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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: curtainhooks on Monday 07 July 25 14:22 BST (UK)
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Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me find any information on Ebenezer Elgar (b. 1847, Rochford).
I have him in the 1851, 1861, 1891 and 1901 census. I think from 1871-1881 he was in the USA and married his wife, Julia, who came back with him in 1891 but I have nothing to prove this.
I know he went again in 1906 with his wife and adopted son Archie Simmonds, but I have no idea what happened to them after this.
If anyone finds a record of his marriage, his death, or anything that happened after that in America would be very helpful!
(also any information found about Archie Simmonds would be great too :))
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Perhaps you have this? His arriving passenger record from 1906 mentions a brother:
Thomas Elgar
110 2nd Street
Williamsbridge
N? New York
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New York City Directory 1912
Elgar Ebenezer painter h 122 First
A**y has this address as Troy; Watervliet; Green Island; Cohoes; Waterford, New York, USA. This seems to be an area just N of Albany NY.
1915 census
Ebenezer, Julie and Archie are at 537 Broadway, Albany, Watervliet Ward.
He is a decorator and Archie is 18, a rivet heater(?)
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NY Death Index: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGCX-23YT?lang=en
Age seems to be about right.
The Argus
14 April 1918
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Perhaps you have this? His arriving passenger record from 1906 mentions a brother:
Thomas Elgar
110 2nd Street
Williamsbridge
N? New York
Could this be the brother Thomas who passed in 1912 ?
Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn, New York
Fri, 22 Mar 1912
Page 3
https://www.newspapers.com/article/brooklyn-eagle/176121378/
Sandra
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This has the death certificate of Thomas Elgar and gives parents' names that seem to match Ebenezer's in the census - https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/4728817
Williamsbridge is in the Bronx, so that part fits.
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The 1906 passenger list says Ebenezer was previously in the US in Rochester. (There's more than one Rochester, but probably the one in New York.) The years in the US are hard to make sense of, because it says 1890, but that might be crossed out and 1906 is below that.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C95M-K1KQ?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AJF88-82N&action=view&cc=1368704&lang=en&groupId=
Ebenezer & Archie were held for special inquiry during that trip for being "likely public charge" (meaning they thought they didn't have enough money). They were released because Ebenezer's wife was US born.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C95M-K125?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AJF88-63Y&action=view&cc=1368704&lang=en&groupId=
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There's an entry for Julia Eljar in Watervliet at 122 First St. in the 1910 census. She's listed as married (on her 2nd marriage) and having been married for 18 years. She's listed as having no children, and neither Ebenezer nor Archie are listed with her.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RVY-XT7?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM5QM-MKZ&action=view&cc=1727033&lang=en&groupId=
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There's a declaration of intention to naturalize from an Ebenezer Elgar, born in England, and residing in Rochester, NY in Oct. 1880.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C911-YS13-C?view=fullText&keywords=Ebenezer%20Elgar&lang=en&groupId=
There is also a probate record from Rochester from 1888 where an Ebenezer Elgar obtained letters of administration for an Elizabeth Elgar who died 3 Apr. 1888.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYCL-ND1?view=fullText&keywords=Ebenezer%20Elgar&lang=en&groupId=
Funeral notice for Mrs. Ebenezer Elgar in April 1888 Rochester newspaper - https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-obituary-for-eben/176139181/
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There is an entry in the Albany Co. Almshouse records for an Edward Elgar who was a painter, b. England, and had a wife Julia in Watervliet. Maybe he changed his name?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXW-YSHK-X?view=fullText&keywords=Julia%20Elgar&lang=en&groupId=
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1888 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer finisher 37 Gorham, home 78 Martin
New York state marriage index
Ebenezer Elgar
Julia A. Lawrence/Julia A. Kochler
1 Nov. 1888 in Rochester
1907 Albany, NY city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer decorator home 1094 Broadway
Elgar, Edward painter home 1094 Broadway
1908 Albany, NY city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer decorator home 60 Mohawk
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There is an entry in the New York state death index for an Ebenezzer Alger who died in Troy on 4 Dec. 1915, which would have been a few months after the almshouse record above.
