RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: Jayhen6 on Monday 08 November 21 19:08 GMT (UK)
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Hi everyone,
I’m currently researching a family relative James Daubney born 15 March 1876 In Oldham, Lancashire. James aka Jim was a prize fighter who turned professional boxer. I only have brief information of some of his fights provided by helpful people on this site. I have found brief details of ‘jim listed on American census records. Firstly I’m hoping people may assist in finding out the details of his passage to the USA and when he left the UK. He is believed to have married a Florence McKercher in 1910 in Wisconsin (not verified) Many thanks in advance…. Jayhen
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His and Florence marriage 15 June 1910 -original image - is on ancestry. James is down as a cabinet maker, age 33, parents David and Anna nee Green. Florence's father, Malcolm McKercher was born in Scotland and her mother Martha nee Weatherby, in New York.
The 1920 US census says he is a Superintendent of Rescue work and emigrated in 1905 which may help in finding a record of when he arrived.
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His U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards gives his occupation as a carpenter for the Butler brothers and his birthday as the 14 March 1875 not the 15th.
The information I have given is for the James Daubney who married Florence but nothing that indicates he was a professional boxer as yet.
Uuum his birth reg says June 1/4 1876 so a late registration or just not sure when he was born?
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Could this be him?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01r1m/
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Could this be him?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01r1m/
Great find and I’m pretty sure that will be him!.. so when was he outcast and when did he leave the uk?.. He made quite a lot of money as a prize fighter and sounds like he squandered it!..
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His U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards gives his occupation as a carpenter for the Butler brothers and his birthday as the 14 March 1875 not the 15th.
The information I have given is for the James Daubney who married Florence but nothing that indicates he was a professional boxer as yet.
Uuum his birth reg says June 1/4 1876 so a late registration or just not sure when he was born?
Many thanks for this. Jim was a ‘cabinet maker’ by trade and only had 1 recorded professional fight. His other fights were prize fights mainly in Oldham. Are the WW1 records accessible to read?
Thank you.
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ancestry has the image for WW1 draft registration card.
I don't have a sub to Findmy past but there is a transcript in their British & Irish Roots Collection for a Jas Daubney age 30 1907 arrival at Halifax, departed Liverpool.
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.Firstly I’m hoping people may assist in finding out the details of his passage to the USA and when he left the UK. He is believed to have married a Florence McKercher in 1910 in Wisconsin (not verified)
He immigrated via Canada 15 June 1907 at Port Huron.
SD Naturalization Record: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D6R1-PQ6Z
His daughter Ruth was born in South Dakota, in 1913.
Check for Passenger records to Canada.
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Many newspaper articles here:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01r1n/
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.Firstly I’m hoping people may assist in finding out the details of his passage to the USA and when he left the UK. He is believed to have married a Florence McKercher in 1910 in Wisconsin (not verified)
He immigrated via Canada 15 June 1907 at Port Huron.
SD Naturalization Record: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D6R1-PQ6Z
His daughter Ruth was born in South Dakota, in 1913.
Check for Passenger records to Canada.
Could this be him?
UK outgoing: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68GD-P61R
Canada Passenger list: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2QS8-Z8L
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Several British newspaper articles reporting boxing matches involving Jim Daubney of Oldham dated in the late 1890s (big prize money, £15 & £20) and one from 1906 describing him as Jim Daubney of Oldham, late Lincoln in which he was knocked out of the ring in the first round
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Several British newspaper articles reporting boxing matches involving Jim Daubney of Oldham dated in the late 1890s (big prize money, £15 & £20) and one from 1906 describing him as Jim Daubney of Oldham, late Lincoln in which he was knocked out of the ring in the first round
Thanks for this. Are there any links to the reports containing the details/dates etc.. Thank you
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Argus-Leader
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sunday, October 04, 1970
Excerpts from an article-
... The mission has been in its present quarters, location of a pre-Prohibition saloon, for 24 years.
