Where did he go? .....

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:47 am

Hi Folks

One of my lot is causing me no end of trouble to track down - John Smith Allan Bn 22 Feb 1891 in Aberdeen, Scotland - parents Robert Allan and Elspet Gordon. John travelled to Vermont, USA in 1911 and I have him in Barre, Vermont in 1914. Later that year he is back in Scotland - then disappears for a long time - until there is mention of him in his brothers obituary in Vermont in 1935. The obituary mentions that John is living in Philadelphia in 1935 - and I have some unconfirmed family folklore that at one time he went to Florida.

It would help me greatly in my quest if I could find him on a passenger list returning from Scotland to the US after 1914. I have checked for him returning via Ellis Island - no trace. Does anyone have access to the passenger lists via Boston and Philadelphia who could check for him there please.

Thanks lots

Ted

momat · Post by **momat** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:11 am

Hi Ted,

Have you tried the www.ellisislandrecords.org

HH

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:25 am

Hi Maureen

Thanks for your suggestion - but I have checked Ellis Island - it is Boston and Philidelphia that I need someone to check for me as I do not have access to the lists via those ports.

Best regards

Ted

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 12:38 pm

Hi Ted

No good news yet

I've searched Boston 1914-1930. There was one that looked promising....right age....was coming from Liverpool arriving 1 sep 1923.....last lived in England and had a wife in Barrow in Furness....was heading to 1506 Poplar St. Philadelphia to a friends address.....occupation machinist engineer......but last page shows he was born in

Kilmarnock. Can't believe he'd get that part wrong! No others even worth double checking as the ages and arrival dates are way off.

I've looked at the 1930 census which I have limited acccess to for 2 more days and there were 4 possibles 3 in PA. One got eliminated for being born in Albania. One got eliminated as the Census taker kindly listed place of birth in Scotland which is extremely rare!.

...but it was Kirkcudbright...

.....the third is still a contender but he'd have to be lying about his age alot! claims to be born abt 1904 and was married at age 23. Has the right middle initial of S. is working as a machinist in an auto factory. Living in Montgomery County, Narbeth borough, PA has a wife Florence and a mother in law Elizabeth Crooks. No details on where in Scotland he or his parents were born and no children are listed. Says he immigrated in 1924. His wife and mother in law are all from Northern Ireland. The final contender is actually living in Dedham MA and looks to be employed in a bleaching establishment?..hard to read!! immigrated in 1921...has a wife Jane and a daughter Nancy who is listed as born in MA. He is age 37 married at 25 and wife is age 30 married at 21....but the maths do not compute!!! I guess of these 4 number 3 is the best match even though the age is way off. Do you have any idea if John was married in 1930 or what is occupation might have been????? Really grasping straws here.............

Best wishes
Jean

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:18 pm

Hi Jean

The good news is that you are on the case !!! I agree that numbers one and two are not my John. Whilst number 4 is possible there is not much to go on - number 3 looks a bit better. The age difference does not worry me too much - within John's immediate family his three brothers and four sisters give varying their ages from 1 - 2 years difference right up to 12 years younger than they were. His mother went to the US in 1914 and gave her age as 14 years younger than she actually was - I guess they were either pathological liars or birthdays were not a big deal in their family and they had little idea when they were born.

They all also were very good at declaring they were of any occupation under the sun - his brother Alexander is in Philidelphia on the 1930 census and his occupation is a machinist in a factory - so that may be a clue.

I'll try to look for a death for this John and his wife Florence to see if that leads anywhere - I'll also look for a birth of a John S Allan in Scotland in 1904 and also a marriage. Do you know if there is any trace of this family on a passenger list? On the 1911 passenger list I have for my John there is a handwritten number next to his occupation on the list - research established that this is a naturlization number - so I know he eventually did settle in the US. I have also confirmed that he did not die in Scotland.

Any further suggestions folks?

Thanks lots for your help

Best regards

Ted