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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: Alexander. on Tuesday 21 August 12 05:39 BST (UK)

Title: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Tuesday 21 August 12 05:39 BST (UK)
Philomena Carter was born in 1897 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. In 1911, she appears on a passenger list travelling to Quebec with the Catholic Emigration Society; the intended destination was Ottawa.

Nobody in her two sisters' family knows what happened to her, except that she stayed in Canada. She was sometimes known as "Phyllis" though I have yet to see this in any records.

If anyone can find any trace a marriage or death or anything about Philomena after 1911, that would be fantastic.

Alexander
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: *Sandra* on Tuesday 21 August 12 09:42 BST (UK)
Do you have parents names for Philomena ?
Can see this marriage entry - 1926  - Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection),
Philomena Carter  - Spouse: Ernest Theodore Sterchi - (Ernest Theodor Sterchi) 
Baptist Saint Paul - Montreal. Quebec.

Ernest Theodore majorson of Theodore Sterchi of Switzerland  and Rosina Kaufman his wife was married to Philomena Carter major daughter of Jacques Carter of England and Alice Sackette his wife in Dominion Immigration Office November 11 th 1926.

Clergyman Arthur St James

The passenger list had a date by the name of Philomena which was 5 - 11 - 1926  (236963)

Sandra
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: valeriec on Tuesday 21 August 12 12:35 BST (UK)
Philomena Carter with the Catholic Emigration Society was a British Home child, age 14 on arrival in 1911. She could have ended up anywhere after her arrival. You may need to pursue the British Home children sites to find out anything about her.
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: lilybell on Tuesday 21 August 12 19:13 BST (UK)

If you send me a PM I will send you some census information  for 1901 and 1911 british census.

The marriage information sent by Sandra could be the right person as there is a Alice Carter on the 1891 census that I will forward on to you.

Do you know the names of Filamena/Philomena's sister.

 Lilybell
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Tuesday 21 August 12 19:29 BST (UK)
Wow, thanks. I have all the census information, and information about Philomena's mother.

To cut a long story short, Philomena and her two sisters were illegitimate. Their mother was Alice Carter, but their birth certificates do not state any father. On the 1901 census, Alice and her three daughters were boarding with a big Italian family, with many Italian boarders. One of them was probably the father of the girls. It so happens that one of the boarders was Gioconda Saccheto.

Alice took up with another Italian (Alphonso Tamburri) around 1904, whom she married some years later.

Though the parents' names do not match perfectly, it seems too much of a coincidence for the 1926 marriage to not be the right Philomena.

Thanks!

Alexander
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: *Sandra* on Tuesday 21 August 12 21:55 BST (UK)
The privacy laws in Canada are very strict - as a guide BMD Records are only available for births more than a 100 years ago, marriages 80 years ago and deaths 70 years ago. Trying to trace modern day families in Canada you depend on newspaper announcements, cemetery records, obituaries, telephone directories.
Hopefully someone will turn up something else for you.

Sandra
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: JaneyCanuck on Wednesday 22 August 12 15:34 BST (UK)
That's such a nice matching set of clues you now have there!

When I read this yesterday I was going to mention that http://www.canada411.ca shows only 5 Sterchi listings, 4 out west and one in the Maritimes.

However there is at least one other possible source: in 1925, John Theodore STERCHI from Switzerland, son of John Peter STERCHI, married in Wentworth County, Ontario.
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/went1925.htm

A Margaret Sterchi crossed to the US at Buffalo in 1931
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XPTW-GTG
Her birthplace is given as Maniwaki, Quebec, which is about 50 miles north of Ottawa, 21 Sept 1904. She would be the same generation as Ernest and perhaps likely related. Various indications are that it is a Swiss name, and Theodore seems to be a popular given name. (Danged if I can find anyone resembling a Sterchi in the 1911 Cdn census, though.)

An Ernest T Sterchi aged 34 (c1892) travelled from Montreal to Liverpool 23 Nov 1926, and that certainly resembles your man, travelling later the same month as the marriage. However, he was travelling with a Jeanette Sterchi aged 24. Could it have been a very short-lived marriage??
- edit - I looked at the image and there is also a Bernadette Sterchi, infant, who is either 6 mo or 6 wks; Ernest is a merchant and they are in transit to Switzerland.

He also resembles the Ernest Sterchi aged 32 who arrived in NYC, his last place of residence, from Brazil, in Jan 1923:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JNJ6-KY9

(There is an E Sterchi (1889) departing Liverpool for Australia in 1927 with a G Sterchi (1895) and an E Sterchi (1918) -- but they are Edouard and Gladys, from the marriage in the GRO index.)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Thursday 23 August 12 01:43 BST (UK)
Thank you Janey for that Sterchi information. I had also found the record of an Ernest T. Sterchi with wife Jeanette going from Montreal to Liverpool in 1926, but I just don't see how that can be the same guy who married Philomena.

