Gramma took a wealth of information with her to the grave in 1958. Therefore, her side of the family has been extremely difficult to sort out. Being 14 years old at the time, I didn't even know what genealogy was. She was born Ethel Frances Whitney in NYC, June 5, 1888 (per birth cert.). Father was George Whitney; mother, Ella Wooten, Wooten, Edwards, Wilson, Willets or Williams. George & Ella were m. Feb. 17, 1875. Ella's last name at that time was Edwards, with a maiden name of Wooten (per NYC marriage Cert.)

Her brother was Herbert Whitney, b. April 30, 1877. Father was George Whitney, mother's maiden name was Ella Wilson (per birth cert.). Herbert's name on his birth cert. is George (if his name was George, why was he called Herbert? My father and his 4 brothers all knew him as Uncle Herb). His death cert. has father's name as Herbert Whitney; mother's maiden name as Ella Willets

Gramma had a 1/2-sister, born Anna Wooten in Philadelphia, December 17, 1866 to Joseph & Ella Wootten. She was married to Edwin Bloodgood December 8, 1884. Her marriage cert. has her mother's maiden name as Ella Williams. Her death cert., mother's maiden name as Ellen Willets.

I could go on-and-on showing many more discrepancies on official documents and census records. I'm wondering if any of the above people really knew who they were! To make matters worse, there was apparently another George Whitney living in NYC who was born the same year as my great grandfather, but in Massachusetts. I have his death cert. and nothing jibes on it at all.

In 1910, my grandmother married my grandfather. Gramma at the time was living at St. Christopher's, an orphanage in Dobb's Ferry, NY. They are still in existence and personnel there will not answer any of my letters requesting archival information.

So, I guess I'm asking if there are any Whitneys , Williams, Willets, Wootens, Wootens or Edwards out there who could lend a hand to help me sort this all out.