BVRI Look up please

[nutkin]

Could someone check for the birth of a George William Burke just before or by  January 5, 1876?  According to his draft records and death record, he was born in England on January 5, 1876 or 78 to William Burke and Margaret Stone.  I just cannot find a record any where.

[audrey]

I have checked the BVRI there is no George W Burke listed with those details
audrey

[Hackstaple]

The IGI has this about him but you need to consult 1837online and look through the index for the Mar and Jun quarters of 1876 to find his birth record numbers.

 GEORGE WILLIAM BURKE 
 
Birth:  05 JAN 1878  Manchester, Lancashire, England
Death:  26 JUN 1953   

 

[nutkin]

I tried 1837online and all the free indexes.  Nothing seems to match my person.  Even had GRO do a blanket search from 1875-1879.  Where is this man?  I am starting to think his birth was never registered.  It is possible.  Every source I have foudn said his birth was January 5 in England.  The only contradictions are the year.  Easily explained by who was reporting the information.  George said 1876 on his draft card and his son said 1878 on the death certificate.  However both say January 5.

I think George is trying to taunt me from the grave!!

[Hackstaple]

You say "draft card". I get the sense that he emigrated to the States - is that so? When USA entered WWI he would have been 41 in 1917 if born 1876 but 39 if born 1878. Was the draft restricted to those under 40? Did he actually serve in the forces? If not, 1876 would have been a convenient birth year.

[nutkin]

He came to the US in 1901.  It is funny but his draft card for WWI says his age was 42.  The US probably was desperate for soldiers.  I know that has happened and I belive at that time in histroy, the US was following an isolcationist ploicy and had not fought any major wars since the Civil War.   He never served but he probably did his patriotic duty.  He probably  would have been one of the oldest soldiers ever registered.   

It is him as his wife, address and occupation all match what my grandma says.

[Hackstaple]

My suspicion may have been right. Normally I would try to find him registered a few years later but you say you have done that. Is there no record of his immigration and later naturalisation?

[nutkin]

I have checked the census to see if you are right about him lying about his age on the draft record.  I think you are!!  He said he was 32 in 1910 and 42 in 1920.  He would have been born then in 1878.  He probably did lie on his draft card.  Naughty boy!!

However, still does not help me in I cannot find any George W. Burke's who match his birthdate in England on the registers.

Must keep hunting.  Thank you for the ideas, it always helps to have a fresh set of eyes on your data as the answer is probably obvious to all but you!

[Hackstaple]

There are several born about the right period and in the right area
Burke, George William 1868 March Manchester (1837-1924) Lancashire 8d 219
Burke, George William 1870 September Salford Greater Manchester Lancashire 8d 65
BURKE, George William 1871 March Manchester (1837-1924) Lancashire 8d 246
Burke, George William 1873 June Oldham Greater Manchester Lancashire 8d 625
Burke, George William 1875 December Manchester (1837-1924) Lancashire 8d 191
I would normally think of only the first and the third one as he was born in January [or was he?] but the years are wrong except perhaps the 5th and it was not too normal for a January birth to be registered in December.
He was consistent about his year of birth on the censuses. I have found that people who lie have difficulty in remembering the lie whereas the truth is always easy to remember. For that reason I would focus on 1878. The next question is what were his birth certificate names? They might not have been G.W. in that order or without another before them.
Lastly, what do the Ellis Island records say - and the shipping lists?