My friends wife found a 1/2 sister she and her siblings didn't know existed doing the DNA thing. I'm not sure I want to know who I'm related to, the family I know about is interesting enough
I don't do the genetic thing. Some family members have, that's good enough for me.
I worry that someone else will find out that somewhere in Sicilia there is still a vendetta against our familia and the next thing I know black Cadillacs show up in our town, piloted by Vinnie and Vito.
All the best Jim. I met my biologicals at age 24 which is now 30 years ago. They ended up getting married and I have two full blood siblings. It's a surreal, but worthwhile endeavor. If nothing else, you get to learn about possible bloodline issues; diabetes, cancer, etc.
I wish you nothing but the best in this quest. I can't stress enough that it is a bit freaky, but something I am extremely glad I did. If I can offer any worthless advice, please contact me.
My wife got me a kit for 23 and me a few years back. Through that, got a book authored by a cousin about my mothers side of the family and then another cousin sent one he compiled for my father's side. Found two cousins I had lost track of and then learned of even more running around. Both books ran around 350 pages. That is just the start of what I learned.
Best of luck! Sounds like it will be interesting at the very least.
My father was adopted and I've always wondered about that side of my family but since it was 1937 I doubt there are many records that could be used to trace anything.
I will at least have a name when I get my original birth certificate back.
Been getting some family names from people on 23andMe.
No idea which side of the family.
Jim,
Check their Mitochondrial type. If you share the same type the person is from your biological mothers side. If they are male and they have the same Y chromosome they are likely from your biological fathers side unless it’s a coincidence. This is especially easy to do if you are of mixed ancestry since you will be descended from people of multiple distinct lineages.
Good luck in these endeavors. What an amazing time we live in that we can find these things out.
I had twin older brothers (from my birth father) find me last year. One of them had done a DNA genealogy test and my uncle had as well. They matched up as family and that was that. Funny thing was they had met before, and I used to live about 5 miles from where they grew up with their adopted family.
Some times you find out things you wish you had not.My adopted Son found his birth Dad and found out he was a real prick.Hope it works out otherwise for you.
Some times you find out things you wish you had not.My adopted Son found his birth Dad and found out he was a real prick.Hope it works out otherwise for you.
Very true. You also may find out they want nothing to do with you. It can be a bad deal. There is only one way to find out.
Some times you find out things you wish you had not.My adopted Son found his birth Dad and found out he was a real prick.Hope it works out otherwise for you.
Very true. You also may find out they want nothing to do with you. It can be a bad deal. There is only one way to find out.
A friend of mine is adopted and found his biological dad when he matched on Ancestry with a cousin. His dad didn’t even know he existed. They have continued a relationship and they are very similar personality wise. He eventually tracked down his biological mother and she wanted nothing to do with him. Basically said she put him up for a reason. Apparently he has a lot of half siblings on her side with multiple fathers. For him that sucked but he respects her wishes and it was closure for him.
Yeah, the people at vital statistics in Helena are really great to deal with. I have done alot of research on my own family and have dealt with them in Helena as my Grandmother was born at Wolf Point. There are adoptions in my family too. So one day I am sitting around and the ph rings, it is a 1st cousin that was adopted in 1955, we keep in touch now. Good luck to you Jim.
Mom and Dad got married about fifteen months before I came along. Dad had jet black hair, Mom's was auburn. I was born a flaming red head...........just like Mom's high school sweet heart.
Dad was a wonderful Father to all six of us. My paternal grandparents were saints of the highest order.
No DNA for me. I would prefer to die believing I share DNA with those wonderful people.
I will at least have a name when I get my original birth certificate back.
Been getting some family names from people on 23andMe.
No idea which side of the family.
