MY DAD WAS FEMALE

Dad's birth certificate said 'of multiple birth' (as in twin) and it said 'female'. No evidence that the first named item was true; the second certainly wasn't. You'd think he could have escaped the draft during WWII, but no such luck. Life insurance, driver's license, marriage license? No problem. Getting 'top secret' clearance for his work at Boeing was, however, impossible without an officially corrected birth certificate. Mom was quite miffed when she learned that his mother's signature was required: "He is the father of my children!"

So when I got interested in genealogy, I already knew enough to take official records with a grain of salt. Grandpa's given names were Allan Bernard. Plenty evidence of that, including Canadian census records at age 1 and 11. He celebrated his birthday on 24 November. Found the catholic baptismal record: Albert Bernard, 23 November.

Great grandfather died in Seattle, right? My aunt says so, his grave is there, his widow is there in the census a couple of years later. Finally found the death certificate in a little town in British Columbia: 'burial will take place in Seattle.' (Bless B.C. for the online vitals!)

I still don't know where this great grandfather, who was from one province, met and married his wife, who was from another. When I do find a record, I'll be sceptical!

- bethm

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