RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: Girl Guide on Monday 07 June 21 20:02 BST (UK)
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Ann Stephens has been an ongoing mystery for many years. Can anyone in the US help with any possible marriage/death, or any other useful information for her please?
Ann Gillian Stephens was born in England on 21st May 1931 to parents Lucian and Kathleen Stephens nee Blake.
The last positive piece of information is that Ann went to the US in 1959. The travel manifest says that the Parthia left Liverpool on 11th April 1959 bound for New York. Ann's address at the time of leaving the UK was 8 Chepstow Man.(Mansions), Bayswater, London W2. Her occupation was given as Air Hostess. It is thought that she worked for Pan Am Airlines.
Ann may have lived in Los Angeles at some point as her younger sister married there in 1967. Not been able to locate an image for this marriage which was found on Family Search. It is thought that this sister (born 1934) is still alive as there does not appear to be any death registered for her in the UK. The sister was last known to be living in the county of Devon, UK.
Ann's mother died in 1995 and her last will dated 1984 does not mention Ann at all, so the assumption is that Ann was dead by then.
There is a thread for this and I give the link below.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=563589.0
The topic was originally started in 2011, resurrected in 2014 and again in March 2021.
If anyone can find any information on Ann after 1959 that would be great.
Thank you to anyone who can assist. :D
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Hi
You have purchased that will! :)
The sister is your best lead. The lady you refer to in the west country is still alive, and cannot be named on Rootschat. Now has a double barrelled name on the electorals, and an address you can write to?
It seems that may be the best bet.
Good luck
John
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Having checked something different I can see what you found jon. Have to think about writing as she will be in her eighties. Could consider writing to the other occupant. I'll have to see if I can get an idea of the age of the other occupant.
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This has her death death date in England:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0826959/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
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Thanks for that link Genealiza. This information has been mentioned before but no proof of this date has been found.
It is not known whether Ann married or not. As I stated, the last definite information is that she went to the USA in 1959 and her occupation was Air Hostess.
From there on her life is a complete mystery.
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I see, that the confusion is on her date of death. I believe I've followed the husband of her younger sister. There is a private tree on Anc.... Townsend Family Tree, that might have more on this husband and possibly his wife.
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The husband of the younger sister was a John Byron Sledge who died in Devon in 1989. Does that name appear on the Townsend family tree that you mention is on Ancestry?
I don't have a sub to Ancestry so can't check anything.
It is thought that his wife is still alive as no death has been found for her.
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Yes, he was born 7 Jun 1924 in Ada, Oklahoma to John B Sledge and wife, Mary/Mollie.
It appears that they were married in Los Angeles, 5 Aug 1967
His death not only appears on the UK death index, but also the US Social Security Death Index as,
J.B. Sledge
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Another thought, John has a sister, Dr. Claire Blount Sledge. She dies in 1991 and mentions that she was preceded in death by her parents and brother, John. I believe her obit shows up in several places. Since they were from Ada, Oklahoma, you might request an obit look-up for John circa Feb 1989 and see if his wife is mentioned.
I don't have a subcription either, just free access from our state due to Covid restrictions.
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The Pensacola News Pensacola, Florida 13 May 1965, Thu Page 8
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79182905/obituary-for-mollie-blount-sledge/
marriage - The Ada Weekly News Ada, Oklahoma 8 May 1919, Thu Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79183483/capt-john-byron-sledge-marriage-8/
Sandra
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The Paducah Sun Paducah, Kentucky 25 Sep 1991, Wed Page 21
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79183037/dr-claire-blount-sledge-25-september/
Sandra
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Mr. John Sledge Jr. - [Mr. John Byron Jr.]
Residence Date: Abt 1954 - New the ' 0rleans
Employer Motion Picture Advertising V Inc. Sewanee Military Academy
Father John Byron Sledge - Mother Sledge - Spouse Sarah Carroll.
Hattiesburg American Hattiesburg, Mississippi 30 Jan 1954, Sat Page 5
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79183854/marriage-of-carroll-sledge/
Sandra
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Thank you for the information re the Sledge family. This is the one that Ann's younger sister married into.
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From her days in Saber
Ann Stephens TV Movie Actress
https://outlet.historicimages.com/products/dfpa31139
Third image, stuck on the back of the photo in green, possibly of interest (need to enlarge or save, get it round the right way, or read it sideways!!)
Mentions the sister.
