RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: leccy on Monday 24 August 09 04:46 BST (UK)
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Hi folks,
I'm trying to fill in some gaps in my family history. An uncle of my grandmother emigrated to California from Australia. He was Cedric WINDAS and became something of a specialist in naval history. He had two sons (that I am aware of): Wilford (b. 1914) and Mervyn (b. 1917).
That's all I know. I *think* that Mervyn was also known as Jack (based on a 1930 census lookup). I don't know if either Wilford or Jack married.
Some research shows that there was a Jack Windas who was a captain of the American Presidents line. I'd love to know if they were one and the same person. I'd also love to know if there are any other decendants.
I believe there is a Windas family in New York who are presumably related somewhere back, but not directly.
All information welcomed!
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There is a bit of information about Cedric Wilford Windas here:
http://www.askart.com/askart/w/cedric_wilford_windas/cedric_wilford_windas.aspx
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Due to privacy reasons, sending Mervyn's birth information by pm.
Also sent his possibly social security death index information.
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California Passenger & Crew List
Jack M Windas, age 32, American
Arrival date was 17 October 1949. Ship: SS. President Mc Kinley. Sailed from Manila, PI; arrived San Francisco, CA
Length of service at sea was 12 years
Position in ship's company: Master
He was 6', 180 pounds
He is shown on several California passenger and crew lists, each time his position was Master.
Without checking every list, it appears that he started sailing around 1937, and he is listed as Cadet.
A 1954 list indicates his birthplace was California.
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Briefly looking at the names of some of the ships, the line could have been the American President Lines. Names of some of the ships: President Monroe, President Polk, President Jefferson, President Garfield and President Van Buren.
Description of APL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_President_Lines
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Sending, by pm, California death index re Wilford.
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Could this be Cedric's wife?
California Death Index
May Jane Windas, born 1890, "other country"
Died 21 March 1978, Los Angeles
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There are two Windas' on Rootsweb that were born in New York in the 1880's. Perhaps you could check for a connection:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi
(Search for Windas, born New York)
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I don't see anything for marriages or children of Jack or Wilford.
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Lisa, you're amazing! A complete stranger requests and you scour the internet.
May Jane nee Fraser is indeed Cedric's wife, so there's a confirmation. I'm going to take a punt and say the Jack M is my Mervyn.
It's all a bit recent so I guess unless a family member happens by I'll have to be satisfied with that
Cheers
L. :)
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Hi Leccy:
I don't believe I mentioned it earlier - welcome to RootsChat.
Perhaps someone else might be able to find out if the boys ever married and if they had children. Keeping my fingers crossed that it happens.
Have you tried google or another search engine for the family? There are a few things (nothing to help your research) regarding the Windas'. I did not search for a May Jane, though, as I thought her name was Mary Jane. There's a chance that you might be able to find something about her.
I would think that Jack M is Mervyn. He is listed as Jack M. R. on the 1930 census.
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I found over 30 articles on newspaperarchive.com (a subscription site) that mention Captain Jack Windas in relation to sailing ships. I also found an article there from the Long Beach California Independent from 3 Aug. 1943 that says that Police Lieutenant Wilford A. Windas shot and killed a man and wounded 3 others at a riot at the Palos Verdes Country Club in July. It says that the deceased threw a chair at Wilford. An 8 Aug. 1943 edition of the same paper says Wilford was acquitted by a coronor's jury and said he acted in self defense. An 8 Aug. 1943 edition of the Oakland Tribune says that Wilford was acquitted and he was in the hospital recovering from his wounds.
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WWI Draft Registration Card
Cedric Wilford Windas
2415 109th Ave., Oakland, Calif.
Born 4 Mar. 1888 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Citizen of Great Britain
Self-employed artist at 48 3rd. St., San Francisco
Married with a wife and 2 children under 12 yrs. old
Caucasian, tall, medium build, brown eyes, dark brown hair
Prior military service in Victoria Rank in Australia for 1 1/6 years, rank - private
Does not claim exemption from the draft.
Cedric Wilford Windas, 1888-1966, is in the Encyclopedia of American Biography, New Series, Vol 38, published by American Historical Society in 1968. No further info given.
Looks like one of Cedric's paintings is in here: http://www.k6aa.org/images/2008_10_October.pdf
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There is an article in the Oakland Tribune from 12 Oct. 1917 that mentions Cedric W. Windas (among lots of others) being scheduled for a physical exam related to the draft.
I found an article in the New York Times from 1961 about Jack & it has a picture. If you'd like me to e-mail it to you, send me your e-mail address in a private message. I think you may need 1 more post to use the PM system.
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I sailed on the SS President Roosevelt captained by Jack M. Windas from San Francisco to Manilla on July 10 thur August 5, 1969 Hope that helps
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My great aunt Eleanor Britton sailed around the world in 1951 on the S.S. Pres. Polk captained by a Jack Windas. She kept a detailed journal mentioning the Captain many times and always in a positive light. He was a gentleman, a good dancer, well behaved to a fault, socially adept and generous. He also officiated at Divine Services in lieu of a minister or priest, including on Christmas Day. His passengers included many diplomats but also very well known people from various walks of life. I have written about Eleanor Britton on http://eleanorbritton.blogspot.com/?view=magazine
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Sorry, I have been out of circulation for a while, but a big THANK YOU to those who have replied to this post.