QUAKER-ROOTS-L Archives

From: "Kerry L. Martin" <>
Subject: Inaccuracies on "official" records
Date: Tue, 03 Mar 1998 11:04:57 -0800

Interesting thread we have going. Just 2 more examples of incorrect info
in the files. (both in Oregon State Vital Records)

When my mother died, my step-father gave what he believed were her parents
name and birth places. But they were not correct. I had to fill out
several forms and sign an notorized affidavit (sp?) to get it changed.

When I was born, my parents named me Kerry using the "male" spelling of the
name even tho I am female. The birth certificate was typed with Male in
the sex box - and both the doctor and my mother signed it. The mistake was
not discovered until I was 6 years old when my mom went to register me for
1st grade. The clerk asked about her little boy!! When the records were
finally changed, rather than making out a new birth certificate, they took
a pen and scribbled out the Male and wrote in Female, put a date stamp at
the top that says "ALTERED", and in the notes on the bottom they wrote "Sex
of child changed on MM/DD/YY." Someone reading that birth certificate
years from now will probably believe that there was some kind of serious
operative procedure behind the changes on the certificate! But I've been a
girl all along! (When I turned 18, the selective service hounded me
because they had me down as a male. We had to send a copy of the "altered"
birth certificate and a letter from my doctor to prove that I didn't need
to register for the draft!) This story is one that has been laughed at
many times!!!

Sure enjoy our discussions - now I'll get back to research!!

K

This thread:

• Inaccuracies on "official" records by "Kerry L. Martin" <>