Genealogy of Adoption
There is one particular area in which it is extremely hard to do genealogical research, and that is when the person who wishes the research has been adopted. Now, I am of the old school believing that adoptions should probably stayed closed. I don't see the benefit of adopted children being brought up knowing the people who gave them up. It seems to me that might be more traumatic than leaving well enough alone.
But saying that, I do understand the benefits of knowing something about the birth parents and their families. One extremely important benefit is learning about medical problems of the natural family which may affect the adopted child. So, I guess I believe that once an adopted child becomes an adult, he or she has the right to seek out the birth parents. But, on the other hand, I feel the birth parents have the right not to be found...have I made this too confusing?
Anyway, to get into the genealogy of the subject, I hope that I may be able to assist some of you as you are seeking your birth parents, or as birth parents seek their children.
Here are some step-by-step instructions which may enable you in your search.
First, and foremost, get a spiral notebook and write everything down. Dates, names, email addresses, websites, places, addresses, telephone numbers, all those should be recorded with each step you take. Later, of course, you can transcribe all this material into any order you choose, but first you must write it down.
Next you must get your non-identification information. You can find this by state at http://www.adopting.org/non_id.html. The information for Texas is Department Human Resources Post Adoption Unit, POB 2960 Austin, TX 78714, 512/450-3301, which has a list of most agencies, adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents. The adoption decree is usually from the Circuit Chancery District Court. There is no intermediary system in Texas. There is a Texas State Registry located at State Library Archives/Library Building, 1201 Brazos Austin, TX 78711. There is no statute for hospital records in Texas and records were closed in 1935.
Next register with you state reunion registry. All states are listed at http://www.koyote.com/personal/hobb/listings.html, but the Texas address is Texas Department of Human Services Central Adoption Registry, 183-W, P.O. Box 149030, Austin, Texas 78714-9030.
Then register with the International Soundex Reunion Registry at I.S.R.R., P.O. Box 2312, Carson City, Nevada 89702-2312. Their website is http://www.plumsite.com/isrr/. You can register online or by sending a self-addresses, stamped envelope to the above address. Their telephone number is 775-882-7755.
Another website giving lots of other adoptee information is http://www.adoptees.org/, might also do you well. The largest free registration site on the internet is http://registry.adoption.com/.
In Texas the the Texas Coalition for Adoption Resources & Education, TxCARE, is "is a grass-roots organization that includes adult adoptees, adoptive families, and biological families as well as adoption professionals and organizations and others concerned about adoption issues." You can find TxCARE on the web at http://www.txcare.org/index.shtml.
I do hope this information will help some of you as you search for your ancestors.
Now, for a question about a previous column. Hope someone can assist:
"Hello Sue, I found your Mineral Wells Index article on Dodson Prairie. My interest is in Newell Willard Griffin, probably N.W. Griffin in the following paragraph from the article. It sounds like the similar language someone sent me from a book: Palo Pinto County History Book.
"The first permanent settlers of Dodson Prairie were these families: Peach, Hittson, Slaughter, Crossland, and Metcalfe. In 1883 J.D. Griffin owned the land and in 1884 N.W. Griffin owned it. W. K. Bell purchased it in 1889, and in 1898 Alfred Horsenail of England purchased it.
"Newell Griffin had 6 children born in Palo Pinto County from 1876 until 1889, the year his wife died. The wife, Eugenia Edmonds Griffin (Jenny Griffin wife of N W Griffin,) is buried in Old Gordon Cemetery, Gordon TX, I believe. So he lived in the area before he bought the property that became Dodson Prairie.
"Is it likely that the area known as Dodson Prairie was entirely owned in 1883 by J. D. Griffin, then N. W. Griffin, then W. K. Bell? Or would they have owned a piece of it.
"For that area, was Newell an early settler? I haven't found very many records for that period.
"Here is what I would like to know: Who is J. D. Griffin? Newell's father's name was Jacob Griffin, but as far as I know he was from Canada and never lived south of Michigan. He also had a brother of the same name, but I'd really like to know who it was.
"Did Newell Griffin leave an other marks in Palo Pinto county? By 1897 he was in Norman OK, and in 1810 he remarried in Los Angeles. Somehow I expect he had another marriage, what with all those children to care for after Eugenia died.
"Who was W. K. Bell who purchased the land in 1889, the year of Eugenia's death. Newell's son Walter, born 1881, has Bell as a middle name. In the 1880 census there was a William Bell who lived in the same district as Newell Griffin, census district 155, Palo Pinto County.
"I would certainly appreciate any help in knowing what that area was like at that time.
"Anna LeBlanc
Scottsdale Arizona, leblancr@qwest.net "
"Greetings, I am into genealogy, and I married into a Mayflower line -- from Richard Warren, by Mary. If you go to http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=ssimonw&id=I830 you can see the pedigree of my wife's grandmother going back to Richard Warren. I am writing to see if I could find more information about the Warren line. Thanks, Sholom Simon, sholom@aishdas.org."
"Dear Sue,
"I put a query on the Palo Pinto Genweb about WARD and HUMPHREYS families. I have their pictures. One is of James J. Ward, Jr, early settler and cattle rancher. He moved to the area in 1856. He claimed all the land between Mineral Wells and Santo. His family's two story sand stone home was near Lone Camp. He and his wife are buried near the old home. The photo is printed on glass and was made sometime in the 1830's.
"I have pictures of Tom and Sarah Humphreys. She was James' daughter. Also I have pictures of them and their children. I am sure there are descendants in or around the Palo Pinto area. Thank you, Troy D. Splawn, Troy.Splawn@okdhs.org ."
"Hi..I have been trying to help a young family member with her genealogy school project. I found some interesting things on your website but was unable to locate the information I am looking for. One family member is William Bowdoin Jones and you list Richard Bowdoin Jones genealogy in your genealogy. Could you help me figure out the connection to Pierre Baudouin/Bowdoin from William? I am also looking for John Lorenzo Bowdoin/Bowden and for Otis Elmore Bowdoin/Bowden. Do you know when this family went to California? Please help if you can. Contact me at: sueannbee@aol.com."
Well, guys, I hope some of you with Warren, Ward, Humphreys, Bowdoin or Griffin connections will be helped or helpful to these queries. I really like to hear from you, so keep those letters and emails coming in to Sue Seibert, P. O. Box 61, Mineral Wells TX 76068-0061 or siouxcitysue@cox-internet.com.