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Research in Other Countries => Europe => Topic started by: BobtheBee on Friday 29 October 04 15:35 BST (UK)
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A young John Ernest Eric Pratt arrived in North Wales at Connahs Quay in the early 1900's. He fell in love with and married a local girl Mary Elizabeth Shaw in the summer of 1909. She always said she didn't know anything about his past, other than he was an American Sea Captain. Sadly he was killed by a bus in January 1934, by which time 12 (twelve) children had been produced. The LDS index records his birth as at Connahs Quay in 1885. Surviving family members insist he was American, and neither he nor his father as listed in the LDS appear in the 1901 census.
I've drawn a blank in all searches tried in the US, and would appreciate any suggestions.
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Hi Bob, from Bob !
No suggestions, I'm afraid, but a thought from a similar situation.
My G-G-Father said he was german, but on the 1901 his birthplace is given as Stepney.
On his marriage certificate 1887 it says "father.... deceased".
I can't find him or his father on 1881 !!
He was a merchant seaman (so the story) and my feeling (highly speculative !) is, that he finished his merchant seaman's job, or maybe even jumped ship, at Stepney Wharves, and decided not to bother with any formalities. His new life as a Brit. began at Stepney, hence the birthplace Stepney in the 1901 !!
(This could be similar in your case: his new life began at Connahs Quay !)
If he didn't need to apply for any social services, he wouldn't even need to be naturalised !
Incidently, is that a possibility for you ? Check to see if applied for naturalisation, and if so, what he entered on his application form ?