Loose ends - William Lilley/Lilly - Chicago then New Jersey

[scotmum]

Greetings folks.

It's been a while since I visited this board, but only have UK Anc. sub at moment, so can only see limited info on US searches and other sources not proving as fruitful, therefore hoping for some help.

William Lilly b 12 Sep 1882 in Larne area, County Antrim to Robert Lilly and Jane Aicken.

(surname recorded at different times as Lilly/Lilley/Liley)

Brief summary (fuller details already known), travelled to Chicago, married 1912 and widowed 1916.

Discovered from his WW1 records that William enlisted in Chicago, presented for service in Montreal and then served in Europe. He then returned to Larne, before eventually being repatriated to Chicago (repatriation to Chicago had apparently been promised to him when he enlisted there).

Believe it likely he was the William Lilley, plasterer, at 637 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ in mid to late 1920s directories and also the William Lilley, born Ireland, widower, at 645 Bergen Street in 1940 census.

Not finding him on SSDI, but on the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, with the limited index details I can see, he is listed.

I can see an SSN number 148031672, that he was born Larne (year one out from known date from GRONI birth index). His parents names (matches known names, albeit mum's surname is the known alternative spelling 'Aiken'). Type of claim is 'Original SSN' and Note mentions 1937.

Would be helpful if anyone could confirm if any fuller details are given on this William Lilley record, especially if these link him to the Bergen Street address or New Jersey.

(ps not to be confused with a William H Lilley of similar age and from Ireland, who also lived in Newark at timescale.) 

Thanks, in advance.

[*Sandra*]

These are the only details given -

William Lilley - 12 September 1883 - Larne, Republic of Ireland - SSN - 148031672
Father Name -    Robert Lilley - Mother Name - Jane Aiken
Type of Claim -    Original SSN. - Jan 1937 -  Name listed as William Lilley

Sandra

[scotmum]

Ah, that's a pity, thanks for checking though .

As I could see those details by hovering over the 'view record' tab, I had thought there would be fuller details on the 'see more' tab.

[shellyesq]

With that Social Security number, this shows that it was issued in New Jersey - http://www.stevemorse.org/ssn/ssn.html

[scotmum]

Useful link, thanks, and supports my feeling he is the William at Bergen Street. Hopefully, someday, something else will turn up on him after 1940. If it is him, it looks like he possibly never re-married. Perhaps not surprising, given the tragic way he lost his bride of only a few years and their young daughter.

[scotmum]

Re-visiting some old research.

Still can't tie down a death for this chap in SSDI, despite knowing SSN number. As said previously, actual birth year was 1882, albeit some later records use 1883.

He had a younger brother, Andrew, who lived in Canada from mid 1920s, but Andrew died in 1939, so I don't think William would have moved there (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=340447.msg2194256#msg2194256).

Can only check up to mid 1960s on Northern Ireland online death indexes, and so far, no obvious sign of him having returned there either.

[shellyesq]

The Social Security death index, with a few rare exceptions, has deaths from the early 1960's forward.  Your William may not have lived long enough to make it on there.

I checked the 1941 Newark city directory, and your William is not in there.  (Only the aforementioned William H. Lilley is there.)  He also doesn't seem to be in the WWII draft registration cards, which he is the right age to be in.  Based on that, I wouldn't be surprised if he died or left the US in that 1940-1942 time frame.  Since it looks like he was naturalized as a US citizen in 1938, death seems a strong possibility. 

[scotmum]

Thanks for checking the 1941 directory and draft registration cards , shellesq, much appreciated. It certainly seems that he may indeed have died soon after the last 'sightings' of him in the records.

[*Sandra*]

Just in case you haven't seen it - petition for naturalisation (always nice to have these things to fill the time frame.)

Sandra