Oliver Haswell James/Genealogical Proof Report

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Genealogical Proof Report for the Birth of Oliver H. James (<tng i="10704">I10704</tng>)

Summary of Findings

I have only located one document containing Oliver&#146;s full date of birth, 14 Nov 1904, his SS-5. After evaluating this date versus all other known sources it seems to fit.

Itemized Research Findings

12 assertions from 12 sources were considered in evaluating this claim.

The Correspondence - New York State Index for Birhts - Citation 1 (S325)<a class='endnote' href='#cite1'>[1]</a> asserts that no entry for Oliver James birth was found between 1900 and 1906. The source reviewed was a Derived Record, introducing the risk of copy errors.The information is believed to be Secondary (meaning the person providing the information received that information second hand, from another person or work). The evidence supporting the claim is considered Negative (meaning the LACK of information provides circumstantial evidence).

The reliability of this index is currently unknown. However, it indicates no entry for Oliver James birth was found between 1900 and 1906. This suggests several possibilities:

  • Oliver was born outside this date range
  • Oliver was born outside the state
  • Oliver is listed in the index under a different spelling, and was not located because the librarian

If Oliver is not actually listed, it is inconsistent with all other known sources.

The Social Security Number Application - Oliver James - Citation 1 (S255)<a class='endnote' href='#cite2'>[2]</a> asserts that Oliver Haswell James was born 14 Nov 1903 in Yonkers New York. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary (meaning the person providing the information was a knowledgeable eyewitness or participant in the event). The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct (meaning it adequate to answer the question directly).

Until 1972, applicants weren&#146;t required to prove proof of identity. [1]

This is the only document I have been able to locate which lists Oliver's complete date of birth.

First, middle initial, last name, mother first name and father names all match what is expected from other sources.

  • This date fits within the 1905 New York State Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1910 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1915 New York State Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1920 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1930 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1940 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the Death Certificate assertion.
  • This date &#145;&#146;&#146;does not&#146;&#146;&#146; fit within Oliver&#146;s divorce documents assertion.
  • This date &#145;&#146;&#146;does not&#146;&#146;&#146; fit within his son William James&#146; birth certificate assertion.



The 1905 New York State Census - James - Citation 1 (272)<a class='endnote' href='#cite3'>[3]</a> asserts that Oliver James was born between 2 Jun 1903 and 1 Jun 1904. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

Until 1972, applicants weren&#146;t required to prove proof of identity. [2]

This is the only document I have been able to locate which lists Oliver's complete date of birth.

First, middle initial, last name, mother first name and father names all match what is expected from other sources.

  • This date fits within the 1905 New York State Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1910 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1915 New York State Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1920 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date &#145;&#146;&#146;does not&#146;&#146;&#146; fit within Oliver&#146;s marriage certificate assertion.
  • This date &#145;&#146;&#146;does not&#146;&#146;&#146; fit within his son William James&#146; birth certificate assertion.
  • This date &#145;&#146;&#146;does not&#146;&#146;&#146; fit within Oliver&#146;s divorce documents assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1930 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the 1940 Federal Census assertion.
  • This date fits within the Death Certificate assertion.



The 1910 Federal Census - James - Citation 1 (375)<a class='endnote' href='#cite4'>[4]</a> asserts that Oliver H James was born between 16 Apr 1903 and 15 Apr 1904. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

This source actually asserts Oliver H. James was 26 when the census was enumerated on 10 Feb 1910. All questions were to reflect 15 April 1910. Given this information we can calculate Oliver was born was born between 16 Apr 1903 and 15 Apr 1904.

The 1915 New York State Census - James - Citation 1 (375)<a class='endnote' href='#cite5'>[5]</a> asserts that Oliver James was born betwee 2 Jun 1903 and 1 Jun 1904. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

This census recorded the name of each person living in home on 1 June 1915. [3]

This range fits within the general time frame of other known sources.

