What we are still trying to find out, and how sure we are of each answer so far. Questions about living people are not listed.
Confirmed Probably Possibly Open Doubtful Unlikely Ruled out
Possibly Didriķis Forstmanis is of Zelma's family; his sons Rūdolfs (b. 8 Dec 1905 Vecauce, pastor, d. 1968 Philadelphia) and Kārlis (b. 1916 Vecauce) would be Zelma's nephews or cousins. People: Zelma Forstmane.
Possibly An aunt or great-aunt line of Alberts (a generation above him); daughter Lūcija Grosbergs. People: Alberts Danenbergs.
Possibly A cousin of Arvīds, born the same year nearby. People: Alberts Danenbergs, Arvīds Fricis Danenbergs.
Possibly A Jānis × Līna (Lizete?) Danenbergs family in Penkule, perhaps the Duhren brickmaker Jānis × Lizete of 1900, is Alberts's kin; with Žanis at Dzērupi and Arvīds 'from Penkule', the family's 1930s home was Penkule. People: Alberts Danenbergs.
Possibly The brickmaker Jānis Dannenberg and Lizete (Dūre brickworks, Blīdene; children Žanis Osvalds b. 1899, Malvīne b. c. 1884 Lielbērze, m. Lielauce 1907) are Alberts's parents or kin; Alberts may be Malvīne's brother. People: Alberts Danenbergs.
Possibly The shoemaker Johann Forstmann and his wife Emma of Duhren, Blīdene, are Zelma's parents; Latte Forstmann (an unmarried girl in 1889) is her aunt or sister. People: Zelma Forstmane.
Next step: Read the remaining Blīdene birth years 1878–92 for a Forstmann daughter.
Possibly Olga Emīlija Forstmane is Zelma's sister; a Forstmann family lived in the Lielauce–Blīdene area. People: Zelma Forstmane.
Open They married in Lielauce, Jaunauce or Blīdene. People: Alberts Danenbergs, Zelma Forstmane.
Open He was born at Stūrmuiža (Stūri, Blīdene parish), Tukums district. People: Arvīds Fricis Danenbergs.
Open One of these is Arvīds's father Alberts. People: Alberts Danenbergs.
Next step: gramatas.lndb.lv book 692621: read the page.
Open A Danenbergs relative in the DP camps. People: Arvīds Fricis Danenbergs.
Doubtful He was Alberts's father or kin, the source of the family's 'teacher' tradition. People: Alberts Danenbergs.
Confirmed They married in 1941 (civil, Litene, 25 Jun 1941; banns Jelgava St Anne's 7 Dec 1941; church, St John's, Cēsis, Dec 1941 / Jan 1942). Raimonds's 'between 1953 and 1956' is not a marriage date but MyHeritage's 'Marriage (implied)' from a city directory. People: Arvīds Fricis Danenbergs, Elvīra Antonija Sirlaka.
Unlikely A Danenbergs relative (dependent of a 'Leonhards'). People: Alberts Danenbergs.
Unlikely Ēriks is close kin of Alberts; or he is the 'maths teacher' conflated into the family tradition about Alberts. People: Alberts Danenbergs.
Ruled out Alfreds (and his wife Biruta née Zīle, b. 28 Jul 1922) are kin. NB this Biruta is Alfreds's wife, not Elvīra's sister Biruta Sirlaka/Balka. People: Arvīds Fricis Danenbergs.
Probably She died 18 Mar 2003. People: Aina Modrīte Sirlaka.
Probably Kristīne Gibboy, b. c. 1855 (I1302), is Marija's full sister: the 1857 Priekuļi revision lists 'Töchter 1. Marri 4, 2. Christine 2' of Marz Gibboi (50) and his wife Anne (38), Marija's parents I1020 × I1021. Since 2026-10-27 she is in the tree as their child, a probable link (a revision household, not her baptism), classed by this lead. She is very probably also the Kristīne Gibboy who stood godmother to Marija's son Mārtiņš in 1883 and, as Kristine Gibboi, the mother of Jānis Karnicht, b. 27 May 1888 at Vīstuči (Rauna births 1888 no. 132): that identity, and her son, stay ghosts beside her (candidate_links). People: Marija Gibboja, Mārcis Gibboy, Anne Gibboy, Kristīne Gibboy.
