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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: homealone on Tuesday 12 July 11 17:21 BST (UK)

Title: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: homealone on Tuesday 12 July 11 17:21 BST (UK)
Hello, could anyone help me with details of a marriage that took place 20th June 1908. Alice Smith was the bride, born Huddersfield, Yorkshire  4th August 1872,  the groom was George Spencer, born 10th April 1883 in Lincolnshire England.
I only know they married in Massachussetts, no more details. They only visited to get married, but why is a mystery.
I am hoping they eventually lead me to Eva Smith Crowther, who I know lived in Philadelphia around the 1950's, who was Alice Smith's sister.
Thank You
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Tuesday 12 July 11 17:46 BST (UK)
Hello Homealone,

Welcome to Rootschat


George Spencer son of David N Spencer and Mary Lawson - Alice Smith daughter of Frederick Smith and Sarah Calvert.
George was a labourer and Alice a mill operative, first marriage for both.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0e9d/

Sandra

Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Tuesday 12 July 11 18:01 BST (UK)
There is a Philadelphia passenger list for an Eva Crowther born about 1875 Huddersfield. England and aged 36 years. Occupation:- worker in wool mills. Travelled Liverpool to Philadelphia on the SS Merion, arriving 2 February 1911.  Sister Mrs A Spencer. Dunalan Lane.  ??? Newbold. Chesterfield. Going to friend Mr Wm Aitken, 3121 N 28th Street. Philadelphia. Had $21. Had previously been in Lowell. Massachusetts Oct  - Feb 1910  ???


Sandra

Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: homealone on Tuesday 12 July 11 18:58 BST (UK)
Hi, thanks for taking time to look this information up .
It's a bit of a long story.. when we were small, early 50's, our Grandma used to tell us we had an Auntie Eva in Philadelphia. We never had any more details other than that she had a cafe (or maybe a restaurant ?) in Philadelphia. I didn't even know who she actually was until I started researching my family history around 3 years ago. She was actually my Grandma's Aunt, the sister of my Grandma's father, William Smith.
I have had great success finding an enormous family in America I never knew a thing about, all descended from my Grandma's mother but Aunt Eva continues to evade me. I'd love to know what happened to her.
as I said she married  Samuel George Crowther in Huddersfield, 2nd August 1904. there is no sign of him anywhere, deaths, immigration, war ...nothing!!!.
When she travelled to USA  she was bound for Mrs William Aitkens address in Lowell on her own. She was her friend, from home i believe.
There seems to have been a mass exodus from Huddersfield at the turn of the century, probably to work in the mills of Philadelphia.  Regards
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: straea on Thursday 21 July 11 19:47 BST (UK)
So what exactly are you looking for, in terms of records/information/etc.?  You don't really say.  I live in Massachusetts and may be able to help if you are more specific about what you're searching for.  Do you already have the marriage record?
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: shellyesq on Thursday 21 July 11 20:31 BST (UK)
The marriage record is available online - Sandra gave the link to it above.  You just need to click on the square to the left of the page.
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: straea on Thursday 21 July 11 20:34 BST (UK)
I did click through before posting but the link is no longer valid.  I don't remember offhand whether FamilySearch has the original scans or not, either.  But part of what I was asking was whether the original poster already had the marriage record (prior to posting) as from their second post it sounded like maybe they did.
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 22 July 11 09:39 BST (UK)
I did click through before posting but the link is no longer valid.  I don't remember offhand whether FamilySearch has the original scans or not, either.  But part of what I was asking was whether the original poster already had the marriage record (prior to posting) as from their second post it sounded like maybe they did.

The image is loading fine - takes a few seconds.

The original message indicates that they were hoping George and Alice would lead them to the sister of Alice whose name was Eva Smith Crowther last known of in Pennnsylvania.

Sandra
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 22 July 11 10:07 BST (UK)
Alice Smith. Born about 1872 Huddersfield. England. and aged 35 years,
Travelling   Liverpool, England to Boston. Massachusetts arriving 7 November 1907 on the SS Ivernia
Occupation:- Tailoress. Nearest relative in country from whence came was Mrs William Metcalfe, 24 Ravenscliffe Hill. Huddersfield.
She was going to "sis" - Mrs Smith, 90 South Whipple Street. Lowell. Massachusetts.
So it looks as if there was another Smith family member in Massachusetts. 

Sandra

Note:- Mrs William Metcalfe was sister Laura on the 1901 Census (Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England)
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 22 July 11 10:09 BST (UK)
Does the marriage certificate for sister Eva, give Samuel Crowthers parents ? 

Sandra
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 22 July 11 10:19 BST (UK)
Looks like a George and Alice both 26 years arrived Liverpool from Boston on SS Ivernia on the 12 May 1909.

Sandra
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: straea on Friday 22 July 11 14:16 BST (UK)
As I said, the link gives me a 404.  This isn't the first time that for some reason a FamilySearch link loads for some and not others though.
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 22 July 11 19:33 BST (UK)
Does the marriage certificate for sister Eva, give Samuel Crowthers parents ? 

Sandra

HI Homealone,

Its okay - found the answer to this question. Have seen the marriage cert of Eva and Samuel at Holy Trinity Church - 2 nd August 1904.

Sandra
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 22 July 11 21:15 BST (UK)
Samuel, occupation General Carrier and married 6 years is in Huddersfield as a boarder with the Ackroyd family. (sent a pm)
There is a death record for a Samuel G Crowther born 1881 died in Brighton. England in Q2 1918 - 2 b 246 - aged 37 years.  ???

Sandra
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: homealone on Sunday 24 July 11 21:10 BST (UK)
Thank you all for your help. I haven't got the hang of this site yet, and have only just found these replies. I'm touched that you are on the case to help me find my lost great aunt Eva Crowther. Obviously she's long dead, but I would dearly love to know if she had children in Philadelphia.       
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 24 July 11 21:30 BST (UK)
Hi Homealone,

Have had a few goes to try and locate Eva on the 1920 Census but so far nothing which makes me wonder if she married again, especially if that was Samuel's death in 1918  ???

Sandra
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: homealone on Sunday 24 July 11 22:01 BST (UK)
Hello again,
I was with ancestry.co.uk until  a couple of weeks ago, didn't know how lost i'd feel without it. It was a time thing. I seemed to be paying for it and never got the time to use it, although I've had amazing success with my other family.
I think I've explored every way of finding Eva. The only thing I couldn't get on ancestry were marriages. I've actually sat for hours on end trawling the streets of Lowell and was working my way through every ward in Philadelphia.
It doesn't work, it sends you a bit strange in the head and I decided I had to give up  >:(
I'll never know now if Grandma ever knew when Eva had died. We have come to thinking that when people left these English shores, they went for good. 
Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 24 July 11 22:04 BST (UK)
I could only find Eva on 1 passenger list (out going in 1911)  Do you have any idea if she ever returned to the UK ?
Tried looking for Eva in Philadelphia in 1920 under Aitken but nothing. Also tried looking for the Smith connection in Massachusetts which is who Alice Smith was suppose to be going to in 1907. There was only Alice, Laura and Eva (3 sisters)  unless it was a sister-in-law (or a red-herring)

Sandra

Title: Re: Massachussetts marriage
Post by: homealone on Sunday 24 July 11 22:27 BST (UK)
This is a huge coincidence.. Eva had sisters called Laura and Alice. Probably unlikely though. Alice was the Spencer wife, and Laura was married , and called Metcalfe. I have found Alice's death here in Huddersfield, but she was divorced. Could Laura have possibly been over in USA. Could USA have been responsible for the Alice divorce ???????