Tracing ancestor without birth or death certificate

Idle Passerby

I'm trying to trace a man born c.1860's. I'm not certain of where he was born. Oral history says one place but his choice of burial place suggests otherwise. Neither match the address on his marriage cert or where he actually lived. Ive searched for births using his father's name as listed on his marriage cert with no luck. He emigrated to the US in the 1880's and returned in 1904. Does anyone have any suggestions?

spurious

Is it a common surname?
You could post his name here and the suggestions from oral history and those of us with subs to various sites could have a trawl.
The names of any children might also be clues, though not definitive. His entry on passenger lists to the US may also tell something.

Idle Passerby

It's very common to a specific location so I'd rather not give personal details here on a public forum. I can PM you if that's ok.

The ship record that seems to fit the bill only lists his age and occupation, not a place of origin or an intended destination. I cant with any accuracy pinpoint him on any US census.

I found a birth record that seemed to fit the area he claimed to be from but the father's name didnt match the one on his marriage cert. His dad's name on the marriage cert makes more sense as he named his son the same.

Hermy

Idle Passerby wrote: »

I found a birth record that seemed to fit the area he claimed to be from but the father's name didnt match the one on his marriage cert. His dad's name on the marriage cert makes more sense as he named his son the same.

I have at least one Irish civil marriage record which contains the grandfathers name rather than the fathers name.

That's not to say that it's the same in your case but I wouldn't rule it out either.

spurious

PM if you'd like and I'll see what I can dig up.