Search for content in message boards

I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 4:05PM GMT
Classification: Census
This is probably more of a gripe than anything, however I cannot locate a single relative in the 1940 Census. My paternal grandparents were born in 1930 [Thomas Roberts] and 1935 [Lenna Gillespie]. Neither them nor their parents show up anywhere.

To make this even more frustrating, my great grandfather (also Thomas Roberts) divorced and remarried in the later 1930s, and I can't find him either. It's like after the 1930 census every one stopped existing. So that's three sets of families that do not show up.

My grandfather (the Thomas Roberts b1930), he lived with his mother and I did manage to find her second marriage certificate. April 13, 1940 in Preble County, Ohio. But no trace of them in the census, using her maiden name (York), first marriage name (Roberts), or second marriage name (Pigott).

So I go looking for her second husband (Cecil Pigott), and he and his family also do not show up anywhere in the 1940 Census. That's now 4 families missing.

Is this typical? I swear it was way easier tracking people from the 19th century. All of these people are now deceased, except for my grand mother Lenna Gillespie. And she swears they lived in Ohio in 1940.

Re: I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 8:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
Here is Lena with her family in the 1940 census.

United States Census, 1940
Name: Lenna Lou Gillipsie
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Lima Township, Licking, Ohio, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 4
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birthplace: West Virginia
Birth Year (Estimated): 1936
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Mood Gillipsie Head M 35 West Virginia
Ruby Gillipsie Wife F 33 West Virginia
Eugene Gillipsie Son M 7 West Virginia
Lenora Gillipsie Daughter F 6 West Virginia
Lenna Lou Gillipsie Daughter F 4 West Virginia
Loretta Gillipsie Daughter F 1 Ohio

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27873-8929-53?...

Re: I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 9:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
what was thomas roberts vmothers name? too many of the same age

Re: I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 9:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
Seriously, how in the heck did you find that? I have spent days on Ancestry searching for Moody, Eugene and Lenna. You have my eternal thanks.

Re: I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 9:33PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 22 Jan 2015 9:35PM GMT
Not sure what you are asking, but my Grandfather [Thomas J Roberts born 1930] had parents Thomas Roberts and Bertie York (alternately called Birdie York). Keep in mind by 1940 Thomas and Bertie were divorced, and Bertie remarried April 13, 1940 to Cecil Pigott.

My Great Grandfather Thomas Roberts, born 1907, had parents Albert Roberts b1865 and Ucatan "Tannie" Rigsby.

Re: I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

Posted: 23 Jan 2015 12:06AM GMT
Classification: Query
Note that the census record found has their last name spelled incorrectly and two of the first names are spelled differently.

Suggestions: Try using FamilySearch to find 1940 census records. Their search system is much more forgiving about spelling.

Also try searching with wild cards (like Gill* or Mood*). Try searching with just first names and birth dates/places. Mood* or Moody born c. 1905 West Virginia. I once found someone by not entering ANYTHING in the name fields: just birth date, place and county where I expected to find them. Got to out-think the poor spellers and bad indexers!

Sharon

Re: I swear the 1940 Census is messed up...

Posted: 23 Jan 2015 12:24AM GMT
Classification: Query
That's great info. Thanks for explaning!
per page

Find a board about a specific topic