Show Posts
19
Lincolnshire Lookup Requests / Re: Birth info for Mary Jane Simpson abt 1845 in Gainsborough
« on: Monday 21 January 08 06:58 GMT (UK) »
Again, thanks so much for all your efforts.
I must first apologize for giving the wrong name for Mary Jane's husband. His name was William Henry Grantham. I appears I may have mixed different Williams and Henrys (see below). It also appears that I am likely following the wrong family (some things fit and others don't as you will see below) or I may have mixed two families together. Boy, what an eye opener. Also, I apologize for asking about the 1901 Census. I have searched the 1901 England Census (I am a member of Ancestry.com) and meant to ask when the 1911 England Census would be available. My only excuse is I was babysitting my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter when I was writing the reply (and I'm sure you know how defocusing that can be) but wanted to get it done since I was so late in responding. No more excuses!
To answer your question about where I started: I started with my Grandfather, Walter Grantham (no documents mention a middle name or initial). Now that I look at his records to give you specific information, I realize that I thought I found his birth record and everything flowed from there. This reply may get long but I know the more information I give you, the more you can help. If you get tired of this, I will understand, but appreciate anything you are willing to help with.
WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE:
My grandfather, Walter Grantham, was born in England per his son, daughters, a grandson who lived with him, his daughter's Birth Certificate, and the 1920 & 1930 U.S. Censuses. He was employed by the Salvation Army and their records (which I assume is from information he personally provided) states he was born Feb 27, 1874 (no mention of location). His Death Certificate (from information provided by his wife) states he was born Feb 27, 1875 in Manchester, England and that his father was born in Manchester (see details below). Manchester does not match the family I was following but does match with a story (told to me by his daughter) about him losing out on an inheritance from Drinkwater Park (which is located in Prestwich, Manchester) when someone died because he was at sea and his sister didn't tell anyone how to reach him (as a result neither he, his wife nor his children were ever allowed to speak of his sister). Coincidentally, Drinkwater Park was sold in 1902 and he immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. Maybe there is a connection? His grandson told me that he remembered being told that Walter first went to Canada then to Colorado. This makes some sense since I can't find any passenger record for him and he did marry in Colorado in 1905.
Per Walter's marriage license, he was married in Victor, Colorado on August 2, 1905 to my grandmother, Lucy Reid. The license states they both lived in Cripple Creek, Colorado at the time.
The 1920 Census taken Jan 12 in Omaha Nebraska lists Walter Grantham (age 45 which would be correct for the Feb. 1874 birthdate but not the Feb 1875 birthdate) born in England (and both his parents were born in England) and immigrating in 1903, living with his wife (my grandmother) Lucy, a son (my father) Ward, 3 daughters and his mother, Mary (age 75) born in England (Mary's father was born in England and it states her mother was born in Iowa but that was where Walter's children were born and it's incorrectly also listed as the birthplace of the children's mother--it is an error on the form). (Do you need the Census Reference Number for this?)
The 1930 Census taken April 4 in St. Louis, Missouri lists Walter Grantham (age 55 which is one year too young for the above Feb 1874 birthdate but correct for the Feb 1875 date) born in England. It states he immigrated in 1917 but that was wrong. It states his father was born in Ireland and his mother in England. That does not match with the 1920 Census or the family I was following.
Walter's Death Certificate (from information given by his wife) states he was born in Manchester England on Feb 27, 1875. His father (name unknown) was born in Manchester England. His mother, maiden name Mazy (probably a typo) Larthy, was born in England. Walter's daughter remembered his mother's maiden name was Lardy and a granddaughter's Sep 1930 Marriage Certificate Family Register lists her as Mary Carty (or McCarty) born Jan 6 (unknown year) and died Oct 1924.
It appears Walter never became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. (he retained his English citizenship).
FAMILY STORIES:
Walter's daughter told me he was in the English Navy.
Walter's grandson who lived with him 2 years said he remembers Walter telling him he was a "bad boy" being thrown out of school for fighting and, at age 12, was put in the English Navy as a galley boy to "straighten him out". I have a picture of Walter in a what looks like a sailing-style uniform and hat at 12 years old.