The 1920 Federal Census - James - Citation 1 (S322)<a class='endnote' href='#cite6'>[6]</a> asserts that Oliver James was born between between 2 Jan 1903 and 1 Jan 1904. The source reviewed was an Original Record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

This source actually asserts Oliver H. James was 26 when the census was enumerated on 10 Feb 1920. All questions were to reflect 1 Jan 1920. Given this information we can calculate Oliver was born was born between 2 Jan 1903 and 1 Jan 1904.

The Marriage Certificate - James - Citation 1 (192)<a class='endnote' href='#cite7'>[7]</a> asserts that Oliver James was born between 24 Dec 1901 and 23 Dec 1902. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

According to subsequent divorce records, Oliver may have lied about his age in order to marry, then preagnent, Rachel Edwards. According those documents indivduals were required to be 21 to marry without their parrents present at the time. Oliver was presented with the option of marrying Rachel or face breach of peace charges.

This may explain why the birth certificate is inconsistant with outher sources.

The Birth Certificate - William James - Citation 1 (S213)<a class='endnote' href='#cite8'>[8]</a> asserts that Oliver James was born between 25 Mar 1899 and 24 Mar 1900. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

William James is Oliver James' only known son. The informant for Oliver's information on his William's birth certificate is not recorded, but is likly Rachel Edwards. Given the contriversy surrounding William's birth and his parent's marriage it is likley not correct. According to William he never knew his father. Likewise the his parent's divorce records state they never lived togeather, it's likley the informant was Rachel and she simply didn't know much about Oliver's date of birth.

The Divorce Documents - James - Deposition of Hezekiah - Citation 1 (S285)<a class='endnote' href='#cite9'>[9]</a> asserts that Oliver H. James claimed after to 19 May 1904. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

In a failed attempt to have his marriage annulled rather than allow Rachel Edwards to win a divorce Oliver claimed not to have been 21 at the time of the marriage. At the time, Connecticut state law required a parent to be present if an individual was under 21 [4], thus hopefully invalidating the marriage. There are no comments specifically on this assertion, but a divorce was granted rather than an annulment.

Given a birth date of 14 Nov 1904 and their marriage date of 23 Dec 1923, [5] Oliver would have been 19 years 1 month 1 week 2 days when he was married. This supports both Oliver&#146;s claims in is patition for annulment [6] and supports the date of birth on his SS-5.

The 1930 Federal Census - Citation James<a class='endnote' href='#cite10'>[10]</a> asserts that Oliver H. James was born between 2 Apr 1903 and 1 Apr 1904. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

This source actually asserts Oliver H. James was 26 when the census was enumerated on 11 April 1930. All questions were to reflect 1 April 1930. Given this information we can calculate Oliver was born was born between 2 Apr 1903 and 1 Apr 1904.

The 1940 Federal Census - Citation James (S321)<a class='endnote' href='#cite11'>[11]</a> asserts that Oliver O James was born between 2 Apr 1903 and 1 Apr 1904. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Primary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

This source actually asserts Oliver H. James was 36 when the census was enumerated on 11 April 1940. All questions were to reflect 1 April 1940. Given this information we can calculate Oliver was born was born between 2 Apr 1903 and 1 Apr 1904.

The Death Certificate - Oliver James - Citation 1 (S268)<a class='endnote' href='#cite12'>[12]</a> asserts that Oliver H. James was born between 23 Dec 1902 and 22 Dec 1903. The source reviewed was a clear unaltered Image Copy of an original record. The information is believed to be Secondary. The evidence supporting the claim is considered Direct.

This source actually asserts "Oliver H James was 72 when he died on 22 Dec 1975." Given this information we can calculate Oliver was born between 23 Dec 1902 and 22 Dec 1903. determine his date of birth was 1903.

This source does not list the informant, theirfor it is impossible to determine the reliablity non death information. For example, how can did the informant know Oliver was 72 years old if the date of birth is unable to be determined? While this source may by itself be reliable for non-death related facts, this calculated date of birth fits within the general time frame provided by other evidence.