Good luck Jim. I was adopted in 1967 by a wonderful couple. My wife was adopted in 1969 by a wonderful couple as well. We decided this past summer to look into our real parents,For medical purposes she knew her birth name I didn’t so we got my original and found my birth name ( or what we thought) so we are searching and no luck, by the way if you hav3 Facebook there is a group on there who helped greatly. So then we did the ancestry search and low and behold a direct hit for my biological father and brother. The brother was adopted at 2 by his step dad and changed his name. Found out I have 2 older brothers(1 committed suicide pstd soldier) a younger brother and sister. 3 different moms. Now for the last 6 months piecing the whole thing together figured out my birth dad was pretty much forcing himself on a 15 yr old(my mom) while he worked for her dads farm living ther with my 2 older brothers and their mom. My birth mom was forced to go away and give me up. The “George” got married to the 3rd mom had 2 more. So on original birth certificate my birth mom used a fake last name ( why we couldn’t find a thing) . After meeting him I realize for sure I grew up way better and more fortunate. He says he looked for me for 54 years but now that he has found he he sure don’t Act like it at all. My older brother who grew up away from him turned out great too, just got pinnned for brigadier general in the national guard , the two younger ones who grew up with George not so well, one in jail half his life the girl just a nutcase. Good luck to you and if you want pm any questions
Good luck Jim, I hope you find what you’re looking for. Where you’re from really doesn’t matter though. It’s where you’re at and where you’re going thats the important part, and it certainly appears that where you’re at, is a good place.
Good luck Jim, I hope you find what you’re looking for. Where you’re from really doesn’t matter though. It’s where you’re at and where you’re going thats the important part, and it certainly appears that where you’re at, is a good place.
Yup.
The pics you post of the kiddos smiling shows you’ve done well for yourself.
I was adopted at birth and didn't find out until I was 13. I was watching one of those after school specials with my folks on TV and it was a story about an adopted kid wanting to find his parents. I imagine it was an awkward moment for them and I let them off the hook when I said something like "I don't see what the big deal is, those are the people he grew up with. They're his family." They took that opportunity to tell me I was adopted and if I wanted to meet my biological family it would be okay. I told them I didn't really care at the time. Maybe some day but there was no rush.
Fast forward several years. I'm on active duty in the navy and spent my whole career up and down the East coast. At this point, I had lost my father and brother, so my only family left was my mother. The navy was deploying a prototype cruise missile system to a destroyer in Everett WA. As the course supervisor of the Tomahawk school at the Atlantic Fleet Combat Training Center, I was uniquely qualified to head up that project. The program Admiral "asked" me if I wanted to do it, so I said "sure sir, I've never been to the Pacific Northwest so why the hell not."
Unfortunately, about a couple years after transferring, my mother died of terminal cancer, so I lost my whole family. A week later, I found out that my biological family lived up the road about 45 minutes North. Apparently, they were asking some relatives on the East coast about me and were told I was only a few towns away that whole time. So, I met up with everyone and they've been a part of my life for 20 years now.
I lost a family and gained a family at the same time. I'm sure some folks here would say that wasn't a coincidence. I don't know if it was or not, but that part of my life would have made a good chick flick It's been different. I know I am related but lived a different life.
Go for it and see what happens. But if your folks are still around, make sure they realize that they'll always be your family in your eyes. My mom couldn't have kids so I was a gift. But I also knew what kind of sacrifice they made for me and never once made them feel like they weren't my real parents.
My sons mom was adopted. Her adoptive parents we’re fugged up but gave her a lot of love and a great lifestyle, she always wanted to meet her birth parents. Her adoptive parents weren’t really for it. Seems like a pretty natural thing to me. She never meet them because she feared she wouldn’t live up to whatever hopes and standards that her birth parents had.
I think if it were me I’d want to know. Good luck to you in whatever you decide. At the end of the day it’s whatever you think best and your choice.
I find looking up ancestor to be fun. A glimpse of the past. Hope it works out well for ya.
On a side note. A friend of my wife's recently did the 23 and me or some such thing. It was apparent that her lineage was not the same as her dad's. She perused it and found out that her deceased mother obviously ran around on her dad.
For some reason she found it important to ask her dad for a paternity test that proved the point. Her dad is in his late 80's and her mom obviously dead. I couldn't wrap my head around doing that. What a gift to a dying man who by all accounts was a good father?