Walter's grandson told me that he recalled Walter's family was Catholic.
I have to continue this reply in a separate message because it's too long.
Cathy
I must first apologize for giving the wrong name for Mary Jane's husband. His name was William Henry Grantham. I appears I may have mixed different Williams and Henrys (see below). It also appears that I am likely following the wrong family (some things fit and others don't as you will see below) or I may have mixed two families together. Boy, what an eye opener. Also, I apologize for asking about the 1901 Census. I have searched the 1901 England Census (I am a member of Ancestry.com) and meant to ask when the 1911 England Census would be available. My only excuse is I was babysitting my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter when I was writing the reply (and I'm sure you know how defocusing that can be) but wanted to get it done since I was so late in responding. No more excuses!
To answer your question about where I started: I started with my Grandfather, Walter Grantham (no documents mention a middle name or initial). Now that I look at his records to give you specific information, I realize that I thought I found his birth record and everything flowed from there. This reply may get long but I know the more information I give you, the more you can help. If you get tired of this, I will understand, but appreciate anything you are willing to help with.
WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE:
My grandfather, Walter Grantham, was born in England per his son, daughters, a grandson who lived with him, his daughter's Birth Certificate, and the 1920 & 1930 U.S. Censuses. He was employed by the Salvation Army and their records (which I assume is from information he personally provided) states he was born Feb 27, 1874 (no mention of location). His Death Certificate (from information provided by his wife) states he was born Feb 27, 1875 in Manchester, England and that his father was born in Manchester (see details below). Manchester does not match the family I was following but does match with a story (told to me by his daughter) about him losing out on an inheritance from Drinkwater Park (which is located in Prestwich, Manchester) when someone died because he was at sea and his sister didn't tell anyone how to reach him (as a result neither he, his wife nor his children were ever allowed to speak of his sister). Coincidentally, Drinkwater Park was sold in 1902 and he immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. Maybe there is a connection? His grandson told me that he remembered being told that Walter first went to Canada then to Colorado. This makes some sense since I can't find any passenger record for him and he did marry in Colorado in 1905.
Per Walter's marriage license, he was married in Victor, Colorado on August 2, 1905 to my grandmother, Lucy Reid. The license states they both lived in Cripple Creek, Colorado at the time.
The 1920 Census taken Jan 12 in Omaha Nebraska lists Walter Grantham (age 45 which would be correct for the Feb. 1874 birthdate but not the Feb 1875 birthdate) born in England (and both his parents were born in England) and immigrating in 1903, living with his wife (my grandmother) Lucy, a son (my father) Ward, 3 daughters and his mother, Mary (age 75) born in England (Mary's father was born in England and it states her mother was born in Iowa but that was where Walter's children were born and it's incorrectly also listed as the birthplace of the children's mother--it is an error on the form). (Do you need the Census Reference Number for this?)
The 1930 Census taken April 4 in St. Louis, Missouri lists Walter Grantham (age 55 which is one year too young for the above Feb 1874 birthdate but correct for the Feb 1875 date) born in England. It states he immigrated in 1917 but that was wrong. It states his father was born in Ireland and his mother in England. That does not match with the 1920 Census or the family I was following.
Walter's Death Certificate (from information given by his wife) states he was born in Manchester England on Feb 27, 1875. His father (name unknown) was born in Manchester England. His mother, maiden name Mazy (probably a typo) Larthy, was born in England. Walter's daughter remembered his mother's maiden name was Lardy and a granddaughter's Sep 1930 Marriage Certificate Family Register lists her as Mary Carty (or McCarty) born Jan 6 (unknown year) and died Oct 1924.
It appears Walter never became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. (he retained his English citizenship).
FAMILY STORIES:
Walter's daughter told me he was in the English Navy.
Walter's grandson who lived with him 2 years said he remembers Walter telling him he was a "bad boy" being thrown out of school for fighting and, at age 12, was put in the English Navy as a galley boy to "straighten him out". I have a picture of Walter in a what looks like a sailing-style uniform and hat at 12 years old.
Walter's grandson told me that he recalled Walter's family was Catholic.
I have to continue this reply in a separate message because it's too long.
Cathy