Recommendations for Continuing

  • I noticed the origonal 2007 search appears to have been for Olives H James, rather tha Oliver, as a result I have requested antoher search to be done. According to their website this search can take up to six months.

End Notes

<references>

1Local History/Genealogy Librarian, Onodaga County Public Library, Syarcuse, NY [([email protected]) & 44 So. Salira St, Syracuse, Ney York], To Jason Crews, e-mail, 13 Mar 2013, "birth look up," James Research Files, , James Research Files; Jason Crews, [[email protected]], Gilbert, Arizona.

2Oliver H. James, SS no. 022-03-7520, 1 Dec 1936, Application for Account Number (Form SS-5), Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland.

3New York, State Census, 1905, Yonkers, Westchester County, New York, population schedule, second election district, second ward, page 16, household 5, line 44-48, Household of John James; digital image and database, Familysearch.org (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MV1M-B4V : accessed 17 Mar 2013); citing New York County Clerk offices. &#147;New York State Census, 1905.&#148; New York State Archives, Albany,New York.

41910 U.S. census, Yonkers,Westchester County County, New York, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 144, sheet 3B, household 12, line 85-90, Household of John James; digital image and database, Ancestry.com ( : accessed 17 Mar 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T625.

5New York, State Census, 1915, Yonkers, Westchester County County, New York, population schedule, assembly district number 1, page 18, household 10, line 28-31, Household of John James; digital image and database, Familysearch.org (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K957-VP3 : accessed 16 Mar 2013); citing New York County Clerk offices. &#147;New York State Census, 1915.&#148; New York State Archives, Albany,New York.

61920 U.S. census, Bridgeport City,Fairfield County, Connecticut, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 28, sheet 16, household 287, line 17-19, Household of Ida James; digital image and database, Ancestry.com (accessed 16 Mar 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll .

7State of Connecticut Bureau of Vital Statistics, Marriage Certificate (23 Dec 1923), Oliver James and Rachel Winch Edwards; Town Of Fairfield.

8The Commonwealth of Massachusets Department of Public Health, Return of a Birth 1668 (1 Apr 1924), William Oliver James.

9Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate Court, Deposition of Hezekiah R. Elwood, Page 2, 29 May 1929, case 5702, Oliver H. James vs Rachael James; Massachusets State Archive, Boston.

101930 U.S. census, Somerville,Middlesex County, Massachusets, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 9-446, page 9B, household 14, line 93-96, Household of Ida E. James; digital image and database, Familysearch.org (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XQPG-14G : accessed 01 Mar 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 929.

111940 U.S. census, Somerville,Middlesex County, Massachusets, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 21-75, page 8B, household 158, line 45-48, Household of Ida E. James; digital image and database, Familysearch.org (http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K4KZ-Z5W : accessed 20 Feb 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 1704..

12Sommerville, Massachusetts, Birth Certificate, No. 495, Oliver James, 30 Dec 1975; Office of the City Clerk, Sommervill Massachusetts.

</ references>

08 Jun 2013
Evidentia© 2012-2013


  1. ↑ https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Social_Security_Death_Index_(SSDI)
  2. ↑ https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Social_Security_Death_Index_(SSDI)
  3. ↑ https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/New_York_State_Census,_1915_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)
  4. ↑ Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate Court, Deposition of Hezekiah R. Elwood, Page 4, 29 May 1929, case 5702, Oliver H. James vs Rachael James; Massachusetts State Archive, Boston.
  5. ↑ State of Connecticut Bureau of Vital Statistics, Marriage Certificate (23 Dec 1923), Oliver James and Rachel Winch Edwards; Town Of Fairfield.
  6. ↑ Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate Court, Petition for Annulment, Page 1, 8 Mar 1929, case 5702, Oliver H. James vs Rachael James; Massachusetts State Archive, Boston.
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