fyi...if you cannot find birth certificate on your ancestor, if they had social security # - you can order copy of their application... i can post form letter - if interested... from ancestry.com: When you find your ancestors in the Social Security Death Index (also known as the Death Master File), you may want a copy of your ancestor's original Social Security application. This application has valuable additional information and can serve as documentation for your own records. The Social Security Administration makes copies of the original Social Security application form (the SS-5) available to third parties who request information on a deceased individual. The application form (SS-5) contains the following information: Full name Full name at birth (including maiden name) Present mailing address Age at last birthday Date of birth Place of birth (City, county, state) Father's full name "regardless of whether living or dead" Mother's full name, including maiden name, "regardless of whether living or dead" Sex and race Ever applied for SS number/Railroad Retirement before? Yes/No Current employer's name and address Date signed Applicant's signature Note: Not everyone who has, or has had, a Social Security card will appear on the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). The SSDI lists only those individuals for whom a lump sum death benefit was paid. Many other enrolled persons are not listed either because their death was not reported or they are still living. If you haven't found your deceased ancestor on the SSDI, but he or she was likely enrolled with the Social Security system, it may still be possible to get a photocopy of his or her original SS-5. To request this information, you will need to send the name and Social Security number of the person you're researching. You might be able to locate the person's Social Security number in the following places: personal papers death certificate funeral home records records held by financial institutions voter registration rolls at county courthouse former employers of the individual