ALICE JAMES & ? FOSTER Entry to USA abt 1912

[saworth]

If anyone can shed some light on a total puzzle from our family point of view, it would be greatly appreciated.
We have an Alice James - born March 1873 in Canton (Cardiff), Glamorgan, Wales to John James and Mary Preece. According to family talk, she was a nurse and remembered as coming to the family house in West Ham, London, to tell the family she was going to America with a patient she had met whose surname was Foster.  This would have been around 1911 to 1912.  I have Alice on an England census in West Ham for 1881, but cannot find her on an England or Wales Census for 1891/1901 or 1911. 

An elderly aunt - now deceased - remembered talk of going to Texas with this man.  As she was single and about 39 at this point, maybe she thought it her last chance at a possible marriage?  I have tried looking on Ellis Island but cannot find her.  I appreciate in those days, they may not have even travelled together, or if indeed they married before they went.  If there is anyone with any information on texas records - perhaps tax records? - I would love to hear.

Many thanks,  Sally

[shellyesq]

There are Texas death records here that you might want to check:  http://labs.familysearch.org/

[Erato]

Could this be a possibility?

1920 Census, 1065 Selma Ave., District 169, Los Angeles, LA County California

Forster, Arthur B., head, own home, mortgaged, 37, married, immigrated 1911, naturalized 1918, b. England, parents b. England, teacher high school

Alice A., wife, 46, married, immigrated 1911, naturalized 1918, b. England, parents b. England, no occupation

Dorothy A., daughter, 7, b. California

[Erato]

I have found Arthur B. Forster and his wife Alice Aubrey Forster entering the US via Philadelphia in 1911, destination Los Angeles.  Their last permanent residence was Low Fell nr Gateshead.

[shellyesq]

Well done, erato - I think you may have something.  On rootsweb.com's California death index, there's Alice Aubrey Forster, maiden name James, born outside US, born 19 Jan. 1876 and died 23 May 1959.  The birthdate may be a bit off, but maybe?

The Calif. birth index has Dorothy A. Forster born 22 Jan. 1912 in Los Angeles with mother's maiden name James.

[shellyesq]

I found a passport application for Arthur Blenkinsop Forster in Los Angeles.  He was born Darlington, England on 6 Oct. 1882 to father Robert Forster.  His wife Alice was born Wales.  Daughter Dorothy was born Calif.  They were married 29 Jun. 1909 and he emigrated from Liverpool 10 May 1911.  He was a school master.  The passport app. has a picture of the three of them, so if you're interested in it, PM me your e-mail address.

[Erato]

They arrived in Philadelphia on 10 May 1911 from Liverpool on the SS Friesland.  He´s Listed as Arthur Blenkirtop Forster and Alice's age is hard to make out - looks like 48, possibly 38?

[Erato]

1930 Census, 1334 [unknown street near Acacia St.], District 979, Glendale, LA County, California

Forster, Arthur B., head, own home $15000, has radio, 48, first married at 28, b. England, parents b. England, immigrated 1910, naturalized, teacher junior college, not a veteran

Alice A., wife, 50, first married at 30, b. England, parents b. England, immigrated 1910, naturalized, no occupation

Dorothy, daughter, 18, single, b. California, no occupation

[Erato]

Arthur was a French teacher.  See:

http://socal-yearbooks.com/1930/1932lajcfac.html