Willie met Brownie

[bulsara]

Oh dear what a confusion.
Before WFD first went to USA he worked as a waiter,he called himself a "professional waiter".This makes me think he left the first wife,made a few trips across the pond as a steward on the ships.I think maybe then he decided he wanted to stay in USA.
If we could find out who H E Aitkin was it might help.That's who he first worked for in New York when he first emigrated.He was a butler then.
Trouble with this one is the more we don't know the more it is making us want to know.
bulsara

[avm228]

I can't help with H E Aitkin, but here's some material about the address given for him/her on William's Ellis Island manifest (130 W 57 St New York):

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM380K

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID084.htm

Anna

[Erato]

Was the real WF Dunston born on 15 July 1874?  Is the farmer a legitimate possibility for his whereabouts in 1917?

[murphy60]

WOW!!!

Very Quickly, on my way out the door......the "Baltic" manifest from 1910 identified the 130 W 57th address as the Metropolitan Club, a private, membership men's club.    From the notes on the 2nd page of the manifest, I assumed  the HE Aitkin mentioned was his employer/boss.

WFD both a butler and a farmer!!  In 1917 he's in Maine Farming w/ Ellen and in 1920 he's in Nassau Co., w/ Ellen  being a butler.   And then a long career around the world w/ Violet as a Butler to the wealthy.   Creative guy!!!  An international man of mystery ??

Also,  his naturalization in 1918 (Feb 14, I think) gave the 57th St address too.

Darn! If I wasn't leaving on vacation,  I'd be delving into who is Violet Tarling ??  And if Ellen died or they were never married at all !!  or  is the same person as Violet??

I'm sure you have it all figured out when I get back!   LOL!

Erato, looks like you've got another long day of research ahead of you !!

lissa  

Erato,  just saw your last message before sending this,  they often registered older men for the war.  I've seen registrations for men in their 50-60's!!! so 43 would not be out of the question at all. 

Parallel universe or did he have reason (other than bigamy in England) to be a illusive ??   You've all seen the Julia Child and the OCS story recently

[avm228]

The obits of the Newport butler and his wife Violet show that he spent time working in Melbourne.

I wonder whether this is them on a trip to Melbourne (from FindMyPast outbound passenger lists)?

SS Baradine
London-Australia departing 6 Nov 1924

Dunston William Caterer 43
Dunston Violet Irene Wife 33

both American citizens contracted to land at Melbourne.  Last address in the UK: 80 Pretoria Road, Leytonstone, E.


Anna

[avm228]

Dunston Violet Irene Wife 33

Birth: Violet Irene TARLING Dec 1889 Hemel Hempstead 3a 582

[avm228]

Violet I. TARLING, clerk, 29, sailed on the SS Carmania departing Liverpool 20 September 1919.  She was contracted to land at Halifax, Nova Scotia; intended place of future permanent residence was Canada. (Per outbound passenger lists, www.findmypast.com).

[Erato]

30 September 1919, Violet enters the US from Halifaz, Nova Scotia.  Unfortunately, the record is largely illegible.

[avm228]

30 September 1919, Violet enters the US from Halifaz, Nova Scotia.  Unfortunately, the record is largely illegible.

So she does!  And still on the Carmania, so probably barely set foot (if at all) in Canada.

She's once again described as a clerk - English - last permanent residence London - nearest relative is her father at 80 Pretoria Rd, Leytonstone (the same address as was given on the passenger list to Melbourne).

Her final destination is Malone, N.Y.

Anna