said child be deemed and taken, to all

legal intents and purposes, as the legal child of said petitioners.

                                             Jos O. Fay,  Judge of Probate.

                                 

The source citation for this probate file is:

Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Case file 41270 (3 images), Andrew P. Seaver of Worcester, 1854, adoption petition and decree; "Middlesex County (Massachusetts) Probate File Papers, 1648-1871," digital images, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, American Ancestors  (https://www.americanancestors.org: accessed 11 September 2022).

Andrew Penniman Seaver was born 12 September 1847 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son and fifth of Leonard Seaver (1810-????) and and Cynthia Penniman (1813-1848).  Cynthia (Penniman Seaver died 12 August 1848 in Worcester, leaving at least three children aged 1 to 11.  

William Seaver (1806-1887) married Sarah Fisher (1804-1875)  on 16 August 1829 in Newton, Massachusetts.  They had six children born between 1830 and 1841.  William Seaver was the older brother of Leonard Seaver, and their parents were Leonard and Charlotte (Cutter) Seaver.

Apparently, Leonard Seaver was unable to nurture and educate his son Andrew, so William and Sarah (Fisher) Seaver, having six children, petitioned the Middlesex County Probate Court to approve the adoption of their nephew, Andrew Penniman Seaver in 1854.

Andrew Penniman Seaver (1847-1910) married Mary Elizabeth Millard (1855-1911) on 24 January 1885 in Des Moines, Iowa.  They had two children.

Andrew Penniman Seaver is my 6th cousin four times removed.  Our common Seaver ancestor is my 9th great-grandfather, Robert Seaver (1608-1683).

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NOTE: Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday." John offers this definition for "amanuensis:"

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

Read other transcriptions for records of my ancestors at Amanuensis Monday Posts.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/09/amanuensis-monday-1854-adoption.html

Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Tuesday's Tip: Watch Long Lost Family on TLC Starting 6 March 2016

This week's Tuesday's Tip is:  Watch the new 8-episode television show, Long Lost Family, on TLC starting Sunday, 6 March (10 p.m. EDT,MDT,PDT, 9 p.m. CDT).

I received this press release back in early February while at RootsTech and neglected to post it.

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REGRET, LOSS AND REDEMPTION ON TLC’S DOCU-SERIES LONG LOST FAMILY

The eight-episode docuseries premieres Sunday, March 6, 2016

Los Angeles, CA - LONG LOST FAMILY features the highly emotional and touching stories of people who have suffered a lifetime of separation and are yearning to be reunited with their birthparents and biological families or find children they had to place for adoption long ago. Either because of circumstance or fate, they’ve barely – if ever – met. The TLC series premieresSunday, March 6 at 10/9c.

Hosts and well-known television personalities Chris Jacobs and Lisa Joyner are both adoptees who have embarked on their own journeys to discover their biological families. Each episode follows the hosts as they investigate the stories of two individuals or families who have longed to resolve their lifelong searches. The stakes are incredibly high: a successful investigation offers the promise of not just a heartwarming reunion, but also a chance of redemption for people who have wrestled with emotional agony for years.

There is no simple path to find the missing loved ones. With tightly held family secrets in their way, the odds are stacked against them. Lisa and Chris conduct painstaking searches through public records, and utilize the latest DNA technology in their search for answers. But what they discover, and who they find, is anything but expected.

Some incredible stories include:

Rita

A mother who was forced to place her baby boy for adoption 31 years ago. Rita’s boyfriend dumped her when she told him she was pregnant and her mother sent her to a home for pregnant young women for fear of a scandal. Still holding on to his baby blanket from the hospital, she longs to meet her son again and keep the promise she made to find him.

Jenny

Her birth mother was the daughter of a minister who was deeply embarrassed by a pregnancy out of wedlock. Because of the lack of support offered, she ended up placing Jenny with social services. The search for Jenny’s birth mother takes a dramatic turn, when photo evidence suggests they may have been unknowingly connected for years.

Diana and Jeannette

Two women in search for the father who suddenly vanished from their lives when they were just 4 and 5 years old. With no memories of their separation from him, the women have grown up haunted by his sudden disappearance. They hope he can be found so they can see him once again to find out the truth and ask him what happened. 

Ancestry, the largest provider of family history and personal DNA testing, is teaming up with TLC as a sponsor of the upcoming season. As part of the show sponsorship, Ancestry provides family history research on each of the featured individuals to help make discoveries possible.

Long Lost Family is produced by Shed Media for TLC.

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You can watch several minute long trailers at http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/long-lost-family/.

The web site may have videos of the shows after they are broadcast.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/03/tuesdays-tip-watch-long-lost-family-on.html

SDGS Program on Saturday, 14 February Features Yvette Porter-Moore and Jean Moss

The February program meeting of the San Diego Genealogical Society (SDGS) is Saturday, 14 February from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church (8350 Lake Murray Blvd., San Diego CA 92119).

There are two presentation sessions:

Session 1 (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Yvette Porter-Moore

Blogging Your Family History: What Will You Do With All Your Research?

Yvette will speak about our boxes of files and research and how to put it to use, so that we can resolve issues we are having finding answers by sharing with others. Yvette’s talk covers the basics of blogging and how to blog your family research on line so your family stories can be told for generations.

