Uncovering George aka Bernard ~ When Records Disagree

 Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Today was a Gephardt/Gaphardt research day. The surname fluctuates back and forth with these spellings. So, it has been a bit tricky finding records.

I decided to review my research log, checking for missing birth and death certificates. Luckily, Marylanders can locate records on Internet Archive. No more traveling to Annapolis! Comfy clothes in front of the computer. 

First up is my granduncle, Bernard John Gaphardt. Here is his Maryland State Department Of Health Certificate of Death.

Facts from record:

• Father - Sylvester Gaphardt
• Mother - Ann Jarousek
• Date of Birth - 7/6/1920
• Place of Birth - Baltimore, Md.
• Date of Death - November 15, 1966 
• Place of Death - Rosedale

The only deviation on the record would be the spelling of his mother's maiden name.  It should be Jerousek. The other facts are correct according to family knowledge.

Now we have the supposed Health Department - City of Baltimore - Certificate of Birth for Bernard John Gaphardt.

George? Do I have the wrong record? 

Facts from the record:

• Name - George Gebhardt
• Father - Silvester Gebhardt 
• Mother - Anna Geronsick 
• Birth Date - 7/6/1920
• Place of Birth - Balto. MD
• Address - 2115 McEldry St
• Parents age - both 40
• Number of children born to this mother, including present birth - 10

Known facts:

• Name - should be Bernard John Gaphardt
• Father's name - correct with new spelling "Gebhardt" (adding to research list)
• Mother's name - correct with new spelling Geronsick (adding to research list)
• Date of birth - correct from certificate of death
• Place of birth correct - Balto. MD from certificate of death and census records
• Address correct - 2115 McEldry. The 1920 United States Census lists family residing at 2115 McElderry Street
• Number of children including present birth - 10 is correct. Bernard John was 10th child
• Parent's age correct according to their birth, death and census records

In conclusion, this IS the Certificate of Birth for Bernard John Gaphardt. At first, they named their son after Sylvester's father, George Gaphardt. Sometime after birth, they changed their minds. Not sure where Bernard comes from.

Other thoughts. Why didn't they do an amended certificate? I didn't find one as of yet. Also, wonder if this caused issues for Bernard when needing verification of birth. When I showed this to my husband he said "I don't know how you family researchers find things!". Too true! 

This started me thinking about primary and secondary evidence when researching. From FamilySearch.org Wiki a primary source is "any record created during the time you are researching - an eyewitness account." 

This should describe the birth certificate. Eyewitnesses present. When the record was recorded by the midwife, Mrs. H. Kron, the child's name was George. All other information was correct except for variations of parent names. 

Secondary evidence according to the Wiki is "a record created later by someone who did not experience the time period or events you are studying". The person giving information on Bernard's Certificate of Death was his wife, Helen. She may have not known her husband was originally named George. In fact, not even sure Bernard knew! 

 

What did I learn from this puzzle? You have to do your research! Don't take everything as hard facts. Nothing is 100% correct. This was an interesting family history challenge.

Say hello to my granduncle, Bernard John Gaphardt aka George Gebhardt.

"We Are Not Related to the Gephardts!" or Are We?

Norman S. and Anna Jerousek Gaphardt ~ maternal great-grandparents

When I began this genealogy adventure, the first ancestor I documented was my great-grandfather, Norman Sylvester Gaphardt. Supposedly, his line was our earliest immigrants to the United States. The family came from Germany to Baltimore in 1832 [1]. 

What followed was a confusing journey. Eventually leading to new cousins. Along with a cautionary tale of taking family history with a grain of salt.

Death certificate - Norman S. Gaphardt [2]

Maryland State Archives

While researching the Gaphardt line, I would periodically come across the surname Gephardt. On headstones in Gaphardt family cemeteries. Listed in churches, our family attended. Were they related? I asked Mom if she knew this name. She was certain they were not connected to her line. But, I felt we could have a mystery on our hands.

First step was to get information from my mother. Beyond her grandparents, the facts were pretty vague. Thought she knew Norman's father's name. But, wasn't sure of the accuracy.

I started working backwards, to discover Norman's story. Above we have his death certificate. We see "name of father" as Christopher Gaphardt. Yahoo, back another generation!

Next, Norman (Silvester) was listed in the 1900 United States Federal Census [1]. Residing at 608 N. Montford Avenue with father, George C. Gaphardt. Do I have the correct family? Is George the same person as Christopher?

This photocopy of obituary for George C. Gaphardt, was located in family records . Notation was "George Gaphardt - July 4, 1902". I have yet to locate the obituary on a newspaper database. In the clipping, the family was residing at 608 North Montford avenue. One of his children being Mr. Norman S. Gaphardt. My second great-grandfather was George Christopher Gaphardt. 