I wasn't in those shoes, so maybe I'd feel different, but doubt it.
Anyway, obviously not your situation but it brought it to mind.
I hope you get the answers your looking for Jimbo!
I hope it gives you some peace to know your genetic history. My adopted father asked me if I wanted to know about my bio father. I told him he was my father and I think it hurt his feelings as he had kept track of my bio father for those 18 years. A couple of years later my adopted father committed suicide and none of my adopted family knew what Dad knew. I do know my birth Mother's name and that she grew up around Albion IL. If you know that area PM me please. Be Well, RZ.
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
My wife has done the ancestry thing and takes her family lineage pretty serious. She has done a lot of digging on those sites and pieced a lot of interesting (albeit worthless) info together. One day she got a message from a guy stating that he was an orphan, and was doing what Jim is doing, and he believed she might have been a first cousin. So my wife took his name and DOB and started cutting sign.
She almost immediately determined that he was her half-brother.
After some more digging, it was determined that her dad (my father-in-law) had knocked up his high school sweetheart prior to leaving for bootcamp. When he came home his then girlfriend was nowhere to be found and her parents told him to fugk off when he came by.
This was pre-abortion era so they sent her to some orphanage to schit the kid, feel shame, and finish school. She never told the father anything. With the exception of the parents and the kid's mother, nobody knew for almost 50 years.
A whole life spent unintentionally apart. Crazy schit.
Did the Ancestry thing, it can be addictive BTW, found out that a 'Kenyan' had joined the 'wood pile'........ now my Uncle will not speak to me!!!!
The 'Kenyan' joined a 'side-line' of the family and so we are not direct descendants.........
Yep!!!! THAT Kenyan!
Uncle is an 8th cousin.............. we laugh about it.
Euro Royalty, English, French, Spanish, Whores and Indian Killers, Revolution and Civil War vets, Cousin to Dr Edward Maynard............... most people yawn, but mention the Kenyan!!!!!!!!
Did the Ancestry thing, it can be addictive BTW, found out that a 'Kenyan' had joined the 'wood pile'........ now my Uncle will not speak to me!!!!
The 'Kenyan' joined a 'side-line' of the family and so we are not direct descendants.........
Yep!!!! THAT Kenyan!
Uncle is an 8th cousin.............. we laugh about it.
Euro Royalty, English, French, Spanish, Whores and Indian Killers, Revolution and Civil War vets, Cousin to Dr Edward Maynard............... most people yawn, but mention the Kenyan!!!!!!!!
Daddy died when I was (almost) 3. Seriously. Not just a Hank Jr song.
Don't remember anything about him, seriously seek out info from his friends. Just stories to help me feel close to the man. Complicated, many don't understand.
Mom met my other Dad when I was 8. He raised me.
There is a desire in many to know what they come from, unexplainable. Have a family book from my biological father, it's neat too read the stories, just to get a sense of ones place in the past. Good honorable people. Proud to follow, hope to live up to their level.
Another branch? No book, nowhere near the depth on history. That's ok! Can't stand the ones I know. Treacherous pricks, better avoided and stay away from their schemes.
Jim, hope you have success in gathering knowledge. Hope you can make some pleasant contacts. If any are disappointing, or just downright bad, remember they aren't you.
You are a good dude. That's largely your adoptive parents and you personally.
My (step)Dad always likes to say, "Everyone has to take his own hide to town!"
Glad you have a name. It's a step in the process. I hope it all goes the way you want it to. I found out I'm a limey in a house full of krauts and Norwegians. Both my Dad and my biological father hunt, fish, and reload. My bio father collects Model 70's. Some things are pre-ordained.
I forgot to add a weird one; all three of us are left handed although my Dad shoots righty. Strange things that make you wonder about the universe...
Jim; Good morning to you my cyber friend, I hope that this first Sunday in May finds you and that wonderful family well and having good spring weather.
