How to find my long lost family?

[saintconor]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could assist me. In 1925 My Great Great Uncle moved to New York with his Wife and young son. The family - Jeremiah Houston his wife Mary Houston and their son William Houston sailed from their home town of Londonderry onboard SS Cameronia. On route Mary who was Pregnant gave birth to Williamina Cameronia Annie Houston. I have found the family on the passanger lists and also on the 1930 census when living in Queens.

The only other information I have is that Jeremiah died in February 1952. He was living in Long Island at the time.

I was wondering where I can go from here? Ideally in the long run I would like to bring the 2 sides of the family back together.

Any info very much appreciated

Conor

[grub]

There is a Jeremiah Houston applying for naturalization on this site...
http://www.footnote.com/searchdocuments.php?query=houston&bc=Naturalizations%3A+1700+-+mid+1900s%5EIndexes&collection=7552799&start=19#18738545

Perhaps, with the information on there, you can order his naturalization records??

Valerie

[KathMc]

According to the 1930 census, there are no children living with Jeremiah and Mary, but a BIL, Leo Gillen, and brother James Houston. Is this the right family?

Kath

[shellyesq]

If he died on Long Island, you could order his death certificate with the information given here:  http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/genealogy.htm  If he died within New York City (the address in the census records and on the naturalization papers that grub linked to are both within New York City), the information on ordering a death record is here:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/home.shtml

If you know the town where he lived/died, you could try to get an obituary from the local library or try to find city directories that would show what happened to his family members after his death.

[saintconor]

Hi Valarie

I have checked this but it is not my relative. The application was around 40 years before my relative arrived in the USA. Thanks for looking though.


Hi Kath

This is the family alright. I have a copy of the census and the children are there. Not living in the same flat but in the same building. The parents where in 499 amd the children in 501. William is recorded as Joseph ( His middle name).

Do you know where I can go from here?

Thanks again folks

Conor

[KathMc]

Boy, your relatives really wanted to make it tough to find them, didn't they? Do you know why they were living apart like that?

Do you have a date or even month of death for Jeremiah, along with a town on Long Island? I would recommend contacting the public library in the town he died in and getting an obituary. That should list kids (it is very possible there were more kids born after 1930), married names, and maybe even grandkids. Usually if you email with the relevant information and ask them the procedure, they will send it along. Worse case scenario is that it will cost a minimal amount.

Kath

[saintconor]

Hi Kath. If it was easy it would be no fun

I do not the town he lived in when he died but I do know it was in February 1952. See attached picture.

I shall get in touch with my Grandmother (his niece) to see if she can add anything. Asyou can probably tell the families didnt have much contact.

Conor

[KathMc]

Very interesting. Here is a link:

http://www.irishculturalcentre.com/

They might be able to guide you, if he was prominent in the Irish community, they might be able to guide you.

Also, try this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Americans_in_New_York_City

At the bottom are links, and a couple might give you some information.

Kath

[shellyesq]

Do you know anything about his brothers who lived in the US?  Maybe we can work backwards to try to find out some more information.  Did Jeremiah's whole family move back to Ireland?  That was the impression I got from that article, but I wasn't sure.