Death Records Now

Her name is Lillian Tyler, born June 15 1918 in Kings, New York. She married Albert Pacini. Had some kids, two of them died. Only records I found of her were in 1920 when she lived with a huge family (unable to find out which Tyler was her parent after extensive researching…no birth record). No residence record after the 1920 NY record. And the only other two that I found were with her and her husband’s name on it for a death certificate of her two kids in a 5 year period. My aunt Carol (lillian and albert’s daughter) said she left her sibling in 1945 because of her depression from losing two kids. I have been searching everywhere (especially familysearch.com…very helpful) but can not seem to find anything else on her. Why isn’t she documented? Why can’t I find a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a residence after 1920, anything? I really want to be able to help my aunt find out who her mom was and if she is still alive or not or where she died. If anyone can give me some advice or help me out or explain to me why she seems to disappear after 1920, it would be greatly appreciated. She is such a mystery to everyone in my aunts family and we all want to find out what happened or a little bit more about her. I thought everyone had to participate in the census? Why can’t I find anything else on her?
Thank you for answering! I really need some help.

There’s lots of reasons why you may not find someone in an online resource ranging from they don’t have the helpful record, the name is indexed so poorly it’s not searchable, they moved and you’re looking in the wrong location, the information on the record is wrong, or there’s some fact you don’t know (i.e. she remarried or somehow got listed under a stepfather’s name). It’s likely she is documented, you just can’t find the documents so far. There are some cases where a person is undocumented. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by the cruelties of life (i.e. died a Jane Doe), and often because the documents have been destroyed (i.e. courthouse fires).

You may find it helpful to go ahead and order a birth (& maybe marriage) record direct from the appropriate agency:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/
http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/about/faq.shtml

I wouldn’t try to order a death record until you can be certain she has died and what name she may have died with (i.e. remarried). Find A Grave may be helpful. There seems to be a couple possibilities with a maiden name Tyler born in 1918. For this site, spelling counts so try multiple variations.

Stephen P. Williamson was born in 1856 Arkansas. I found him in a census in 1860 with his family there. I found him in 1876 when he married in Texas. I found him in 1880 with his wife and some of his children in Texas Montague. I was told by my Father he died in Del Rio, Texas and then his wife, my GGGrandMother Betty (Welch)Williamson moved on to Bisbee, AZ. But I cannot find any record of his death. I believe he would have to have died after 1919 according my findings.

Since Val Verede County is on the Mexican border, do you suppose that he could have died over the border in Mexico?

Wow, this family really is a challenge.

The first thing I found was a death certificate for Fonc Williamson, son of Steve Williamson and Betty Welch. He was born feb 19, 1883 in Arkansas and died May 4, 1940 in Wellbon, Yuma County, Arizona. I thought that this was a unique name so i thought i would try to follow him through the census. Here is a link to his death certificate:

http://genealogy.az.gov/azdeath/063/10630535.pdf

His name is mistranscribed in the World War I draft cards. He is indexed as "Ford" rather than Fonc. The cards were completed in 1917-1918 and he was in Cochise county, Arizona proving that he was in the state before 1920.

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Ford Williamson
Name: Ford Williamson
City: Not Stated
County: Cochise
State: Arizona
Birth Date: 19 Feb 1882
Race: White
Roll: 1522348
DraftBoard: 0

I couldn’t find him in 1930, but I did find him living with his mother in 1920 in Cochise county, Arizona. Also in the house hold is his sister Maud. It clearly states that Mary E. (Betty a nickname for Elizabeth) is widowed.

Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: McNeal, Cochise, Arizona; Roll: T625_46; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 9; Image: 800.
Indexed as Fanc S Williamson

Williamson, Fanc head male white 37 years old single born in Arkansas
Williamson, Mary E mother female white 60 years old widowed born in Texas
Williamson, Maud L sister female white 28 years old.

From this census, we would have to surmise that the family was there before 1920 and that Stephen P Williamson died prior to that.

I can’t find the family in 1910. I do find his brother Noat in Menard county, Texas with wife Belle and two kids Steven L. and Olie. Steven was born in New mexico in 1904 creating yet another place to look for answers.

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 6, Menard, Texas; Roll: T624_1574; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 162; Image: 1331.

By the time of the World War I draft cards, Noat was in cochise county too with brother Lonc. His card was signed on September 12, 1918.

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Noat Arch Williamson
Name: Noat Arch Williamson
City: Not Stated
County: Cochise
State: Arizona
Birth Date: 5 Nov 1879
Race: White
Roll: 1522348
DraftBoard: 0

Virgil was also there in Coshise county according to his draft card completed on the same day, September 12, 1918.
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Virgil Mair Williamson
Name: Virgil Mair Williamson
City: Not Stated
County: Cochise
State: Arizona
Birth Date: 17 Jul 1884
Race: White
Roll: 1522348
DraftBoard: 0

As you can see, you have several different directions you can go in. I’m pretty well convinced that Stephen died before 1920 because it seems like his family was in Arizona by 1918.

I think that finding him in 1910 may be key. He is definitely in Val Verde in 1900. Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Val Verde, Texas; Roll: T623 1675; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 75.
He is not indexed by first name because it is illegible, but Noat for example is indexed as Notie A and Betty is indexed as Elizabeth.

I could send you any of the images listed above if you would like to have them. Just e-mail me through my profile.