Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

This is a REALLY strange request but I'm wondering if anyone knows how I can get information about my dad's sister who died when she was 1 week old. My grandparents had my uncle then my aunt (both still alive). After my aunt, they had another girl but she had spina bifida and died a week later. Then they had my dad. My grandmother didn't speak of the baby so we don't know much about her. All we know is:

1. Her name was Mary
2. She was born sometime between 1946-1951
3. She was born in New York State (we just don't know what hospital)
4. And my grandparents name

My dad is REALLY trying to figure out when she was born and any information he can find out. We also don't know if they burried her or if the hospital took care of it.

Now the thinking caps. Does anyone know how I can find out any of this information and where to start? I'd REALLY like to try and figure this out. No one in the family knows anything as it upset my grandmother too much and she NEVER spoke about Mary.

TIA! Any ideas would be appreciated! It's the least I can do for my dad!

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

you could try calling the hospital where your dad was born .... chances are that it's the same hospital that mary was born in .... maybe they could provide some info?

Good luck finding out info about her!

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

ny should have a death record

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

My sister runs a couple unit in the hospital and has been in the pediatric, ped ICU, nicu for over 20 years. She told me back than that they didn't bury the babies. The hospitals took care of it unless the family insisted on a burial and than the families handled it.

ETA: You could try contacting the hospital and check all birth and death records as they are public record.

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

the state has to have a death record. and you can call around to hospitals, i just don't think they disclose information on patients without parental consent.

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

I agree w/the above. If you can think backwards from the year your dad was born it'll help. Perhaps asking your other Aunt and Uncle could help since they MIGHT remember something since they were already around.

It most likely is the same hospital as your dad esp. if the next oldest was also born there.

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

Mor - I asked my dad about that. He said it's highly unlikely. For some reason my aunt, uncle, and dad were all born in different hospitals, even though my grandparents never moved.

Who do I contact of NYS? If that works I might just kiss you!

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

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Posted by Im_My_Own_Princess

the state has to have a death record. and you can call around to hospitals, i just don't think they disclose information on patients without parental consent.

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How do I get parental consent? My grandparents are dead?

Thank you girls! I really appreciate it! I'm going to attack this more during my lunch break and look into it more. I'm also going to ask my Uncle when I go down to Florida next week and see him since he is the oldest out of the bunch (although his memory is not all there) and see what he remembers. My aunt says, she remembers my grandmother being pregnant, going to the hospital, and coming home not pregnant and no baby and her father told her not to mention it.

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

I agree with the other girls. There has to be a death record somewhere. Try contacting the hospital where your Dad was born...that would be a good start.

Also, if she was buried in a cemetery, you could try googling her name and seeing if a familiar cemetery/plot comes up.

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

Try here:

http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

Thank you girls. I contacted Vital Records and HOPEFULLY someone gets back to me and I can help my dad!

You have no idea how much I appreciate your help!

Re: Put on your thinking caps girls...I need your help...

Good luck! Let us know if you find her!!!