George W A Blake

[shellyesq]

According to his petition for naturalization, George was born 6 Nov. 1870 in London, England and traveled over on the Majestic from Southampton 5 Apr. 1904 to New York 15 May 1904.  His children are listed as Nellie 4-8-94 and Eva 3-25 (2nd number hard to read)-96.  London and England are after both of their names - not sure if it's place of birth or residence, as the question asks for both.

[shellyesq]

The Philadelphia marriage index on the Family Search Labs site has Alexina Cameron married to George W. Blake in 1922.

[Richard Knott]

Thanks; that's all very useful info.

Richard

[Richard Knott]

According to his petition for naturalization, George was born 6 Nov. 1870 in London, England and traveled over on the Majestic from Southampton 5 Apr. 1904 to New York 15 May 1904.  His children are listed as Nellie 4-8-94 and Eva 3-25 (2nd number hard to read)-96.  London and England are after both of their names - not sure if it's place of birth or residence, as the question asks for both.

The only birth fitting this date is:

Dec 1870   Lambeth
George William Blake

He may be this one:

1871 RG10/670
George Blake, 23, cab driver, b Lambeth, Surrey
Elizabeth Blake, 22, b City, Middx
Elizabeth Blake, dau, 4, b Lambeth
George Blake, son, 5 months, b Lambeth

In the 1881 census (RG11/692) he is listed as George W Blake.

That said, 1870 is very different to what he claims on censuses etc (1879).

The best bet seems to be to get the marriage certificate for Alexine Cameron and George Blake in 1922.
The link is here:
http://secureprod.phila.gov/wills/marriagerecordinfo.aspx

The index gives:
Digitla GS number: 4141644
Section or license no: 457030
Image number: 00019

Richard

[Richard Knott]

Looks interesting:

RG13/62
Fulham
George Blake, 53, cab driver groom, b Lambeth
Elizabeth Blake, 53, wife, b City of London
Frederick Blake, 7, son, b Westminster
Nellie Blake, 5, granddaughter, b Chelsea

The evidence is now fairly strong that George William Blake was born on 6th Nov 1870 in Lambeth, and that he gave a false age later in his life. He had two children (Nellie and Eva) who were left behind in England when he emigrated to Philadelphia in 1904. On 22nd Feb 1922 he married Ina Cameron, who had been born in Inverness and emigrated in 1910. They were later joined by her sister Margaret's son, Alexander Morrison.

The 1922 certificate should give George's father as George, a cab driver; and this birth should confirm George William's birth date:

George William Blake   Dec 1870    Lambeth 1d 437

It would be good to find George in the 1891/1901 censuses, but I haven't found him yet under George or William. There is a George Blake, 30,  living in Chelsea in 1901, who was born in Kennington Lane (which is in Lambeth); but he is married to Caroline (although I can't find their marriage).

Richard

[lilleywood]

Hi
Thank you so much for all the information, I am so greatful.

The address of N Mole Street is correct, I have letters from Ina to Ellen with this address on them.

As for the different birth dates of George, and maybe he lied about this, I think this is also correct.
                                       1930 passenger list: 1879.
                                       1939 passenger list:1871.


This is indeed very interesting and will take me a while to undertsand it all.
As you are both very good at this may I put something else into the puzzle.

1920 US census
George W Blake B: England 1872. married. Immigration year 1907.
Mary E Blake      B: England 1876. married. Immigration year 1907.

This doesn't seem much in its self, but on the cencus George's occupation is Hospital Doorman.
1930 US census (when married to Ina), George's occupation is Hospital Doorman.
Shelly has found that Ina was going to join Ewen Fraser in 1910 at 500 N. 18th St.
The 1920 census has George & Mary's residence as Buttonwood Street.

I have Google Earthed these two adresses and found that they are only two blocks apart.How strange is that?

George must have left England married to Mary ?,either divorced or widowed then met Ina in Philadelphia?

Graham

[Richard Knott]

They are likely to be the same George W Blake, although yours first came over in 1904. They could have married in the USA, of course, even though they may have come over on the same ship. There is no evidence of a George William Blake marrying a Mary E in the UK (except a couple in Yorkshire who stayed there).

In case you didn't have the 1881 entry, here it is:

1881
Model Lodging Houses, 6 High St, Lambeth
George Blake, 33, cabman, b Lambeth
Elisbeth Blake, wife, 32, City of London
Elisbeth A Blake, dau, 14, b Lambeth
George W Blake, son, 11, b Lambeth
Benjamin J Blake, son, 8, b Lambeth
Arthur A Blake, son, 6, b Lambeth
William H Blake, son, 4, b Middlesex?    Perhaps this is 'Uncle Bill'
Thomas H Blake, son, 2, b Lambeth
Albert E Blake, son, 1, b Lambeth

Once you have looked through all this, and are convinced they are your family, let us know whether you need any help with earlier generations.

Richard