RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Weyman_85 on Tuesday 15 May 18 11:42 BST (UK)
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Hi,
To cut a long story short my great grandmother Selina Wilton married a Stephen Feening in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia - 11.06.1906
That same night he disappeared, never to be seen again. He put Selina in a coach, mentioned he had business in Sydney to take care of and he'd be home in a few days. Gone.
I know his parents were John Feening 1850 - 1923 and Martha M Barker 1852 - 1919.
He had several siblings - Henry (or Harry) b. 1872, Isaiah b. 1875, Jacob b. 1876, William b. 1880, Ernest b. 1892, John b. 1882, Elizabeth b. 1887, Alfred b. 1889 and May b. 1894
His brother Frederick Feening had two children (that I know of) Stanley Feening 1905 - 1971 and Vera May Feening (may have got married and changed her name) 1907 - 1992.
The odd thing is I've managed to view copies of Stephen Feening's parents obituaries. In both they mention being survived by numerous children including a Stephen (residing in America).
We think, for what ever reason, our missing Stephen Feening may have run off to America.
It's a long shot and a mystery that is over 100 years old but if anyone thinks they know anything, please get in touch :)
Kind regards,
Selina (named after my great grandmother)
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I am just gong to add here the link to a concurrent thread from our OP where information has been located in Australia.
It may save duplicated research and give background too.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php
Sue
ADDING. I would say there is strong evidence he went to USA.
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I agree with Sue, evidence he went to the USA is very strong. Finding the outward details is NOT an easy task....
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/immigration-shipping-guide (Scroll down....)
Outward passenger lists from New South Wales are DIFFICULT (almost impossible) to access.
The lists from 1898 to 1922 are NOT indexed, and the period from 1911 (to 1922) are not even microfilmed.
JM
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I agree with Sue, evidence he went to the USA is very strong. Finding the outward details is NOT an easy task....
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/immigration-shipping-guide (Scroll down....)
Outward passenger lists from New South Wales are DIFFICULT (almost impossible) to access.
The lists from 1898 to 1922 are NOT indexed, and the period from 1911 (to 1922) are not even microfilmed.
JM
Hi JM,
Thanks for your reply. I agree, whilst I believe Stephen did head to America for what ever reason, it's going to be really hard to prove it. I wouldn't even know what name to look for as I can only assume he would have known people would be looking for him and travelled under a false name. I know his mother died in 1919 and he's mentioned in her obituary but the question is did he flee straight after his wedding in 1906 or in the years after?? The 100 year old mystery may remain a mystery. It's wonderful to know he may have ended up in America though, up until now my family didn't know if he'd lived after that night or if he'd met his end somehow.
Selina
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There are passenger records inwards to San Francisco on Familysearch and Ancestry... if he did go by ship it makes more sense that he would go there. There is a physical description of him which is quite interesting in NSW Police Gazette on Ancestry.
Otherwise he would probably use an alias and that makes it almost impossible to trace him. I have one in my family who deserted his wife in England and enlisted 1914-5 in Australia (photos) and very little hope I can find him, another who did the same and enlisted in Canada.
He may be too old to enlist for WW1.
Good luck! and don't forget that the family saying he went to USA may be a story to cover up the shame of his desertion.
Stephanie from Australia
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There are passenger records inwards to San Francisco on Familysearch and Ancestry... if he did go by ship it makes more sense that he would go there. There is a physical description of him which is quite interesting in NSW Police Gazette on Ancestry.
Otherwise he would probably use an alias and that makes it almost impossible to trace him. I have one in my family who deserted his wife in England and enlisted 1914-5 in Australia (photos) and very little hope I can find him, another who did the same and enlisted in Canada.
He may be too old to enlist for WW1.
Good luck! and don't forget that the family saying he went to USA may be a story to cover up the shame of his desertion.
Stephanie from Australia
Thanks Stephanie! I too read his physical description of him. Quite interesting indeed. Yes, I agree, I don't think we'll ever really know the full story. It's a tough one but oh so interesting. Do you mind telling me how I find the passenger records to Sans Frans? I'm still learning my way around Ancestry. I honestly believe he would have changed his name so I'm not overly hopefully but one can only look.