Probably Kārlis Sirlaks and Alvīne had two daughters, Ausma (commercial school; married into the Grīnbergs family of Rīga; three children) and Skaidrīte (a dentist in Rauna; an unhappy marriage, one son). Since 2026-10-26 they are persons, from Raimonds's MyHeritage tree: Ausma (I1224, b. 1920, no death recorded, so counted as living) and Skaidrīte (I1225, 1922–1988). Their links to Kārlis and Alvīne are classed by this lead. People: Kārlis Sirlaks, Ausma Sirlaka, Skaidrīte Sirlaka.
Next step: Passport index (LVVA f. 2996) for Ausma and Skaidrīte Sirlaka f. Kārlis; a death or grave for Ausma Grīnberga.
Probably She died 1 Nov 1925 at Vīstuči (not 1920). People: Marija Gibboja.
Next step: Ask the LVVA or the civil-registry archive.
Probably [DNA evidence (private)] Probable: good evidence, not yet read by us. The record and frame are in each link's citation. Since 2026-10-27 also links of his tree that a record we have read bears out without naming both parents (to_curation.py READ_LINKS; the record is cited on the link): the 1850 revision's son Mārcis (b. 1849) of Marija's parents I1020 × I1021, and the 1857 revision's 'Jahns Söhne' (image 32): Mārcis b. 1816, Jānis b. 1822 and Dāvis b. 1825 as sons of Jānis Ģibols × Masche (the page names only a Jahn), and the 1816 Mārcis × his wife Anne (Raimonds's Anna Balodis). Currently: Mārcis b. 1849 and Jānis b. c. 1831 (the 1834 revision), sons of Marija's father Mārcis (I1020); the 1816 Mārcis × Anne and the three 'Jahns Söhne'; Anna Vīstuce's daughters Marija and Liene; and Harijs Sirlaks as son of Emīlis. (Kristīne's link to I1020 × I1021 is classed by lead kristine-gibboy.) People: Marija Vīstucis, Liene Vīstucis, Harijs Sirlaks, Jānis Ģibols, Dāvis Ģibols, Jānis Gibols, Mārcis, Mārcis Ģibols.
Possibly Anna Smukule, unmarried godmother of Elvīra in 1912, was Emma's sister. People: Emma Smukule.
Possibly Dāvis Sirlaks had an earlier marriage (1909) to Emilija Sirnis. People: Dāvis Sirlaks.
Possibly A parent/child or spouse link taken from Raimonds Voroņins's MyHeritage tree with no record behind it in his tree (or only another online tree: Geni, the FamilySearch tree, a Smart Match). Possible: shown on the private build and, for the deceased, on the public tree with a 'possible' label; never part of the chain that decides which living people are published. Also every link of the Balodis line, whatever the record behind it. Since 2026-10-27 that line is the family of Anna Balodis (I1324), wife of Mārcis Ģibols b. 1816, and not Peter's ancestry: it hung on his unsourced 2021 attachment of Marija Ģibols to that couple, which the 1857 Priekuļi revision contradicts. Its people are kept. People: Mārcis Gibboy, Ansis Sirlaks, Laurs Ģibols, Jānis Ģibols, Ansis, Jānis, Līze, Bērtulis Balodis, Anna, Līze, Dāvis Vīstucis, Olga Sirlaks, Jānis Sirlaks, Minna Sirlaks, Juris Ģibols, Ansis Ģibols, Jānis Ģibols, Pēteris Ģibols, Mārcis Ģibols, Jānis Ģibols, Anna Ģibols, Marija Ģibols, Masche Ģibols, Anna Ģibols, Pēteris Ģibols, Kristīne Ģibols, Jānis, Trīne, Mārcis Balodis, Pēteris Balodis, Līze Balodis, Jānis Balodis, Mārcis Balodis, Anna Pandars, Kristīne Panders, Velta Paeglīte, Mārcis Balodis, Anna Balodis.
