Navy and Army archives

[Franlynch]

i am trying to research Tom Harty, born 1889 In Ringville, (Ring) Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, he joined the Merchant Navy at age 16 and jumped ship in Boston between the years of 1904 to 1907. I know he was naturalized in Boston when he was in his 30’s.
When WWII broke out, he returned to England, joined the British Army with the Dorsetshire Regiment.

He was my step-grandfather and I just don't know where to begin.  My aunt had all his naturalisation papers but they were stolen, along with all his medals, from her house. I would love to get some difinitive info for her to perhaps, in some small way, make up for her loss.  any help is appreciated.

[shellyesq]

Did he have siblings named John & Hannah and a father named William?  If so, I found him on a passenger list to Boston in 1910.

[Franlynch]

Yes, that is his family, I can't believe how quick that was. What ship was he on

[shellyesq]

SS Cymric from Queenstown to Boston, arriving 29 Sep. 1910

Harty, Thomas, age 20, single, laborer, nationality - British, race - Irish, last permanent residence - Ballinacourty, Ireland, nearest relative in country from whence he came - father Wm., Ballinacourty, Ringville, passage paid by brother, never in US before, going to join brother John, 23 Park, Charlestown, 5'7" tall, fresh complexion, dark hair & eyes, born Ringville, Ireland

Harty, Hannah, age 15, single, servant, last permanent residence - Ballinacourty, Ireland, nearest relative in country from whence she came - father Wm., Ballinacourty, Ringville, passage paid by brother, never in US before, going to join brother John, 23 Park, Charlestown, 5' tall, fresh complexion, fair hair, brown eyes, born Ringville, Ireland

[shellyesq]

It looks like he made another trip back to the US in 1919.  This time, he sailed to New York and you can see the original manifest on www.ellisisland.org (you have to register, but it's free.)

[Franlynch]

I am sitting here, glass of wine in hand, absolutely amazed that you have found out this info. I understood from my aunt that he had 'jumped ship' from the merchant navy and that's the line i was going down, never thought that he may have been telling porkies (pork pies, cockney slang for lies).  i am registered with elis island so I will chekc that out straight away, i can't thank you enough for your help.

[jorose]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
 - does show a Thomas Harty was in the Dorsetshire regiment in WWI, possibly the 1919 trip is him returning after the war?

[Franlynch]

thanks for all your responses, it's been a great help, however,
SS Cymric from Queenstown to Boston, arriving 29 Sep. 1910 - i can' t find this on elis island website, is that where it came from?

[shellyesq]

No, the Ellis Island site only covers ships to New York. 

There's information about Boston passenger lists here - http://www.genesearch.com/boston/