History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins

[Erato]

As regards the passport ....

"I solemnly swear that I was born at New York City in the State of New York on or about the 7th day of August 1900"

And that was a lie.

[oldohiohome]

It doesn't look like Frank was the father of Renie Riano. Everything else about the family story seems correct, though.
He was married in 1908 in NYC (see earlier reply), and in 1910 had no children. Renie was born in 1899 in London.

In 1910 he was a time keeper, and by 1918 he was blind in one eye.

Here are a few things I found for Frank. The 1915, 1925 census might show children to the couple, but I don't have ancestry.com. I haven't found them in 1920.


1910 Census, Bronx
914 Summit Avenue

Frank J Dobbins, 30, born in New York, parents in Ireland, time keeper for a railroad contractor
Catherine J Dobbins, 22, married for 2 years, no children

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X39X-RYN

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NYC 1915 same page and house #
Frank and Katherine Dobbins
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K92V-KYS
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K92V-KY3

ancestry.com has the images

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NYC 1925 same page and house #
Frank and Katherine Dobbins
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS3K-MKH
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS3K-MKW
ancestry.com has the images

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WWI Draft Registration
Central Park Arsenal, Sep 12, 1918
Frank John Dobbins
b October 12, 1879
lives at 347 West 58th
spouse Kathrine at same residence
owns a trucking business at 246 West 46th, NYC

physical description: medium height, slender build, grey eyes, brown hair - right eye blind

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6J8-Q9J
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1920 Passport Application of Catherine Dobbins,

husband Frank Dobbins was born in Fulton, NY and now resides at 346 West 48th [check my transcribing, doesn't match his 1918 address, but is close enough to be a mistake]
note: "husband's baptism certificate seen"

she's going to England to see her parents, Ireland to see friends, France to see friends - but a lot seems to be crossed out as well
sails June 10, 1920

picture of Catherine
not much more about Frank

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-Z8XL

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 New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949
Name:   Frank Dobbins
Event Type:   Death
Event Date:   25 Feb 1926
Event Place:   Bronx, New York, New York, United States
Gender:   Male
Age:   46
Father's Name:   James
Mother's Name:   Mary Cryan
Spouse's Name:   Kate Dobbins

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WG4-JTR

[Erato]

Irene, Renie and Jane Riano  -  witnesses in a notorious 1936 New Zealand murder trial

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01n99/

[BingoBuster]

Okay, that's odd. Guess word of mouth from family is to be taken lightly. Is there anything in regards to his brothers William and Robert who were part of the act?

[Erato]

Photo of Renie, aged 62, in her trailer home with her dog Tuppin.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01n9a/

[BingoBuster]

Okay, that's odd. Guess word of mouth from family is to be taken lightly. Is there anything in regards to his brothers William and Robert who were part of the act?

Actually, I found this from the post above interesting:
 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W9X-79H

Could this be the brother Robert? Maybe him being related to Renee? His father's name is James and the Mother's name is Mary Crying. I know mispellings and translations happen but Crying is close to Cryan. Thoughts?

[oldohiohome]

Okay, that's odd. Guess word of mouth from family is to be taken lightly. Is there anything in regards to his brothers William and Robert who were part of the act?

Actually, I found this from the post above interesting:
 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W9X-79H

Could this be the brother Robert? Maybe him being related to Renee? His father's name is James and the Mother's name is Mary Crying. I know mispellings and translations happen but Crying is close to Cryan. Thoughts?

That's Robert.

 I've seen Cryan, Crine, Crean, and Crying as variations so far. Pretend you're Irish, if you aren't already, and start pronouncing them. You might even turn up a Cran or Crane if you go back far enough.

Re: family stories, 99% of them are 99% correct, in my opinion. Don't discount anything you have been passed down. There is probably some truth in it, unless the family was outright covering up something they didn't want to tell the children.

[oldohiohome]

Here's the family in 1870
1870 Census, Bethel, Sullivan County, NY

James 36, a gardener, male citizen of US, no Real Estate, has $100 personal estate, born in Ireland
Mary 32, born in Ireland
John 11, born in New York
Thomas 9, born in New York
Margaret 8, born in New York
Robert 5, born in New York
Michael 3, born in New York
James 1, born in New York
Mary Cryne, 55, occupation information, if readable, might be informative, born in Ireland

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8KG-24H

and there is a Mary Crine in Bethel, NY, in 1860, but with a lot of children. If it is Mary (Cryne) Dobbins' mother, then you'd have to account for where the children went. I don't really think it is, because there is no mention of Canada in the births of her children

here it is for filing away, just in case:
1860 Census, Bethel, Sullivan County, NY

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCH7-QLG

I looked for the Dobbins in 1860 and 1861 in US and Canada, but with no success.

[BingoBuster]

Okay, that's odd. Guess word of mouth from family is to be taken lightly. Is there anything in regards to his brothers William and Robert who were part of the act?

Actually, I found this from the post above interesting:
 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W9X-79H

Could this be the brother Robert? Maybe him being related to Renee? His father's name is James and the Mother's name is Mary Crying. I know mispellings and translations happen but Crying is close to Cryan. Thoughts?

That's Robert.

 I've seen Cryan, Crine, Crean, and Crying as variations so far. Pretend you're Irish, if you aren't already, and start pronouncing them. You might even turn up a Cran or Crane if you go back far enough.

Re: family stories, 99% of them are 99% correct, in my opinion. Don't discount anything you have been passed down. There is probably some truth in it, unless the family was outright covering up something they didn't want to tell the children.

No that make sense. The only thing thats standing out is that all the articles I'm cross referencing from the brothers being the Four Rianos has this information: How it states that its composed of Robert / William / Robert's wife and daughter. I also found one other paper article that has a suppsoed picture of the brothers too. But when I google this information, (specifically Renee Riano's page) its showing conflicting info that either there's another act by the same name or the information was wrong. Guess that's where I'm second guessing the validity of what I've been told.