Next step: Ask Raimonds (with Peter's OK) where the modern family details come from. The Balodis line (Anna Balodis's parents Bērtulis × Anna and their forebears) rests on his tree alone; since it is no longer Peter's ancestry, it is not a priority.
Possibly Minna Smurge née Sirlaka is Minna Sirlaka (b. 1866, Jāņmuiža mill; I1030), daughter of Jānis Sirlaks and Līze Veidenbaums, so Pēteris's first cousin. (Earlier guess: Pēteris's sister.) People: Pēteris Sirlaks, Minna Sirlaka.
Next step: Raduraksti: Rauna marriages c. 1885–90 for Smurge × Sirlak.
Possibly Mārcis was the son of Jānis Sirlaks (manor weaver, b. c. 1779) and Masche. People: Mārcis Sirlaks, Jānis Sirlaks.
Possibly Oto Smukulis was a son of Dāvis Smukuls and Marija Kajone, Emma's younger brother. People: Emma Smukule.
Open The plot 001-147 holds the Kalna Vīstuči (brother) line of Jānis Sirlaks × Līze Veidenbauma; Mīle (née Upīte, b. 1869) buried there is Mīle, wife of Reinholds Sirlaks (I1031). People: Jānis Sirlaks, Reinholds Sirlaks.
Open Aina wrote a memoir of the family; Raimonds held it in 2017. People: Aina Modrīte Sirlaka.
Next step: Asked Raimonds.
Open The unnamed owner of 'Zvirgzdiņi' (one of Latvia's 105 model farms) was Alberts's father. People: Alberts Jurciņš.
Open Raimonds's MyHeritage tree calls Marija's mother (his I500600; our I1021 since 2026-10-27) Anna Mežciems, b. 1819 at Priekuļi, married to Mārcis Ģibols in Oct 1847 at Priekuļi. The surname rests on his tree alone: he cites no record for it, and every record we hold gives her given name only (Anne in Marija's 1853 baptism; 'Anne Gibboi', 31, in the 1850 revision; 'dessen Frau Anne', 38, in 1857). People: Anne Gibboy.
Next step: The c. 1847 marriage of Mārcis × Anne (Cēsis + Cēsis rural marriages 1836–1912, LVVA 235/15/664) and Kristīne's baptism c. 1855 in LVVA 235/7/104 (1854 is img 100, Sep 1857 img 150); Mārcis's baptism (1849) is in the same volume.
Open Vladimirs Kuģenieks (Aina's other suitor, d. 1953) and Alma Ozola née Strube (Velta's godmother) are not relatives.
Next step: None unless they turn out to be kin.
Open Olga, wife of Jānis Zirnis of 'Lejas Gāles', was née Sirlaka, a daughter of Reinholds and Mīle. People: Reinholds Sirlaks, Emīlis Sirlaks.
Open Ours stand: Anna b. 23 Mar 1890 Jul. = 4 Apr; Natālija d. 2 Jun 1887 Jul. = 14 Jun; Velta b. 19 Sep 1918; Valdis d. 12 (or 20) Oct 1995. Reinholds's death is open: 20 Apr (ours) or 22 Apr 1949 (the deportation list Raimonds quotes). People: Anna Sirlaka, Natālija Emīlija Sirlaka, Velta Skaidrīte Sirlaka, Valdis Laimdots Sirlaks, Reinholds Sirlaks.
