My great great grandparents, John W. and Ellen O'CONNELL (or CONNELL) were stationed in Sitka, at least from 1869, perhaps as early as 1867, through the end of 1870. He was in the US Army. While there, two of their children were born:

Mary C. O'Connell, born April 3, 1869 in Sitka
and
Thomas J. O'Connell, born August 15, 1870 in Sitka

I'm hoping that the children's birth certificates might contain more information about the parents, specifically Ellen's maiden name and the birth location of either John or Ellen. Any other information would be great, too.

Would I be able to get copies of the children's birth certificates through the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics? There web site wasn't clear about that. If not, is there another agency or department through which I might be able to get copies? For example, because he was in the military, are there military hospital records from that time in Sitka's history?

Would there be any other documentation on them in Sitka? I know that the US Census didn't begin in AK until 1880 but were there any local censuses taken? Anything that might help me?

Thank you,
Carol Hokana

P.S. Family lore has it that the above Mary C. O'Connell was the first non-native (caucasian) baby born in Sitka, AK.

The following is from "Lady Franklin Visits Sitka, Alaska 1870" published by the Alaska Historical Society, 1981:
Apendix II, Census of Sitka October 24, 1970

"In October, 1870, shortly after the visit of Lady Franklin and Sophia Cracroft to Sitka, Major John C. Tidball, Second U.S. Artillery, then in command of the Sitka post, ordered Second Lieutenant D.C. Lyle to take a census of the civilian population of the town, excluding the natives living in the Ranche. In this task Lt. Lyle was assisted by Emanuel Shirpser as Russian interpreter, William Phillipson as Indian interpreter, and Dr. J. Williams of the post medical staff. etc., etc......

The census did not include the more than 100 soldiers then stationed at Sitka. This is unfortunate because some of the men may have stayed on and become residents of the town following their discharge."

There are no O'Connells listed in this census.

try O'connell

Alaska State records did not start until 1912. So one would have to rely on civilian records, the newspaper(s) of the day. Which I think there was one. Or, one would have to use church records or in this case, possibly military records. There is also applying for a birth certificate through late registry as my father had to do in the 1950's. So it is possible that AK Vital Statistics may have a record. Military records may have to be accessed through the US National Archives.