For Christmas 2011 I was able to obtain my father's parents' birth certificates as a present. When receiving the envelope from Logan County, IL where my paternal grandfather was born (specifically Lincoln, IL) there were two documents inside.

The question that I have are surrounding the siblings of my paternal grandfather. I always knew that he was the youngest of twelve but had never met some of his siblings.

On the first birth certificate it is listed that his mother has 10 children who are living and 1 who was born alive but is now dead. This would make my grandfather the twelfth child.

The second birth certificate which have the same date, registration number, etc. list differences than the first birth certificate. On this one it is listed that my grandfather's mother has 7 children who are living, including at birth. It also details that 3 of her children are presently dead.

I don't know why there are two birth certificates for his birth on December 10, 1921. Do the different numbers of alive and dead children just detail if they were born alive or dead in one and in another if they had since died but hadn't died at birth?

I would love for someone's opinion. Thank you.