William Burns

[mackemyank]

I saw that earlier but thank you!!   Just waiting on the DOB now and keeping my fingers crossed that will open a few doors 👍🏻

[Girl Guide]

Did you try to find William on the 1939 Register?

[mackemyank]

No I didn’t.  I do not believe he was living in the country at the time but I may have been mistaken?

[Girl Guide]

In your first post you state that:-

Apparently, he moved in the United States sometime in the 1940’s and married an American. Her name unknown.

You then say:-

He died in the USA apparently as he was never heard from again after the 1950’s.

So who heard from him in the 1950's and by what method?

If he didn't go to the US until the 1940's, then in theory he should be on the 1939.  Where is he most likely to be living in 1939?  Do you know what was his occupation?

[mackemyank]

I said the 1940’s at a guess.  It could have been earlier but my mother remembers him visiting from the USA in around the early 50’s with his American wife.

[jonw65]

William is on the 1911 census with his parents and five siblings living at 15 New Street Birtley R S O Durham, Birtley, Durham

William and Margaret Burns are still living at 15 New Street Birtley after the war, according to electoral registers.
Until Spring 1923 in fact.
Autumn 1923 sees a change.
Polling District C. Parish of Birtley.
Burns, Margaret (residence) E Sec. 22D
Burns, William E Sec. 22D
Burns, William (Junr.) E Sec. 22D

Just the one William Burns, plus Margaret, listed in Birtley in Spring 1924.

Doesn't mean that either William died then of course, but on FreeBMD there's only one William Burns death in Chester le Street district from 1911 until 1938 (when it was abolished)
March 1924  Chester le Street 10a 833
Burns, William   
age 22   

Looking around, William junior in Birtley does seem an obvious candidate?

[Girl Guide]

If the death that Jon has found is correct, then William never went to America or married at all.

[jonw65]

He's proved to be very elusive later hasn't he!

[Girl Guide]

William has four sisters and one brother called Thomas Harold born 1905 listed in the 1911 census.

Perhaps it was Thomas who went to America. 

Family stories quite often turn out to have no substance to them at all. 

If it was me I would be getting the death certificate or pdf for that 1924 death to establish exactly who that William was.