Session 2 (11:15 AM – 12:15 PM): Jean Moss

 My Adoption Search - Follow My Journey in Solving the Puzzle Pieces

Jean is an adoptee who searched for her birth family.  With many events and activities, they have been found. She will share with you how she went about it. Follow her journey in solving the puzzle pieces, including road blocks, overcoming them and where she is in her research today.            

Bring yourself out to a great learning adventure for yourself.

Bring a Friend   ·   Free Event    ·    Refreshments are served

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Breaking Down the Mary Smith Brickwall (or is she a Bell?)

With a name like Mary Smith, there are often brick walls.  In this case, I was searching for descendants of Mary J. Smith (1838-????), daughter of Ranslow and Mary (Bell) Smith, and a sister to my great-great-grandfather, Devier J. Lamphear Smith.  She appeared in the 1850 U.S. Census in Dodge County, Wisconsin as "Mary J. Smith," age 12, born in New York.  She did not appear with the Ranslow Smith family in the 1960 U.S. Census or later census records, which means it is possible that she either died or married before 1860.

I was curious if she had any descendants, for my own family history reasons.  If so, then the family may have records that pertain to my Devier J. Lamphear Smith - who was adopted.  

I recalled that she was mentioned in the will of Devier's adoptive father (see The Last Will and Testament of Ranslow Smith (1805-1875)):

"Second.  I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Mary Jane Bell, the wife of Lucius Sanborn now in the state of Iowa, the sum of three hundred dollars out of my estate, what shall be left after my decease, and in Case of her decease before me, the said sum to be paid to her heirs."

So I have a name, and a spouse's name, and last night I easily found records in Howard County, Iowa that enabled me to enter family data for the Lucius and Mary Sanborn family with 11 children, and I could add more generations.  The records found in a two hour search included:

*  1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910 U.S. Census records on Ancestry.com.  this identified at least 11 children with approximate birth years.
*  "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934" on FamilySearch for some of the children.
*  Find A Grave memorials for many of the Sanborns in this family in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs, Howard County, Iowa.  There were birth and death dates for these persons, but no photos or stories, which leads me to believe that these memorials were created from cemetery records and not gravestone information.
*  Ancestry Member Trees with given names, middle names, birth dates/places, marriage dates/places, death dates/places, spouses names, etc. for almost all of the 11 children of Lucius and Mary Sanborn.  This leads me to believe that the owners of some of these trees are descendants of Lucius and Mary Sanborn, and have access to family papers with the name, date and place information.

In all of the Member Trees with a spouse's name for Lucius Sanborn's wife, Mary is identified as Mary Jane Bell.  Hmmm, not Smith?

So how do I know that my Mary J. Smith in the 1850 U.S. Census is the Mary Jane Sanborn, married to Lucius Sanborn?  After all, there might be other Lucius Sanborn's who married a Mary and resided in Iowa in the late 1800s.  One really good clue is that she named one of her children Lewis Ranslow Sanford (from one of the Ancestry Member Trees).  The middle name is her father's given name, and is fairly unique as a given name.

I entered the data for Lucius, Mary, their 11 children, and the spouses of the children, but not any later generations (yet), into my RootsMagic database, along with the source citations for the data discovered in my search.

My next thought was:  Perhaps she was adopted by Ranslow and Mary (Bell) Smith.  It's certainly possible, but Ranslow Smith does not name her as an adoptive daughter in his will; apparently, he had not yet adopted her before she married Lucius Sanborn in 1857.  But he did name her in his will as "Mary Jane Bell" which implies that was her name before her marriage.  So this may have been an "informal adoption" where the child is given to a family after birth and is treated as a family member.

So who were the parents of Mary Jane Bell?  Ranslow's wife was Mary Bell, the daughter of James and Cornelia (Bresee) Bell.  James Bell died in November 1838 in Henderson, Jefferson County, New York, leaving a family of 9 children born between 1800 and 1817.  After James Bell's death in 1838, his heirs sold property in Henderson, and the deed named the seven living heirs, including Ranslow and Polly (Bell) Smith.  Six of the living children were married, and Cornelia Bell was the only single woman (born in 1807) named.

As with many informal adoptions, there are many possible scenarios as to the parents of Mary Jane Bell (1838-1911).  They include a child born out of wedlock to an unmarried daughter, or a child born to an unmarried son, or one born to a married son by someone not his wife, or one born to a married Bell couple and one of the parents died soon after, and others.  What we do know is that Mary Jane Bell was born in 1838, resided with the Ranslow Smith family in 1850 in Wisconsin, and married Lucius Sanborn in 1857 and had a family of 11 children.

My next thought was:  I wonder if the executor of Ranslow Smith's will (Devier J. Lamphear Smith) found his sister, Mary Jane Bell Sanborn, and gave her the $300 bequeathed to her in Ranslow Smith's will.  The Andrew County [Missouri] probate records for Ranslow does not say.

Why am I posting this?  Frankly, I hope to be contacted by a descendant of Mary Jane (Bell) Sanborn, in hopes that they have more information about my Devier J. Lamphear Smith, the adopted son of Ranslow and Mary (Bell) Smith.  If a reader is a descendant of Mary Jane (Bell) Sanborn, please contact me at rjseaver@cox.net.

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Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver