SMITH-PA-L Archives

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Subject: How genealogy can make you insane!
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:46:21 +0000

I'm thinking for the longest time that my mom's maternal grandfather, Edgar Smith, died between 1920-1930 in Philadelphia, PA.

Now, it turns out that he showed up in the 1910 census but NOT in the 1920 (my great-grandmother shows up there as a widow).

The Edgar Smith that I'd been seeing in City Directories between 1920-30 was my grandmother's older brother, Edgar T. Smith, born in 1902 -- who I didn't even know existed until someone checked the 1910 Census for me! All this time, my mom is thinking her mother, Eleanor, (born in 1908) was the only child of Martha's second marriage and here they'd had a son in 1902!

No wonder the 10-search I had the Office of Vitals Records in PA perform in March 2002 turned up nothing.

Plus, I had them look for Edgar or Edward Smith in 1920-30, because Martha is listed in the 1930 Philadelphia City Directory as "Widow of Edw."

THEN. I find out he went by Robert E. Smith on his marriage license application, he shows up as Robert E. in the 1880 census, he's Edgar Smith in the 1900 Census and Robert E. Smith in the 1910 Census.

In the 1910 Philadelphia City Directory, he's R. Edgar Smith.

Bad enough trying to find a Smith without him playing musical first names!

So I suppose what I have to do now is have Vital Records in PA look for Robert E. Smith/R. Edgar Smith/Edgar Smith's death certificate between 1910-20.

I would love to find at least one of my great-grandparents. I figure if I find out where Edgar is buried, I can find Martha with him!

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