This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Joyful Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.kings/16417.3.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I think your frustration may be from searching for too specific criteria. I know that you believe Alfred was his first name, and it very well could have been. But it is also possible that it was a middle name and he went by his middle name. People do that all the time. Both of my parents have gone by their middle names their entire lives. Take a look again at the 1920 and 1930 census for William Ziegler and Edith Martin's family. Bear in mind that we don't know who gave the information to the census taker. It could have been one of the parents, one of the children, even a neighbor. The information is a good guideline, but NOT necessarily FACT. 1920 Census Borough of Brooklyn, Kings, New York 7 January 1920 Ziegler, William, head, m, w, 37, m, New York, New York, New York, Operator, Elevator Edith, wife, f, w, 36, m, New York, New York, New York Alfred, son, m, w, 7, s, New York, New York, New York Henrietta, daughter, f, w, 5, s, New York, New York, New York Paul, son, m, w, 1 11/12, s, New York, New York, New York Alice, daughter, f, w, 0/12, s, New York, New York, New York MacCallen, Dorothy, step daughter, f, w, 16, s, New York, New York, New York, Operator, apron factory Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Brooklyn Assembly District 22, Kings, New York; Roll: T625_1179; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 1411; Image: 1023. 1930 Census Brooklyn borough, Kings, New York April 5, 1930 Ziegler, William E, head, m, w, 48, m, 30, New York, New York, New York, Operator, Dry goods store Edith C, wife, f, w, 47, m, 29, New York, New York, New York William A, son, m, w, 17, s, New York, New York, New York, Auto Mechanic, Auto Exchange Henrietta M, daughter, f, w, 15, s, New York, New York, New York Paul E, son, m, w, 12, s, New York, New York, New York Alice P, daughter, f, w, 10, s, New York, New York, New York Florence, daughter, f, w, 7 3/12, s, New York, New York, New York John W, son, m, w, 5 2/12, s, New York, New York, New York Moser, Dorothy E, daughter, f, w, 25, d, New York, New York, New York Zeigler, Alice S, sister, f, w, 47, s, New York, New York, New York, Forelady, Multigraph Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Brooklyn, Kings, New York; Roll: 1540; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 487; Image: 724.0; FHL microfilm: 2341275. Now comparing: 1920 - Ziegler, William, head, m, w, 37, m, New York, New York, New York, Operator, Elevator 1930 - Ziegler, William E, head, m, w, 48, m, 30, New York, New York, New York, Operator, Dry goods store 1920 - Edith, wife, f, w, 36, m, New York, New York, New York 1930 - Edith C, wife, f, w, 47, m, 29, New York, New York, New York 1920 - Alfred, son, m, w, 7, s, New York, New York, New York 1930 - William A, son, m, w, 17, s, New York, New York, New York, Auto Mechanic, Auto Exchange 1920 - Henrietta, daughter, f, w, 5, s, New York, New York, New York 1930 - Henrietta M, daughter, f, w, 15, s, New York, New York, New York 1920 - Paul, son, m, w, 1 11/12, s, New York, New York, New York 1930 - Paul E, son, m, w, 12, s, New York, New York, New York 1920 - Alice, daughter, f, w, 0/12, s, New York, New York, New York 1930 - Alice P, daughter, f, w, 10, s, New York, New York, New York 1920 - MacCallen, Dorothy, step daughter, f, w, 16, s, New York, New York, New York, Operator, apron factory 1930 - Moser, Dorothy E, daughter, f, w, 25, d, New York, New York, New York Too Young for 1920 Census 1930 - Florence, daughter, f, w, 7 3/12, s, New York, New York, New York 1930 - Moser, Dorothy E, daughter, f, w, 25, d, New York, New York, New York Not with Family in 1920 1930 - Zeigler, Alice S, sister, f, w, 47, s, New York, New York, New York, Forelady, Multigraph If Alfred from 1920 is not William A in 1930, who do you propose that William A is? He is not on the 1920 Census, and would have been 7 years old. His name could have been William Alfred and they called him Alfred because his father's name was William and two Williams could be confusing. If he was in trouble with the law they may have called him William in 1930 to avoid embarrassment. His name could have been Alfred William and it was just written backward in 1930. There are lots of possibilities. Also consider that his birth year could have been 1912 instead of 1913. The census he is on in 1920 is on January 7... so he would turn 8 during 1920... ----------- U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 about Alfred W Ziegler Name: Alfred W Ziegler Birth Year: 1912 Race: White, citizen (White) Nativity State or Country: New York State of Residence: New York County or City: Kings Enlistment Date: 14 May 1941 Enlistment State: New York Enlistment City: Jamaica Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life Education: Grammar school Civil Occupation: Gardeners and grounds keepers, parks, cemetaries, etc. Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 68 Weight: 146 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.