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Well that's interesting Jon. The year appears to be Jan 16 1968 or 69.
As far as I can tell it says:-
Lovely TV and movie actress Ann Stephens will be Inspector Mark Baker's? innocent foil on Saber or Baber at Sea to be seen via the KBC?-TV network on Sunday January 26th 5.30 pm (EST).
Ann, who has relatives living in Washington D.C. (an aunt? who is married to a U.S. Government official) only gets to visit them via their television set as Ann has appeared on many TV filmed series shown in the United States.
Her sister, ----- Stephens, will get to see their relatives in person when she arrives in the U.S. as the winner in a recently held beauty contest.
I've not put the sister's first name as it is likely that she is still alive.
So if that date is contemporary with the information, Ann was still alive then.
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Hi GG
I think it's 1958.
Both sisters were child actors (or actresses!), appearing together. I must have missed that!
John
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Well it looks as though Ann's sister travelled to New York in 1954 as a student.
So who could the aunt? have been that was married to a US government official? Was that on the father's side or mother's side?
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Ann comes over 9 Jun 1958 on the SS Pres. Monroe, from Leghorn, Italy to NYC and again 20 Apr 1959 from England on the Parthia. In both cases, the British passport # matches and her place of residence is listed as 633 15th st. N W, Washington, D.C. Could that be the home of her Aunt?
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Could well be. I don't know if the aunt is on the paternal or maternal side. I wonder who the U.S. government official was?
Is the aunt the sister or next generation back, ie grandparent to Ann level?
No name was mentioned so can't do any checking.
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Another interesting point: Ann and xxxxxxxx apparently applied for passports at the same time.
Ann: #804897
xxxxxxx: #804896
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Thought we weren't naming the sister on RC, who is still alive.
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Frankly, I found her name by searching for the movie, previously divulged, in which they both appeared. Also, she is mentioned on the back of the photo that was posted.
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This sometimes gets to be a bit of a problem. Rootschat has a policy whereby living people are not named to avoid spamming etc.
A bit ironic in a way as by searching the internet you can find loads of living people there.
The idea of Rootschat is that it is for researching your ancestors rather than those currently living. If anyone wishes to communicate regarding living people then the pm system is used.
Quite a number of Rootschatters get caught out in the beginning with the living people requirement. ::)
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Girl guide
Some still get caught out after years by naming someone from 1939 register who isn't actually dead
Or a birth 1920 assuming they are not over 100
Or obits where living relatives are named !
Also several people name themselves ..but I think that's allowed .!
Regarding Ann STEPHENS she really was a beauty from the picture in article
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Another thought: If she was an "airline hostess", why did she travel by boat?
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Irrelevant post - sorry
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Well that's interesting Jon. The year appears to be Jan 16 1968 or 69.
As far as I can tell it says:-
Lovely TV and movie actress Ann Stephens will be Inspector Mark Baker's? innocent foil on Saber or Baber at Sea to be seen via the KBC?-TV network on Sunday January 26th 5.30 pm (EST).
Ann, who has relatives living in Washington D.C. (an aunt? who is married to a U.S. Government official) only gets to visit them via their television set as Ann has appeared on many TV filmed series shown in the United States.
Her sister, ----- Stephens, will get to see their relatives in person when she arrives in the U.S. as the winner in a recently held beauty contest.
I've not put the sister's first name as it is likely that she is still alive.
So if that date is contemporary with the information, Ann was still alive then.
Kathleen Stephens had a sister Molly
Two births come up -
BLAKE Mollie Annette Paddington 1a 15 - September 1905
Blake Mollie Page Kingston 2a 388 - Dec 1908
Both Kathleen and Mollie/Molly come under the surname Payne on the 1911 census 33 Dorset Road, South Ealing.
Thomas Payne 34
Maud Payne 28
Gwendoline Wortham 23
Kathleen Payne 7
Mollie Payne 6
Dennis Payne 3
Is this the same family or are there two similar families ?
Sandra
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U.S., Consular Reports of Marriages - Molly Annette Blake - 1906 England - aged 25 years
Spouse's Name: Harry Kent Fawkes born 1885 England and aged 46 years.
Marriage Date 12 May 1931 St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore, Straits Settlements
Consular Location 12 Singapore, Straits Settlements.
Sandra
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There is an entry for a marriage - Molly A Blake - Marriage License Date 13 Sep 1939 -
Marriage License Place - Manhattan, New York City, New York - Spouse George J Fredrick - License Number 13168.