Open The farmer (Wirth) Peter Kahjon and his wife Anna are Marija Kajone's parents or kin; 'Mahrz Smukkul' and the farmhand Jahn Smukkul (father of Ernst, b. 1884 at Lubar) are Dāvis Smukuls's brothers or kin. People: Dāvis Smukuls, Marija Kajone.
Open Mārcis Vīstucis, who sold 'the house' to Jānis Sirlaks in 1869, and the teacher Jūlijs Vīstucis (b. 1839) were kin of Anne, the Vīstucis widow whom Mārcis Sirlaks married; her son Dāvis Vīstucis was Pēteris's half-brother. People: Mārcis Sirlaks, Anna Sirlaka, Jānis Sirlaks.
Open The memoir's chronology of the farm (a place history, not a person). People: Dāvis Sirlaks, Valdis Laimdots Sirlaks.
Next step: Land book and Cēsis court files of 1995 for the restitution; attach to a place record when places carry histories.
Open Kristīne died young or married and left before c. 1911: the c. 1911 family photograph's caption lists only Anna and Erna as the missing daughters. People: Kristīne Sirlaka.
Next step: Raduraksti: Rauna deaths 1888–1900 first.
Confirmed Her baptism is Rauna births 1886 no. 33: Emma Smukkul, parents farmhand Dahw Smukkul and Marie geb. Kahjon. FOUND (sweep 2026-10-24); the facts are on Emma, Dāvis and Marija, and the entry cites the parent link (F1008). People: Emma Smukule, Dāvis Smukuls, Marija Kajone.
Next step: Read the baptism's month column and the farm name; the parents' marriage (Rauna, c. 1880–85) would give their ages and origins.
Confirmed Marija's parents, Mahrzis Gibboy and Anne of her 1853 baptism (Priekuļi, Kalna-Pohdis; I1020 × I1021), are Mārcis Ģibols b. c. 1807 and his second wife Anna b. c. 1819: hypothesis (B), Raimonds's I500599 × I500600 (his 'Anna Mežciems'), and Kristīne b. c. 1855 is her full sister. Not (A), Mārcis b. 1816, son of Jānis Ģibols (1790–1847) × Masche, and Anna Balodis b. 1819, daughter of Bērtulis Balodis × Anna, to whom Raimonds's tree attaches her (family F500681, married 1843, no note or source, added March 2021). CONFIRMED by the 1857 Priekuļi soul revision, read in full on 2026-10-27 (research/sweep/sirlaks-frontier, Round 3): its only Gibboi girl of Marija's age is Marri, 4, daughter of Marz Gibboi (50) and Anne (38) at Rauguļi, with her sister Christine, 2; the 1816 Mārcis is on the list too ('Jahns Söhne 1. Marz Gibboi Wirth', 41½, at the Ģiboļi farm) with a wife Anne of 38 and no Marija. In the tree since 2026-10-27: Raimonds's 1807 couple merged into I1020 × I1021 (the duplicates of the 2026-10-26 import, I1288 × I1291, retired); Kristīne (I1302) and Mārcis b. 1849 (I1300) their children (probable); the 1816 couple separate people (I1323 × I1324), Mārcis a son of Jānis × Masche (probable, 'Jahns Söhne'); Marija not linked to them; the Balodis line the family of the 1816 Mārcis's wife, no longer Peter's ancestry (possible links, kept). Anna's maiden name is a separate question. People: Marija Gibboja, Mārcis Gibboy, Anne Gibboy, Mārcis Ģibols, Anna Balodis.
Confirmed They married at St Martin's, Rīga, 22 Apr 1911 (Julian) = 5 May 1911. People: Mārtiņš Vilhelms Sirlaks, Emma Smukule.
Next step: Find the main register (no. 62) for ages, residence and witnesses.
Unlikely The raduraksti 1920 birth is cousin Velta. People: Velta Skaidrīte Sirlaka.
Unlikely Pēteris Sirlaks died in 1935, not 1896. People: Pēteris Sirlaks.
