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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: ndedross on Friday 22 April 05 13:50 BST (UK)
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Any help would be very much appreciated.
I am looking for the 1910 Census information on James & Bridget Dedross, and any information on their arrival or his departure.
They are in London at the 1901 Census - but, a few months later the last of their seven children died. I have located Bridget's death in Chicago (Cook County Hospital) in June 1913. Their address is given as 876 (or 826) 37th Place, and the time resident in the USA and Illinois as 7 years. I've not located them in the 1910 Census (there is a John & Lauretta Dedross - but I am comfortable they are wrongly entered and should be DeMoss).
The informant at death was James Dedross - unfortunately both in family legend and British Civil Records he was an habitual liar! So the information he gives might not be accurate. He did return to England shortly after his wife's death.
A further complexity is that after 1901 James and Bridget may have gone to Australia, then Canada, then Chicago.
I'm seeking help to try and find them in the 1910 Census - and if possible their entry to the USA and his departure.
Many Thanks,
Nigel
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Nigel,
Found following in 1910 Census but last name is mispelled -- everything else seems to fit.
Ward 5 Cook County, Chicago, Illinois,
Dedrosa, James Age 61 (b. 1849) in England
Both parents b. in Eng.
No. of Years Married: 31
Year of immigration: 1907
Profession: Laborer @ Stock Yard (maybe -- handwritting difficult)
Dedrosa, Bridget Age 51 (b. 1859) in Ireland
Both parents b. in Ireland
Had 11 children; no entry in column for those living.
No. of Years Married: 31
Immigration year: 1907
Profession: Keeping House
Is this what you were looking for?
Kathy
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Hi Kathy,
OH MY WORD!!!!! This message was going to be my last shot at this! That is definitely them (don't suppose there is an address?). Thank you so much.
"Uncle Jim" had told his relatives in London that he was a business owner in Chicago! Due to his past record of telling lies they did not believe him (but also had an hint of doubt). My great grandfather turned him away when he sought somewhere to live on his return to London pennyless! The story (passed down) that I was told was that he swept the floors in a beef factory - and the Census result looks to confirm that as accurate!
Any thoughts on where I might find his arrival (or departure) at Chicago?
Many, many thanks
Nigel
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Nigel - Great that this was a find for you! Very difficult to find info on comings and goings -- so many ways to travel, so many points of entrance and exit. But now that there is something specific --- maybe.
Do you think the misspell of the name was intentional? Census has lots of erros so it could well have been error on the census writer's part.
What ports in US & Eng -- any idea of what was likely?
Kathy
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Hi Kathy,
I think the mis-spell is down to the enumerator - as I said there was a Dedross family in Chicago and it took a long time to determine that they were in fact DeMoss (just as I was think of a long lost cousin).
Their children all died young - I've British Death certificates for 10, not 7 as I said earlier. Three sets of twins. Pretty sad!
I would be pretty sure that James left Chicago for England in 1913 - via the Great Lakes. He had no money, so would go a 'direct' route (maybe working his passage?).
As for arrival (in USA), Bridget's death certificate suggests 1906 and the Census 1907. My great grandfather said they went to Australia first, that would fit datewise and given he was right about the occupation has some credibility. I'd guess they came to Chicago from Canada, having arrived at a West Coast Port, like Vancouver?
Best wishes,
Nigel
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Hello, again! I was afraid you were going to mention Canada. I have similar situation in my family with immigration to US via Canada -- very hard to trace. If you were temporary in Canada, they took very little notice of you until 1915 when US laws on immigration tightened.
I was rummaging around on the Web for Cook County Genealogy sites. Have you done the same? Lots of sites but not so much specific info. Most information is random generally stemming from the volunteer base's personal interests.
Have you put notices on RootsWeb board for Cook Co? Someone may have a 1910 directory and can look up address. Many times the directory listings are not tied to having a phone.
Ward 5 is South Township. If you go to
www.alookatcook.com
You can find Ward 5/South Township map with street & geographical boundries which you can print out.
So sad about all those children. I'm not exactly sure how the question was asked/intended -- No. of Live Brths vs No. of Pregnancies which might illicit different answers. I'm assuming "No. of Live births" would be the concern of the Census and Bridget apparently said 11.
I'll look some more on the Canadian aspects but doubt if I have the resources available to find out much if anything.
Regards,
Kathy
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Hi Kathy,
Thanks for all your help. It looks like they were in the same area as in 1913 when Bridget died.
I think that they specifically chose Chicago because Bridget had relatives there. She came from Tipperary (father was Kerwin, mother was Casey, and there was emigration of both family names from Tipperary to Chicago and Australia in the late C19th). Mind you they are very common names! Bridget was buried in the Catholic Cemetary - James was Protestant (C of E). If they were with her family, they might have insisted (and paid) for burial there?
Best wishes,
Nigel
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Nigel, is this meaningful?
