Trying to connect to my ancestors

Hi James,

Well lets start with some dates, do you have any idea what year Joe (Joseph O'Brien) was born ? If you dont know your fathers year of birth will do and we take it from there

Could this be the family ?

Delbert Brian in household of J M Brian, "United States Census, 1940"

If the above family is the correct family, the census record indicates that the father J.M Brian (Brien) is born in Louisiana, and we might have to go a genaration or two back in the United States

Annemarie

Hi Skip,

You are fortunate that several people have done all the hard work for you as the information you want is on ancestry.com (at least I hope it's your line!)

The O'Brien family tree has James Delbert born 1926 in Snohomish

father James Alfred born 1889 Levenworth

James 1858 Vermont

Thomas 1819 Ireland married Margaret Hayes also born 1822 in Ireland

1st child John born in Ireland but William, James & Margaret born in Vermont

Arrived in New York in 1852

Unfortunately www.rootsireland.ie/ has no record of the marriage of Thomas & Margaret and there are too many birth records for them in all of Ireland so I couldn't go any further

Col 

Annemarie,

Thank you so very much for your quick response. I think the family you've referenced is not my ancestors; I base that on the names of the children.

Here is a list of my father's brothers and sisters:

Lillian Edna O'Brien (married name Stokes)

Hazel Luberta O'Brien (married name Long)

Maudie Almalee O'Brien (married name Holdon/Holden)

Leamon William O'Brien

Charles Tate O'Brien

Luther Allen O'Brien

I'm sorry but I don't know my grandfather's date of birth. My father's date of birth is August 5, 1912 and died Oct. 1992 (I think it was Oct. 9). I hope this is helpful.

Again, thank you so much for helping me with this...it really means a lot to me personally.

James "Skip" O'Brien

Col,

Thank you so much for your quick response. Based on what you shared, it doesn't appear to be my ancestors. My Dad, Delbert James O'Brien was born in 1912 (not sure where). 

You are very kind to do the research, please don't give up as I need your expertise.

Again, thank you so much for your interest in this endeavor.

Skip

Ok Skip,

Try this one:

ancestry.com: the 1930 US Census has Delbert O'Brien aged 18 so born 1911 or 1912 in Louisiana; birthplaec of parents LOUISIANA; occupation labourer in a box factory; lived in Roseland Tangipahoa; married to Myrtis O'Brien 18; also present Lillian O'Brien aged 26

The only other record is for a death record of Delbert J O'Brien born 5 Aug 1911 (agrees with the 1930 census which was taken on 1 June) died 8 Oct 1992 Louisiana

So, if you can get a birth record for him in the US somehow withy his parents' names we can keep on working back.

Col

Col,

You are a "Rock Star" that's my dad and his family!

I must say I'm a little disappointed that it appears that both my grandparents were born in the US and not in Ireland; I was hoping to pursue an Irish Passport. No worries, just something I've always dreamed about.

Regardless, I'm very excited that you have uncovered the census information and I now have a path forward. Having said that, what are your suggestions as what to do next. Do I join ancestry.com to access my dad's birth record? To state the obvious, I am a novice at this, but I want to do whatever is necessary to find my roots.

Thank you so, so very much for your help! I'll await your response before I move forward with the next steps.

Skip

Hi Skip,

Rockstar? I did front a band or two in the past but it was local with friends I'm afraid!

What I suggest is you enquire at your local family history centre - if you have one - as to how you can get Delbert's birth certificate. I can't attach the census info on this site but can send it to a regular email address if you have one. I don't think his birth record is on ancestry as only the census records came up for him.

Once you have his parents' names you / we can try to keep working back to find the Irish connection.

Col