Possibly The DP Fricis Andrejs Gailitis (b. 6 Jan 1907 Matkule, mathematics teacher, Canada by 1948) is Mirdza Sirlaka's husband. People: Fricis Gailītis.
Open Fricis Gailītis died in Sep 1969 and married Mirdza in May 1955 in Toronto; Mirdza died 5 Jul 2010 (ours). Raimonds's 1968, 1956 and 10 Jul 2010 are probably slips. People: Fricis Gailītis, Mirdza Augusta Sirlaka.
Open Others on Elvīra's 1945 records may be relatives. People: Elvīra Antonija Sirlaka.
Unlikely Biruta's father was Pēteris (not Mārtiņš). People: Biruta Zeltīte Sirlaka.
Probably Peter's great-grandfather is the Charles Henry Hall born in Comanche, Texas, on 12 Sep 1890 or 1891. People: Charles Hall.
Next step: Request XC 198 015 (service no. 2274478 per the agent); order the birth certificates nos. 269 (1920) and 46 (1922); 1900/1910 Comanche census once FamilySearch is signed in.
Possibly This is Peter's Susan McCabe (later Hall). People: Susan May McCabe.
Next step: [omitted: names a living person]
Open Their parents and origins can be found. People: Charles Hall, Susan May McCabe.
Next step: 1900/1910 Comanche Co. census for a Charles/Charlie Hall b. Sep 1890/91 (FamilySearch, once Peter signs in again).
Open They married c. 1918, before Margaret Ellen's birth in Jan 1919, probably in Oregon, California or Washington. People: Charles Hall, Susan May McCabe.
Next step: FIRST: California county marriages for 17 Aug 1917 ± a few days (FamilySearch 'California, County Marriages, 1850-1953'; Mariposa, Merced, San Francisco, Fresno) for Charles Hall × Susan McCabe. Then Oregon statewide marriage index 1906–24 (Ancestry 'Oregon, State Marriages'); California (Mariposa, Merced, San Francisco) 1917–18; an Army chaplain's marriage at Vancouver Barracks or Camp Lewis; the VA claim file XC 198 015 (a widow's claim needs proof of marriage).
Doubtful His father was named Peter Hall. People: Charles Hall.
Next step: Confirm which Charles H. Hall b. 1891 TX is ours, then read his childhood census households.
Doubtful Her father was named Peter McCabe. People: Susan May McCabe.
Next step: Wait for both records.
Doubtful Matthew McCabe (porter) and Kate formerly Redmond are kin of the Ringsend McCabes. People: Susan May McCabe.
Doubtful This is Peter's Susan McCabe (later Hall). People: Susan May McCabe.
Next step: Read the New York arrival manifest line on FamilySearch/Ancestry.
Doubtful One of these is Charles H. Hall Sr. after he left Susan (she was 'married' 1930, 'widowed' 1940, 'separated' 1950). People: Charles Hall.
Unlikely This bare memorial is Charles H. Hall Sr. People: Charles Hall.
Unlikely Susan's parents were Patrick McCabe and Elizabeth Redmond of Ringsend. People: Susan May McCabe.
Ruled out Either is Charles H. Hall Sr. People: Charles Hall.
Ruled out [omitted: names a living person] People: Susan May McCabe.
Next step: None. Kept as a ruled-out lead so it isn't re-adopted from other people's trees.
Probably Estella's mother was Irene Mary Barnhart, daughter of Phillip Barnhart and Margaret A. Walker (dau. of William Alexander Walker + Jean Arbuckle). People: Estella May Alderson.
Next step: Trace Irene Barnhart 1915–1917 (Seattle/Bellingham directories; 1917 marriage return); ask DOH/WA Archives for an image of the original certificate; [DNA evidence (private)]
Probably Estella descends from William Alexander Walker (1843–1930) and Jean Arbuckle (1847–1907). People: Estella May Alderson.
Next step: [DNA evidence (private)] identify which Walker granddaughter fits.
