topic Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate? in Community Chat

Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:07:13 GMT

This may sound odd, but I always thought I was adopted. I was always assured that wasn't so. BUT... after really looking at a certified copy of my birth certificate (this morning!), I may have been adopted…unless I am reading it incorrectly.

Does anyone know what the field: "Name of informant" means? Because there is named who I thought was my biological "mother"….but, the next field over, or two, it asks what is the relationship to the person born, and that field says (at first typing (no computers then, so it was hand-typed)--it reads at FIRST typing: "other". And then, with a different style of "M" someone rolled the birth certificate back into the typewriter and put a floating "M" near "other".

And the name where the "Mother" field is, is filled with the same first name, but a different last name (different than the maiden name of who I thought/think is my real mother).

I've never been able to get a straight answer from anyone in my family. But this is the first time I've really studied my birth certificate. I don't have the original birth certificate.

Any one know?

I always knew I was an alien…

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

151949 — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:09:54 GMT

Sorry I can't really help you - under informant mine says my Dad's name and father beside it.

Can't you check at the hall of records in your county or state and see if there is an adoption certificate?

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:11:17 GMT

On 10/24/2014 happy housewife said:
Sorry I can't really help you - under informant mine says my Dad's name and father beside it.

Can't you check at the hall of records in your county or state and see if there is an adoption certificate?

Thanks. Not sure how to go about this. But maybe when I can get about more easily, I'll do that. (I'm recovering from an injury).

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

AngusandBuddhasMom — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:12:47 GMT

ical I googled your question and came up with that would be the person who gave the information on the birth certificate.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:16:00 GMT

On 10/24/2014 Caravaggio said:
ical I googled your question and came up with that would be the person who gave the information on the birth certificate.

Thanks! This adds to the mystery. According to my mom, she said she was in hospital* for over two weeks, as was I. But the date where the informant's name is listed is 4 days later.

* She said she nearly died.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

reese2 — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:22:20 GMT

ical, if your mom was ill after your birth, it would account for the delay in filing your birth information. The informant is whoever provides the information for the certification. It could be a parent or a nurse.

As for the "m" added later, maybe a bad typist was responsible for typing out the certificate. My age is listed incorrectly on my older son's birth certificate. They made me younger!

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

AngusandBuddhasMom — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:25:01 GMT

Yes my bc was filled out late as well so imo I don't that should add to your worry. My daughters bc came from a Navel hosp on a Marine and it is totally different then what I was given by the county.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:33:37 GMT

On 10/24/2014 reese2 said:
ical, if your mom was ill after your birth, it would account for the delay in filing your birth information. The informant is whoever provides the information for the certification. It could be a parent or a nurse.

As for the "m" added later, maybe a bad typist was responsible for typing out the certificate. My age is listed incorrectly on my older son's birth certificate. They made me younger!

Okay, thanks! I suppose they should be more careful when filling out these things! My father has his age crossed out and it is hand-written in three years younger. And I also see that the "doctor" was not the doctor my mother spoke about and used even when I was a child, she would always go to this "doctor" who delivered my younger brother.

When I google this "doctor", I could only find one document regarding him. He was on one census and he has not yet died. There is no record of him dying or being born.

….weird.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:39:12 GMT

On 10/24/2014 Caravaggio said:
Yes my bc was filled out late as well so imo I don't that should add to your worry. My daughters bc came from a Navel hosp on a Marine and it is totally different then what I was given by the county.

Thanks. This is good to know. The hospital where I was born has changed its name, but I should be able to find records somehow to verify oddities on my birth certificate.

Also, my father's last name, where the "father" field is located has his last name spelled one letter off.

Records could be filed various ways on this thing...

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

Still Raining — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:40:27 GMT

When my first was born I remember joking with the father about who wanted to be the ""informant"". A nurse came to the room to take the info and the informant is sort of like the ""witness"". Just whoever wants to be on the hook for giving the correct info.

I think the ""M"" issue is purely bad typing.

Really late in life I discovered that it was my mother that seems to have had a name issue. Apparently she switched between two different maiden names. I know she had a step-father (or two) and it is impossible to figure it all out now.

Could be it is your mother that was less than forthcoming?

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

scotttie — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:44:55 GMT

I don't know how old you are but I know 2 people who were adopted by their mother's husband at a young age. The birth certificate looked exactly like any other....except it was an old fashioned photo copy. You know how copies used to look like a photograph?

