Vivian B. Schildwachter

[MaggieTag]

Hi US chatters,

Hoping somebody can help me find out about Vivian.

She's the grand daughter of John Ballentine who emigrated from Belfast, County Antrim to Manhatten and subsequently moved to Brooklyn - this is the link to a previous thread on which I received an incredible amount of info, especially from Sandra - 

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,481230.0.html

Vivian's mother was Margaretta Ballentine and her father was Otto Schildwachter.

On 29 December an announcement was made in the Long Island Star, Thursday December 29 1938, of the engagement of Vivian to Douglas Jennings Muncie, son of Dr Curtis H Muncie, of Kings Point Road and Mrs Louise K Muncie of Brooklyn.

I've discovered that in recent years Dr Curtis has been accused of medical "quackery" and he that made a fortune for a supposed revolutionary cure for deafness during the great depression -his son Douglas appears to have endorsed his work.

I can't find a marriage between Vivian and Douglas but have found on the IGI what is I believe are 2 divorces relating to Douglas from women other than Vivian.

Would love to know what happened to Vivian after her engagement to Douglas.

Thanks

Mags

[shellyesq]

On www.fultonhistory.com, there is a mention of her in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 25 Feb. 1939 that says she is the fiancee of Mr. Muncie.

I don't think there's anything comprehensive online for New York marriages from that time frame, so it's possible they may have married.  Perhaps the 1940 Census will give some clue when it comes out next month.

[shellyesq]

I don't know if you had this, but it looks like Otto and Margaretta were buried in New Jersey:  http://www.njgsbc.orgwww.njgsbc.org/databases/cemeteries/search-valleau/catalog?letter=s&start=70

[shellyesq]

Vivian & Douglas did marry on 29 Aug 1939 in Jackson, Missouri.

[MaggieTag]

Shell,

Oh my goodness! They did marry after all!

I wonder what happened with them - did they have family or was she his first divorced wife! Mystery continues!

Thanks for that,

Mags

[shellyesq]

Two passenger lists from 1940 & 1941 show Douglas & Vivian living in Cutchogue, New York.  Her birth date is given as 14 Feb. 1918 in Brooklyn, New York.  Douglas was born 8 Oct. 1916 in Brooklyn. 

I'm not sure if it's her, but there's a Vivian Baptiste on the Social Security Death Index with that birth date who died in 1986 and last resided in New Orleans.

There is a WWII Army Enlistment record for a Douglas J. Muncie born New York in 1916.  He enlisted in Florida on 17 Mar. 1945.  He was described as divorce without dependents. 

[MaggieTag]

Hi Shell,

You have mentioned passenger lists - is this info available on the web?

I think that the divorces that I came across for Douglas were all in Florida - so might tie in with the enlistment info.

The mystery deepens!!

Thanks for all this - Mags

[shellyesq]

Yes, they are available on a subscription site.   They travelled to New York and to New Orleans.  You can see links to online passenger lists here:  http://www.germanroots.com/onlinelists.html

I can see news articles about Dr. Douglas Muncie in Florida.  He is pictured with one of his wives on this page:  http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=87wuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C9cFAAAAIBAJ&dq=mrs-douglas-muncie&pg=2541%2C3343301

[MaggieTag]

Wonder which wife that is - very attractive lady?  Is there any way of finding out how Vivian became detached from Douglas - divorce or death? Know its a big ask!

Mags