mystery... my Gt.Grandad was born in NY 1874 but I cannot find him or his family

[gracie23]

Good morning...
Do you have this entry?

1880 US Census
NY - St Lawrence - De Kalb - District 193
William Rogers -  45 - Mill Wright - Born in Pennsylvania
Jane                   33 - Born in NY
Edward                15  "
Mary                    11  "
Elizabeth               9   "
James                    6   "
Matilda Birkie         58  Mother In Law Born in Canada

Just because someone is born in "New York", I would not assume they were born in New York City.
If a family comes from a rural area such as Pennsylvania, and they moved and the father kept his same/similar occupation, chances are they would move to a rural area in New York (more upstate New York). Of course this isn't always the case, but sometimes it can be a clue.
Deborah

[shellyesq]

Just because someone is born in "New York", I would not assume they were born in New York City.

I agree, but it was mentioned above that he wrote on his WWI Draft Registration card that he was born in New York, NY.  Always the chance that the info he gave could have been incorrect, but New York, NY = Manhattan.

Also, the marriage certificate lists James' father as James.

[Ohio Susan]

1895 and 1896 2751 Garnet has a Francis Johnson living there.

Can not find the Howard address.

[NZvixx]

I guess you could try recontacting the Municipal Archives & make sure he's the only one that fits.  There's a volunteer on www.raogk.org who does research there, so maybe it would help to have someone who's looking for the right thing for you. 

Thanks - have sent them an email request 

[NZvixx]

1895 and 1896 2751 Garnet has a Francis Johnson living there.

Can not find the Howard address.

I'm wondering how much truth was told on that marriage certificate.... it states wife was born in US (and her parents) and I know for a FACT they were all born in the UK 

[RobinBird]

Hello NZvixx,
     You have the correct birth cert with dob 11 March 1874 for your gt. grandad - the son of John E. Rogers & Nellie F. Leown.  As you have explained the birth cert does not have the name of the child. 

I researched the records of the US Consulate, Manchester, England which are held at the US Archives, Washington, DC.  I  found more records for your gt grandad.  Besides the US WWI draft registation for James T. Rogers there are documents for

Application for Registration - Native Citizen - 2 pages
Affidavit to Explain Protracted Foreign Residence - 2 pages
transcript copy of Return of Birth, Dept of Health, City of NY

I can email you these documents if you want to send me an email address.

Your mystery remains - where is this family of John Rogers, wife Nellie & son James in the 1880 census & any other NYC records.

[NZvixx]

Blimey that's an amazing find! Thank you so much - will message you my email address now 

[NZvixx]

     You have the correct birth cert with dob 11 March 1874 for your gt. grandad - the son of John E. Rogers & Nellie F. Leown.  As you have explained the birth cert does not have the name of the child. 

Your mystery remains - where is this family of John Rogers, wife Nellie & son James in the 1880 census & any other NYC records.

MANY many thanks to the wonderful Robinbird for the great information found.

NEXT problem... finding John & Nellie and any siblings when they do not appear to be in the census

The birth cert has the address 307 W 28th St. 
Can anyone can figure out where this location is in the 1880 census - what ward of the city - what enumeration district - possible the name was not indexed correctly. 

[shellyesq]

They may have moved in the interim.  I checked the 1876 & 1880 New York City directories and I don't see a John or a James Rogers at that address in either of them.

Considering all the issues with this man - no first name on the birth certificate, a different name for the father on the marriage record than the birth record, no info about mother's name or either parents' place of birth on the marriage certificate - I wouldn't be terribly surprised if he wasn't raised by his parents.  Perhaps his wife gave the information for the marriage record and she didn't know much, but it still strikes me that something may be off here.