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

pigletsmom — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:47:29 GMT

I'm not sure that your birth certificate would really tell you anything. I am adopted and my certificate just lists my parents as my parents. This was back in the late 60's during closed adoptions and I did notice it has no hospital or doctor information.

My guess is if you had been adopted during the times when everything was closed your certificate would be similiar and wouldn't have hospital and doctor's names, although I really have no idea for sure.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:49:59 GMT

On 10/24/2014 Still Raining said:
When my first was born I remember joking with the father about who wanted to be the "informant". A nurse came to the room to take the info and the informant is sort of like the "witness". Just whoever wants to be on the hook for giving the correct info.

I think the "M" issue is purely bad typing.

Really late in life I discovered that it was my mother that seems to have had a name issue. Apparently she switched between two different maiden names. I know she had a step-father (or two) and it is impossible to figure it all out now.

Could be it is your mother that was less than forthcoming?

This is fascinating! Perhaps this is somewhat true in my regard. There was an "uncle", who really wasn't related (or was he?) who would give me the most awesome of gifts! I mean over-the-top gifts (not in expense, necessarily, but in size and charm (dinette set for "tea parties", huge bear, a doll that no one else had who were my friends…he also gave me the diet I eat as food, as well…). He's passed away.

Thank you! I need to dig more…somewhere.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:52:16 GMT

On 10/24/2014 scotttie said:
I don't know how old you are but I know 2 people who were adopted by their mother's husband at a young age. The birth certificate looked exactly like any other....except it was an old fashioned photo copy. You know how copies used to look like a photograph?

Not sure. Mine is stamped with the impressed seal on the bottom on fancy fret-worked watermarks and prettily fashioned scroll designs with crummy typing. So maybe they took a color copy of the one on file and hand emboss the seal?

Wish I had the original. That's no where to be found (at least where I've looked!).

Thanks!

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

scotttie — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:52:23 GMT

ical, why don't you just press your family to tell you? Show them the birth certificate and explain your concerns. If you are an adult why would they not tell you the truth.

Spoken in a compassionate tone. (hard to tell at times I know).

ETA: IF you said that you intend to investigate it, and you'd rather hear it from them if there is somethign to tell, perhaps if there is anything to tell they will let you know then?

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:54:36 GMT

On 10/24/2014 pigletsmom said:
I'm not sure that your birth certificate would really tell you anything. I am adopted and my certificate just lists my parents as my parents. This was back in the late 60's during closed adoptions and I did notice it has no hospital or doctor information.

My guess is if you had been adopted during the times when everything was closed your certificate would be similiar and wouldn't have hospital and doctor's names, although I really have no idea for sure.

That's interesting, thanks so much for sharing this information!

I'll have to research what closed adoptions are/were…not sure what this means.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

scotttie — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:56:12 GMT

Another thought....I'm really trying to help you.

I have a feeling if you were adopted, your birth certificate would be perfect rather than typos etc. like you describe.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

esmeraldagooch — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:58:10 GMT

I'm adopted. My BC has my adopted name and adopted parents names with no indication I was adopted in the 1950's. You could mictofish the hospital and date in the newspaper.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

MaggieToo — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:59:51 GMT

Can you go to the Records Department of the state in which the birth certificate was issued. They should be able to help you read /interpret the insertions.

Re: Serious question. How do I read this on a birth certificate?

ical — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 15:00:27 GMT

On 10/24/2014 scotttie said:
ical, why don't you just press your family to tell you? Show them the birth certificate and explain your concerns. If you are an adult why would they not tell you the truth.

Spoken in a compassionate tone. (hard to tell at times I know).

ETA: IF you said that you intend to investigate it, and you'd rather hear it from them if there is somethign to tell, perhaps if there is anything to tell they will let you know then?

My father called me one day, it was a strange call. It was as if he had some premonition that he was going to die. Long story short, he started to speak about his upbringing, he was very emotional. I asked him, "Daddy?! What is wrong?! Do you want me to go there?" He said: "No. No. No. It's okay. I'll tell you when I can." He was very choked up and I knew he was fighting back tears.

He had a major stroke and lost the ability to speak (and swallow). He never recognized anyone after his stroke. This is a true story.

My mother will not speak of it, other than to say she almost died when I was born.

My siblings? Clueless.

My uncle. Dead.

Anyone else? No one.