Don't Overlook FamilySearch in your Genealogy Hunt

Bonnie asked about her Grandmother

I have recently found my Grandmother listed on the 1901 Ontario Census in the township of Wroxeter in Huron County.  She was born on August 5, 1899.  Her parents were George J Harris and Agnes J Harris born Jan 3, 1875 and Sept 21, 1877 respectively.  I was hoping to find where George and Agnes were born, and when their families emigrated and from where?  We know very little about the Harris side of the family so I was very excited to see this much!

Marriage Registration 1898 Wellington Co. Ontario

Bonnie - A look at that 1901 census gives you more clues. For example George is recorded as George Jr leading me to suspect that his father might also be called George. He is Presbyterian so you can have a look for Presbyterian churches in the area where you might find births, marriages or burials for the family.

You should also check the online Ontario Vital Registrations for the births of George and Agnes and their marriage.  In fact a very quick visit to FamilySearch and their marriage registration of 1898 pops up.

George is recorded as born 1875 in Wroxeter to George Harris and Elizabeth Stewart. Agnes is recorded as born in California in to John Burns & Margaret Oliver.  George's birth record is also found on FamilySearch

Look for Agnes in the 1880 Census for California - she is found with her parents and siblings in Vallejo, Solano, California

Armed with these new findings you should be able to trace the families further back in time.  

Finding a Ships Passsenger List to California in 1935

Joan asked about a ships passenger list from New Jersey to California in 1935:

Can you suggest where I might be able to find a passenger list in 1935 ... sometime from the date my Grandmother died (28 Jan, 1935) ... through July.


I'm looking for my Grandfather, Ernest C. Hinck. He traveled from California to NJ in February (probably by train with my Grandmother's body). On the return trip by boat, he met a woman whom he subsequently married in July 1935. It was a short marriage since he died in May of 1936.


My sister and I are trying to confirm a family story about this woman.

Hello

If I understand your query correctly, you are looking for a ships passenger list for a voyage from New Jersey to California ca 1935.


As far as I know, it was not a requirement to keep lists of ship travel within the USA, meaning from one state to another. However, to be certain, I suggest you go to TheGenealogySpot to find out exactly what passenger lists NARA holds for California arrival ports

Another place to try is the list of sites with passenger lists arriving in California.

Proving that a Ships Passenger List Record is the Right Ancestor

Beth's Question:

I believe that Richard Brown of the 1850 Burlington, Racine, WI census (enumerated 15 October 1850) is the same Richard Brown who arrived in San Francisco on the SS Sarah Sands 17 December 1850. I think he went down the Mississippi to New Orleans and took a ship to Panama where he got on the Sarah Sands. How can I know for sure?

Olive Tree Answer: Hello Beth: Comparing the 1850 Wisconsin census and the 1860 Mendocino census on Ancestry.com, it is very probable that this is the same Richard and Margaret J. Brown.

However, you need a few more facts to establish certainty, and you are a long way from proof that Richard was on that 1850 ship. If you look at the passenger list, the comment reads "25 days from Panama, via Acapulco Mexico; 12 days, Dec 17, 1850. " It is possible that Richard could have travelled from Wisconsin to Mexico or Panama in a little over a month. But is it probable?

As there are little or no intra-US passenger lists, you may have to rely on newspaper articles (in Wisconsin and California, as well as in Gulf port cities.) Did Richard appear in any items such as "In the Hotels" or "In Transit" or other announcements? You can check newspapers online at GenealogyBank.com or
NewspaperArchive.com

Check the real estate transactions in California: when is Richard first mentioned?

I see that Richard died in July of 1860, and Margaret in November of 1870: check for obituaries. And be sure to check in Wisconsin as well.

If you are sure, or family lore has it that Richard was a gold miner, there are many books from that period: diaries, store ledgers, county histories.

Looking for missing uncle in Oklahoma

Jerry asked:

For the past 44 years I've tried in vain to locate information on my uncle, Frank FOREMAN, born 26 Feb 1901 Panama City, LeFlore Co, Oklahoma. The only time I find him is in the 1910 federal census living with his family in Stigler City, Haskell Co, Oklahoma.

By 1920, he's apparently out on his own since he isn't living with the family in Stigler City. By 1930 his father (my grandfather), Jay Wm. Forman and his brother, Hayden Forman (my father) left Oklahoma (Dust Bowl Refugees) and moved to San Francisco, CA.