-Work Started in 1907
It's the outgrowth of a project launched in 1907, the first rescue mission in Sioux Falls. In that year James Daubney, a boxer with a circus appearing in the city, carried a payday celebration too far. When the circus pulled up stakes, it left him behind. In the throes of a severe hangover, he resolved to begin a new life. The man became disgusted with himself and someone was able to win him to accept Christ as his Saviour, said the Rev. Eric Johnson, the mission's present superintendent. Then he wanted to help the men he saw who were in the condition that he had just been lifted from...
- Mission Occupied Room
Daubney began his soul-saving work in a room at 119 E 10th St. One of the first recipients of his aid was a fruit store operator who came to ; work drunk and passed out. "Daubney helped him to get straightened out," the Rev. Mr. Johnson said. Delving further into the archives at his office, the super intendent continued: "The mission started out with chairs and a kitchen table, ....
...Daubney was here five years and then left for St. Paul. He had a strong, positive message against liquor." Work Continued Following the departure of the converted pugilist, other individuals carried on the work for short periods at different locations until Bernice Carlson, with the help ...
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Here is one from Bradford Daily Telegraph 16 August 1898
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Here is one from Bradford Daily Telegraph 16 August 1898
Many thanks for this. Are there any other links to boxing reports concerning Jim Daubney. Thank you
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Argus-Leader
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sunday, October 04, 1970
Excerpts from an article-
... The mission has been in its present quarters, location of a pre-Prohibition saloon, for 24 years.
-Work Started in 1907
It's the outgrowth of a project launched in 1907, the first rescue mission in Sioux Falls. In that year James Daubney, a boxer with a circus appearing in the city, carried a payday celebration too far. When the circus pulled up stakes, it left him behind. In the throes of a severe hangover, he resolved to begin a new life. The man became disgusted with himself and someone was able to win him to accept Christ as his Saviour, said the Rev. Eric Johnson, the mission's present superintendent. Then he wanted to help the men he saw who were in the condition that he had just been lifted from...
- Mission Occupied Room
Daubney began his soul-saving work in a room at 119 E 10th St. One of the first recipients of his aid was a fruit store operator who came to ; work drunk and passed out. "Daubney helped him to get straightened out," the Rev. Mr. Johnson said. Delving further into the archives at his office, the super intendent continued: "The mission started out with chairs and a kitchen table, ....
...Daubney was here five years and then left for St. Paul. He had a strong, positive message against liquor." Work Continued Following the departure of the converted pugilist, other individuals carried on the work for short periods at different locations until Bernice Carlson, with the help ...
That’s a great bit of information. Am I right in thinking he was prize fighting at a circus in the US before he started his work with the mission. Thank you
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A couple more, All found on Find My Past newspapers. There is a gap from 1899 to 1906 but I only did a quick search. Also a baptism record from Lincoln. St Swithin which confirms his parents names
First one from Manchester Courier 1899, then Boston Guardian 1906. There are more articles where other boxers are offering to fight him for various prize moneys
The first image is the baptism. Census records show the family living in Lincoln and Oldham
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Newspaper clippings
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Last one :)
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Last one :)
Great stuff, many thanks for this. I’m trying to gather as much information as I can which will be documented in a family history book currently bring written. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. Jim Daubney appears to have redeemed himself once he had settled in America where he married and later divorced a Florence McKercher. I’ve not found out yet where he died. I’ve seen a visit to Oldham in 1948 when sailed from America.. did he stay or did he return?
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I’ve seen a visit to Oldham in 1948 when sailed from America.. did he stay or did he return?
It appears he left the USA in March 1946 and returned in Feb. 1948.
New York Incoming Passenger list.
Line 21 -Images 600 & 601
Passenger List: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPZ-6BVS
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Nice article giving brief bio and has a picture of him.
The Rock Island Argus
Rock Island, Illinois
21 Dec 1949, Wed • Page 15
Clip: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88617868/21-dec-1949/
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Got himself in trouble with the law in 1950.
Argus-Leader
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
20 Jul 1950, Thu • Page 4
clip: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88617965/20-july-1950/
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Looks like they returned him to Saginaw, MI for trial.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Michigan
23 Jul 1950, Sun • Page 6
Clip: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88618379/23-july-1950/
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I’ve seen a visit to Oldham in 1948 when sailed from America.. did he stay or did he return?
