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I have question to ask if I may.  In 1997 when I was first connected to the internet I began to look for an “abandoned account” on behalf of my mother.   Her father had set up a savings account in her name in Boston where he was living, I’m guessing this would have been in 1924 or thereabouts but it might have been earlier.  When he died in 1929, an aunt continued to pay into the account for her until it matured on her twenty-first birthday (1936).  My mother, born in Boston in 1915, went to Ireland in 1920 and by the time the ‘policy’ matured, she had moved to London where she was nursing.  She was sent the relevant paperwork in order to put in her claim, but this was lost as she moved from hospital to hospital during the war.

I began to do some searches for her and sent letters out to the Massachusetts Archives, Office of Thrift Supervision and also the Abandoned Property Division.  Sadly, because we don’t have a name for the bank or society where the money was put, no one could help.  The one positive outcome of my writing was that we were told that whatever money had been saved would still be there and belonged to her.   

My mother died in 2003 and whilst I’m sure we are only talking about a modest sum, my grandfather and an aunt took the trouble to save that  money for her and so in her memory, I’d still like to find it.

The internet has moved on a great deal since 1997 and I was wondering, with all the archives available, where I should begin my new search.  I am still a bit of a novice but If anyone is able to advise I would be very grateful.   

Many thanks. 

I have a copy of my mother’s birth certificate – Boston Mass. 1915. Her mother died in 1919 and her father took her and her brother to Ireland arriving Moville 27th April 1920.   I have the Columbia arrival record from New York after someone helped me on Roots chat.  Unable to settle in Ireland however, my grandfather returned to Boston a few years later.  He said he had her ticket and wanted to take her with him and send for her brother later when he had saved enough money.  She said she would wait until he had enough money for them both.  My grandfather died in Jan 1929 and my mother never returned to America.   

My query is: - would the birth certificates have been used as passports do you think?   At the top right hand side is printed Boston ……….. (obviously a space for a date) where both certificates have been stamped with the date Apr – 2 1924  and again on a big official red seal on the front.  The certificates are quite grand looking and hand written, about 23cm x 29cm.   A feint official embossed stamp is on the front with the date July 1929.  I also have a photograph (Trement Street Boston) of my grandfather sitting with the two children which my mother always thought was her passport photo.  Did they need to have a passport photo?   

I am trying to piece all these bits together but have always been stumped by the dates on the certificates.  I’d be very grateful for any clues.  Thanks

Thank you for your reply Dawn, I will check that out over the weekend.  I have just started looking into my husband's family history - after 40 years  !

I am living in France  by the way and have just come across a case of old photos and letters.  My husband's father's line has been done (by someone else) but I wanted to look into his mothers side.  I was a bit 'stuck' when I found that the first two children were born in Gibraltar.  Thank you again for replying Dawn, I'm looking forward to seeing what I can find.

Thank you very much for helping me – I believe I have found him but will check the ‘middle’ name with my friend.  It would seem that he was given his mother’s surname on his birth record even though he knew of his father and that family acknowledged him and offered support when asked.  He always used the ‘inherited’ name of his ‘step-father’ however which was the surname my friend grew up with.  Thank you again for your help