RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: Andy in Wilts on Sunday 21 June 09 13:08 BST (UK)
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Hi all,
I'm hoping that someone may have come across my Great Aunt Elsie Maud Burge b.1889 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England or some of her relations, or information about them.
She crossed into the US at Port of Winnipeg in 1914 with her destination stated as Fort Fairfield, Maine.
I have found her marriage to William H Nickerson in Fort Fairchild, 1915 and she appeared in the 1920 US census as divorced. In 1921 she married John R Dougherty in Fort Fairchild and died in 1961. She apparently had children as I have some photos of her and her grandsons Edwin and Charles.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Andy
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Hi Andy. Welcome to RootsChat
Do you have access to the 1930 census? She is listed in Fort Fairfield.
The 1920 census shows a "boarder" under her name: Ralph L. It is assumed his last name is Nickerson.
The 1930 census (Fort Fairfield) lists her as Elsie Dougherty and under her name is Ralph Nickerson. It also lists him as boarder. Ralph was born in Maine, his father was born in Canada and his mother was born in England. I will not post his date of birth, for privacy reasons. (I can pm the date, if you do not have access to the record.) Perhaps he is her son, or stepson? Also, her age at first marriage is 26.
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Once again, I won't post details for privacy reasons, but there is a Maine marriage record for Ralph L Nickerson; his residence was Ft Fairfield, ME. I can pm details if you do not have access to this record.
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Hi Lisa,
Thanks very much for the superfast response. It looks like you've found her. I've just got access to the 1920/30 censuses so I'll have a look. I've only recently found that she moved to the US and am still finding my way around US records.
I have noticed that there don't appear to be any birth records online. Is this to do with privacy laws in the US or are there any online records?
ps I've just realised that I listed her 2nd marriage as Fort Fairchild instead of Fort Fairfield.
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The Maine Death Index has a Ralph L. Nickerson who died in Caribou on 17 Jan. 1961 at age 45. That seems to match the age of the one in the 1920 Census.
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Thanks, Lisa. I'll have to look into whether Ralph was Elsies son although the probability is that he is.
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Ralph, I don't see him on the Social Security Death Index, which (I believe) either means that he never applied for a card (highly unlikely) or his wife is still receiving his benefits. I will have a look around.
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With a 1961 death, it's probably too early for him to be on there. Apparently, 98% of the information is from 1962 and onward, because the SSA started using computers then. http://genealogy.about.com/od/vital_records/a/ssdi.htm
I've never heard of someone receiving benefits influencing whether information was on the SSDI.
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Hi Shelly:
I hadn't either, but my father passed away in 2004 and he is not listed on the index. Someone on RootsChat said (suggested?) that if the spouse is still alive, the deceased's name will not appear. :-\
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I just looked for my father-in-law's name. He does not appear on the index; my mother-in-law is still with us. I think I better look into this.
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My husband's grandfather, who died in the early 1990's, is on there, and his wife is still living. I don't know whether she's specifically receiving benefits based on his record, but she's definitely still around and not remarried.
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Hmmm. I've checked several times for my father's name and he still is not listed. Since I've never not found a name, the only reason I could come up with is because he was still a Canadian citizen??? Perhaps there was simply a paperwork error. Thank you for clearing up part of it, Shelly.
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Andy, I mentioned earlier about a possible marriage for Ralph Nickerson. Audrey Smith Nickerson is listed on Rootsweb. Unfortunately, the person doing the research has thousands of names, and he doesn't appear to know too much about her family. (He doesn't mention the Nickerson's.)
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi
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Shelly found Caribou earlier. Found a possible son of Ralph's; he was living in Caribou at one point. Sending information by pm, for privacy reasons.
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Wow! what a response, I never expected so much information so quickly.
A million thanks to Lisa and Shelly for your exceptional guidance, advice, knowledge and information, and I hope that I will be able to assist you sometime.
Regards
Andy
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Not sure if anyone is going to see this some 12 years later. I'm a great granddaughter of Ralph Nickerson. He was married to Audrey Smith and she later remarried to become Audrey Smith Nickerson Lannigan. I'm the only granddaughter of Charles. And that is all I know. Charles is still alive, but I honestly know nothing about Ralph as he died the year before my father was born. Anything you can tell me? I have zero to go off for Ralph. Also, was Elsie's husband William? There were ancient rumors that William was not Ralph's father but that's all i have, a rumor. I did a 23andme and haven't connected to anyone from that side. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Welcome to RootsChat
It doesn't look as if Andy has been online since 2009.
