Do You Really Know Where You Were Born?

For many people the answer isn't that simple.

Genealogists have all heard the old question ... If you were born on a ship crossing the Atlantic where would your birth certificate be recorded? But, have you heard that same question about children born on a train?

In going through old newspapers this weekend I found an article in 1893 about "Grover Benjamin ____" who was born on the Great Northern Railroad's passenger car heading across North Dakota for Vancouver, Washington. Where was his birth recorded? Was it recorded at Fort Buford, ND from where the post doctor was summoned to assist? The train continued another 2 hours before the baby was born. Was the train in Montana, had it made it to Idaho or could it have been in Washington State?

You can read the rest of the story at: "Baby born on the fly - Interesting Experience on a Great Northern Train" Morning Olympian Tribune. 28 Oct 1893.

I found quite a few stories on GenealogyBank about babies being born on trains.

So, how does that question go again ... If you were born on a train crossing the United States, where would your birth certificate be recorded? There are hundreds of these
articles.

Here are a few more for you:

"Born on a Burlington Train - Lucky Baby Given a Choo-Choo Other Records" (Burlington Zeleynak of Denver). Sunday World Herald (Omaha, NE). 23 Dec 1900

"Twin Babies Born on Train (en route from Oregon City, OR to San Jose, CA - Mrs. W.E. Eastburn). Evening News (San Jose, CA). 9 Feb 1905

"Baby is Born on Train - Mrs. Emily Scott, Grand Forks, Gives Birth to a Baby Boy on the G.N. Train near Newport, Wash." Grand Forks Daily Herald. 8 Jan 1907.