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Author Topic: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter to New York  (Read 1368 times)

Offline TheMacQuern

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Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter to New York
« on: Friday 11 March 16 04:48 GMT (UK) »
Ok, the two names and one address are from the same letter written in summer of 1974.

The address looks to be:

64 Wadsworth Terrace
New York, NY
10040

which exists in Manhattan.  But what is the last name?  The two examples of it seem to be slightly different spelling, even though by the same person in the same letter.

I've tried variations on the name but can not come up with anything on various genealogy sites.  What I know about this person:
- Mother's first name was likely Mabel and born about 1891, possibly in New York City
- so I assume this woman was born after about 1909.

I figure I could confirm the last name by getting my hands on a circa 1974 telephone book for Manhattan and finding something that looks like that last name at that address but I don't have access.  Are those phone books online anywhere?

I've been careful not to poison the well by offering what I think the last name is. Every possibility I have come up with I have not been able to find a record of for this person.

Offline Wiggy

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter
« Reply #1 on: Friday 11 March 16 05:37 GMT (UK) »
Helen  . . .   Retuslite?? - Rebuslite  -  Retuslitle -   all very strange . .

The second version seems to have more letters than the first doesn't it.  Strange name . . probably not correct.

Wiggy
Gaunt, Ransom, McNally, Stanfield, Kimberley. (Tasmania)
Brown, Johnstone, Eskdale, Brand  (Dumfriesshire,  Scotland)
Booth, Bruerton, Deakin, Wilkes, Kimberley
(Warwicks, Staffords)
Gaunt (Yorks)
Percy, Dunning, Hyne, Grigg, Farley (Devon, UK)
Duncan (Fife, Devon), Hugh, Blee (Cornwall)
Green, Mansfield, (Herts)
Cavenaugh, Ransom (Middlesex)
 

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Offline jaybelnz

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter
« Reply #2 on: Friday 11 March 16 06:05 GMT (UK) »
Looking for a phone book but in the meantime - this looks like where she lived, built in 1923

http://streeteasy.com/building/64-wadsworth-terrace-new_york
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Offline ennael

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter
« Reply #3 on: Friday 11 March 16 06:41 GMT (UK) »
Hi,
  Do you know Mabels' maiden name please?

Leanne

Offline suey

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter to New York
« Reply #4 on: Friday 11 March 16 12:23 GMT (UK) »

 :-\ :-\ How about Retuslith for the first and Retesleth for the second
All census lookups are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Sussex - Knapp. Nailard. Potten. Coleman. Pomfrey. Carter. Picknell
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Offline Wiggy

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter to New York
« Reply #5 on: Friday 11 March 16 12:25 GMT (UK) »
I'ts a much better guess than mine now I look again with your eyes!
Gaunt, Ransom, McNally, Stanfield, Kimberley. (Tasmania)
Brown, Johnstone, Eskdale, Brand  (Dumfriesshire,  Scotland)
Booth, Bruerton, Deakin, Wilkes, Kimberley
(Warwicks, Staffords)
Gaunt (Yorks)
Percy, Dunning, Hyne, Grigg, Farley (Devon, UK)
Duncan (Fife, Devon), Hugh, Blee (Cornwall)
Green, Mansfield, (Herts)
Cavenaugh, Ransom (Middlesex)
 

 Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.

Offline TheMacQuern

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter to New York
« Reply #6 on: Friday 11 March 16 13:50 GMT (UK) »
Wow, I'm glad I didn't post my guesses because they are very different from what has been posted so far.  Unfortunately I can't get any guesses, mine or others, to turn up in newspaper searches, genealogy sites, etc. 

It looks like I need to get a period phonebook and find the name matching the address.  Any leads on that would be greatly appreciated.

Offline sbny357

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter to New York
« Reply #7 on: Friday 11 March 16 22:16 GMT (UK) »
I think the name is either Robustelli or Ribustello. If you look at Wadsworth, neither the a nor the o was written with a loop.  And it is not unusual to see a t crossed to the right.

I see Helens with each of those names - one in the Bronx and one in Connecticut - both are near Manhattan.

Steve

Offline em79

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Re: Trying to decipher/confirm name in 1974 letter to New York
« Reply #8 on: Friday 11 March 16 23:24 GMT (UK) »
Looks like Helen Retreslette to me
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