Rosa Etta Wooldridge was delivered by Annie Nutter a midwife in St. Helena Parish

Rosa Etta Wooldridge
1916 Louisiana Birth Record
Source: Ancestry.com

The 1911 through 1923 Louisiana birth records reveal another midwive in St. Helena Parish. Her name was Annie Nutter. This is the first time I have seen this surname in my research. Annie could not write. She made her (x). 

Pheoby Self Vining was born in 1880 in Pine Grove, Louisiana

 

Pheobe Self was born in Pine Grove, Louisiana, to Jordan and Delia, who were 34 and 24 years old at the time. Delia, her mother, worked as a midwife and delivered many of Pheobe’s children. During her marriage to William Allen Vining, Pheobe gave birth to one son and seven daughters. She passed away on September 12, 1950, in Independence, Louisiana, at the age of 70.

Louisiana birth records uncover names of midwives in the Southeast Florida Parishes

Charley Green
1917 Louisiana Birth Records
Source: Ancestry. com

Louisiana birth records, covering 1911 to 1923, became accessible in September. Jane Holiday shared this news with me via email, expressing her excitement. I was eager to explore and analyze the records. I located my maternal relative, Charley Green, who was the son of my third great-aunt. I carefully examined and analyzed each detail on the record. I discovered that Green was born in 1917 in Jack, Louisiana, an unincorporated community situated in the third district of St. Helena Parish. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a housewife. The midwife who certified his birth was Delia Self.

The names of midwives are nearly indistinct, with many from earlier eras fading into history. This newly developed database aims to unravel the mystery surrounding the women who served as healthcare providers for those preparing to give birth.

Midwives such as Mandy Jones Wheat and Tishann Woods are among the few whose contributions have been documented, shedding light on their essential roles within their communities. These records not only trace the evolution of childbirth practices in Louisiana but also serve as a foundation for further research into the lives of midwives whose names have been lost to history.

Sam Holden birth record found in Ancestry online Louisiana birth records

Ancestry has introduced a new collection of Louisiana birth records spanning the years 1911 to 1923, facilitating access to historical birth information online. Additionally, a 2022 Louisiana law permits adoptees aged 24 and older to request non-certified copies of their original birth certificates, though this process is managed directly by the state and is not included in Ancestry's collection.

The birth record of Sam Holden, son of Leon and Alberta Vining Holden, highlights his birthplace as the village of Montpelier, located in St. Helena Parish, Ward 4. This record is part of several birth records discovered for family members and others in the Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes.