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Thanks for your posting. Unfortunately I have already written this off as a lost cause. There are so many inconsistencies - deliberate or accidental - that the family is impossible to tie down.
George

Thanks for the reply. Actually, the problem is much more complicated than I first indicated.

The child concerned was Violet Winterfeldt, ostensibly the daughter of Hans Winterfeldt and Louise Druce, who married some time between 9 December 1903 and 17 January 1906. However, in her Will, Louise states that she [they?] adopted Violet, whose original surname was Fortescue.

Hans was a wealthy international banker born in Berlin. He moved to New York in 1899 and became an American citizen on 8 July 1909.  Prior to that date, Louise was usually shown as German in Passenger Lists, where they appeared frequently. Violet was also said to be a German National on her first appearance in a Passenger List. Once Hans was naturalised, they were always shown as American.

There are no records of Hans or Louise arriving in New York from Italy; it is always from the U.K. or France. It is sheer speculation on my part, but could the fact that Hans apparently failed to father any children in any of his three marriages be significant?

I have been unable to find Violet’s birth under any of her 3 possible names, including in British Consular records. Nor have I been able to find a birth record for Louise Druce. Louise also mentions an Annie Druce of Huntingdon, England, in her Will, which, interestingly, appoints an English solicitor as executor and trustee even though it was drawn up in Paris and deemed to be subject to New York law. This is why I believe Louise to be English by birth.

I am afraid this is all rather long-winded, but I have condensed it as much as possible without omitting any necessary facts. So, as before, any suggestions as to how I should proceed would be most welcome.

George