Birth and Death

My main goal for searching my genealogy is not to see how fast I can trace my history back to ancient times, but how detailed I can accurately make my history as I travel back.

One way I am doing this is by gathering all of the documents I can find revolving around my family history. The beginnings of this is being done through Birth and Death certificates.

The only birth certificates I have been able to acquire I am not comfortable in revealing here because they are either currently living, or too close to living people.

I have the Death Certificate for Joseph Henry HENDERSON who was born 22 Oct 1866 and died 13 May 1951. At the time of death the certificate said he was a farmer, and that he was born in Missouri. Joseph died in Compton, California. The death certificate mentioned that he was at this location for the past 12 years. One interesting thing about this death certificate is that the names of his parents appear to be wrong. It shows His father as Anthony A. HENDERSON, and his mother as Elizabeth BANKS. Several other sources show his fathers name is actually Anthony Bledsoe HENDERSON and his mother is Matilda Jane BANKS. Apparently, his wife, Luella DENHAM did not know much about her husbands parents. Either that, or it was such a hard time for her that she may not have really been thinking clearly.

I just sent off for his fathers death certificate, Anthony Bledsoe HENDERSON. He was born 9 Feb 1845 and died 10 Oct 1916. Hopefully it will provide some more clues into the lives of these ancestors.

I could not get the birth certificates for Joseph Henry HENDERSON and Anthony Bledsoe HENDERSON because, apparently, where they were born did not have birth certificates at that time.

UPDATE 27 Oct 11

Just received notification that they cannot find a death certificate for Anthony Bledsoe HENDERSON. Maybe I'll try his wife and see where that gets me. Frustrating because I thought for certain I would at least get this one back...