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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: donnaduff on Sunday 24 August 08 11:00 BST (UK)
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Hello
I am trying to trace relatives of Christina Glass Gage who emigrated from Kirkcaldy, Scotland to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1930.
She was born on the 13 March 1892 in Helensburgh, Scotland and married William Shields on the 25 January 1918 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
William was born on the 14 July 1875 in Dunfermline, Scotland.
I am researching the Colliar family tree and Christina's mother was Isobel Taylor Colliar, father John William Gage.
Many thanks
Take care
Donna
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Who are you trying to research in the US?
Christina and her husband or her parents?
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Who are you trying to research in the US?
Christina and her husband or her parents?
I'm trying to obtain info on either Christina or her offspring. I know that her parents didn't emigrate so that line enquiry is out but equally Christina would have died by 1992 as she was born in 1892 so I am hoping to find details of her death or that of any children she may have had in the US.
Many thanks
Take care
Donna
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I found Christina on the Social Security Death Index, although her last name was spelled slightly differently than you had mentioned.
Christina Shiels
Last Residence - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Born: 13 Mar 1892
Died: 12 Sep 1994
SS number issued in Michigan before 1951
Michigan Deaths:
Christina G. Shiels
Born 13 Mar 1892
Died 12 Sep 1994
Residence: Kentwood, Kent, Michigan
Place of Death: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
She and William are also listed as Shiels (no d) in the 1930 Census. They are in Grand Rapids at 407 Quimby. The census says that they immigrated in 1925 and William had filed papers for naturalization. They are with their children, all born in Scotland: David, age 11 ; Isabella, age 10; (*) , age 9; and (*) , age 7. In the census, William is age 56 and was age 45 at his first marriage. Christina was age 38 and was age 21 at her first marriage, so it sounds like she was married before.
I found a border crossing from Canada to US for Christina and the children from July 1925. Their last permanent residence was Methil, Scotland. Christina's father was John Gage, 12 Swinton Blgs., Methil. They were headed to Grand Rapids to join William at 342 Brown St. All the children were born at Kirkcaldy and Christina was born Helensbur. They all had fair hair and complexions and blue eyes. Christina had mole on her upper lip. They traveled on the ship SS Montnairn from Glasgow to Quebec.
William was on the SS Athenia from Glasgow to Quebec, arriving 1 Jul 1923. He was age 50, a carting contractor, last permanent residence - Kirkcaldy, wife Mrs. Catherine Shiels in Thornton, Fife, Scotland. He was headed to Grand Rapids to join brother Timothy Shiels, 1413 Buffalo Ave. He was 5 ft. 5 inches tall with a fresh complexion, fair hair, and blue eyes. He was born in Kirkcaldy.
I also found William and Christina on a passenger list for the SS Queen Elizabeth from Southampton to New York on 27 May 1948. They were US citizens. William was age 75, naturalized in District Court of Michigan 13 Mar. 1942. He lived at 407 Quimby St., Grand Rapids. Christina was age 56.
On the Michigan Deaths database:
David Shiels
Born 24 Sep 1918
Died 17 Mar 1986 in Grand Rapids
Residence - Grand Rapids
Isabella Shiels
Born 2 Mar 1920
Died 5 Feb 1979 in Grand Rapids
Residence - Grand Rapids
I think I may have found information on one of the other children, who may still be living, so let me know if you'd like that & I'll send you a private message.
If you go here and search under West Michigan Newspapers for Shiels, there are a bunch of results: http://data.wmgs.org/
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Hi Shellyesq
I cannot thank you enough as this sounds exactly the Christina I was after.
She was married before to a William Mack on the 28 June 1912 in Thornton, Scotland but he died in 1918 in France.
She had two children with him John Mack and William Gage Mack, but the the rumour is that she left them with a neighbour to go to the USA when she married William Shields.
I will certainly pm you to obtain details of the living relatives.
Thanks you again so much.
Donna
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No problem!
I also found this:
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records
David Shiels
Born 1918
Race: White, not yet a citizen
Nativity State or Country: Channel Islands or England or Great Britain or Isle of Man or Northern Ireland or Scotland or Wales
State: Michigan
County or City: Kent
Enlistment Date: 16 Mar 1942
Enlistment State: Michigan
Enlistment City: Fort Custer
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Term of Enlistment - for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Student, Geography or Lithographic Pressman (Pressman, rotary lithographic. )
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 66
Weight: 135
Also, in US Naturalization Records Index in Index Cards to Naturalization Petitions for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit, 1907-1995:
Isabella Collier Shiels
Birth Date: 2 Mar 1920
The date on it appears to be 28 Jan. 1949.
I found this in the News-Palladium of Benton Harbor, Michigan, 23 Jan. 1943:
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Edited in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
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Hi Shelly
This is definitely the correct family, Thank you so much for your help. It is much appreciated.
