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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Londinium on Monday 13 September 10 23:33 BST (UK)

Title: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Londinium on Monday 13 September 10 23:33 BST (UK)
I've been trying to track down my great grandfather's movements in the states for a while now but I've hit an annoying roadblock. He was born in Liversedge, Yorkshire in 1869 and was resident in England right up until 1901/1902.

He then moved to the States in roughly 1901/1902 from information on censuses. He moved to the states with his two sons Norman and Cyril and I believe his wife Sarah Ann was pregnant as I found a record for a baby Mable Smith born in Philadelphia in 1902 who unfortunately died. He ended up in Philadelphia by 1910 (may well have started there aswell,, his daughter being born there suggests he was) and appears in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses as being resident in Philadelphia. He had my grandfather in 1926 (when he was 57!) in Philadelphia with a new wife after his first wife had died in 1921 (I found her funeral notice in the Philadelphia Inquirer). Also he apparently naturalised as a US citizen in 1918 according to the 1920 US census, although I've been unable to find the actual documentation for this.

What I'm struggling to discover about him is how he entered the United States and what became of him. I didn't find any reference to him on the Ellis Island website so that makes me think that he came through Philadelphia but I'm not sure how to check Philadelphia passenger lists? Also how would I go about trying to find out about his death in Pennsylvania?

Any help on this would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Lisa in California on Tuesday 14 September 10 08:19 BST (UK)
I don't see their arrival at any port, however, they still might be found.

Do you know if their last residence was Liversedge, please?
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: *Sandra* on Tuesday 14 September 10 11:02 BST (UK)
New York Passenger List

Norman Smith. Born about 1899. Aged 8 years.
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England to New York On the Carmania. Arriving 3 Oct 1907
Also travelling Sarah Ann Smith. Aged 38 years and Cyril Smith aged 10 years.
It says United States Citizens. Going to 439 Walnut Lane. Rosaboro  ??? Philadelphia. Pennsylvania.
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: *Sandra* on Tuesday 14 September 10 11:25 BST (UK)
Family must have travelled a few times - UK Incoming Passenger List

Cyril Smith. Born about 1897 Aged 10 years
Port of Departure: New York, New York to Liverpool. On Umbria - 19 May 1907
British Subjects Sarah Smith 38 years and Norman 8 years
 
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Lisa in California on Tuesday 14 September 10 17:05 BST (UK)
Great finds, Sandra.

According to an online site, a neighbourhood in Northwest Philadelphia was Roxborough.
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Lisa in California on Tuesday 14 September 10 17:37 BST (UK)
A possibility?
Sailing on the Haverford from Liverpool to Philadelphia, arriving 24 September 1905:
William H Smith, age 35, married, Chandelier Maker, nationality English, last permanent residence Aston,  final destination Phila.
Whether ever before in the U.S. (if so, when and where):
1901 (4 years?)
1905 Phila
Joining relative or friend: home 4819 Hawthorne St. Phila
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Londinium on Wednesday 15 September 10 23:18 BST (UK)
Thanks for the help guys. His last residence in the UK was indeed Liversedge, Yorkshire during the 1901 UK Census, he then emmigrates to the United States shortly after.

Seems strange that they're listed as American citizens in 1907 as the 1920 US census doesn't mention William H Smith being naturalised as an American citizen until 1918.

I'm not sure that last one is my William H Smith mind, as Aston is in Birmingham which is a fair distance from Liversedge in West Yorkshire.
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Lisa in California on Thursday 16 September 10 02:14 BST (UK)
Do you know where any of the family members are buried in the states?
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Lisa in California on Thursday 16 September 10 02:28 BST (UK)
I wonder why I haven't found a WWI draft reg card for Cyril?  Perhaps he was too young for it to be mandatory for him to register?
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: Londinium on Thursday 16 September 10 02:59 BST (UK)
I also found that rather odd that Cyril's WW1 draft card isn't around considering I found his WWII draft card, you can see it here: http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4056/cyrilsmithww2regcard.jpg

He's definitely in the States just after the Great War as he appears in the 1920 US Census living with parents and his brother. You can see their listing here:  http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/5986/1920census.jpg

What made me question the earlier listing of them as American citizens is that cleary states that William H Smith didn't naturalise until 1918 and it appears his two sons naturalised through what looks to be the Army. There's a suspicion that this might be Norman, as it tallies up with his military experience, where he lived in 1920 and 1930 and his listing as a clerk for a telephone company in the 1930 census:

Quote
Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - July 10, 1988
Deceased Name: NORMAN SMITH, OF FOX CHASE
Norman Smith, 89, a decorated veteran of World War I, died June 29 at his home in Fox Chase.
Mr. Smith, who was retired, had spent most of his career working in the real estate offices of Bell Telephone Co.
Mr. Smith was an Army cavalryman and rode into battle with the first U.S. contingent to enter the fighting in France in 1917. He took part in a number of major campaigns, including the Battles of the Marne and the Argonne Forest.
He was a Mason.
He is survived by his wife, (*); two sons, (*) and (*); a daughter, (*), and six grandchildren.
Services were private. Funeral arrangements were by Fletcher Funeral Home, 9529 Bustleton Ave.
Edition: PENNA
Page: N06
Copyright (c) 1988 The Philadelphia Inquirer

Other than that I have no knowledge of what happened to Norman and William H. Smith. Their last appearance is in the 1930 US Census. This is one of the mysteries I'm trying to solve. Firstly how and when did William get into the States and secondly what ultimately became of them, other than my grandfather who I know came back to England served in the military in some form and died here in the early 80s.


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Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 21 September 10 15:40 BST (UK)
If Cyril was already in the military at the time, he wouldn't have been required to fill out the draft card.  So that might be why it can't be found.
Title: Re: William H Smith (1869-?) Philadelphia
Post by: johnnyboy on Saturday 25 September 10 01:53 BST (UK)
Anc...ry.com might have naturalizations from the eastern part of Pennsylvania in one of their naturalization databases.

I know the following doesn't help you across the water in the U.K. But you might be able to find the naturalizations done in U.S. federal courts (as opposed to state or local courts) on microfilm at the U.S. National Archives Mid-East Region branch in Philadelphia. You should read the City of Philadelphia's page on locating naturalizations done in the city, whether in a federal or a state court. Very informative. It's at http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/natz.htm.

Philadelphia's city's archives has copies of naturalizations done in state and local courts. Go here to read about it: http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/natinstr.htm

William H. Smith's death certificate would be held by the State of Pennsylvania. As a member of the extended family, you are eligible to order a copy. Unfortunately, multiple year searches get expensive. A search of ten years costs $34. Go here to read about it: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/death_certificates/14122 

Hope this helps.

Regards,
John  :o :o :o