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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: barryd on Monday 03 September 12 19:42 BST (UK)
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John Thomas W. Willis was born 1 October 1879 (US 1942 Draft Registration) in Burnopfield, County Durham, England, and baptized at the Parish Church in Burnopfield, 16 November 1879. He emigrated to Pennsylvania 1910 accompanied by his future Brother in Law, William Bowes who was a married man.
In 1911 Mrs Rebecca Willis Bowes, wife of William Bowes and their two children emigrated to Pennsylvania, accompanied by Miss Jane Colpitts (normally Jenny, Jennie in the US). Jane Colpitts married John Thomas W. Willis probably in Pennsylvania but the Bowes family moved back to County Durham before or after WW1.
I could not find the Willis family in 1920 (NJ?) but they are on the 1930 Census and on the 1940 Census their residence is Beacon Avenue, Jersey City as well as 1942 (John on the Draft Registration aged 63). Then I cannot find them.
Children were: Rose 1913, Thomas 1914, Jennie 1917 all born PA,
Elizabeth, 1919, NJ and Donald 1928, NJ
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Sadly this is Donald :'(
Donald Willis 13 Jan 1928 and died 10 June 1993
SSN: 158-14-7438
Last Residence: 08742 Point Pleasant Beach, Ocean, New Jersey,
SSN was issued in New Jersey (Before 1951)
Sandra
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Also sadly I did not know him prior to 1993 as I could have corresponded with him. I googled Pleasant Point Beach. It seems very nice. Thank you.
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Believe this to be Jennie:-
Jennie Chapman
Born 19 Oct 1916 and died March 1985
Last Residence: 08701 Lakewood, Ocean, New Jersey.
SSN was issued in New Jersey (Before 1951)
FIND A GRAVE
Burial: Saint Marys of the Lake Cemetery Lakewood Ocean County New Jersey.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0qne/
Sandra
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Possibility for Thomas - (Same date as given on mothers passport)
Thomas Willis
14 Feb 1914 and died Octiber 1984
Last Residence: 07110 Nutley, Essex, New Jersey,
SSN was issued thru Railroad Board (Before 1951)
FIND A GRAVE
Burial: Vincent Cemetery Nutley Essex County New Jersey.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0qnh/
Sandra
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Did you come across the passport application for Jennie with her photograph - Jennie Willis - Birth Date: 14 Apr 1889 England - Aged 34
Residence: Jersey City, New Jersey
Passport Issue Date: 10 May 1923
Spouse Name: John Thomas John Thomas 1 Oct 1880 England
Married in Scranton. PA May 4th 1911 (although the passport stamp and date were stamped over the top of the date ::))
Sandra
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Keep this one in mind - Rose date of birth same as given on Passport
Rose Puskas
8 th May 1912 and died 19 May 1988
Last Residence: 08817 Edison, Middlesex, New Jersey.
SSN was issued in New Jersey (Before 1951)
FIND A GRAVE
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0qni/
Burial: Van Liew Cemetery New Brunswick Middlesex County New Jersey.
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4 Possibilities to investigate for Elizabeth - 2 of which were in New Jersey
Elizabeth Donohue 25 Sep 1918 Died 17 Nov 2000 Severna Park, Anne Arundel, Maryland
Elizabeth C. Hooker 25 Sep 1918 Died 11 Jul 2010 Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey - can eliminate this one (Born in Hamilton Township, Claire was the eldest child of the late Edward J. and Elizabeth C. (Magee) McManimon Sr.)
Elizabeth V. Loetzer 25 Sep 1918 Died 1 Jan 1998 Rio Rancho, Sandoval, New Mexico
Elizabeth M. Rumball 25 Sep 1918 Died 9 Mar 2010 Lambertville, Hunterdon, New Jersey
Didn't pick anything up on John Thomas Willis Snr or Jennie Willis - suspect they both died before 1962 ish when the SSDI was fully up and running. ???
Sandra
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I had not searched the passport applications as I did not know they existed. How do I access them?
Jennie Chapman
I found a Leslie J. Chapman with his birth and death year buried St. Mary of the Lakes, Lakewood. They were the only two Chapmans in the cemetery and their birth and death years were close to each other which is an indication that they married at about the same age.
Jennie Willis - the Mother
The passport seems to indicate that the mother was going to England with some children but not the husband? Or did children get put on the wife's passport rather than the husband in those days? Scranton, PA was were Bowes and his future Brother in Law Willis were heading to in 1910. That seems a good place for both families to attend the wedding in 1911.
The birth dates for John Thomas W. Willis and his wife Jennie/Jane on the passport application in comparison to the English documents vary slightly . That does not bother me. Jennie probably had to fill in the form with no supporting documentation with her.
Thomas Willis (Jnr)
SSN through the Railroad Board! John Thomas W. Willis was a "Boilermaker's Helper" on a Steam Railroad in 1940. It seems that son Thomas Willis (Jnr) got on with the Railroad too.
