Oceanic passage

[sandm]

This is probably a simple enough issue, but being brand new at all of this, I have to start somewhere. So I thought I'd bring this yto you wise folks.

My grandfather came to the US when he was 5 years old on the Oceanic from Southampton. I have a photocopy of the actual passenger roster (very cool!). What I want to know is how to find out how to trace their steps once they reached the US. My grandpa is dead, and my grandma knows very little about his childhood.

The name is Pearce, and his name was Alfred R. Pearce, his father was Alfred William Pearce, and his mother was Caroline Isabel Pearce (maiden name Methven). I know they lived on Mackinack Island, MI when he was a boy.

I also know that my great-grandpa (Alfred William Pearce) came to the US earlier by three years or so before Caroline came with my grandpa and his siblings.

Any advice? I am trying to not have to pay the godawful costs of Ancestry.com and other such sites. Ugh.

Thanks!

[Necromancer]

Welcome, but I think your comment is a little strange, considering that the people who may help you have to pay subscriptions to use the resources to assist in such research ?

I am trying to not have to pay the godawful costs of Ancestry.com and other such sites. Ugh.

[YvonneR]

Hi Sandm

Here they are (I presume as you didn't give any dates) in 1930, living at 2413 Davison Road, Flint, Genesee, Michigan

Head, Alfred Pearce, age 53, first married at age 28, born England, both parents born England, immigration year 1910, Naturalized, occupation Gardener Private Estate 
Wife, Caroline I, age 53, first married at age 28, born England, parents born England, immigration year 1912 
Son, Alfred R, age 22, born England, imm 1912, occ Press operator Auto Factory 
Son, Leslie, age 20, born England, imm 1912, occ Gardener Private Estate 
Daughter, Doris, age 20, born England, imm 1912

I live in England and when I started a few years ago, soooo many wonderful people in the US found my family in the census' with an absolute minimum of information        and it was a while before I signed up also 

I like to and I am very happy to pay back in my small way, as do so many here on Rootschat...so keep on asking away     

I will see if I can find them in 1920

Best wishes

Agnes

[YvonneR]

Ok, in 1920 Alfred senior is indexed as William Parise, living at 1600 East Kearbley? Street, Flint Ward 2, Genesee, Michigan

Caroline, Alfred, Leslie and Doris are also in the household and immigration years as in the 1930 census although status is shown as "Alien"

Hope this helps

Best wishes

Agnes

[aghadowey]

Genesee County, Michigan records online at www.co.genesee.mi.us/vitalrec/

Alfred W. Pearce died 11 Aug.1948
Carolin(e) I. Pearce died 21 June 1963
Alfred R. Pearce died 10 Jan.1989
Leslie Pearce died 7 Nov.1999
Not sure about Doris as there are two entries under Doris Pearce.

[YvonneR]

Brilliant find Aghadowey      will add the link to fav's for later research 

Hi Sandm

I am again presuming that you have the Pearce's and Methven's in the English census but if not then please let us know...

I found Alfred William Pearce's arrival 2nd September 1910 on the ship "Lusitania" and it showed that he was going to brother in law (L J  ) Sawyer...well I searched for this Sawyer and looked at the English marriage indexes to see if one of Alfred's sisters married a Sawyer....no luck

Finally found that Caroline Methven's sister Elizabeth married a Thomas Parsons Sawyer in 1896 


Elizabeth Sawyer arrived in the US on 26th November 1909, ship Teutonic. In 1910, Elizabeth and Thomas and their children Albert E and Hazel M are in Missouri. In 1920 they are still in Missouri although Albert is no longer in the household.

In 1930, Elizabeth, Thomas and Hazel are living in Flint, Genesee, Michigan.

If you want the details from these census' I would be happy to type them up.

Also interestingly, I have found a marriage for Caroline's brother John Frederick Methven in 1909 to Katie Pearce.....Alfred's sister ?

Hope this helps

Agnes

[shellyesq]

Just a piece of advice, since you're new to this - check if your local library has a subscription to Ancestry or another genealogy site.  You may be able to avoid fees that way.

[sandm]

Wow- you folks are amazing! Thank you so much!

Newf, I realized how that sounded after I'd posted, but was hoping it wouldn't be perceived that way...I meant if anyone had ideas for checking (free) open public records (if they could provide links, etc.), as I presumed people are too busy to look up my stuff for me, and I'd never ask that of complete strangers.

