52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Prompt – Same Name
Week 25
One of the hardest questions that I
have been known to stumble on is; what is your mother's maiden name?
In my younger years I was told her maiden name was McLaughlin because
that was my maternal grandmother's current last name. As I got older
I began to hear the stories. Grandma was married once before to a
Sullivan. In one of my earliest blogs I tried to explain him as a
man of many names. Pat or Patrick Sullivan, Bob Sullivan, Robert
Sullivan, Bob Windsworth Sullivan or even Robert Wentworth Sullivan.
None the less he was my mom's biological father and thus that made
her legal maiden name Sullivan. As I have noted before Sullivan was
essentially erased from my grandmother's life. My grandmother's
second marriage was to Benjamin Franklin McLaughlin, but he never
adopted my mom, but did adopt mom's sibling, Wallace. But that is
another completely different story that someday I may get into. It
was not just my grandmother's last name that gave me trouble. It is
trying to figure out her correct first and middle name.
In genealogy one should show the
sources of a any data or information put in the family tree. For
example; birth certificate, confirmation certificate, marriage
certificate etc. I would like to explore the difficulties I ran into
when trying to nail down my grandmother's name using sources that are
usually quite accurate.
The earliest document for her was a
copy of a Parochialschein (Parochial certificates). This is
an official document written by the Lutheran pastor from Russia for
the immigrating family to take to their new church and pastor
indicating that they are members in good stead.
This certificate states her name as
Marie Katharina Krikau born June 8 but the year is not clear. I know
it to be 1903.
The next official document is the Inspection Card from the Birma Ship upon landing in Ellis Island, New York. Her name is listed as Maria Krikau.
Ten or so years ago I was in contact with a relative who noted that the Krikau family had a failed crossing in 1913. When I went to Ancestry and plugged in the Krikau name nothing came up. I could not figure this out.
The next official document is the Inspection Card from the Birma Ship upon landing in Ellis Island, New York. Her name is listed as Maria Krikau.
Ten or so years ago I was in contact with a relative who noted that the Krikau family had a failed crossing in 1913. When I went to Ancestry and plugged in the Krikau name nothing came up. I could not figure this out.
Similarly in the 1916 Canada Census of
Manitoba, Saskatchewan Alberta the family is once again listed as
Krikan and my grandmother is Marie Krikan.
On April 1, 1917 my grandmother was
confirmed in Christ Lutheran Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I have her
scroll which shows her name as Maria Katharina Krikau. At that time
she was given an inscribed German religious book and the name
although written in German Script reads Maria Krikau.
Then there is her marriage certificate to her first husband in this case he was Bob Windsworth Sullivan and my grandmother was written down as Mary Katherine Krikow.
A few months following her marriage, the 1921 Canada Census was taken and she was listed as Mary Kathleen Sullivan.
On June 7, 1929 grandmother received her naturalization papers on which she is named. Mary Katherine Sollivan.
On April 1, 1932 she marries Benjamin McLaughlin and her name on the marriage certificate is listed as Mary Sullivan.
Then there is her marriage certificate to her first husband in this case he was Bob Windsworth Sullivan and my grandmother was written down as Mary Katherine Krikow.
A few months following her marriage, the 1921 Canada Census was taken and she was listed as Mary Kathleen Sullivan.
On June 7, 1929 grandmother received her naturalization papers on which she is named. Mary Katherine Sollivan.
On April 1, 1932 she marries Benjamin McLaughlin and her name on the marriage certificate is listed as Mary Sullivan.
In her daughter's wedding newspaper
announcement that I spoke of in the last blog, grandmother was listed
as Mrs. B.F. McLaughlin.
On October 4, 1960 my grandmother made
her last will and testament upon which her name is listed as Mary
Katharine McLaughlin and she signs it as Mrs. Mary McLaughlin.
Her funeral memory book made by Saskatoon McKague's Funeral Chapel she is listed as Mary Katharine McLaughlin. The newspaper obituary names her Mary Kathleen (Krikau) McLaughlin.
Her funeral memory book made by Saskatoon McKague's Funeral Chapel she is listed as Mary Katharine McLaughlin. The newspaper obituary names her Mary Kathleen (Krikau) McLaughlin.
The last and final discrepancy I have
found in her name was discovered when I went to visit her at her
graveside in Saskatoon Woodlawn Cemetery. I did not remember where
exactly she was buried. I stopped by the office and asked if they
could look up Mary McLaughlin's grave site. At first they were
unable to find her. I knew she was buried somewhere there as I
attended the interment. After a bit they found a Mary McLauhlin (no
“g”). And as it turned out that was indeed her. One final
discrepancy in her name and this one was engraved in stone.
In my grandmother's case she has many variations of her name in her official documents. Some of them are made because of transcription error. For example from her census. The handwriting was not the best. I believe some of the variations were because of Mary being more Canadian than Marie or Maria. The name variations are many but really it is all the same person just not the same name.
So what is her real birth name? I don't really know.
Wendy
In my grandmother's case she has many variations of her name in her official documents. Some of them are made because of transcription error. For example from her census. The handwriting was not the best. I believe some of the variations were because of Mary being more Canadian than Marie or Maria. The name variations are many but really it is all the same person just not the same name.
So what is her real birth name? I don't really know.
Wendy
That's quite a variety of discrepancies!
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