Hello,
Yesterday I visited my great-aunt who told me her dad had a younger brother who 'went to America and no one knows what happened to him'. So I thought I would see if I can find something. Here's what I do know:
William Baxter was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1903 to David Baxter and Margaret McLeod (m.s. Thomson). He emigrated to New York in 1926, sailing from Glasgow on 6th November.
He married Mary Collins (m.s. Low, born 1905 in Dundee, Scotland) in 1928. Mary had a son, Douglas Archibald Collins b.1927 from her first marriage to Harry Collins. Mary arrived in New York in 1923, along with her mother, step-father and siblings.
On the 1930 Census, William, Mary and Douglas are living in Bloomfield, Essex, New Jersey. Next door were her mother, step-father and family.
On the 1940 Census, Mary is living with her mother and step-father, along with her son Douglas and daughter, Betty Baxter (aged 7). Her marital status is 'Divorced'.
She applied for naturalization in 1941. Her application states that her husband's name is William, he is not naturalized, and his residence is unknown. It also says she has another daughter, Wilma Baxter, born in 1933.
So William and Mary would have separated at some point between 1933 and 1940. I cannot find William on the 1940 Census and I cannot find a record of his death. I also cannot find any military records or outgoing passenger lists that might match William. He doesn't seem to have applied for naturalization.
So can anyone help me find out what happened to William? I would like to be able to tell my aunt who is the last surviving member of the family.
Thanks in advance.