Sandra - when I was researching another Canadian family I also found that the privacy laws (and general lack of records in Canada before recent times) tended to make it quite difficult. Though I've still got my hopes up we can find where Philomena (and her husband Ernest?) ended up.

Thanks
Alexander
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Saturday 25 August 12 16:35 BST (UK)
Janey - the passenger list you found of Ernest, Jeanette and daughter going to Liverpool (in transit to Switzerland) is definately the right one. I found the baptism of their daughter (on the same day they married), which correctly notes her mother as Philomena. I don't know why Philomena is down as "Jeanette".

I'm not sure now if they stayed in England, carried on to Switzerland, or returned to Canada. ::)

Alexander
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: *Sandra* on Saturday 25 August 12 16:41 BST (UK)
Amazing - ignored that passenger list because it was the wrong name and age  ::)

Pleased you have progressed a little further.

Sandra  ;)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: *Sandra* on Saturday 25 August 12 16:48 BST (UK)
Just a thought - there is a lady researcher in Switzerland who may be able to help you further. Goes under the name of "Swiss Gill" - could be worth a try

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=47732

Sandra
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Saturday 25 August 12 17:20 BST (UK)
Thanks Sandra, I will send Swiss Gill a message to see if she can help. :)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: JaneyCanuck on Saturday 25 August 12 17:25 BST (UK)
I thought that was altogether just too coincidental. ;)

The person with Swiss expertise is an excellent idea. The name seems to be more common in Switzerland than a quick google would suggest:
http://tel.local.ch/en/
- even an Ernest and a couple of Ernsts ...

And as I suggested, there's no harm in contacting the very few Sterchis in the Canadian phone book at present!


edit - as far as staying in England, there are no marriage or death records for any of their names up to 2005, so I would not imagine they settled there. It looks like Ernest was a travelling man and not settled in Canada himself (I'd look into that NYC arrival from Brazil further too), so I might look for them in the US as well, or really just about anywhere.

Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: JaneyCanuck on Saturday 25 August 12 17:50 BST (UK)
Actually, I might wonder whether there was some connection with the Sterchis in Tennessee (who interfere in any search for Sterchis on the net!).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Sterchi

"In 1929, Sterchi Brothers was the largest furniture chain in world, with 48 stores, five manufacturing plants, and forest land in Kentucky with which the company supplied lumber for its operations. The company exported to places as far away as Argentina and Brazil."

The Ellis Island record for the Ernest Sterchi who arrived at NYC on 23 Jan 1923 shows him to be single, aged 32, and a US citizen, whose last place of residence was NYC, travelling from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. That is the only record of entry to the US for that name, however, and there are no records for Philomena, Jeanette or Bernadette entering the US.
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Saturday 25 August 12 18:24 BST (UK)
Thanks Janey.

I just found records for Ernst Sterchi's arrival in Canada in 1924 on the S.S. Canopic. It notes he was 31 (so born c.1893), and details for his mother in Bern (who paid his passage). It is definitely the right guy because his signature on the Canada arrivals papers matches the signature on his marriage, and daughter's baptism.

I think his mother was Rosa Sterchi, who traveled from Bern to Quebec in 1929.

Alexander
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: JaneyCanuck on Saturday 25 August 12 18:32 BST (UK)
Well good, that rules out the whole Tennessee clan then, and simplifies things considerably. ;)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: SwissGill on Wednesday 29 August 12 10:35 BST (UK)
Hello Alexander

First of all, I must tell you that I have never researched in Switzerland. I may start one day on my husband's family but until then I am fully occupied with my English, German and American ancestors.

One suggestion would be to join this forum:

http://www.geneal-forum.com/

You can write your post in English. I am a member there and had a quick look for Sterchi but didn't find anything. However, they are very helpful and may be able to put you in the right direction.

This link will help you further and explains the fact that to trace your ancestor you must know from where he originated. The birth place will not necessarily help you further. For instance, my husband was born in St. Gallen but on his father's side, the bmd records would be in Kanton Schwyz, where his father's family originated from:

http://kunden.eye.ch/swissgen/schweiz-en.html

Another thought - what about placing a post on the Europe forum. There seems to be a few people on there who not only live in Switzerland but have been able to help people tracing their Swiss ancestors.

I wish you good luck and, if I find anything I think might help, I will certainly contact you.

Gill
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Wednesday 29 August 12 15:18 BST (UK)
Hi Gill,

Thank you for the advice, I'll give your suggestions a try.

Alexander :)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: sterchi on Monday 04 April 16 20:51 BST (UK)
Hi Alexander

I am a grandson of Philomena Carter. I live in Switzerland.
I am searching for ancestors of Philomena Cater.

By the way Philomena Cater my grandmother was born 1903 in Wolverhampton.

kind regards

Daniel
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: JaneyCanuck on Monday 04 April 16 22:40 BST (UK)
Hello Daniel, and welcome.