Donald Willis
He married Estelle Healey and was a Jersey City Firefighter. Estelle died 31 March, 2004 at her house in Point Pleasant Beach.
What a lot I have to digest. Thank you very much. I will be inputting any further information I can find onto RootChat for others to share.
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Jennie Chapman
I found a Leslie J. Chapman with his birth and death year buried St. Mary of the Lakes, Lakewood. They were the only two Chapmans in the cemetery and their birth and death years were close to each other which is an indication that they married at about the same age.
Your very welcome. Pleased to have helped.
Yes, SSDI record showed Leslie lived in the same zip code area as Jennie.
Leslie Chapman
2 May 1917 and died 22 Nov 1987
Last Residence: 08701 Lakewood, Ocean, New Jersey,
SSN was issued in New York (Before 1951)
There was also anc family tree with Leslie (saying grandfather) so that would have given you a contact but the last log in was over a year ago.
Ellis Island will show the return from the UK in 1923.
Jennie and tyhe children were on the UK return passenger list the Caronia 10 June 1923.
Going to Anfield Plain. County Durham.
Sandra
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John Thomas Willis' WWI draft registration card has him born 1 Oct. 1880 and says he was living in Hoboken, New Jersey. His nearest relative was Mrs. Jennie Culpitts Willis.
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The documentation so far found by everyone is so good that some variable dates are not causing me concern because the people concerned are a long way from their original home and dates do get muddled. Fortunately I have the baptism of John Thomas Willis and he was baptized 16 November 1879, Parish Church of Burnopfield, County Durham, England. On FREE BDM he was registered in the Lanchester, County Durham, Registration District in the December Quarter, 1879. On familysearch.org there are two images on the 1942 Draft Registration and both are the exactly same, both of John Thomas Willis born 16 November 1879. However your find of his WWI registration card has wife's maiden name and where he was living which is fantastic because I have not found them on the 1920 New Jersey census yet.
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Jane Colpitts (soon to be Jane/Jennie Willis) arrived at Ellis Island on 3 May 1911 and must have taken the train to Scranton, Lackawanna, PA and married John Thomas Willis the next day 4 May 1911. The marriage is confirmed by Thomas Willis’ WWI draft card with next of kin being Jennie Culptts Willis. (Shelleyesq)
From THE PASSPORT APPLICATION (in 1923 for Jennie and the children to travel to England and back) I have managed to check dates with other references to come up with as good a family group as I can. My thanks to Sandra again for making this possible. Donald was born after 1923. He has his own supporting document.
Rose (Rosanna) (Mrs George Puskas). Born 8 May 1912, DuBois, Clearfield, PA. Passport/SSDI/1940 Census/Find a Grave. The 1940 Census enumerated Rose as having been born in Italy! This is a concern.
Thomas Robert. Born 14 February 1914, Scranton, Lackawanna, PA. Passport/SSDI/National Guard Enlistment 1940/Find a Grave. The passport is ambiguous about Thomas' birth place. It is assumed that it is Scranton.
Jennie (Mrs Leslie J. Chapman). Born 19 October 1916. Scranton, Lackawanna, PA. Passport/SSDI/Find a Grave.
Elizabeth. Born 25 September 1918, Hoboken, Hudson, NJ. Passport. The most likely marriage for Elizabeth was proved to be wrong. A New Jersey couple moving to New Mexico were not the correct couple. See link below.
Donald Willis. (Married Estelle Healey). Born 13 January 1928, Jersey City, Hudson, NJ. Incoming Passengers 1935/ SSDI. Children of Incoming Passengers in 1935 had their birthdates typed on the manifest.
http://obits.abqjournal.com/obits/show/112549
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The SSDI entries (4 of them) for Elizabeth were the ones with the same birth date as given on the 1923 passport - of which 2 are now discounted.
BUT did you notice on the discrepancies on the 1923 passenger list - the birth date for Elizabeth was 25 th September 1919. (a year later) ??? A few entries for you to ponder on that one.
Although if Elizabeth died before 1962 then the SSDI records would not pick her up.
Also Rossanna/Rose 8th May 1914 not 1912 - a few more SSDI entries to ponder on that date as well ???
Sandra
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I am pretty new to this and this is my very first post but I came across this and am astonished. Jennie Willis/Chapman was my grandmother. I know she was born in Scranton or outside Scranton and she was married to Leslie Chapman who was born in Liverpool. The house on Beacon Ave was in the family until about 3 years ago. Together they had 5 children who have scattered across the United States (2 in New Jersey 1 in Florida 1 in Maryland and 1 in Nevada) and 11 grandchildren (4 in NJ, 1 in Las Vegas, 1 in San Diego 1 in Florida, 2 in Maryland and sadly 2 passed away at young ages). My grandmother passed while I was very young of bone marrow cancer and my grandfather Leslie 2 years later. Sadly I don't have many memories of her.
I did not know Thomas as he passed when I was very young. However the burial in Nutley seems very likely as I know that is where his side of the family lives.
