I now know more about me; family research

14 years ago

I have a cousin who is into genealogy. She's been working for y-e-a-r-s on our family's history. It's a tough job; we come from a long, multi-generational line of gypsies and wanderers who never seemed to settle for long, didn't leave much in the way of legal, or even written, records, and some members have been known to change the facts from time-to-time for various reasons.

I asked if she thought she'd have any luck finding out anything about my father. My off-and-on attempts to locate him, beginning in the early 1980s, has never panned out.

This morning I mentioned his full name and where he lived when he married Mom.

This afternoon she had this info...

Basil Odell Collins was born on April 1, 1930. His parents were Lee Washington Collins and Anthia Elizabeth Collins (maiden name Stubbs), all born in Missouri. His siblings in 1930 were Audnis Collins, age 10, Herlius Collins, age 6, Howard Collins, age 2. In the '80s I spoke to another brother, my uncle, named "James" who was in Houston, TX at the time.

According to Social Security records my father passed away on July 9, 1992 in Anderson, Shasta County, California.

--------------

I am Carol Collins. Daughter of Basil Collins; grand daughter of Lee and Anthia Collins; niece to Audnis Collins, Herlius Collins, Howard Collins, and James Collins. (Unless "James" is a middle name for Howard.)

In all my life I've never known the name of any other related "Collins" except for the one on my birth certificate.

She's now working on finding the five brothers I have from the Collins side. I have four brothers from my Mom; I have five brothers from my Father. I just knew I was special! LOL

---------------

Back-story...My cousin is, of course, Grandma's grand daughter. She is the daughter of Grandma's daughter, L., from Grandma's (supposed) first marriage to Mr. Whisenhunt. I am the daughter of Grandma's daughter, W., from her second marriage to Mr. Richards.

Cousin has learned, and found the legal proof, that our dear Grandmother had a marriage no one knew about.

She found the marriage license for her (Cousin's) grandfather Mr. Whisenhunt, but Grandma's name was listed as C. Mowler. Much more sleuthing, and help from several counties, Cousin found a marriage license for Grandma, C. Phelps, to the unknown Mowler.

Oh what a tangled web we weave...and nearly 100 years later it's so hard to unravel.

My Grandma, the prim and proper, ultra-strict, Ruler of the Clan...had a secret marriage. Oh my, when I get to Heaven she's gonna have some 'splanin' to do!

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Comments (10)

susanjf_gw
14 years ago
if you want to get some free stuff go to the mormon church site..they don't charge like the others do now...

btw you can get (for a fee) your father's original ss form...
caroline94535
Original Author
14 years ago
Who do I contact/pay for that form? SS office?
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mamatoad
14 years ago
That's awesome! Until a few years ago, I did not even know the names of my maternal great grandparents. Now, after hours and hours of sleuthing, I can trace them back to the 1600's. I still have some more to do, but it has been an amazing journey. I hope you can find the siblings that you are searching for!
OklaMoni
14 years ago
I asked my dad about his parents and grands... and on one of his trips to visit me in Oklahoma he brought his "Ahnenpass". All Germans needed to possess and carry such a document during Hitlers reign.

I copied all info down at the time. Wish I had made copies...

Moni
Lindsey_CA
14 years ago
Social Security Administration
Office of Earnings Operations
FOIA Workgroup
300 N. Greene Street
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, Maryland 21290
Re: Freedom of Information Act Request

Dear Freedom of Information Officer,

I am writing this request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552. I hereby request a copy of the SS-5, Application for Social Security Card, or a corresponding NUMIDENT printout (see below) for the following individual:

Collins, Basil
492-34-0296
Birth: 1 Apr 1930
Death: 9 Jul 1992

This individual is deceased, having been listed in the Social Security Administration's Death Master File. I understand the fee for this service is $27 for copy of original SS-5 application OR $16 for copy of an abbreviated NUMIDENT printout when the Social Security Number is provided. I am requesting a (circle one: SS-5 copy OR Numident printout) Included is a check for $______ made out to the Social Security Administration to cover any administrative costs required by this request.

Please respond to my request upon receipt of this initial correspondence. Thank you for your attention and assistance.

Sincerely,

Address:

Daytime Phone Number:
marie_ndcal
14 years ago
Sounds like you are busy. Change of subject--did you get the information about the Quilt Show next weekend? I emailed it to you about 3-4 days ago.
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jannie
14 years ago
I find geneology fascinating. I don't know much about my family before 1900. A cousin did a lot of research, but she passed away about 10 years ago and no one saved her records.
caroline94535
Original Author
14 years ago
Marie...Yes, I got the great info. I'm so sorry, I thought I responded on my iPod. I got wrapped up in possibly "finding" my other brothers I lost tract of my real life.

I'm going to try to come show, depending on the weather and road conditions. I'll be calling for reservations tonight.

Are you going to be at the quilt show? If so, I'd love to meet you and perhaps have coffee or lunch!
ghoghunter
14 years ago
I am a genealogy nut! I love it and have been searching for my family now for about 20 years! It's a wonderful hobby and I was just at a huge genealogy conference yesterday in Center City Philadelphia. It was sponsored by Ancestry and The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. When I run into brick walls searching my own family I do searches for all my friends and in-laws etc. I just love it. I always loved mystery stories so maybe that explains it!
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Lindsey_CA
14 years ago
LOL, Joann (ghoghunter)!! I, too, love mysteries, and I, too, am a genealogy nut. I get so frustrated with Pennsylvania, though. My father's family came from Italy and ended up in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, which puts NOTHING online! Makes me crazy...

I now know more about me; family research

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