1910 30th Ward, Cook Co., Chicago, IL
John Kerwin (88) Father-in Law Born in Ireland
Immigration 1905
listed in the household of:
Foley, James (48) Profession: Meatcutter
Immigration Year: 1892 Married 19 years (1891)
Wife - Mary (presumeably nee Kerwin) (37) Born in Ireland Immigration Year: 1892
10 Children:
John J 18 born in Ireland
Thomas J 16 born in ILL
Michael J 15 ILL
Catherine 12/13 ILL
James P 11 ILL
Margaret 9 ILL
Mary 7 ILL
Ellen 5 ILL
Patrick 2 ILL
Matthew 6 mos. ILL
Roomer also boarding there may be a servant
Regards,
Kathy
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Hi Kathy,
Well that is interesting.
Bridget's parents were Thomas and Johanna. But, an elderly Kerwin (John) is certainly a good 'clan' possibility. I'm keeping this for future research - as you know (I think) searching in Ireland is not easy!
By the way, Bridget is given as aged 51 years (I think she could be up to 5 years younger). Basically, James was a cradle snatcher and after years of 'creating' an older age for Bridget forgot what age she actually was!
Many thanks,
Nigel
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Poor Bridget! She was 15 when married??!! Looses 10 or 11 children, gets dragged all over the world, has a dodgy husband who lies about her age in the wrong direction for his own benefit and then she dies before she's 50 in a "strange" land and he doesn't have enough money to bury her!! WOW! Sounds like Danielle Steele mini series! Or Frank McCourt!
Yes, searching for the Irish is really a challenge. The Fanning's, farmers - gee, that's a unique profession -- with only 10 names among 60 or 70 in five generations -- Lawrence Martin, Martin Lawrence, Michael Francis, Francis Michael, etc., etc,.... and everybody nicknamed "Bud"! Has made me crazy!
Anyway, Nigel, good luck with your further searching. If I come across anything else, I'll let you know.
Best regards,
Kathy
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Kathy - you almost have the synopsis right. But, Bridget might never have actually legally married James. He told the family that she followed him back from his Hussars postings in Ireland and they married in England - only one thing missing (no civil or military marriage certificate). They could have married in Ireland. Unlike the spouses of James' siblings, no one in the family really seems to have met her or knew much about her (I assume he kept her hidden away!).
Many thanks for your help,
Best wishes,
Nigel
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Nigel, hope you are not thinking I am a nosey Parker -- but your (James' & Bridgets', rather) story is fascinating.
I saw this entry before but failed to mention in regards to your U.S. searach.
In 1881 UKCensus there is a James & Bridget Dedross @ the Royal Artillery Barrack,Shorncliffe,Cheriton Kent
James born 1857 in St. George Surrey
Bridget born 1862 in Ireland
Is that them? I can only view the recap of the transcription, not the actual record.
Both birthdates are off from the dates previously indicated.
Okay, I'll stop now....but you should write a book!!
Best regards,
Kathy
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Hi Kathy,
Yes that is William and Bridget. Sadly for him, his parents did register his birth in 1851 (and he has a brother born in 1857, so its not a 'second' William in the same family). The most likely birth date for Bridget is currently about 1864/5 in Ireland. So, in 1881 he was 30 years of age and she was about 16! But, a 24 year old man married to a 19 year old woman doesn't seem as bad! A six year difference - but it is up to eleven years by 1901.
In 1881 he is living in 'officers' accommodation - so must have been a batman, or similar to an officer (James was a Private). Oddly, his regiment went to South Africa and got slaughtered, but he didn't go with them.
On his return to England two of his sisters took pity on him - they believed what he had told them about owning a business in Chicago that went bust. When they found out he was only a laborer in a meat factory they kicked him out. He went to seek shelter at my great grandfather's house - he gave him a meal and sent him away. He eventually found shelter with another sister in Bermondsey.
I have tons of stories about my ancestors (this is one of the tame ones) - the 7 Old Bailey Trials are really interesting!
Nigel
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Nigel,
You lost me a bit there -- Is this James & Bridget or another brother William & Bridget. 2 brothers sharing names of James William?
Anyway, as I said, you should publish or write a script! Can I find record of the Old Bailey Trials?
My family search took a turn today on the King side leading from Buck to Devon circa 1809. Fingers crossed some kind soul will find info and reply to my postings! You have me spoiled now, I'm looking for mystery & intrigue -- finding very little except now I know where my families craving for diary products & fine carpeting comes from!
Cheerio!
Kathy
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Kathy,
Sorry - I put in William instead of James in the last message.
The Old Bailey Trials - search on
Deadrow - he was French Speaking (Nicholas Dedross) in 1771, and a witness. A real juicy muder trial of Henry Stroud who was framed but still hanged.
Dedross, Deadross, Deadrose, Deaddross searches should bring up the criminals! 1782-1829. Old Bailey Records are all phonetic, so the name is written as interpreted by the recorder. All these reprebates are mine! Mind you, if you read the earlier trials, William Deadross is framed in 1785 (because he got off, on a technicality, an earlier charge that year - which he was clearly guilty of). Thats how it worked!
Nigel
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Nigel, Great! I'll look them up! Sounds like good reading for Anglophiles.
Best of Luck with your continued searchings, been nice Chatting with you!
Kathy
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Nigel,
If your information leads you to an address in Chicago, you may be able to find a picture of the address on the Cook County Assessor's website.
http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/
There are plenty of 100 year old homes and apartment buildings still standing. Go to "online tools"
Cheers,
Mary