I’ve been researching my family history on and off for about 10 years now. I spent a lot of time focusing on my dad’s side of the family, mainly because all of those ancestors come from southern Texas and I’m in southern Texas. But there’s always been one branch of my mom’s family that’s been a mysterious dead-end. A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to see if I could work past it. So I searched the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), determined to find my great-grandmother’s parents from her Social Security number application.
While this has solved part of the mystery, it’s raised a few more questions. First, when I requested her application, I used the number listed in the SSDI. It turns out that the number on the SSDI is actually my great-grandfather’s. Thankfully the kind Freedom of Information Officer who handled my request noticed this and investigated, rather than just returning my request and fee. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have found the surprises.
All of the family anecdotal and written notes I’ve found so far say my great-grandmother’s maiden name is Czernak. But her application shows something different: Sinkle. A name that has yet to come up from any other sources. I also hoped to use her application to verify her date of birth. According to the SSDI, her DOB is Sep 4 1889; however, the handwritten part of the application clearly lists 1888 as her birth year. To add to Grandma Rose’s ancestry mystery, the 1930 census lists Germany as her country of birth and German as the other language she spoke. However, her SSA application lists Poland as her country of birth.
Sadly, the application did not solve the initial mystery I was trying to clear up: who were Rose’s parents? As listed on her application, even Rose did not know, so I’m not sure where to go from here on her ancestry.
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This is very interesting. I’ve worked on genealogy off & on since 1976 and have some major walls of my own. I wonder of Rose herself filled out the form or is someone at the SS office helped her. Do you have any idea what year she arrived in the United States? I can’t get my ancestors out of the confederacy. let alone out of the United States, so I haven’t done any research beyond the United States. Is Rose in the 1920 census? Have you ever visited with Emily Croom of Unpuzzling Your Past?
Hi Joyce! I’m guessing her daughter filled out the form because her daughter’s signature follows Rose’s name on the signature line. Both the 1920 and 1930 census records indicate a 1910 arrival year, but I haven’t found other supporting documentation for that. And I haven’t visited Unpuzzling Your Past yet, but will be checking that out next!