Where do I go from here

[Scoop]

Hi,

I have recently found three of my great grandfather sisters on passenger lists for ships arriving at Ellis Island. My question is where do I go to get information about while they living in the US. I've looked at Ancestry.com but don't know if it would provide the information I want. For example, census, marriage , death info.

I guess what I want to know is Ancestry.com alright to use? Does anyone use it here? and what subscription to go for.

[Jockbird]

Hi Scoop,

Have just PMd you re Ancestry but you could also try looking on www.Familysearch.org as they have transcripts of the 1880 US census.....assuming your relatives were over there by then, and it's free.

Best wishes
Donna
x

[SarahND]

Hi Scoop,
It would help to know when your relatives arrived in the U.S. There are census records up to 1930, but if it is later than that the ancestry records might not be that useful.
Regards,
Sarah

[Scoop]

Hi,

Thanks for the help so far. I apologise for not putting down any details but didn't want anyone to think I was being forward.

1. Margaret (Maggie) Duff b. 4th Jan. 1883, arrived 26th Sept. 1906, Ship: Astoria, settled in NY. It looks like the address she was going was 253 N.14th St. ( but I can have difficultly reading it sometimes).

2. Jane (Jeanie) Duff b 7th Sept. 1888, arrived 24th Aug. 1911. Ship: Furnessia, Staying with sister Margaret Hamilton somewhere in NY. She eventually settled in Cook, Chicago. Married a Thomas Allan, had two kids and died in 1979. (This is one I known most about).

3. Mary Duff b 10 Aug. 1889, arrived 5th Nov. 1922. Ship: Columbia, staying with sister Jeanie Allan, Chicago. Died in California in 1989.

These are the details I have. I'm more or less positive that 2 and 3 are correct. 1 - I'm not 100%.

Cheers.

[SarahND]

Aah! Something to sink our teeth into!

I apologise for not putting down any details but didn't want anyone to think I was being forward.

Don't worry about that! Most of us are just quite happy to have a wee mystery to play with

I'm sure you'll see some results soon.

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Here's a start on Margaret. She and her husband are in Orange County, New York in 1910, the year before sister Jane came to stay with them. Margaret fibs on her age a bit, since it appears her husband is younger than she is.

New York state, Orange County, Town of Highlands, Village of Highland Falls,1910
146 Drew Avenue
Hamilton James, 25, married 1 year, born in Scotland, immigrated 1907, mason
____Margaret, 25, married 1 year, born in Scotland, immigrated 1906


And I can't seem to find them further down the line in 1920 & 1930... Hmmm k I'll keep looking.

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi Scoop,
Since you know most about Jeannie and Thomas Allan, I assume you have her 1920 census record from Chicago and 1930 in San Diego, California? I looked them up hoping to find one of the sisters close by... but no luck.

By the way, on the ship’s manifest, where I assume you got the immigration information, does it look to you as if someone has added to Mary’s entry: “Resident of Canada from Apr 1930”?

If so, could the record below be her death? Or are you sure you found her death in California? I can’t find a death in California that fits her.

British Columbia Death Index: 1872 to 1979
Name:MARY MARGARET DUFF
Gender:Female
Age:83
Death Date:25 Aug 1973
Place of Death:VANCOUVER
Registration #:1973-09-011774
bca #:B13326
gsu #:2050139

[LesleyB]

Hi Scoop
Do you know where in Scotland the Duff sisters were from?

Best wishes
Lesley

[Scoop]

Hi Scoop,
Since you know most about Jeannie and Thomas Allan, I assume you have her 1920 census record from Chicago and 1930 in San Diego, California? I looked them up hoping to find one of the sisters close by... but no luck.

By the way, on the ship’s manifest, where I assume you got the immigration information, does it look to you as if someone has added to Mary’s entry: “Resident of Canada from Apr 1930”?

If so, could the record below be her death? Or are you sure you found her death in California? I can’t find a death in California that fits her.

British Columbia Death Index: 1872 to 1979
Name:MARY MARGARET DUFF
Gender:Female
Age:83
Death Date:25 Aug 1973
Place of Death:VANCOUVER
Registration #:1973-09-011774
bca #:B13326
gsu #:2050139

Hi,

Thanks for the information. You are a star!

Yes, I have the information on Jeanie and Thomas for 1920's and 1930's. I found the 1930's information, when trying to look for William, another brother who had supposely died in WWI but I suspect now was wounded because there are no war returns or death certificate for William in this country, only for his other two brothers plus I have found a death index for a William Duff in Chicago, Cook Co. with the same DOB. My father told me that my great grandfather David was going to go to the US too because some relative had a big papermill or factory out there but never made it. Could this be where William went? Could Thomas Allan be that relative? TA's job in the 1920's was listed as a Vice President - Industry was Manufacturing.

It certainly seems like "Resident of Canada from Apr 1930" is written beside the entry for Mary. Unfortunately Mary, according to her birth certificate did not have a middle name, so I don't think is her. I haven't found her death yet but it stated California on LDS or GenCircles (someone else's tree - I failed to get them to contact me, they have my grandfather in their tree as well - I was amazed). I noted it down incase there is a grain of truth in it. That's where the California comes from

Cheers.

<duplicate post deleted, LesleyB>

[Scoop]

Hi Scoop
Do you know where in Scotland the Duff sisters were from?

Best wishes
Lesley

Yes, Lochee, Dundee.