WWI soldier mystery

[*Sandra*]

Attestation papers say -   23 Rly.Const.Battln

[lilybell]

His attestation papers indicate his year of birth as 1872 which makes him  45 years and if one adds another15 years  that would make him  60.

His papers indicate he had brown hair but in the picture he looks to have a grey/white  mustache


 The uniform is definitely CEF we have a ancestor who was in the Great War and his uniform looks the same.

I guess we will just keep searching


Lilybell.

[shellyesq]

I don't know that those are definitely his attestation papers, as Harry Thomas is certainly a common name and Harry could be a nickname for something else.  They seem like a possibility though. 

Another clues that are available about his family of origin or anything else may be helpful.

[lilybell]

Found on An***try
US Border Crossings from Canada  to U S 1895-1956
March 1919
Harry Thomas age 62 occupation cook, widowed, Born England, English Nationally, Port of Arrival St John New Brunswick, Frederickson last permanent address, Final destination State LI Corona

There is also a passenger list for Ship Mauretania Date of Arrival May 20/1918
2498005 Pte. Harry Thomas going to his sister  residence St John
This passenger list is for wounded returning from  WW!.

Both of these records pertain to Harry Thomas whose Attestation papers posted by shellyesq

The destination of Corona Long Island on Border Crossing Record looks like a good match.

Lilybell

[*Sandra*]

I don't know that those are definitely his attestation papers, as Harry Thomas is certainly a common name and Harry could be a nickname for something else.  They seem like a possibility though. 

Another clues that are available about his family of origin or anything else may be helpful.

Well done Shelly - great find.

Sandra 

[shellyesq]

The 2nd page of the border crossing (which is actually before the first page) says he was in the US from 1908-1917 and arrived New York in Sep. 1908.  Ship is hard to read - Cedric maybe?  His sister's name looks like Annie Averton or Averdon, which seems closer to a likely name than what's on the attestation papers.

[shellyesq]

There is a record of him for aliens pre-examined in Canada.  He was noted to have grey hair and blue eyes.  His sister was listed as Mrs. Annie Overton.

[shellyesq]

I haven't had any luck finding anything further about Harry or his possible sister in New York.  I'm surprised the sister didn't pop up somewhere.  Is anything known about where he fits into his family tree?

In case it helps, Corona is a neighborhood in Queens, New York, which is one of the five boroughs of New York City.

[manawakian]

1861 census of Shrewsbury Shropshire England has this Thomas family: Ann 36 laborer's wife, Ann 12, Jane 11, John 9, Mary 8, Ruth 7, Henry 5, Ellen 4, Edith 2 and Walter 1.

1871 census has Henry Thomas 14 apprentice baker & confectioner

The 1910 census of Queens New York has William OVENDEN 64 born England grocer, wife Anna 62 born England living on Wolseley Avenue.  They were married about 1900, he came to US 1885, she had no children and came to US in 1868.

The 1920 census has this couple living at 5 51st Street South Queens, William OVENDEN 73 grocer, wife Anna 72 born Wales?

No sign of Harry Thomas at 5 51st St South in 1920 although there is no doubt that Anna OVENDEN was his sister.