I'm hoping for your input regarding an adopted child, my grandfather. His birth parents were not married when he was born.  FamilySearch has him listed as _____Baxter, father is listed as N. Baxter and mother is Emma Crull. Along come a couple who want to adopt the child, Martha and Otto Penner.  A year to the date of his birth the couple adopts the child, who is now named Otto J Crull on the adoption document with the mother listed as Emma Crull, a single woman and mother.   The father, N Baxter, is not mentioned at all. The adoption took place in the probate court of Wyandotte, Kansas; Emma was a resident there. My question is how best should I list Otto?  I use FTM2012 which allows you to enter all the parents, adopted and birth, and to make one set "preferred".  However, when you do this you don't see the other set of parents.  Same thing on Ancestry.com. I have listed all the events of his birth and adoption plus have all the documents attached with the correct dates.   Currently I have him listed with his adoptive name and adoptive parents.  Or would it be more correct to list his with his actual birth name and birth parents?  I did have him listed as Otto Johanne (Crull) Penner but was told by someone that that was WRONG.  What is the best course to take?  Thanks.   Cathy Champion in Fenton, MO 63026 (near St. Louis)   "When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade without further introduction" - Mark Twain

I would do as you have done, listed him as a child in two relationships. He would be the biological child of N. Baxter and Emma Crull. This couple would be listed as "never married." He would be listed as the adopted child of Otto and Martha Penner. You can always put an explanatory note in the "notes" section for the child. This note should show up on Ancestry so that people will know that he is the child of two relationships. Michele -----Original Message----- From: transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Cathy Champion Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 8:25 AM To: transitional-genealogists-forum@rootsweb.com Subject: [TGF] Entering data for my grandfather who was adopted I'm hoping for your input regarding an adopted child, my grandfather. His birth parents were not married when he was born.  FamilySearch has him listed as _____Baxter, father is listed as N. Baxter and mother is Emma Crull. Along come a couple who want to adopt the child, Martha and Otto Penner.  A year to the date of his birth the couple adopts the child, who is now named Otto J Crull on the adoption document with the mother listed as Emma Crull, a single woman and mother.   The father, N Baxter, is not mentioned at all. The adoption took place in the probate court of Wyandotte, Kansas; Emma was a resident there. My question is how best should I list Otto?  I use FTM2012 which allows you to enter all the parents, adopted and birth, and to make one set "preferred". However, when you do this you don't see the other set of parents.  Same thing on Ancestry.com. I have listed all the events of his birth and adoption plus have all the documents attached with the correct dates.   Currently I have him listed with his adoptive name and adoptive parents.  Or would it be more correct to list his with his actual birth name and birth parents?  I did have him listed as Otto Johanne (Crull) Penner but was told by someone that that was WRONG.  What is the best course to take?  Thanks.   Cathy Champion in Fenton, MO 63026 (near St. Louis)   "When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade without further introduction" - Mark Twain The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition to professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this list. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Cathy, if it were me, I would list the birth parents as "preferred" since they are your actual blood ancestors. By listing them as the preferred, they will show in all your FTM charts and narratives as part of your family tree. Eileen _______________________________ Eileen A Souza Eldersburg, MD Old Bones Genealogy LLC info@oldbonesgenealogy.com www.oldbonesgenealogy.com > -----Original Message----- > From: transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > Cathy Champion > Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 8:25 AM > To: transitional-genealogists-forum@rootsweb.com > Subject: [TGF] Entering data for my grandfather who was adopted > > I'm hoping for your input regarding an adopted child, my grandfather. > > His birth parents were not married when he was born.  FamilySearch has him > listed as _____Baxter, father is listed as N. Baxter and mother is Emma Crull. > > Along come a couple who want to adopt the child, Martha and Otto Penner.  A > year to the date of his birth the couple adopts the child, who is now named Otto J > Crull on the adoption document with the mother listed as Emma Crull, a single > woman and mother. > > The father, N Baxter, is not mentioned at all. > > The adoption took place in the probate court of Wyandotte, Kansas; Emma was a > resident there. > > My question is how best should I list Otto?  I use FTM2012 which allows you to > enter all the parents, adopted and birth, and to make one set "preferred". > However, when you do this you don't see the other set of parents.  Same thing on > Ancestry.com. > > I have listed all the events of his birth and adoption plus have all the documents > attached with the correct dates.   Currently I have him listed with his adoptive > name and adoptive parents.  Or would it be more correct to list his with his actual > birth name and birth parents? > > > I did have him listed as Otto Johanne (Crull) Penner but was told by someone that > that was WRONG. > > > What is the best course to take?  Thanks. > > Cathy Champion in Fenton, MO 63026 (near St. Louis) > > "When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade without further > introduction" - Mark Twain > The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive > environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition to > professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this list. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL- > GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Cathy wrote: >I did have him listed as Otto Johanne (Crull) Penner but was told by someone that that was WRONG.  Cathy, did this person tell you why he or she deemed this approach wrong? One genealogical convention does apply here. Placing a name in parentheses, after the given name and before the surname, is the convention used for females to indicate their maiden name. (Rose, Chap. 23 of_Progen_, p. 465). Example: Emma (Crull) Smith What you seem to be dealing with, based on your description, is an "also known as" situation. Conventionally in genealogy, an aka name (or a variant spelling) is placed after the surname that you deem to be the principal one. For clarity, then, the "aka" or the "var." is explained within the parentheses. For example: Otto Johanne Penner (aka Crull) or Otto Johanne Crull (aka Crull, Baxter) Or, if this were the case: Otto Johanne Penner (var. Pener) Elizabeth -------------------------------------------- Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG www.HistoricPathways.com www.EvidenceExplained.com & for daily tips on records and records analysis: www.Facebook.com/EvidenceExplained