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yelenots | 18:44 Sat 19th Apr 2014 | History
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I am researching my family tree and have come across a distant relative who was born in Texas in 1896. His father, I think was Norwegian and his mother came Manchester. Unfortunately his father died in an accident and Mother and baby came back to Britain in 1897.

I would like to try and obtain a birth certificate for this child as he went onto join the Army and fought in The Somme where he sadly lost his life aged 19yrs.

I can't find out anything about his birth from Ancestry other than the documents I've found relating to him joining the Army. Please can anyone advise me where I can obtain a copy of his certificate?

Thank you.
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Have you checked with the Texas department of vital statistics?
Keep in mind that States vary as to when they started issuing birth certificates.
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/default.shtm
Question Author
Thank you for that link - not come across that website - Every other one, but not that one!!
Just reading it now, think I may have to email them for advice as it states I can only apply for a birth certificate of my own record or if I was listed as a parent!
Many thanks x
yelenots...I've just had a better look at that link,and birth certificates were only issued from 1903.
Question Author
Pasta.....that's disappointing - thank you anyway!

Jno........Nothing shows up in the search.......perhaps they never registered him!
I'm afraid you'll find that Birth Certificates were as rare as the proverbial hen's teeth here in the U.S. anytime prior to ca. 1910 or so, and then only in selected areas. One thing you could do through Ancestry or even sites like this:

http://www.censusfinder.com/

is to check the Texas 1900 Census. Unfortunately, the census (every 10 years here) for 1890 was mostly lost to a fire in Washington D.C.

The census search is aided greatly if you happen to know the County in Texas in which your search is located.

Secondly, although birth certificates are rare, most States have reasonably good marriage certificate records. Again, if you could know the County, they often have genealogical societies that post on line, such as this:

http://usgenweb.org/

Best of luck!
so he fought and died in the British Army, have you looked at the Military websites, i found a friends relative who died in WW2, with a bit of digging.
because if you have his military details, surely you may be able to trace his birth certificate from there
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Clanad.....thank you for your help, I'll look at those websites!

Emmie.....Yes, I have all his military records, I have found his Commonwealth War Memorial and also a family grave which has his details and DOB on in Manchester (they never found his body) the headstone says he was born in San Antonio, Texas........maybe I should get in touch with the Archives at the British Army but I would of thought if there was a birth certificate it would be available on Ancestry?
what was his name
this could be a quicker way to get it. i found my friends brother details, how he died, where exactly, she didn't know, and all the relevant details
and his name on a memorial, he wasn't born here, but listed with casualties of all the Anzac flyers.
are you able to give me some details, name, dob, as i might be able to find it
Question Author
Thank you emmie..........I've got all his military details from Ancestry .....Just need a copy of his birth certificate! His name was Harald Fridtjof Moe...DOB 18th Sept 1896 in San Antonio, Texas. His parents got married in Manchester and emigrated to Texas where Harald was born. His father Peter Johan Moe (and by coincidence 'his' father was also called Peter Johan Moe') was killed in an accident and Mother & baby returned to the UK. Harald lived in an orphanage until he signed up to join the Army as a Private......he was killed in action on 23rd July 1916.
Thank you :-)
i assume he joined the British army, confirm that and see what i can find
Question Author
Yes, he was in the Manchester Regiment No. 11606 - Many thanks :-)
where would his birth be registered, here or the USA, i read through your records, and am not clear
i found his military records, so far, because you have to set up an account, so could quickly see his name, then the site says to access all info you have to register,
this is a USA website, they have five listed, but you have to register, and pay for the privilege. Not sure this is any help, the army records i can just about view, but that is the same, you have to register and pay


http://www.archives.com/GA.aspx?FirstName=Harald&LastName=moe&MaidenName=&Location=US&RecordType=5&BirthYear=1896&DeathYear=1916&MarriageYear=&DivorceYear=&_act=resultsCB&;CollectionId=
not sure if this is the same site i posted above, but same thing applies, but might be worth a look, this might not be possible, but the various links might give some idea,

http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/ppc/ppcancestor_search.aspx?pagename=ppc%3Aamerican+birth+records&tcode=obituary&ss=american+birth+records&ft=1&zfn=harald&;zln=moe&zplace=USA&usplaces=USA&canadaplaces=Canada&btnPPCSearch=

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