When I was growing up, there was a running joke that my grandmother was a year younger than her twin brother was. We had no way of knowing what the truth was because the birth certificate had been forged, until I got the idea to search online for birth data.

Background Information to Start the Records Search
First, you have to know this is an absolutely true story and yes my family is a little crazy. My grandmother, “Jan,” was born in either 1904 or 1905. Her birth certificate said 1905 but her twin brother, “Jon’s,” birth certificate said 1904.

Now, we all know there is no way that my great-grandma had twin babies a full year apart. This is just not happening and they were born in June. So, we can rule out December 31, 1904 and January 1, 1905.

The story goes: My grandma wanted to marry my grandpa but my great-grandparents said no because she was too young at the age of 17.

This made us wonder. Did they lie about my grandmother so she couldn’t get married or did they lie about her brother so he could join the army? My grandmother says she honestly did not remember, which one was the lie.

Simple Online Birth Search
The debate had gone on in our family for years but it was about to be solved with a birth records search. We went online and entered my grandmother’s name and the city she was born. It came up with a record but we wanted to check it against her twin brother’s name. Therefore, we went in and put his name in as well. Sure enough, up came a record for him as well.

You will not believe this, but according to the official records by grandmother and her twin were born a year apart. I thought this was odd, as this cannot be possible. Everyone knows that my grandmother and her brother are twins. It is even listed on the birth certificates as a multiple birth.

After a little more digging, I found the birth certificates were filed in 1922. This told me that they were indeed born in 1904 and that my grandmother was a year younger. I figure they filed the certificate so “Jon” could join the military. They also filed the false certificate so my grandmother could not marry my grandfather for another year.

Conducting Your Own Birth Search
Whatever your reasons to conduct a birth search, you might be surprised at what you find. You do need to realize like I did, that the further back you go, the more likely errors occur. Apparently, it was very easy for the birth certificates to be forged. It is still fun to find out. Start your birth data search today and see what you find.

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