I also did know Rose but I vividly remember Donald. He was a firefighter in Jersey City where his youngest son is now a captain. Donald passed away while I was in high school in either 1993 or 1994. He was very funny and outgoing along with his wife Estelle (Sissy) they had 4 boys who are all within shouting distance of Point Pleasant. However of those 4 boys there are only 2 male grandchildren. And yes Point Pleasant is a beautiful town on the Jersey Shore.
I am not sure when Elizabeth (BeeBee) passed and 2000 might be possible. She was in Maryland but it seems that 2000 would not be right. I think it may have been earlier than that. I only saw her a few times but I remember she also was funny and had a great personality. She has one daughter.
If I can be of any assistance please let me
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I had not searched the passport applications as I did not know they existed. How do I access them?
Jennie Chapman
I found a Leslie J. Chapman with his birth and death year buried St. Mary of the Lakes, Lakewood. They were the only two Chapmans in the cemetery and their birth and death years were close to each other which is an indication that they married at about the same age.
Jennie Willis - the Mother
The passport seems to indicate that the mother was going to England with some children but not the husband? Or did children get put on the wife's passport rather than the husband in those days? Scranton, PA was were Bowes and his future Brother in Law Willis were heading to in 1910. That seems a good place for both families to attend the wedding in 1911.
The birth dates for John Thomas W. Willis and his wife Jennie/Jane on the passport application in comparison to the English documents vary slightly . That does not bother me. Jennie probably had to fill in the form with no supporting documentation with her.
Thomas Willis (Jnr)
SSN through the Railroad Board! John Thomas W. Willis was a "Boilermaker's Helper" on a Steam Railroad in 1940. It seems that son Thomas Willis (Jnr) got on with the Railroad too.
Donald Willis
He married Estelle Healey and was a Jersey City Firefighter. Estelle died 31 March, 2004 at her house in Point Pleasant Beach.
What a lot I have to digest. Thank you very much. I will be inputting any further information I can find onto RootChat for others to share.
I recall my father telling me that his grandfather (John) worked for the ferry that ran between Hoboken, NJ and Manhattan. My dad told me that when he was a kid about 5 or 6 they would walk from Jersey City to Hoboken and he would ride the ferry all day with John. He worked with coal.
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John Thomas W. Willis parents were born in Ireland. Father Thomas born in Mullabrack, Armagh, Ireland (now Northern Ireland), abt 1844 and mother Matilda McMahon Willis born Ireland abt 1848.
Jane Colpitts Willis wife of John Thomas W. Willis born Annfield Plain, County Durham, England 11 April 1890. Jane Colpitts Willis traces her ancestry back to Edmondbyers, County Durham with the marriage of Robert Colpitts to Margaret Bulman 4 July 1812.
Many thanks for the family information. A group of RootsChatters got things right but confirmation from a family member is very helpful. Passport Applications should be on ancestry.com.
A few days ago I found the death year of Loana Bowes who was the infant travelling with her mother Rebecca Willis Bowes and the future Jane Colpitts Willis to Ellis Island. She was 98 years old when she dropped off the electoral registers near Durham City in 2008.
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William Bowes who travelled to Pennsylvania with John Thomas W. Willis is my 2nd Cousin 2 times removed. William Bowes married Rebecca Willis 4 August 1906 Collierley Parish Church, (Annfield Plain). Rebecca Willis is sister of JTWW. William/Rebecca left Pennsylvania at some time before, during or after WW1 and returned to England.
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Thank you for the information Barry. I do not have much information on Rebecca but at least based on the information I have there were at least 2 other siblings. A Robert born about 1876 and an Eliza (which could be short for Elizabeth) born about 1877. Unfortunately the Irish records are a bit sketchy from my experience (Leslie's mother's family traces their roots to Cork and India). I'm gonna give the old college try in trying to dig deeper into Thomas and Matilda. If there is anything you would need as far as information regarding the Willis side of the family that stayed in the states I can do my best to answer for you.
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More and more records are coming on line. Found recently and put information on my "notes"for the Willis family. Another question solved!
"Left New York on RMS Aquitania and arrived in Liverpool 27 July 1914. William Bowes and wife "Nellie", actually Rebecca [Willis] Bowes and children, William, Loana and Robert T. The latter born in Pennsylvania. Ships' Manifests, Aquitania. In Engand for about a week then WWI declared, 4 August, 1914.
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John Willis- Jersey City- I collect vintage photos. I recently acquired a photo of a young boy, well dressed with the name John Willis written on back. The front has the photographers' name, E.B Monckton and address, 654 Newark Avenue Jersey City. The boy looks to be about 9 or 10 years old. Could this be the John Willis that you are talking about?
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Welcome to RootsChat. John Thomas W. Willis was born 1 October 1879, Burnopfield, County Durham, England. Arrived in USA 1910. He married 4 May 1911, Scranton, PA. This John Willis was never a boy in USA.