u/Hot_TrampILoveYouSo

I just received my grandmother's birth certificate, fully expecting it to have my great-grandmother's maiden name listed, which is the surname of my Canadian ancestor (biological father). My Canadian ancestor abandoned my great-grandmother's family when she was a child, and she was adopted by her mom's second husband. So, my great-grandmother used her adoptive dad's surname on her kids' birth certificates.

I'm wondering if the following secondary evidence is enough to prove all of the links, since adoption records sound impossible to obtain. Or, if an affidavit is necessary too (my great-grandmother is deceased but my grandmother can swear to the adoption/bio dad):

-Canadian ancestor marriage certificate to great-grandmother's bio mom

-Canadian ancestor divorce certificate from great-grandmother's bio mom

-Great-grandmother's bio mom marriage certificate to second husband

-Census showing great-grandmother living with bio mom and her second husband

-Great-grandmother's birth cert listing Canadian ancestor and bio mom as parents

-Great-grandmother's marriage cert, listing herself with her adoptive dad's surname, but listing Canadian ancestor and bio mom as parents

This adoption was in 1915. We have no formal name change documentation or adoption papers. But my grandmother is very familiar with the family history and knew the adoptive father/ those details. I'm sure she would help by doing an affidavit if necessary.

Thank you again for your help. This is a fantastic community.

I've seen a few posts about adoptions, but I have one other specific question.

My grandmother's (call her Mary) biological father (call him Harry Smith) was born in Ontario and immigrated to the United States as a child. After Harry married and they gave birth to my grandma Mary Smith, he abandoned the family. Grandma Mary was later adopted by her mother's second husband (call him Mr Doe) when she was maybe 10.

I have my grandmother's original birth certificate that lists Harry Smith. I just want to make sure, do I need to specify that my grandmother went by her adopted father's last name for a time (ie: Mary Doe) if she still appears as Mary Smith on all official documentation required for the citizenship certificate application?

I'm probably overthinking this but I don't want them to think I'm purposely omitting anything. Thank you in advance for your help!