On the topic of adoption, since my late father had 10 brothers and sisters and my late mother had 8, there's adopted cousins on both sides.
Now of course I can't speak for anyone else but me, but I preferred the company of some of the adopted ones to those not and actually stay in touch today with them. They're my family 100%.
This past year on a sheep hunting sub forum on Faceplant there was a guy with my last name - Mehrer - which isn't common at all, so I asked him about it and we've gotten to know each other's history over time.
Part way through, he said he had that name though his step dad, so we weren't true cousins. My response was that his love of hunting, horses and fishing made him more a cousin than some of the ones who do none of that, so I'll just consider him my cousin somewhat more removed and we've carried on.
Lastly, a few of the cousins mentioned have contacted their birth families and some not - both for valid reasons I'm sure.
I wish you nothing but positive outcomes regardless Jim. That and all the very best for your fine family out there in the High Line country.
Wonder how many times that story played itself out over the years?
I won't do that 23 & me stuff. When folks ask if I have any kids, I have to tell them "none that I know of".
I'd like to keep it that way.
I got a surprise when she was 16, my oldest daughter, she visited me when she was 20, we keep in touch and I keep in touch with her mom.
Well, as long as they don't ask for back child support, I'm old and retired now!
I paid 6 yrs back support, no problem that's what they ask for now when they wait too long. she lives in Florida now is 29 yrs old and a graphic designer.
My uncle did a DNA test and found out he had a match for a half brother in California. He contacted him and the guy said he never knew his dad. He said his mom got pregnant with some guy that was in California from out of state.
My grandpa and his brother disappeared from the family farm for several months when they were teenagers. Turns out they spontaneously jump a train on day and rode all the way to California where they lived for a few months. I asked my grandpa about it once and he said one day working on the farm they got talking about seeing the ocean and the next thing he knew they were sneaking on a train. I asked him how they lived down there. He told me he worked construction down there and some rich lady paid him to pose naked while she painted him.
Wonder how many times that story played itself out over the years?
I won't do that 23 & me stuff. When folks ask if I have any kids, I have to tell them "none that I know of".
I'd like to keep it that way.
I got a surprise when she was 16, my oldest daughter, she visited me when she was 20, we keep in touch and I keep in touch with her mom.
Well, as long as they don't ask for back child support, I'm old and retired now!
I paid 6 yrs back support, no problem that's what they ask for now when they wait too long. she lives in Florida now is 29 yrs old and a graphic designer.
All I will say be thankful where you grew up and who you call mom and dad. Western Alaska villages are chitholes with a crime rate that puts lower 48 reservation crime rates to shame.
The village of Kiana is located where three rivers meet: the Squirrel River, Kobuk River, and big/small channel rivers. Kiana is in the Northwestern Alaska, 30 miles North of the Arctic Circle, and 57 air miles East of Kotzebue.[12]
My uncle did a DNA test and found out he had a match for a half brother in California. He contacted him and the guy said he never knew his dad. He said his mom got pregnant with some guy that was in California from out of state.
My grandpa and his brother disappeared from the family farm for several months when they were teenagers. Turns out they spontaneously jump a train on day and rode all the way to California where they lived for a few months. I asked my grandpa about it once and he said one day working on the farm they got talking about seeing the ocean and the next thing he knew they were sneaking on a train. I asked him how they lived down there. He told me he worked construction down there and some rich lady paid him to pose naked while she painted him.
Wonder how many times that story played itself out over the years?
I won't do that 23 & me stuff. When folks ask if I have any kids, I have to tell them "none that I know of".
I'd like to keep it that way.
I got a surprise when she was 16, my oldest daughter, she visited me when she was 20, we keep in touch and I keep in touch with her mom.
Well, as long as they don't ask for back child support, I'm old and retired now!
I paid 6 yrs back support, no problem that's what they ask for now when they wait too long. she lives in Florida now is 29 yrs old and a graphic designer.
Good on you.
Any kids I might have would be older than 30 now.
my oldest son is 32, lives here, and runs his own windshield business.