This is where things get a little odd.

I found Norman on the 1880 United States Federal Census [3]. He is listed as a son, residing with Geo. C. Gepthart, head of house. We know census records are notorious for misspellings. So, this surname didn't cause too much concern. 

The next records gave me pause. Researching 1850, 1860 and 1870 United States Federal Census records [4-6], the surname has different variations of Gephardt. Curious about this, I called my mother. She stated emphatically, "We were Gaphardts! Most certainly not Gephardts. I have never heard that name."

Like any good family historian, I hung up the phone and started researching. Keeping this information to myself for the time being.

Matchett's Baltimore (1851) [7]

publisher: Baltimore: R.J. Mitchell

Internet Archive

Looking at city directories, we see the first mention of George Gephard (notice "d" missing from the name) in 1851. There were no listings for the Gaphardt surname. 

Woods' Baltimore city directory (1874) [8]

publisher: Baltimore : John W. Woods

Internet Archives

During each subsequent year, George was listed with variations of Gephardt. Until the Woods' Baltimore city directory, 1874. First time we see George Gaphardt.

For a time, the name seems to go back and forth. Then at some point, Gaphardt was consistently used. In vital records, newspaper articles and obituaries. Looks like we were originally Gephardts, becoming Gaphardts. Sorry, Mom! Most likely will never know the reason for the change.

But, not the end of the story. DNA comes into play, with another twist.

Working with AncestryDNA matches, something interesting happened. Closest relative in the line was a Gaphardt first cousin. No surprise here, since I knew this cousin. But, further down the match list, discovered not just one, but three Gephardts! 

I sent an Ancestry message to one of the matches. Gave him an outline of what I knew about the family. He emailed back right away! He had been confused. Wondered why the Gaphardt surname showed up in his match list. 

Head over to the family tree. Working backwards again, discovered that Gary is my third cousin. His great-grandfather, Joseph and my great-grandfather, Norman were brothers. We share second great-grandfather, George Christopher Gephardt/Gaphardt.

Joseph was the only ancestor to keep the Gephardt surname. All his siblings became Gaphardts, including my line. Makes me wonder why this occurred. Both lines of the family resided in Baltimore City. Did something happen? Did Joseph decide to stay with the original surname? 

Unfortunately, my mother passed away before I made this discovery. I would have loved to share this heritage with her. 

On a side note, I have more Gephardt DNA matches than Gaphardt.

Joseph C. Gephardt

Baltimore, Maryland

date unknown 

b. February 09, 1855, Baltimore, Maryland

d. October 22, 1935

Received this wonderful photograph from a Gephardt DNA match. Pictured is 2nd great-uncle, Joseph C. Gephardt.

Now when asked, reply with "I'm a Gephardt/Gaphardt".

______________

Sources (first attempt at sourcing information on the blog, work in progress, still learning)

[1] 1900 U.S. census, Baltimore City, Maryland, population schedule, Baltimore Ward 8, enumeration district (ED) 1-96, sheet 7-B, household 608, George C. Gaphardt household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 17 November 2020); imaged from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1854

[2] Gaphardt, Norman S., death certificate E 79196 (1902); no. B46428-B4939 reel CR 48119, Baltimore City Health Department of Vital Statistics 1875-1972, Maryland State Archives, 

[3]  1880 U.S. census, Baltimore,  Maryland, population schedule, Baltimore Independent City, enumeration district (ED) 5-15, sheet 253-A, household 32, Geo C. Gepthart household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 17 November 2020); imaged from NARA microfilm 497, roll 253A

[4] 1850 U.S. census, Baltimore, Maryland, population schedule, Baltimore Ward 6, sheet 515-258, household 1650, George C. Gephart household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 17 November 2020); imaged from NARA microfilm 258a, roll 283

[5] 1860 U.S. census, Baltimore, Maryland, population schedule, Baltimore Ward 1 (ED), sheet 287, household 2539, George C. Gephard; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 17 November 2020); imaged from NARA microfilm M653, roll 1,438

[6] 1870 U.S. census, Baltimore, Maryland, population schedule, , Baltimore Ward 1, sheet 20 household 151, George Gephard household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 17 November 2020); imaged from NARA microfilm T132, roll 13

[7] Baltimore City, MD.City Directory (Baltimore: Machett's Baltimore directory: Baltimore: R.J.Matchett (1851), pp 104-105, Gephart surname; digitized on Internet Archive (https://archive.org : accessed 17 November 2020)

[8] Baltimore City, MD.City Directory (Baltimore, MD: Woods' Baltimore directory: Baltimore Md: John W. Woods (1874), pp 204-205, Gaphardt surname; digitized on Internet Archive (https://archive.org : accessed 17 November 2020)