If you look here:

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

you will see that Filamena Carter was actually born in 1897. (There are no births for any similar name in Wolverhampton or elsewhere c1903 -- you can search using just phil* or fil* for the given name, to catch any variations.)

She may well have got younger as she got older, as was not uncommon. ;)

If you post two more short messages (just 'hello' / 'thank you' ...) you will be able to send Alexander a private message, although hopefully he will also get a notice of your post here - almost 4 years since his!

If you aren't able to reach Alexander, let us know here and information that was found before (like the censuses) can be sent to you.
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: sterchi on Tuesday 05 April 16 14:23 BST (UK)
Hi JaneyCanuck

Thanks for the welcome!

Indeed your are right. There is no Philomena Carter born in 1903 on the mentioned website, and on the documents the website is based on. For the swiss register my grandmother was born in 1903. Perhaps that's why we didn't find her relatives in England.

kind regards

Daniel (from Switzerland)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: sterchi on Tuesday 05 April 16 14:24 BST (UK)
… and by the way a hello from Switzerland from a new member.

kind regards

Daniel (from Switzerland)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: sterchi on Thursday 07 April 16 11:18 BST (UK)
Hello all

I found a letter which was written to my grandmother Philomena Cater around 1961, 1962 from her Sister. She signed with «your Sister Dora» and in brackets there is an other name (Jony)

I found out that her mother Alice Carter married 1912 Alfons Tamburi.

In the letter to my grandmother I found a name and an address. Can anybody help me to find out more. Where can I search for descendants of:

Dora Calderbank
17 East View
West Gorlon (hard to read on the letter)
Manchester 12

She must have lived there in the early 1960s. Her Age at that time was 65 to 68.

kind regards

Daniel (from Switzerland)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: sterchi on Thursday 07 April 16 12:19 BST (UK)
I have a correction to the address

the address is:
Dora Calderbank
17 East View
West Gorton
Manchester 12

kind regards

Daniel (from Switzerland)
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: CareyKnight on Tuesday 10 July 18 20:20 BST (UK)
Hi Daniel,

I have been looking for further information on your grandmother Philomena Carter for a long time, she is the sister of my grandmother. Vercalia Carter but known as Bridget Carter, their younger sister Antonia Carter was known as Dora the name in brackets is Tony, not Jony. I would be really interested to chat with you and exchange knowledge and hopefully fill some of the gaps that I have been searching for.  Yes Dora did live in Manchester as did my granny and their mother Alice who married Alphonso Tamburri and went on to have other children.

I wait in anticipation of your reply

Best Wishes Jacqui
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: sterchi on Tuesday 10 July 18 22:50 BST (UK)
Hi Jacqui

This is a big surprise to hear from a cousin after I posted this more than two year ago.
How to get in contact so that we could speak together?
Do you live in England?

Kind Regards

Daniel
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: CareyKnight on Wednesday 11 July 18 11:34 BST (UK)
Hi Daniel,

yes I just happened to give it another try last night to find what happened to Philomena and came across this chat feed, I'm so glad I did.
I think if I post 3 times we can private message each other.
I am in England, Norwich.

Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: polarbear on Wednesday 11 July 18 14:34 BST (UK)
Hello CareyKnight and a warm welcome to RootsChat  :).

RootsChat discourages the placing of emails on this public part of the forum to prevent misuse of same for spamming, etc. You should use the modify button at the top corner of the post to remove it. This info can be sent using the private personal message (PM) system on RootsChat once you have made 3 posts (so one more to say 'Hi' or something will do it).

PB
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: sterchi on Wednesday 11 July 18 20:55 BST (UK)
Hi Jacqui

I have a letters to my grandmother by Dora. I tried to find living relatives, that know about the live my grandmother had in England and why she was in Canada.

At the moment I have just limited access to the internet. I try to read my Mali regularly.

Hope to hear from you soon

Daniel
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: CareyKnight on Wednesday 11 July 18 22:33 BST (UK)
I was in touch with Dora's granddaughter a few years ago and with John Tamburri - Philomena's nephew from their mother and Alfonso Tamburi. I still have John's email address.
I have all this information which I would like to share with you on how Philomena was in Canada.
Are you able to private message me your email address?
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: Alexander. on Sunday 20 January 19 18:01 GMT (UK)
Hi Daniel and Jacqui,

I'm so sorry for the delay in responding to you, it has been a few years since I've come on this site. I'm just starting to get back into the research.

I am interested in learning more about what happened to Philomena and her sisters, as I haven't progressed much since starting this thread in 2012.

Alexander
Title: Re: Philomena Carter - Ottawa
Post by: CareyKnight on Tuesday 05 February 19 10:46 GMT (UK)
Hi Alexander,
I would like to forward you the information I have privately about what happened to the girls- am I right in thinking that you are a decendant of Louisa Carter (Philomena’s aunt?) I think we may have corresponded years ago.