Thomas Kirk - Armagh to USA 1911

[norh]

I am trying to find info about my ancestor Thomas Kirk DOB 18.6.1893. He left Ireland as a young man and never returned or contacted family. This was uncharacteristic. His mother awaited news of him years later on her deathbed. He was training to be a teacher so could read & write yet no family contact. My research has so far revealed:-
* He landed in Philadelphia on ship Haverford 1911.
* World War 1 Draft registration card 6th May 1917. Form 2661 No 37.( I cant read details on it.)
* He enlisted Syracuse New York May 1918 (But joined Canadian army. Could he enlist one country & fight for another??)
* Attestation Paper - Ist Depot Battallion 1st Central Ontario Regiment. (No 3040079)
* Discharged Toronto Sept 22nd 1919
* Crossed Canadian border to USA Sept 25th 1919 to stay with friend Mrs Jessie Howland Groton New York.
* 1930 Census he was aged 35 yrs and living in Ithaca, Tompkins New York. He was single and worked as an automobile salesman.
This is all the info I have so far. I would love to fill in the blanks. Where was he and what did he do between 1911 and 1917? Where did he go during the war? Where did he live & what did he do between leaving the  army and 1930 Census? Are there any more records of him anywhere? When & where did he die/ Where is he buried?
Any information would be most grateful. Thanks in anticipation. Noreen (Armagh, Ireland)

[Lisa in California]

Could this be him? 
Sailing from Havana, Cuba to New York, New York, arriving 6 May 1934 on board the Morro Castle:
Thomas M. Kirk, age 39, Mfg. Director, born Belfast,  last permanent residence: Belfast, Ireland
Jessie E. Kirk, age 37, H.Work, born Belfast, last permanent residence: Belfast, Ireland
They both had a temporary visa.
Final destination: Belfast
Both were single.

"Name...of nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came...": Friend, Dr. M.R. Ledo Oreilly Y Cuba St., Havana Cuba.
Jessie's information states "with brother line 11" (Thomas' information was on line 11)
Jessie's passage was paid by her brother.
They both had been in the states, in New York, in 1934.
They were in transit to Belfast, via Hotel Commodore, NY.  Jessie stated she was "with brother line 11".  They may have been staying 2 weeks.
He was 5'11", fresh complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes.  She was 5'4", fresh complexion, brown hair, brown eyes.

[Lisa in California]

Thomas and Jessie Eileen sailed in April 1934 (arriving NY).  They were brother and sister.

They had last been in the states, in NY, in May 1932.

Could this be your Thomas, and the Jessie who was mentioned in your post?

[Lisa in California]

The couple doesn't appear to be from your family.  This could be Thomas and Jessie:
Thomas Morgan died 1941.  Jessie Eileen died 1989.  It looks like their parents were Robert and Jessie.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0hk7/

[norh]

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for trying to help but I agree, dont think they are my relatives. The search goes on
Noreen

[shellyesq]

In case you haven't seen it, the 1911 passenger list says he was going to Bayonne, New Jersey to join uncle Patrick Farrell of 19 E. 15th St.   There are also manifest markings indicating that Thomas later sought to become a naturalized US citizen.  There is more information about manifest markings here:  http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/manifests/  The markings are a bit hard to make heads or tails of on Thomas' manifest, but there is one with the date July 30 (I think), 1931 and it looks like he was dealing with the naturalization office that covered Western New York and Pennsylvania. 

WWI Draft Registration Card  5 Jun. 1917
Thomas Kirk
I can't quite make out the town, but it looks like Lenderville or Tenderville, New York
Born 18 Jun. 1893 in Armagh, Ireland
Alien, British citizen
Occupation - laborer on farm
Employed by Ken (?) Dempsey, Lansing, New York
No dependents
Single, Caucasian
No prior military service
Medium height & build
Brown hair & eyes, not bald, no disabilities

[shellyesq]

On www.fultonhistory.com, there is an article from the Ithaca Daily News dated 7 Nov. 1918 that says:  "Thomas Kirk of Ludlowville, whose whereabouts have been unknown to his relatives in the county, has been located at Seaford, Sussex, England where he is a private in the Canadian Machine Gun Corps and is no win training to going to the front in France.  This information comes through a letter to Lyman H. Gallagher, chairman of the Tompkins Draft Board."

Ludlowville may be the town I couldn't read on the draft registration card.

Sounds like he was inclined to not tell people where he was going.   

Also on fultonhistory.com, there is an article in the Binghamton (New York) Press dated 21 Oct. 1932 that refers to a Thomas Kirk as commander of the Ithaca Post of the American Legion.  Maybe him?

[shellyesq]

There is a Thomas Kirk in the 1922 Ithaca city directory - http://tcpl.org/local-history/documents/IthacaDirectories/ICD_1922_pt2.pdf  Could be him?

There is someone who does look-ups in later Ithaca city directories - http://nytompki.org/tlook.htm  Maybe it's worth checking if he's still there?

[shellyesq]

1936 Ithaca city directory
Kirk, Thomas, proprietor Kirk's Smoke Shop, resides 304 W. Seneca
Kirk's Smoke Shop, Thomas Kirk proprietor, 217 E. State

1937 Ithaca city directory
Kirk, Thomas, field census manager, Rural Directories, Inc., resides 116 S. Cayuga

1938 Ithaca city directory
Kirk, Thomas, field census manager, Rural Directories, Inc., resides 317 W. State

No Thomas Kirk listed in various directories in the interim.

1952 Ithaca city directory
Kirk, Thomas, employee MCCo, resides 111 W. Buffalo