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Research in Other Countries => US Lookup Requests => United States of America => US Completed Requests => Topic started by: saintconor on Monday 19 May 08 23:09 BST (UK)

Title: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: saintconor on Monday 19 May 08 23:09 BST (UK)
Hi

I was wondering if anyone could assist me. In 1925 My Great Great Uncle moved to New York with his Wife and young son. The family - Jeremiah Houston his wife Mary Houston and their son William Houston sailed from their home town of Londonderry onboard SS Cameronia. On route Mary who was Pregnant gave birth to Williamina Cameronia Annie Houston. I have found the family on the passanger lists and also on the 1930 census when living in Queens.

The only other information I have is that Jeremiah died in February 1952. He was living in Long Island at the time.

I was wondering where I can go from here? Ideally in the long run I would like to bring the 2 sides of the family back together.

Any info very much appreciated

Conor
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: grub on Tuesday 20 May 08 00:24 BST (UK)
There is a Jeremiah Houston applying for naturalization on this site...
http://www.footnote.com/searchdocuments.php?query=houston&bc=Naturalizations%3A+1700+-+mid+1900s%5EIndexes&collection=7552799&start=19#18738545

Perhaps, with the information on there, you can order his naturalization records??

Valerie
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: KathMc on Tuesday 20 May 08 11:33 BST (UK)
According to the 1930 census, there are no children living with Jeremiah and Mary, but a BIL, Leo Gillen, and brother James Houston. Is this the right family?

Kath
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 20 May 08 14:55 BST (UK)
If he died on Long Island, you could order his death certificate with the information given here:  http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/genealogy.htm  If he died within New York City (the address in the census records and on the naturalization papers that grub linked to are both within New York City), the information on ordering a death record is here:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/home.shtml

If you know the town where he lived/died, you could try to get an obituary from the local library or try to find city directories that would show what happened to his family members after his death.
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: saintconor on Tuesday 20 May 08 14:55 BST (UK)
Hi Valarie

I have checked this but it is not my relative. The application was around 40 years before my relative arrived in the USA. Thanks for looking though.


Hi Kath

This is the family alright. I have a copy of the census and the children are there. Not living in the same flat but in the same building. The parents where in 499 amd the children in 501. William is recorded as Joseph ( His middle name).

Do you know where I can go from here?

Thanks again folks

Conor
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: KathMc on Tuesday 20 May 08 17:37 BST (UK)
Boy, your relatives really wanted to make it tough to find them, didn't they? Do you know why they were living apart like that?

Do you have a date or even month of death for Jeremiah, along with a town on Long Island? I would recommend contacting the public library in the town he died in and getting an obituary. That should list kids (it is very possible there were more kids born after 1930), married names, and maybe even grandkids. Usually if you email with the relevant information and ask them the procedure, they will send it along. Worse case scenario is that it will cost a minimal amount.

Kath
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: saintconor on Tuesday 20 May 08 18:01 BST (UK)
Hi Kath. If it was easy it would be no fun :)

I do not the town he lived in when he died but I do know it was in February 1952. See attached picture.

I shall get in touch with my Grandmother (his niece) to see if she can add anything. Asyou can probably tell the families didnt have much contact.

Conor
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: KathMc on Tuesday 20 May 08 18:14 BST (UK)
Very interesting. Here is a link:

http://www.irishculturalcentre.com/

They might be able to guide you, if he was prominent in the Irish community, they might be able to guide you.

Also, try this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Americans_in_New_York_City

At the bottom are links, and a couple might give you some information.

Kath
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 20 May 08 18:31 BST (UK)
Do you know anything about his brothers who lived in the US?  Maybe we can work backwards to try to find out some more information.  Did Jeremiah's whole family move back to Ireland?  That was the impression I got from that article, but I wasn't sure.
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: saintconor on Tuesday 20 May 08 18:55 BST (UK)
Thankyou for the interest. Jeremiah,his wife, two children and 2 brothers moved to New York never to return to Ireland again. Do not know anything about the brothers.
Have no idea where it came from but I was under the impression that Annie Williamina Cameronia went on to become a police woman. If this was true then it is likely she was married at the time so I would have no idea as to her surname at the time.

Thanks everyone for the interest

Conor
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: KathMc on Tuesday 20 May 08 20:55 BST (UK)
There is a NYC police museum and they have a website. For a fee they do genealogical searches of the police force for you.

http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/

Kath
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: grub on Wednesday 21 May 08 01:11 BST (UK)
Gosh, Conor, I'm sorry.
I read it as Jeremiah being naturalized in 1931, and as that was 5/6 years after his arrival in 1925, it made sense as that is the usual waiting period.
Oh well, I'll keep looking.
Valerie ::)
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: saintconor on Wednesday 21 May 08 17:19 BST (UK)
Valerie,

I'm so sorry, I'm an Idiot :-[ That is my uncle you have found. I was getting it confused with another Jeremiah I found naturalized in the 1800's. I dont suppose you have access to this? I must check it now for his wife too.

Thank you everyone for the interest.

Conor
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: shellyesq on Wednesday 21 May 08 21:09 BST (UK)
I'm not positive, but I think, since that's just an index on footnote.com, the only thing you're going to see is what's already showing there.  You can search Footnote without a subscription.
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: saintconor on Saturday 24 May 08 22:05 BST (UK)
Jeremiah before he emigrated
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: saintconor on Monday 12 October 09 14:07 BST (UK)
I know its been a long time but I just wanted to update the story. I have managed to track down this US branch of my family and we are not back in touch. My parents even went over to stay with them earlier this year. Now I shall move on to finding another branch from the other side of my family. Watch this space  :)

Thanks everyone for your help,

Conor
Title: Re: How to find my long lost family?
Post by: o coigligh on Saturday 02 January 10 17:37 GMT (UK)
hello conor
i am related to mary houston on the gillen side any information on her life in the U.S.and descendants would be appreciated.
thanks mark quigley