Selina
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Where did dad John originate from. I've seen Sweden and Holland mentioned, but which is correct?
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Where did dad John originate from. I've seen Sweden and Holland mentioned, but which is correct?
Hi,
I believe Holland is the correct answer however I'm only going off family trees I can find in Ancestry. I've not seen a birth certificate or any proof...
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Any idea what the original version of the surname was?
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eg veenstra, van der veen etc
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eg veenstra, van der veen etc
I'm really not sure ???
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Hi Selina,
Have you checked his parents and siblings wills to see if they give any clues to his whereabouts and what name he may be using?
Jo :)
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Hi Selina,
Have you checked his parents and siblings wills to see if they give any clues to his whereabouts and what name he may be using?
Jo :)
Hi Jo,
I didn't think of that. What a great idea. Would that information be public and where would I look?
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..... . Would that information be public and where would I look?
If they died in NSW and their deceased estates were probated, then the NSW State Archives is a good starting place.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/
:) at this option enter FEENING in the title box and press search
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/advanced-search
and
:) at this option enter FEENING in the dialogue box and press submit
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/keyname
There's an RChatter offer available here too:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=703011.0
JM
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What a lovely generous offer by Ros :), please let us know if you find anything in the records that may help with finding Stephen.
Jo :)
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Just a thought - I found a missing ancestor, having absconded to Australia from England in 1911 - using his own first name but his mother's maiden name from the moment he set foot in his new country.
May just be worth a search of something like that.
Pheno
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If they died in NSW and their deceased estates were probated, then the NSW State Archives is a good starting place.
Thank you so much JM!!!
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What a lovely generous offer by Ros :), please let us know if you find anything in the records that may help with finding Stephen.
Jo :)
Isn't she just wonderful!! Such a generous offer of her time!
And, yes of course I'll share any finding :)
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Hi there,
Just wondering if there has been any progress on this search for Stephen Fenning?
JM
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Hi JM,
Unfortunately the short answer is no. I keep reaching dead ends. Ros was ever so kind as to send me probates / wills from his family members. I was hoping there might be a mention of him somewhere in their final words...but no. I can't locate any death certificates under his real name and someone else searched the USA census around that time but couldn't locate him. Of course I think he changed his name, but to what? Someone else found a Stephen Feening on an Australian, NSW census around 1913 so I think he may have been in NSW for a few years after leaving Selina on their wedding night then his parents obituaries mention a Stephen, son in the USA from 1919 so I'm guessing he made his way there but not under his own name as he was a wanted man in the state for desertion. Oh, the mystery...
Selina
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:)
I have this list, surnames ..... etc - anyway, basically a list of elusives who might be hiding in NSW somewheres and I had been checking some transcribed documents of some 1920s handwriting for a family history group .... and came across their decipher ... as S. FEENING .... I checked and yes that surname was on my list.... and RChat next to it... So in the last couple of hours Very careful checking .. alas ...
No No No ..
Cannot be yours ... it is for a female with her aunt and on checking carefully the surname s not actually FEENING ... I will check again with daylight tomorrow but sorry for perhaps geting your hopes up.
JM
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That list and information sound really interesting all the same, even if he isn't on there. You find some great stuff!! Thanks for checking through it all in search of him. He's a tough cookie this one. The 100+ years in between isn't helping, haha.
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:) So I have confirmed the surname on the document I have checked for a transcription group IS ... FLEMING ... I share this in case your Stephen may have allowed his handwriting to adjust the spelling of his surname from FEENING to FLEMING... it would be easy to overwrite or simply ignore someone else's mis-spelling of FEENING ... :)
So perhaps consider his date of birth would hold good for day and month, but perhaps adjust year and perhaps adjust surname .... You should look around for example of his signature, to help with any possible sightings... And of course, needles in haystacks are extremely difficult but, if you don't search ... well you know that answer already :D
JM