Possibly The mother was a daughter or granddaughter of one of the W×A daughters near Washington in 1915–17: Margaret (Barnhart, Whatcom Co.), Olive Maud Kirwin (Sedro-Woolley/Redmond) or Edith Ione Leonard (Renton/Seattle; a daughter born Seattle 1914). People: Estella May Alderson.
Open Her Social Security application may name her birth parents. People: Estella May Alderson.
Next step: Request prepared (docs/requests/2026-10-ss5-estella.md); needs Peter's Login.gov or ID.me sign-in.
Confirmed Estella was registered at birth as Phillis May Barns, mother "Irene Barns", father "John Smith" (WA cert. 1743 or 1763). People: Estella May Alderson.
Next step: None for the identification. The record was never amended for an adoption (see estella-court-adoption).
Unlikely Estella was adopted by court order. People: Estella May Alderson.
Unlikely The "Irene Barns" of the index was Irene F. Barnes of Portland. People: Estella May Alderson.
Next step: None until the certificate arrives.
Unlikely The "Irene Barns" of the index was Ruth Irene Barnes. People: Estella May Alderson.
Unlikely Estella is one of the other registered births: Phyllis Jane Fleicher (6 May, Seattle), Rachel Walter/Foss (7 May, Spokane; mother 'Walter' = Walker?), Mills (unnamed, 6 May), Maysie Elizabeth Ballew (7 May, Kitsap). People: Estella May Alderson.
Open The IRO eligibility files hold the family's own statements. People: Arvīds Fricis Danenbergs, Elvīra Antonija Sirlaka.
Next step: Requested 2026-10-21; 5–13 months (docs/requests/2026-10-arolsen-cm1-files.md).
Open The adoptive line's deep ancestry (to the 1200s) belongs in the tree. People: Winter Scott Alderson, Carrie May Newman.
Next step: A later import can pull in more (proposal §5 decides two generations).
Open (negative) Dannenberg in Blīdene 1835 may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Adams Dannenbergs may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Adams Dannenbergs; Gothards Dannenbergs may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Anna Kahjon (possible sister of Marija) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Ansis Danenbergs (son of Inkums) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open August Sirlak may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Charles H. Hall Sr. (candidate, OPEN) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Charles H. Hall Sr. (lead, OPEN) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Charles H. Hall Sr. (negative search) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Charles H. Hall Sr. and Susan McCabe (negative search) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Chas Hall (1940 Camarillo inmate; lead weakened) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Dahwis Sillak × Lihse Weidenbaum (marriage 1855) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Dahwis Sillak, Kirchenvormünder at Lindenhof (ruled out as the 1855 groom? weak) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Danenbergs (teacher, d. 1898) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Dannenberg family (surname origin) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open De Witt Hall (weak lead, OPEN) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Dāvis Smukuls & Marija Kajone may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Ellie McCabe and Katherine McCabe (sisters of the Gortskeagh Susan) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Gibboj mentions in the Cēsis rural registers (leads) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Gothards Dannenbergs may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Henry Thomas Hall (ruled out as Charles H. Hall Sr.) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Indriķis (Inge) Dannenbergs may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Indriķis Dannenbergs may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Jeannette Dannenberga may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Jurre (Jurģis) Dannenbergs may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Jānis Dannenbergs (son of Adam) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Jānis Dannenbergs (son of Gotthard) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Jānis Dannenbergs (son of Kasper) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Kristīne Smukule may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Kārlis Dannenbergs may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Marija Buša née Smukule may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Peter A. McCabe (lead) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Pēteris Kajons (possible brother of Marija Kajone) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Smukul family of Rauna (unplaced kin of Dāvis) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Susan May McCabe Hall (Peter's great-grandmother) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Susan McCabe (unidentified; new candidate for Peter's Susan) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.
Open Susan O'Brien née McCabe (Gortskeagh candidate) may belong to the family; the finding is not attached to anyone yet.