Shellyesq- excellent suggestion, and I also understand that the Mormons have a center near me which subscribes to many of these resources.

Agnes, you ROCK!!
Thank you for putting your time into that- I really appreciate it. Yes- I remember my grandma (Hazel)speaking about the Sawyers, and I will have to call her tomorrow and get the Sawyer connection down. Your info sounds all very familiar. I LOVE knowing the names of the ships! Thanks! Are you related to any of these people?

As far as the English Census goes, I have only begun to scratch the surface. Is there a link to the census? I have found stuff on Freebmd, and will order a marriage record and birth record for Caroline Methven.

Aghadowey- thanks for that link! This is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for! I can now look up a ton of other relatives.

Thanks once again- you folks are a fount of wonderful information. This is all so exciting- I wish I'd gotten into this long ago!

[YvonneR]

Hi Sandm

I do not have any connection to the Pearce/Methven family....I just love doing lookups     

I am not online as much as I used to be because of committments but I did look for your Methven family in the English census when I was trying to sort out the Sawyer connection. Hopefully this will help and as soon as I get the chance, if you still need it I will look for your Pearce's.

Stand by ....


1901 census, 4 Chase Side Terrace, Enfield, Middlesex, England

Living in the household of Henry W Wilson, Butcher...all listed as servants

Caroline I Methven, age 24, Cook Domestic, born Enfield, Middlesex
John F Methven, age 22, Butchers Assistant, born Enfield, Middlesex 
Jessie M Methven, age 20, House Maid, born Enfield, Middlesex
 
 
1901 census, 35 Gordon Road, Enfield St Andrew, Middlesex

 
Head, John Methven, age 56, Baker (Bread maker), born Whitechapel, London 
Wife, Mary A, age 50, born Kensington, London 
Son, Ernest A, age 19, born Enfield, Middlesex



1891 census, 4 Mules Cottages, Enfield, Middlesex, England

Head, John Methven, age 45, Baker, born Whitechapel, London
Wife, Mary A, age 39, born Kensington, London
Daughter, Elizabeth, age 16, born Whitechapel, London
Daughter, Caroline, age 14, born Enfield, Middlesex 
Son, John, age 12, born Enfield, Middlesex
Daughter, Jessie, age 10, born Enfield, Middlesex 
Son, Ernest, age 8, born Enfield, Middlesex


1881, Churchbury Road, Enfield, Middlesex, England

John, age 36, Baker Journey man
Mary A, age 29
Elizabeth H, age 6
Caroline, age 4 
John F, age 2
Jessie M, age 4 months




Birth Index 1837- 1983

Caroline Isabel Methven
1877, Q1(Jan/Feb/Mar) 
Edmonton 
Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex 
Vol 3a 
Page 266


Plus....


Ernest Methven, age 26, Chauffer, arriving New York, on the Ship Campania 27th June 1908
 
Ernest Methven, age 29, Chauffer, arriving New York, on the ship St Paul 30th March 1911 

1920 census, 1600 East Kearsley Street, Flint Ward 2, Genesee, Michigan (Living in the same building as William and Caroline Pearce and family)


Head, Ernest Methvin, age 39, immigration year 1906, Alien, born England, parents born England, can't read occupation   
Wife, Gustia, age 27, immigration year 1912, born England, parents born England 
Daughter, Ellen, age 16, born Michigan 
Son, William, age 4 & 2 months, born Michigan 
Son, Harold, age 2 & 11 months, born Michigan 

 

   
1930 census, 1400 Kearsley Street, Flint, Genesee, Michigan

Living in the household of Samuel McMechen

Boarder, Ernest Methven, age 47, Divorced, born England, parents born England, immigration year 1901?, Naturalized, occupation Gardener, City Park Dept. 
 

1930 census, 519 Eldridge Avenue, Flint, Genesee, Michigan

 
Helen E M Methven, age 16 
William G Methven, age 14 
Harold E Methven, age 13

All living as daughter and sons of Robert P Davies, age 34, born England and Daisy J A Davies, age 39, born England


WWI Draft Registration card

Ernest Methven, age 36 born March 25th 1882, English
2506, St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
Occupation, Landscape Gardener, Park Board of City of St Joseph's, City Hall
Nearest relative, Wife, Augusta Wright Methven

 
California Death Index

Ernest A Methven
Born 25th Mar 1885, England 
Died 7th August 1970, Los Angeles 


Best wishes

Agnes