This may seem a long message but most of it is to do with one main point.
Edward Kent FieldFollowing on from the very helpful advice from Sandra, I was satisfied that Edward Kent Field died on 1st October 1984. The US Social Security Death Index (found via Familysearch) shows him born 17th October 1908 and died in October 1984 in Suffolk County, NY. Admittedly it shows him as Edward Field rather than Edward Kent Field but the birth date clinched it for me.
However, I also found, under “US Public Records 1950-1993” (via Ancestry) an entry for Edward K Field born 17th October 1908 living at “145 Farber Drive, West Babylon, NY 11704-5141 (1996)”. If that means he was there in 1996, why is the folder titled …-1993?
Similarly, Familysearch reveals a set entitled “US Public Record 1970-2009” which includes Edward K Field born 17th October 1908 residing in West Babylon between 1st Jan 1995 and 1st Jan 1998. So on the face of it, it seems that either the death index is wrong or the Public Records in West Babylon. Or am I misunderstanding the way that the records are kept in the US?
Burnley SeagerAgain, thanks for Sandra’s helpful suggestions re Burnley Seager. It’s always difficult when both the forename and surname are capable of being spelt in different ways.
I have found him as “Brinley P Seager” with his parents in 1910 – the image shows that it could be “Burnley P” so I’m putting that down to an error in transcription on the website. He is Burnley P Sieger in 1920, Burnley R Seager in 1925 (again the image shows P rather than R); Burnely Segar in 1930.
However, once again the “United States Public Records 1970-2009” have confused me. They show Burnley Seager born 13th May 1907 at P O Box 1, in Coram NY 11727 on 13th July 2001 and also 1st January 1998. See
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q96-KNW.
But the Social Security Death Index does indeed show that Burnley could have been Bernard P Seager born 13 May 1907 - passed away 8 December 1988. As with the first query above, I don’t know how this can be resolved, and hope someone might be able to help.
There is one final uncertainty about him – the record of New York City births shows him as Burnley Marvin Seager – his mother was Harriet Marvin Seager, which explains the second name. Thereafter he appears with a second initial of P but I guess that was a decision taken after the birth was registered. I have found nothing to show that new second name.
It looks like marriages are not so well documented as I have found nothing to show the date of his marriage to Effie Field.
All advice gratefully received!