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
I have a notarized certificate from the hospital where I was born.
It was signed by the administrator. My footprints are on the back. Otherwise there is no information at all.
A while after my birth, the State issued me a regular certificate with my adoptive parents names on the form.
Apparently, the original birth certificate was filled out with my biological mothers information and then sealed.
I was able to get the document unsealed very easily. The state also sent me the adoption certificate.
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
I have a notarized certificate from the hospital where I was born.
It was signed by the administrator. My footprints are on the back. Otherwise there is no information at all.
A while after my birth, the State issued me a regular certificate with my adoptive parents names on the form.
Apparently, the original birth certificate was filled out with my biological mothers information and then sealed.
I was able to get the document unsealed very easily. The state also sent me the adoption certificate.
Well at least the local natives will now treat you like a brother now
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
I have a notarized certificate from the hospital where I was born.
It was signed by the administrator. My footprints are on the back. Otherwise there is no information at all.
A while after my birth, the State issued me a regular certificate with my adoptive parents names on the form.
Apparently, the original birth certificate was filled out with my biological mothers information and then sealed.
I was able to get the document unsealed very easily. The state also sent me the adoption certificate.
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
I have a notarized certificate from the hospital where I was born.
It was signed by the administrator. My footprints are on the back. Otherwise there is no information at all.
A while after my birth, the State issued me a regular certificate with my adoptive parents names on the form.
Apparently, the original birth certificate was filled out with my biological mothers information and then sealed.
I was able to get the document unsealed very easily. The state also sent me the adoption certificate.
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
I have a notarized certificate from the hospital where I was born.
It was signed by the administrator. My footprints are on the back. Otherwise there is no information at all.
A while after my birth, the State issued me a regular certificate with my adoptive parents names on the form.
Apparently, the original birth certificate was filled out with my biological mothers information and then sealed.
I was able to get the document unsealed very easily. The state also sent me the adoption certificate.
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
I have a notarized certificate from the hospital where I was born.
It was signed by the administrator. My footprints are on the back. Otherwise there is no information at all.
A while after my birth, the State issued me a regular certificate with my adoptive parents names on the form.
Apparently, the original birth certificate was filled out with my biological mothers information and then sealed.
I was able to get the document unsealed very easily. The state also sent me the adoption certificate.
Can you explain how the birth certificates are handled for cases like yours? I've been told there was some (relatively) recent case law regarding the acquisition of birth certificates for orphans but have never spoken with anybody that had first hand knowledge/experience with the subject.
And in cases like yours, what did your parents use for your birth certificate all these years?
I have a notarized certificate from the hospital where I was born.
It was signed by the administrator. My footprints are on the back. Otherwise there is no information at all.
A while after my birth, the State issued me a regular certificate with my adoptive parents names on the form.
Apparently, the original birth certificate was filled out with my biological mothers information and then sealed.
I was able to get the document unsealed very easily. The state also sent me the adoption certificate.
What hospital, Jim?
St. James Hospital.
Butte, Montana.
Was thinking Anchorage perhaps.
Come on man keep up.. he was adopted in Montana not alaska Jesus..
Local couple, girl got up the stump real young, they were from poor families and had little support. (Plus it was the early 60's) So, they adopted the kid out.
Fast forward almost 40 years. That young man busted his ass, made numerous shrewd and lucky investments, they were doing pretty well. Had several kids, including one they gave the same name as the one adopted out. Then his now wife got the big C. And started to dwell on the child she didn't know.
Private investigators, a bit of money, and they found the kid living in the Midwest.
Don't know if the 10's of million dollars the parents were now worth played into the decision, but the new found family packed up and moved to be with the birth parents. Will say it seems to be working.
You may find that the state of Alaska owes you 10's of thousands of dollars.
These foster youths say the state of Alaska pocketed thousands of dollars that belonged to them
Nationwide, government agencies take money owed to foster children with disabilities or a deceased parent, The Marshall Project and NPR found. And most kids never know it’s gone.
It's been different. I know I am related but lived a different life.
