I'd like to tell you a story about my search for a long-lost grandfather. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride that required persistence, a keen eye for detail, and a fair bit of courage on the part of my client. Ashley had always been curious about her family's history and was determined to uncover the truth about her grandfather, John Watson.
As I delved into the case, I found myself drawn into a mystery that spanned generations. The search began with very little information to go on. Ashley provided me with a few details about her mother's family line, including her mother's full name, date of birth, and where she was born. She also mentioned that her grandfather's name might be John, that he could have been born in Indiana, and there was a possibility he was adopted. Whether he was still alive and where he had been all these years remained a mystery.
I began my search for the man, whose name might be John Watson, using the information Ashley provided. The first breakthrough came when I discovered proof that a John Watson had married Ashley's grandmother in Washington the same year her mother was born, which simultaneously provided evidence that his name was, indeed, John, but after that, the trail in Washington went cold. At that point, I shifted my focus to Indiana, where Ashley believed her Grandpa had been born. My search led me to the birth record of a John Paul Watson, whose mother had been 18 years old at the time of his birth. The child’s father was noted as 52-year-old Frank Boivin, born in France and having the occupation of florist. The pair were unmarried.
Next, I searched the 1940 Federal census for Zelda and her son John. Instead, I found Zelda living with her parents and no John, but just a mile away, I discovered a 6-year-old boy named John Watson, residing with a missionary family and listed as a lodger. Based on his date of birth, John Paul Watson would have been six years old at that time. Maybe this was the adoption Ashley remembered hearing about.
Although I was reasonably sure this young man was our John, I couldn't connect him to John Watson, the man who had married Ashley's grandmother in Washington 13 years later. I knew I had to find another way to connect the dots and prove (or disprove) my theory conclusively, as genealogical research standards require. That's when I decided to continue following the life of John's mother, Zelda.
This change in approach eventually led to an essential finding. I located a John P. Watson in his eighties and living in South Bend, Indiana, through Zelda's obituary. Could our John have returned to his birthplace of Indiana after his divorce from Ashley's grandmother? At this point, I shared a status update with Ashley and asked her to check with her mom to see if the story about the French florist or the missionary family sounded familiar. I also included contact information for John Paul Watson in South Bend.
"Oh my gosh! We just spoke to my grandfather! He’s 86 and alive!"
Just two days later, Ashley's mother, Judy, decided to take a chance and use the contact info I had provided her. And then the news that brought tears of joy to Ashley's eyes: "Oh my gosh! We just spoke to my grandfather! He’s 86 and alive! He's in Indiana like you said. I just saw pics of my aunt and cousins!!!! So awesome! Thank you again!!!"
Ashley and her mother continued to communicate with her grandfather and his other children and grandchildren. Theirs is one of many projects I will never forget. The case of ”Finding John Paul Watson” was not just a search for a long-lost relative but a journey into the heart of a family. Even with very few details to go on, we were able to piece together the clues and find Ashley's grandfather and thankfully give her mother the opportunity to get to know her father after all these years.
Some names and places have been changed to protect the identities of living people.
Keep your family’s stories alive. Contact me at hello@tristathegenealogist.com or through the contact page on my website, and together, we can ensure that your legacy lives on for generations to come. Don't wait until it's too late.
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