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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: ellenbrora on Friday 13 January 17 19:38 GMT (UK)
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WARNING - long story!
I have finally uncovered most of the story of my aunt by marriage's grandfather. It is not what she was expecting (and I don't yet know if I will actually tell her the detail as she is 85 years old. Decision on that is on hold!) However, I can not yet gain closure and would appreciate thoughts:
OK - William Leader Massingham is born Dec Q 1865 Mutford (Lowestoft) Suffolk 4a.649 (and Bpt 1867) parents Robert and Elizabeth.
1871 and 1881 is in Lowestoft with parents, siblings and extended family.
Mar Q 1891 marries Helen Elizabeth O Gibbons in Norwich 4b.220.
1891 census is boarding, with wife Helen in John Street, Norwich.
Mar Q 1892 daughter Kathleen Elizabeth Massingham is born, Norwich 4b.163. mmn Gibbons
Mar Q 1894 daughter Maud Massingham is born, Norwich 4b.190. mmn Gibbons
Mar Q 1898 a daughter is born Croydon 2a.242, Elizabeth Leader Massingham. She is reg with mmn Gibbons, but I am almost certain (in absence of the actual certificate but going on aunt's family knowledge and further census evidence) that she is the daughter of William L Massingham and Ellen Booth nee Parker.
1901 census: William Massingham (who says he is born Italy - where on earth that came from no-one knows!) is at 55 New Road, Southampton, a Clerk, with "wife" Ellen b. Ireland, and daughter Elizabeth age 2. He is a Furniture Shop Asst.
1901 census: Helen Massingham nee Gibbons is at 43 Warwick St, Norwich, married, with her widowed mother, a sister and the 2 daughters, Kathleen and Maud.
1911 things become interesting:
1. William Leonard Leader Massingham is now at 2 Princes Place, Oxford St, Portsmouth is supposedly Single, aged 41 (!) and a Chartered Accountant.
2. Helen Massingham nee Gibbons is still in Norwich, with her mother, a different sister, and her 2 daughters. Says married 20 yrs (correct), with 2 children, both living (correct).
3. Ellen, now reverted to married name of Booth, is boarding, along with daughter Elizabeth Massingham 12yrs with a single Irish Dock Labourer Peter O'Connor in Fleetwood, Lancs. She says she is married, 23 years (correct, she married (Adam) James Booth in 1888 in Farnborough) and 1 child (correct, she did not have any children of her legal marriage). BTW Ellen Booth's husband Adam James Booth lives to 1949 and dies in Camberwell - I think!
08 Apr 1911 - William Massingham leaves Southampton on the St Louis bound for New York.
17 Apr 1911 - Wm Leonard L Massingham, Accountant, age 41 (!), last residence Portsmouth arrives New York. Gives Next of Kin address in UK as 1 Meadow St, Portsmouth, with no name.
07 Sep 1915 William L Massingham (who has now aged to only 42yrs) marries Elise V Arnollin in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois. She is 29yrs.
Dec 1918 - US Draft - William Leader Massingham is at 813 Rush Street, Chicago, with wife Elise. He is a Book-keeper.
Feb 1925 - Elise Victorine Massingham applies for US Naturalisation and states she is married to William, whereabouts unknown.
Dec 1927 - Elise Massingham completes her Naturalisation, stating that she is now divorced from William, whereabouts still unknown.
1930 Census - Elise Massingham is divorced, Shade Maker (Factory), living with 2 Roomers in Chicago.
So that is what I know so far, and have documentation to prove.
Can anyone fill in the gaps and/or tell me what happened to the cad William Massingham????
Ellen
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Looking at William's entry on the 1911 passenger list, there is a marking that starts with V/L by his name. This page explains that what the V/L meant - http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/Manifests/name/ On the 2nd page of the passenger list, it looks like William had been in New York before, and the year looks like 1900. It also lists a sister Mrs. G. Knowles in New York. Have you looked into what became of any siblings?
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It probably isn't helpful to follow Elise forward, but just in case there was an Elise Victorine Nelson born 14 Apr. 1886 who made a life claim (claim for benefits) through Social Security on 15 Feb. 1954. That birth date matches her naturalization record. I suspect this is Elise's death in Chicago in 1959 - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9N-NBCS
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1920 Census, listed as Leonard Messingham, Chicago, wife Elise
line 45 and 46
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R6H-2K?mode=g&i=14&cc=1488411
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Thanks ever so much folks. Plenty for me to follow up.
Shellyesq - Elise had a Roomer, Carl Nelson living with her in the 1930 census, so looks like they married :-)
Will go have another hunt around now.
Many thanks.
Ellen
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https://archive.org/stream/CAT31053470401/CAT31053470401_djvu.txt
- a William Leonard Massingham in around 1926 (date of publication of this journal) was in Kansas City, getting himself in trouble by claiming to be a member of the English nobility who needed some cash to get himself to St Louis.
He seems to have been imprisoned at this point, if this is your man perhaps he changed his name when he got out?
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Just to confim the story found by Jorose, the Kansas City Star of June 25, 1926 reports that William Leonard Leader Massingham "alleged Englishman) had been arrested at the Board of Trade building for soliciting funds. He said in his defence that he was "on the rocks and desired only a chance to work" . The judge said, rather wittily that he would give Massingham a chance to work on the rocks at the municipal farm and assessed a fine of $150.
Immigration inspectors had notified the Chief of Detectives that they had started action to deport Massingham as an undesirable citizen.
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:o ;D Fantastic, thanks so much!
How am I going to tell old auntie this?? Serious consideration will have to be given as to whether that is the right thing to do or not!
Really appreciate all your help.
Ellen
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You can see some snippets of Kansas City newspapers here - http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives and some of them mention William's arrest. There is one that says he had business cards bearing the name Eugene Victor Baldwyn, London, England, who William said was a lawyer who died.
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Thanks again Shellyesq :)
This is going to keep me busy!
Re the sister Mrs G Knowles William claimed to be going to in 1911 - I suspect she was another figment of his (clearly vivid) imagination. I believe I have traced all his siblings forward and cannot place such a name - but never say never, I'll keep digging.
Cheers
Ellen