I'm having a tough time tracing one of my ancestors. The 1900 census provides May 1871 as the birthdate of Mary FINNIGAN Sekel; the Philadelphia birth index does list a Mary born 28 June 1871 with parents Jurmiah and Emily FINNIGAN; the Philadelphia death index provides a death date of 11 Dec 1910 for Mary SECKEL. These all fit (I checked the birth indexes from 1868 - 1871 for Mary to rule out other entries). In locating the cemetery she is buried in, she is buried with Finnigans, though I've not yet established that relationship. My question: I have located Mary in the 1900 and 1910 census, and I know for sure it's her. I have not been able to locate her in 1880, though there is a Mary fitting her description living as daughter to Owen FINNEGAN. Owen and his wife were born in Ireland, and Mary after 1880 provides her birth place as PA with her parents as IRE. Is it possible that this is the same Mary? How would I check this when there is no other birth entry for Mary? 9 seems awfully young for a child to no longer be with her family. I know that Mary's grandson lived with his grandmother and that the family did scatter; I wonder if it could have happened here? Thanks, Laurie

Laurie et al: I can't answer the question for the 1900s, but take this opportunity to remind searchers that during the Great Depression, late 1920s and early 1930s, it was quite common for families to be split up. My husband, now 87, remembers classmates who abruptly disappeared when father lost his job and they had to move from the neighborhood. Many a child was sent to live temporarily with an aunt, uncle or grandparent, even a family friend or neighbor, simply because his parents had no appropriate home for him. It was a very difficult time for families; many were never reunited. Marj in NC -----Original Message----- From: Laurie [mailto:laurie@ampwares.com] Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 12:26 PM To: PAPHILAD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Was it unusual in early 1900s to find families split up? I'm having a tough time tracing one of my ancestors. The 1900 census provides May 1871 as the birthdate of Mary FINNIGAN Sekel; the Philadelphia birth index does list a Mary born 28 June 1871 with parents Jurmiah and Emily FINNIGAN; the Philadelphia death index provides a death date of 11 Dec 1910 for Mary SECKEL. These all fit (I checked the birth indexes from 1868 - 1871 for Mary to rule out other entries). In locating the cemetery she is buried in, she is buried with Finnigans, though I've not yet established that relationship. My question: I have located Mary in the 1900 and 1910 census, and I know for sure it's her. I have not been able to locate her in 1880, though there is a Mary fitting her description living as daughter to Owen FINNEGAN. Owen and his wife were born in Ireland, and Mary after 1880 provides her birth place as PA with her parents as IRE. Is it possible that this is the same Mary? How would I check this when there is no other birth entry for Mary? 9 seems awfully young for a child to no longer be with her family. I know that Mary's grandson lived with his grandmother and that the family did scatter; I wonder if it could have happened here? Thanks, Laurie