Researching my ancestors in Manchester was stunned to discover the reason they were missing in the 1871 census is they had emigrated to Hawaii c1865, returning in the 1870s. George Roberts b1838 Hulme, Manchester who was a fitter/engineer (probably beer related) re-appears in the 1881 census with his wife Frances and four of his children listed as being born on Sandwich Island (1865 to 1872/3), 1891 census says Sandwich Islands Hondala, later census info confirming this as Hawaii.
My mind boggles as to why and how the family got from Manchester to Hawaii in 1864/5 - the trans continental railroad wasn't completed until 1869. I am curious to discover more about this migration and why they came back too. So far I have drawn a blank, there doesn't seem to be any Hawaii census info before 1900, and as I usually search UK records I am really struggling to understand what records are available for Hawaii.
George is later described as a Beer Retailer as well as an engineer, and his father Elias was a publican and ran the Wellington Hotel in Hulme. So were they there to build a brewery or distillery?
The children born in Hawaii were George Roberts 1865, Thomas (Tom) 1869, Frederick (Fred) 1871 and Alice Maude Eliza 1873. However other members of the Roberts family may have gone out there and stayed, and I am not sure how I would tell. Any insights into this curious part of my family history would be welcomed.
Steve