I contacted the Merchant Marines but they were unable to help without more data input. I contacted the F.O.I.A. at U.S. Dept of Justice and discovered Frank Foreman had applied for a Social Security Number as an employee with the Pennsylvania Railroad (#722-16-0348) on Oct 27, 1942. His social security card was issued Aug 11, 1943. At the time he was residing at 5965 Superior Ave, Chicago, IL (today the street is W. Superior Ave 60644-1047). Apparently, no rail service or earnings were ever credited to this account and yet his application shows he worked as a laborer until March 17, 1947.

Olive Tree Answer: Hi Jerry, You've certainly done a lot of research on Frank! Have you checked the Cook County, Illinois Death Index, 1908-1988? How about the Social Security Death Index? City Directories? These are all found on
Ancestry.com. Rootsweb also has an interactive search of the SSDI

I did find Frank in the 1930 census so you can add this to your family tree notes. He and his wife L. Rose are found in Pomona, Los Angeles, California. Frank is 30, L. Rose is 27. Both Frank's parents were born in Oklahoma, machinist in garage, and he married at age 21. Perhaps you can flesh out Frank by finding his marriage to L. Rose and looking at witnesses and his residence at that time.

Looking for German immigrant to USA 1850s

On Jan. 8/09 Linda sent a query:

Duzel, Gustav Aldolphus born: 1830, Prussia > Germany. died: 1903 Yreka, Siskiyou County, CA. buried unknown. occ: came as a fur trapper 1855-56 w/ Steven/Steve McKAY, who family says, they both hunted for the Hudson Bay Fur Company on the Canadian and Down the West Coast of USA. via Oregon into to CALIFORNIA.

Gustav then became a gold miner in the Hamburger Area of Siskiyou county. He then in 1860, m: "DOC", an American Indian, medicine lady of the KARUK trible of the Klamath River Indians, She is thought to have died in 1921, but I don't know where.

I have most of the 1850 - 1900 census and can piece together the family of sorts..what i most would like is , the boat GUSTAV came on (dates/Locals)? did he naturatlize? and the English name of DOC ?

I have looked high, low, asked, begged and just about had a heart attack trying to find these folks since 1998, but haven't been awful sucessful

Hi Linda - What a challenging family you have been hunting! I like to look at the records researchers have already found, in case I can spot something that might be an overlooked clue. In doing so I can see why you are having trouble. There are many discrepancies that need clarification.

But to get to one of your questions - did Gustav naturalize - the answer lies in the 1900 census. In that census Gustav's data shows that he is a widower who immigrated in 1850 and he is naturalized (NA in the column)

The 1870, 1900, 1910 ,1920 and 1930 USA census identify citizenship status. Some years have notations showing the individual was an Alien, or had started the Naturalization process or had his final papers. These are great clues to help narrow the time frame for finding naturalization records! For an explanation of the terms used in the 1900 census (AL, PA, NA) see The Importance of Census Records

So you will want to search for Gustav's naturalization papers. Footnote.com has Naturalization Records from NARA, and Ancestry.com also has some. The best website for free naturalizaton records and links to other sites' naturalization records is my own (I may be slightly biased....) at naturalizationrecords.com

Gustav may be the man who sailed from Bremen Germany to New York 16 June 1851. He is indexed as John Dusel but a look at the image of the manifest (passenger list) indicates to me that the first name is not John. Please see my explanation of this (and graphics to illustrate my conclusions) at To Believe or Not To Believe, That is the Question

To view the passenger list image you will need to either order the microfilm into your closest Family History Center, or use the Ancestry.com New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Please be cautious in accepting the indexed names as I believe that the indexed ship name is incorrect as well. A good look at the image for the passenger list will help you to figure out what the name really is. I suggest the ship may be the Johan and not the Jalary as indexed.

Help with Hudson Bay Company Fur Trappers in California

On Jan. 6/09 Hazel asked:

I have been collecting information about Fur Trappers that arrived in Northern California prior to the Gold Rush. I have found some information, but names of those trappers are few.

I have the names of Steven Meek, Thomas McKay, and Gustav Adolph Dusel (maybe spelled Duzel) of Prussia. I have some census files in Siskiyou County where he started a family with a Native American woman.

Any information or direction on McKay or Dusel would be appreciated, they seemed to have come to the area at the same time and said to be with Hudson Bay Trappers or were independant trappers selling to HB company.

OLIVE TREE ANSWER: Hazel, what an interesting database you are gathering! I can't help specifically with the men you have asked about but are you familiar with the Hudson Bay Company Archives? It is part of the Archives of Manitoba.

You may want to visit the site, and start searching the online catalogue. You can also view some online biographies of some of their employees but I think for you the treasure trove will be in writing or visiting the Archives and requesting help with your search.

Please come back and let us know how it turned out.