It was interesting to see the newspaper cutting as Christina's parents died in 1920 and before 1933 so unless it was with the Macks, then perhaps the NEighbours rumour is true!
Take care
Donna
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Christina Glass was my grandmother and William Mack my father. This information is brilliant, filling many gaps. Thank you.
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Sorry, that exited I meanto type Shiels not Glass.
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The excitement even hit my spelling! It was just such a shock to come across all this information in one place. My dad's (William Gage Mack) birthday was 10th August, but I am not sure what year. I lost my mum when I was 11 and dad at 18, so family history is sketchy. My mum was Isabella Gage and I believe they were cousins.
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The excitement even hit my spelling! It was just such a shock to come across all this information in one place. My dad's (William Gage Mack) birthday was 10th August, but I am not sure what year. I lost my mum when I was 11 and dad at 18, so family history is sketchy. My mum was Isabella Gage and I believe they were cousins.
Hi DAGMA
Glad to be of help. I'll PM you with my email address and if you like I can send you what info I have on the Macks, Gages etc. Quite a few of the Mack's still live near me in Fife.
Take care
Donna
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Christina Glass Gage Shiels was my great grandmother.
She immigrated into the US on 27 July 1925 (age 33) with her children:
David Shiels
Isabelle Collier Shiels
(*) Shiels (my grandmother)
(*) Shiels
Her husband, William Shiels came to the US in 1923.
Christina's father, John Gage lived in Scotland, as listed in the other message.
After reading the rest of the messages, I'm excited that I decided to check this site today.
My grandmother, (*), is still living. I can find out for you. Christina was involved with the Salvation Army, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as was her son James. I don't remember much about David, but I remember that Isabelle lived with Christina on Quimby until she passed away.
Christina moved next door to her daughter (*)and her husband (Kent County) Michigan, USA. I remember her telling us at her 80th birthday that we should take lots of photos because it would be her last one. She told us that often and she lived to be 102 years old.
I am excited to be able to put some additional information together, along with specific dates. We did not hear much about "Mack," as she affectionately referred to William Mack. I don't remember William Shiels, either, but I remember a photo of him that hung on the wall, both on Quimby Street and in Kentwood.
I am not sure how deep you want to go, so if you have further questions, please let me know and I will try to fill you in or find out the answers.
Now I am overwhelmed with information. Thanks!
Dave
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Edited in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
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Hi, when christina and her husband left to go to the u.s.a. they left their sons william gage mack and his brother john with a family called snowden in thornton,fife.
I do have old photo,s of chritina,the snowdens, william and john andwilliams family up to today.
Ialso have willims naval record and marriage certificate.
If I can be of any help perhaps we could exchange emails
I can only assume that we must be some sort of relative.
regards
Geoma
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I would love copies of the old photos and any other information you may have. My email address is ** Sorry, but it is Rootschat policy to email addresses to prevent spam and other abuses. Please use the secure Personal Message system to exchange private information. :D
Thanks!
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hi,Dave j, good to hear from you.lost contact with family in usa when chritina died.i remmber meeting janet when she and christina visited us in the uk.when christina last visited us she was in her 70s i think she was accompanied by a lady called mary dood. if you could send me your email by personal message system i would love to contact you direct
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You both may need to make another post before using PM (personal message) system. See here: www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
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hi,dave j i have just remembered the name of a cousin we had in usa her name was carol sue walenga (i think thats the correct spelling)
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Hi, Dave ihave remembered the name of a cousin we had in the usa her name was * Please use the secure PM system when exchanging information about those still living to protect their privacy.(i am not sure of the spelling).Perhaps you would know her.
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Christina was my Grand Mother. My Father is (*) Shiels. He and his sister (*) are still living... It's very interesting to see what you have discovered.
(*) Moderator Comment:
Edited in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
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Hi, when christina and her husband left to go to the u.s.a. they left their sons william gage mack and his brother john with a family called snowden in thornton,fife.
I do have old photo,s of chritina,the snowdens, william and john andwilliams family up to today.
Ialso have willims naval record and marriage certificate.
If I can be of any help perhaps we could exchange emails
I can only assume that we must be some sort of relative.
regards
Geoma
Hi Geoma,
My Grandfather was one of the Snowdens from Thornton Fife. His sister was Jessie Snowden who lived with her brother William Snowden in Strathore park Thornton, she left for Michigan in 1924 aged 24. She married John E Malloy and had a daughter Mary who married a Dood. I think she may be the Mary Dood that visited the UK with Christina. You mentioned photos of Snowdens. I would dearly love to see them if thats possible. It has taken ages to find the connection to Scotland as I have no older relatives. I would also love to know more about the children the looked after...and what the neighbors said!