Lots of passenger list entries - US Departure Passenger and Crew - George J. Fridrich
Age 38 - Birth Date abt 1912 Cairo, Ill.
Departure Date: 16 Nov 1950 - New York, New York, USA
Ship WASHINGTON. Bounmd for Southampton arriving 23 Nov 1950
Also travelling Molly Fridrich - aged 41 years - born England. NA Los Angeles 15/3/1935
Twin Fridrich children (male and female) born New York - aged 9 years.
UK Incoming version mentions George J Fridrich - government. Going to 8 Chipstow Mansions London W 2.
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U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index,
Molly A Fridrich - Birth Date 11 Jun 1905
Death Date 20 Aug 1989 - Claim Date Oct 1974
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V3P8-932
and alternative birth 11 June 1909
https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:VGYS-F53
and birth place miscoded.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGPX-SXW
Genealogy bank obituary -
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5W-SF3Y
George Joseph Fridrich - 6 August 1912 - 17 August 1991
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP8T-471
Sandra
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Ann's mother Kathleen died in 1995 in Devon. She was born in 1904.
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Coincidence then :- 1 feb 1904 date -removed.
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Sandra, fantastic research.
George seems to have worked at the Treasury Dept, and I googled the 633 15th st nw, Wash.DC. It didn't show up, but there is a building across from the Treas. Dept that looks like it might have apartments above the street level. Street level is home to a large tavern.
Just found:
SS Washington, Southampton to NYC
landing 2 Mar 1951
George Fridrich and family
Residence:
2633 15th St. N W, Washington D C
The elusive "Aunt", Mollie Annette Blake, has been found.
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Thank you Genealiza :)
On the UK Return departure New York 2 July 1948 arriving Southampton on the America, he is described as Am Attach C/O 17 Pall Mall
Sandra
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Scratching my head a bit on the Am Attach. Do I take it that means Attache to an Ambassador?
That would come under the heading of government official.
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George J Fridrich
News-Journal Mansfield, Ohio 16 Apr 1946, Tue Page 5
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16679071/news-journal/?xid=637
Sandra
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News-Journal Mansfield, Ohio
16 Dec 1941, Tue Page 3
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16609743/news-journal/?xid=637
News-Journal
Mansfield, Ohio
29 Aug 1948, Sun Page 7
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16610723/news-journal/?xid=637
Sandra
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The Marion Star Marion, Ohio 24 Feb 1951, Sat
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16610567/the-marion-star/?xid=637
Sandra
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SS Excalibur
from Palma de Mallorca, Spain to NYC
landing 13 Dec 1933
Blake (Fawkes), Molly, 22, housewife, person in former country--sister, Mrs. Stephens, Hollyvot Ave,
Hampstead, London
Fawkes, Harry, 46, journalist
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Couple were still together in 1934
Harry K Fawkes - 1886 Accrington - aged 48 years
Arrival Date 6 Jan 1934 San Francisco, California on the Santa Ana
Port of Departur New York, New York San Francisco, California, USA
Last Residenc Spain.
Molly Fawkes - 28 years - friends Mrs E t Requaret, Palma, Malorca, Spain.
Sandra
Added 24 May 1934 Harry Fawkes born 1885 (aged 49 years) arrives from Honolulu, Hawaii to Los Angeles on the Malolo. (No Molly)
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U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index
Harry Kent Or Guy Harry Kent Fawkes - 2 October 1884
Record Type Military Service - Military Date: 27 Jan 1919 New York, New York
Death Date 4 Jul 1957
Sandra
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Just a quick update, I e-mailed the University of Miami who had the PanAm record collections that included employees and they told me there's no record of an Ann Stephens.
I did find two marriage references on the general register office indexes for an Ann G. Stephens in the late 50s, but I am not sure if I can give the spouse's name on here. I did a search of the death records for Ann G. XXXX using both names and nothing came up for 1966 or anywhere around that time.
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Somewhere in these replies it is noted from a passenger list that Ann travelled to the US in 1959. Her occupation is given as air hostess but no indication as to which company she worked for.
Unless a record can be found of her returning to the UK, it has to be assumed that she stayed in the US, marrying or not, and could still be alive in her 90s, but equally could be dead.
She has a younger sister who may well still be alive and in her late eighties.
This may well be a topic that never gets satisfactorily concluded.
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I agree how it might not be concluded, although it's been a very interesting subject