There are entries for Ebenezer Elgar, painter in Watervliet directories from 1909 through 1915, but no Elgars there in 1916.
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1872 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer, carriage painter, house Waverly Place
Elgar, Frank E., carriage maker house Waverly Place
1874 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer, carriage painter, 3 Canal, boards 169 East Main
Elgar, Frank E., cabinetmaker, boards 169 East Main
1875 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer, painter 100 South St. Paul, home 52 Delavan
1876 & 1878 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer, finisher Jay c. Erie canal, house 47 Tremont
1877 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer, painter, house 47 Tremont
1885 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer painter, home 927 N. Clinton
1887 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer painter, house 18 Sherman
Elgar, Thomas, removed to Fredonia
1888 Rochester city directory
Elgar, Ebenezer painter, 41 E. Main, home 927 N. Clinton
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Thank you so much, that's all very helpful! :)
With the possible name change, is the 1907 city directory two people - Ebenezer + Edward or could it be the same person?
If they are different I am not sure who Edward could be...
Also, with ''Mrs Ebenezer Elgar'' dying in April 1888 and the letters of administration for the ''Elizabeth Elgar'' being in April 1888 too - is it possible this Elizabeth is his wife? Could Julia have also gone by Elizabeth?
Edit: Now I'm also not sure who ''Frank E Elgar'' is! But thank you so much for the information
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I think his first wife was Elizabeth, since there is an entry in the marriage index for Ebenezer and Julia about 7 months after Elizabeth's death. Also, the funeral notice for Elizabeth lists her as Mrs. Ebenezer Elgar & the address matches the 1887 directory above. Since Julia was under two surnames in the marriage index and was noted to be on marriage #2 in the 1910 census, I think she may have been widowed. Or possibly divorced, but widowed is more likely in that era.
I'm thinking Edward and Ebenezer are one in the same. Maybe he decided Edward was easier to spell later in life.
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There's an 1880 census record with Edward Elger and wife Elizabeth in Rochester, and Edward's information seems to fit fairly well with Ebenezer's.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZDJ-127?lang=en
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The burial for Elizabeth Elgar is here - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31983794/elizabeth-elgar
The cemetery record says she died of cancer. https://urexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/s/mt-hope-cemetery-records/item/251992
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I'm thinking Ebenezer may be a man of many names.
In the 1880 census for Edward & Elizabeth, they're living at 22 Smith St.
In the 1880 Rochester city directory, there is a Francis E. Elgar, finisher, home 22 Smith. No Edward or Ebenezer Elgar listed.
In the 1879 Rochester city directory, the only Elgar is Francis, finisher, Jay corner Erie Canal, house 22 Smith. The 1878 Rochester city directory has Ebenezer as a finisher in that Jay corner Erie Canal location too.
The 1881 and 1882 Rochester city directories also only have Francis E. Elgar as the only Elgar. 1881 says he is finisher Exchange corner Troup, house 22 Smith. In 1882, he is listed as finisher 37 Gorham, house 22 Smith.
There is an 1875 New York state census entry for Francis E. Elgar, age 27, b. England, buggy & carriage finisher. But his wife was listed as Anna, age 38, born Otsego. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNKW-MFX?lang=en Her age would seem to fit Elizabeth, but I'm not sure.
Anyway, was he Ebenezer, Francis/Frank E., and Edward? Not sure, but seems possible.
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Thank you!!
I think he must be Ebenezer, Edward and Francis/Frank.
Sorry to ask, but did you see anything of Archie Simmonds? I wonder if he died as he is not with Julia in 1910 and would only have been around 9.
Also, I noticed in the passenger list in 1906 he was written down as Ebenezer and Julia's grandson whereas in the 1901 census in England he was written as their adopted son, parents not known. Do you think they may have just assumed he was their grandson due to their ages - I don't think he could have been Julia's grandson from a previous marriage.
Thanks again :)
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Sorry to ask, but did you see anything of Archie Simmonds?
See reply #2, Archie in the 1915 census.