Hope this helps.
Obituary for Ralph L Nickerson.
The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine
18 Jan 1961, Wed Page 22
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85947290/obituary-for-ralph-l-nickerson-aged-45/
Obituary for Audrey Lannigan
The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine
25 Sep 1999, Sat Page 18
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85950462/obituary-for-audrey-gertrude-lannigan/
son Edwin Nickerson died 1 March 2010 Presque Isle,
https://bangordailynews.com/2010/03/03/obituaries/edwin-e-nickerson/
Sandra
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Obit Elsie N Dougherty
The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine
26 Aug 1961, Sat Page 16
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85947348/obituary-for-elsie-maud-dougherty-aged/
Sandra
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Maine birth record - Nickerson - Birth Date 16 Dec 1915 Fort Fairfield, Aroostook, Maine.
Father William H Nickerson - Mother Elsie M Nickerson. (maiden name Burge)
Sandra
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William H Nickerson (42 years) - Residence Ft Fairfield, ME
Spouse's Nam Elsie M Burge (26 years) - Spouse's Residence Ft Fairfield, ME
Marriage Date 27 Aug 1915 Maine.
William H Nickerson (age 48 years) - Residence Ft Fairfield, ME
Spouse's Name Ada E Redstone (age 47 Years) - Spouse's Residence Westfield, ME
Marriage Date 24 Dec 1920 Maine.
Ida Ellen Redstone Nickerson - FIND A GRAVE
Marshall Cemetery Westfield, Aroostook County, Maine.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195464220/ida-ellen-nickerson
The Bangor Daily News
Bangor, Maine 16 May 1935, Thu Page 11
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85948523/ida-nickerson-16-may-1935/
1920 census Conant Road. Fort Fairfield, Aroostook, Maine.
Charles H Armstrong 55 Head
May Armstrong 51 Wife
Lela A Armstrong 20 Daughter
Sophia Armstrong 56 Sister
William N Nickerson 47 Boarder. born Canada. Teamster. Divorced.
Edward Mcmurray 69 Boarder
Sandra
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This looks like the parents of William H Nickerson in 1910 Westfield, Aroostook, Maine.
John Knowlen 38 Head
Annie L Knowlen 36 Wife
Harry R Knowlen 2 Son
Charles Nicherson 73 Father-in-law.
Bathsheba A Nickerson 59 Mother-in-law.
FIND A GRAVE
Charles Nickerson 1837 - 1917 and Bathsheba A. Doherty Nickerson 1851 -
Carvell Cemetery Carvell, Carleton County, New Brunswick.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70964175/charles-nickerson
Charles Nickerson - Death Date: 2 Feb 1917 Westfield, Aroostook, Maine.
Father Edward Nickerson - Mother Betsey Nickerson.
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1901 census New Brunswick shows William H Nickerson with parents and siblings -
Charles Nickerson 63
Bathsheba Nickerson 49
Herbert L Nickerson 33
William H Nickerson 28
Annie L Nickerson 27
Ruby L Nickerson 1
Ralph A Folsom 14
Parents marriage from the #Droins collection
Charles Nickerson -1862-1885 Marriage - Catholique City Bureau de Santé - Woodstock Place Church -Woodstock (Bureau de Santé) Province Acadie (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) - Spouse Bathskalia Dougherty.
Sandra
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Bathsheba Nickerson was on the 1930 census Westfield, Aroostook, Maine.
Bathsheba Nickerson Age78
John Knowlen Age57
Annie Knowlen Age56
Sandra
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Marriage - John R Dougherty -Residence Ft Fairfield, ME - Spouse's Name Elsie Nickerson Residence Ft Fairfield, ME - Marriage Date 7 May 1921 Maine.
WW1 Draft - John Ray Dougherty
Birth Date 22 May 1892 New Brunswick
Residence Date: 1917-1918 - Street Address Grand Isle Aroostook County, Maine.
Sandra
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Herbert Lee Nickerson - brother of William
The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine
25 Jun 1948, Fri Page 14
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85950855/herbert-lee-nickerson-25-june-1948/
Annie Knowlen - sister of William H Nickerson
The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine
24 Nov 1932, Thu Page 10
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85951048/annie-knowlen-24-november-1932/
The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine
29 Oct 1923, Mon Page 8
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85952073/nickerson-29-october-1923/
Sandra