This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CCC.2ACE/2999.1 Message Board Post: > ...I am looking for Calvin or clarence Williams if you know > him please contact me he was in the army and should be > in his early mid 40's Just based on the name, Army and in Mid 40's...that is not enough information to even begin. No one could look for such a name in Washington without more info. Now, are you looking for him in Washington State or Washington D.C? Quite a few make this mistake, this is the site for Washington State. First, basic information searches for you to do: 1. Do you have contact with your mother? Can she give you information? If not, does she have any brothers, sisters, or other family that you can ask for information? Is there anyone that you know that may know your mother and father? 2. Do you have your birth certificate? What does it say? What was his EXACT name on the certificate? Does it say that your father was born in WA? And what was the age of your father on your birth certificate? What was your mothers name on the birth certificate? (There is always a chance the fathers name was ficticious, made up by your mother at the time of birth). 3. What month, year and place were YOU born. That will tell us if you were born in Washington or another state. 4. Are you living in the same area that you were born? If so, visit the local newspaper and look for birth announcements just after your birth. You may not find any at all. Can I assume you had very little contact, if any, with him? Tell us WHY you think his name was Calvin or Clarence Williams. What else do you know about your mother and father? For example, if you KNOW your mother lived in Seattle, but you were born in Spokane, that may have an impact on later information. Do you know of any older brothers or sisters that were children of your father?