Author Topic: After 1881 trail goes dead  (Read 1866 times)

Offline SueBen31

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After 1881 trail goes dead
« on: Wednesday 31 August 16 10:22 BST (UK) »
I am looking for details of Martha Brook born 22.3.1868 and Joseph her brother 5.9.1869 both born in Halifax, Yorkshire who do not appear anywhere in the after the 1881 census when she was aged 14, and he 11. They lived in Blackburn with their parents Fred and Rebecca Bury. They are not recorded as deceased either.

However family lore has it that someone called Martha emigrated to America and that her resulting family returned for visits after WW2, my mother remembers them and refers to them as American cousins.

I have tried searching passengers lists after 1881 and there are many likely candidates but one for 25.6.1892 is looking best where a Martha and Joseph travel together on the ship Arizona to New York but both their ages are wrong. Martha is shown as 22 when she was 24 and Joseph as 15 when he was 23.

To trace these two further I have tried a search on both their names and DOB in US and Canada but got nowhere as there are so many and Martha would likely have got married soon and changed her name. As there are many Martha Brooks marrying, how do I verify if this is the right Martha? Joseph is too common a name to search properly and I have no addresses for them.

But there are return ships for both both of them. In 1929 from Montreal to Liverpool or a Martha Brook on Cunard Ship Andania when she was 61, right age but would she have travelled back under her maiden name?

And a Joseph Brook aged 27 travelling from Portland, Maine US to Liverpool on 4.3.1897 aged 27 which is also about right. But there are so many of his name and he could have gone anywhere in the country including Lancs I am stuck.

Any advice?

Offline rosie99

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 10:32 BST (UK) »
Hi

Welcome to rootschat

An online tree has Martha marrying William Nightingale  :-\
Marriages Dec qtr 1885 
Martha Brook       
William Nightingale       
Blackburn reg district    8e   600

1891 census
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q1DC-CZM

Register Office or Registrar Attended for the marriage
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Christine53

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 10:47 BST (UK) »
William Nightingale , 41 Cotton Weaver,  arrived 4 Apr 1909 New York on the ship Celtic, nearest relative in country of last residence wife Martha Nightingale of 108 Schofield Street Heywood.
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Offline Christine53

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 10:54 BST (UK) »
Martha Nightingale 45 d A-J 1912 Blackburn 8e 408
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Offline Spidermonkey

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 12:08 BST (UK) »
1901 - the family's surname has been enumerated as Nightengale RG13; Piece: 3914; Folio: 38; Page: 28

1911 - doesn't look like William has returned - at least, he is not with his family at 58 Coddington St, Blackburn.

Offline Spidermonkey

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 12:13 BST (UK) »
I think I have found William Nightingale on the 1910 USA census in New Bedford Ward 6, Bristol, Massachusetts.  He is boarding with a Joseph and Sarah Frawcett (?)  Joseph has naturalised, so it might be possible to see if there is a connection earlier between him and William.  They are both weavers in a cotton mill - so did William get lured over by the possibility of more work/money?

Offline Spidermonkey

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 12:17 BST (UK) »
In 1920, William is still in New Bedford, but Ward 5.  It looks like after the death of Martha, he has married to an Emma, aged 49, who emigrated in 1890 and naturalised in 1900.  Both of them are working in a cotton mill - William as a comber, Emma as a speeder tender.

Offline Spidermonkey

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 12:23 BST (UK) »
William Nightingale married in New Bedford in 1914, vol 625, page 273 to Emma Grimes

Offline Christine53

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Re: After 1881 trail goes dead
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 31 August 16 13:16 BST (UK) »

However family lore has it that someone called Martha emigrated to America and that her resulting family returned for visits after WW2,

Robert Nightingale , son of William & Martha, married Martha Cook Sep 1918 Blackburn. He travelled to America , arriving New York 14 Nov 1921 , and she followed in 1922.

1930 US census
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4V2-D77

1940
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQRY-41R

Martha Nightingale arrived Liverpool 17 Jul 1954 from New York , destination 80 Coddington Street, Blackburn.  It looks like this couple may be your visiting cousins.
Census information  Crown Copyright
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk