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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: mantharobertson on Friday 26 October 18 10:57 BST (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
I need help... according to family stories, my 2x Great Aunt Mary Ross emigrated to the USA in 1911. Her relative listed on the passenger list is Annie Morrissey/Morrison and listed as Second Cousin.
As the story goes, Annie had a daughter called Betty Morrissey (Elizabeth) who was a movie star featuring in a number of Charlie Chaplin films. I have googled this as can verify that Betty Morrissey is the named actress. I am however unsure how her mother Annie is related into our line. All I know is she is called Annie and was born in Ireland c1864 and her husband was John Morrissey (who as far as I know left when Betty was young)
How do I find out who Betty's mum Annie is and make the connection? I have quite a bit of information but not sure how to find what I need. Any help greatly appreciated!
Samantha
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This says Betty was born September 14, 1907 and died April 20, 1944, both in New York City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Morrissey
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Looking at her obituary in the NY Times, she is listed as Mrs. Elizabeth Murray and survived by a husband, a son, and mother Mrs. Anna Morrissey.
This seems to be her death record - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W27-MP3
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Looking at her obituary in the NY Times, she is listed as Mrs. Elizabeth Murray and survived by a husband, a son, and mother Mrs. Anna Morrissey.
This seems to be her death record - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W27-MP3
Birth but a few years out -
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WH4-W8M
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1900 census possibility
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSFH-1N9
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This looks like the marriage of Elizabeth/Betty & James - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8NL-4M3
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The family in 1900 are living on Front Street which is the same address as the emigration of Mary Ross.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJG8-GXS
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Betty's obituary said that her husband was Lieut. James A. (Buster) Murray of the Army Air Forces, who flew in from his California base.
I think this may be James with his mother and sister in Beverly Hills, California the 1940 census - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K974-HNK They had a nurse, a butler, and a cook in the household, and the address they were at is worth $10 million today, so I'm guessing there was some family money there.
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Samantha,
2nd cousins share great grandparents. You have Mary b Scotland with Scottish parents, I think from censuses and John and Annie b Ireland.
You would need to go back with your ancestors for the link.
Heywood
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This may be James & Elizabeth in the 1930 census - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4KG-JF5
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Hi Everyone,
I need help... according to family stories, my 2x Great Aunt Mary Ross emigrated to the USA in 1911. Her relative listed on the passenger list is Annie Morrissey/Morrison and listed as Second Cousin.
As the story goes, Annie had a daughter called Betty Morrissey (Elizabeth) who was a movie star featuring in a number of Charlie Chaplin films. I have googled this as can verify that Betty Morrissey is the named actress. I am however unsure how her mother Annie is related into our line. All I know is she is called Annie and was born in Ireland c1864 and her husband was John Morrissey (who as far as I know left when Betty was young)
How do I find out who Betty's mum Annie is and make the connection? I have quite a bit of information but not sure how to find what I need. Any help greatly appreciated!
Samantha
Religion?
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Hi Everyone,
I need help... according to family stories, my 2x Great Aunt Mary Ross emigrated to the USA in 1911. Her relative listed on the passenger list is Annie Morrissey/Morrison and listed as Second Cousin.
Samantha
When in 1911?
Age?
Marital Status?
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Anne Morrissey, Elizabeth Murray, and her son (who may still be living) in the 1940 census - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9CD-2MP
This is a possible California death record for Anne Morrissey, listing her parents as John Armstrong & Elizabeth Reilly - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF5-SCSG
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Morrissey family in 1910 living on Front Street but no father John.
Anna is married though.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5QW-66S
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http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mwv/ gets you all Mary Ross in Ireland on 1901 Census.
As I don't know her age, Marital status or Religion I can't use them to narrow down the results.
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Hallmark,
I think Mary Ross was Scottish but not sure. She emigrated from Glasgow.
The only marriage I can see which fits with emigration dates and years married but ...
John McMorris and Annie Armstrong 1887, Irvinestown
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1887/10792/5935712.pdf
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It looks like Betty's brother William was a prop man in Columbia Studios and sadly died of suicide - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9SV-BCYH?i=1318&cc=2001287
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Hallmark,
I think Mary Ross was Scottish but not sure. She emigrated from Glasgow.
The only marriage I can see which fits with emigration dates and years married but ...
John McMorris and Annie Armstrong 1887, Irvinestown
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1887/10792/5935712.pdf
Thanks!
From what I can make out there was an "Annie someone" born c.1864 to somebody... and she married a John Morrissey, somewhere.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mww/ gets all Civil Reg Birth results for Ann from 1864
to 1865
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mwx/ gets all Civil Reg Birth results for Anne from 1864
to 1865
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http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mwy/ GETS ALL Civil Reg Marriage results for John Morrisey from 1880 to 1910
Don't see any marrying an Ann(e)
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They may have married in NY.
If I recall the census records indicate immigration and marriage about 1887.
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1905
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK9D-9GW
A later census shows four children born and three alive so presumably baby Ann is the death.
The children’s ages don’t match though.
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This has the baby's death - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WFV-DQ6
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This looks like the birth record for Betty's husband James - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W4F-V75
A Veterans' Administration record said he was in the Army from 6 Feb. 1943 to 25 Dec. 1945.
It looks like he died in Florida in 1982 - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVDS-KD4
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPWB-TX9
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This looks like the birth record for Betty's husband James - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W4F-V75
A Veterans' Administration record said he was in the Army from 6 Feb. 1943 to 25 Dec. 1945.
It looks like he died in Florida in 1982 - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVDS-KD4
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPWB-TX9
The Palm Beach Post
West Palm Beach, Florida
Friday, February 19, 1982 - Page 47
Obit: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24855006/james_a_murray__obit/
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This obituary for Betty said that her movie career ended with her marriage in 1928, so that fits with the above record - http://www.fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%205/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201944%20Grayscale/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201944%20Grayscale%20-%201769.pdf
This article says that Betty was used by Chaplin because he was "married to Betty's chum, Lita Grey." http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mx1/
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Yes that’s her! Yay! I know Reilly to be a family name! Thank you soooooo much
This is a possible California death record for Anne Morrissey, listing her parents as John Armstrong & Elizabeth Reilly - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF5-SCSG
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Hi All,
Thanks for all the help... managed to solve a few blocks for me!
I wonder if anyone could tell me how to get hold of a copy of her death certificate? I know she died in Manhattan on 20 April 1944. Heres the record info from Ancestry.. I don't think her age was right.. everything else I have says she was 42... but still so young.. I am wondering what killed her.
Name: Elizabeth Murray
Age: 36
Birth Year: abt 1908
Death Date: 20 Apr 1944
Death Place: Manhattan, New York, USA
Certificate Number: 9592
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There are two possible options. You can order it from the Municipal Archives using this site - https://www1.nyc.gov/site/records/historical-records/order.page
Or some NYC vital records can be viewed if you have a Family History Center near you. I have not done this myself, but I think you would need the film number from this link:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:2W27-MP3
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Thanks I do have a center near me so will try that first.
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Google "Betty Morrissey Movie Star" and you may see more information on Betty".