It appears he left the USA in March 1946 and returned in Feb. 1948.
New York Incoming Passenger list.
Line 21 -Images 600 & 601
Passenger List: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPZ-6BVS
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Nice article giving brief bio and has a picture of him.
The Rock Island Argus
Rock Island, Illinois
21 Dec 1949, Wed • Page 15
Clip: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88617868/21-dec-1949/
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Got himself in trouble with the law in 1950.
Argus-Leader
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
20 Jul 1950, Thu • Page 4
clip: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88617965/20-july-1950/
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Looks like they returned him to Saginaw, MI for trial.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit, Michigan
23 Jul 1950, Sun • Page 6
Clip: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88618379/23-july-1950/
That is fascinating!!.. I wonder what happened to him at trial and beyond. Quite bizarre regarding atomic bombs!.. as if an elderly missionary had such access?.. Would be great to discover what became of this interesting character!!! once again extrem thanks to everyone who have contributed so far on this!! Regards Jayhen
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That is fascinating!!.. I wonder what happened to him at trial and beyond.
Lansing State Journal
Lansing, Michigan
Wednesday, August 09, 1950
Page 23
Poison Penman Given Suspended Sentence
BAY CITY, Aug. 9-- An elderly one-time British boxer Tuesday headed for Illinois to serve out a one-year suspended sentence and two years probation on charges of sending threatening letters through the mails.
James Daubney, a 76-year-old former Saginaw mission worker, won the suspended sentence from federal Judge Frank Picard Monday on the promise that he would go to work in a Friend's mission at Rock Island, Ill.
Daubney had been convicted of threatening to drop an "atomic bomb" on Dr. A. Raymond Moon and other Saginaw residents. He was reported to have accused Moon and others of "breaking up my home" in a letter to Cecil Basklns of Saginaw.
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I wonder what he had against Dr. Moon?
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73533591/arthur-raymond-moon
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I wonder what he had against Dr. Moon?
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73533591/arthur-raymond-moon
Thanks for that… Perhaps Moon was the cause of James divorce in 1938?.. There is a divorce record on Ancestry but I cannot access it to read it.. intriguing.. also is there any record of James dying in America
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That is fascinating!!.. I wonder what happened to him at trial and beyond.
Lansing State Journal
Lansing, Michigan
Wednesday, August 09, 1950
Page 23
Poison Penman Given Suspended Sentence
BAY CITY, Aug. 9-- An elderly one-time British boxer Tuesday headed for Illinois to serve out a one-year suspended sentence and two years probation on charges of sending threatening letters through the mails.
James Daubney, a 76-year-old former Saginaw mission worker, won the suspended sentence from federal Judge Frank Picard Monday on the promise that he would go to work in a Friend's mission at Rock Island, Ill.
Daubney had been convicted of threatening to drop an "atomic bomb" on Dr. A. Raymond Moon and other Saginaw residents. He was reported to have accused Moon and others of "breaking up my home" in a letter to Cecil Basklns of Saginaw.
Can’t believe they thought he had the capacity to activate an atomic bomb!.. I wonder who Cecil baskins was?..
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His wife Florence died in 1964.
Obit has married names of their daughters.
Progress-Bulletin
Pomona, California
04 Feb 1964, Tue • Page 2
Obit: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88625159/florence-daubney-obit/
The 1930 census seems to have split some of the children from the family.
1930 census-
Parents+1: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7M9-ZYS
Other children: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7M9-ZYW
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His wife Florence died in 1964.
Obit has married names of their daughters.
Progress-Bulletin
Pomona, California
04 Feb 1964, Tue • Page 2
Obit: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88625159/florence-daubney-obit/
The 1930 census seems to have split some of the children from the family.
1930 census-
Parents+1: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7M9-ZYS
Other children: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7M9-ZYW
Many thanks for this information. Are there any details of Jim Daubney’s death/obituary believed to be circa 1968.. regards Jayhen