Morrison brothers in Boston, 1910 U.S. Census

[rickpat]

I have located 3 great uncles from Northern Ireland on the 1910 U.S. Census in Boston, MA but am unable to find two of them after 1910. They are living as lodgers with Laura Langdon, (b. 1881, MA), a widow with no children listed.

The brother's surname, Morrison, is mis-transcribed on the Ancestry 1910 Census as Moonson.

William Morrison (1875-1912) arrived in Boston 1 Dec 1909. The passenger list for the S.S. Pretorian names Thomas Morrison of Portadown as a contact person in Ireland and Portadown is listed as William's place of birth. Thomas (1841-1919) in Portadown is William's father and my great grandfather. William died in Maynard, MA in 1912. The 1910 Census lists his occupation as a department store salesman and the passenger lists states his occupation as `draper's assistant'.

The 1909 Pretorian passenger list also states that William is going to join his brother, Bob Morrison, Charlesgate Hotel, Boston. The 1910 Census lists Robert's occupation as restaurant cook. Robert Morrison was born in Northern Ireland in 1885 and, according to the 1910 Census, arrived in the States in 1904.

The 1910 Census also lists and a third brother, Thomas Morrison, (b. 1873, Northern Ireland) and, according to the 1910 Census, arrived in the States in 1899. His occupation is listed as hotel porter.

A Laura Langdon (b. 1882, MA) is seen living in Cambridge on the 1920 U.S. Census with her parents and three older teenagers listed as her children. This is probably not be the same Laura Langdon. It is possible, I guess, one of the Morrison brothers might have married Laura.

The 1920 and 1930 Census reports list lots of Robert and lots of Thomas Morrison's but I can't prove which might be the correct ones.

I have two Morrison trees on Ancestry. Important places in the history of this Morrison family are Portadown, Co. Armagh, Mullavilly Parish, and Derryhale. There are other brothers: James (1869 -1948), my grandfather; George (b. 1871); Richard (b. 1882). I know nothing of George. Richard may have entered the States at Niagara Falls in 1914 as a record of the crossing lists Portadown as his place of birth.

I would like to find Robert and Thomas Morrison after 1910 or anything on George or Richard. I've tried MA marriages and deaths; haven't been able to locate Boston city directories; naturalization papers, and passenger lists for George & Richard. The major problem seems to be that their names are very common.

Richard

[Lisa in California]

As you said, they had common names.  There were several Robert Morrisons and Thomas Morrisons born within two years of your Morrisons, sailing from the U.S. to Glasgow and Liverpool in 1915 (+/- 5 years).  Have you checked the immigration lists to see if either brother returned?

[Lisa in California]

This doesn't help with the search, but this could be the Richard you found, crossing the border:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0b9u/
1912 Toronto Directory, Richard Morrison, clk, T Eaton Co, b 23 Elm

Looking at the 1918 Toronto Directory, Richard Morrison, slsman Eaton's, rns 122 Bond
It appears this man returned to Toronto.

[Lisa in California]

Again, there were a lot of Morrisons, but a Richard Morrison, age 74, died August 22, 1957 in New Westminster, British Columbia.
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/textual/governmt/vstats/v_events.htm

This Richard could possibly be buried in Fraser Cemetery:
http://www.islandnet.com/bccfa/search.php

[Lisa in California]

WWI Draft Reg Card
Robert Morrison, 40 or 60 Chandler Street, Boston, MA
Born October 26, 1885, Ireland
Occupation:  Waiter (Sorry, cannot read his place of employment)
Single, tall, slender, blue eyes, auburn hair.
Dated June 5, 1917

[Lisa in California]

WWII Reg Card
Robert Morrison, 146 W. Newton Street, Boston, c/o Mrs. Yarnold
Born Ireland, October 26, 1885
The person who will always know his address is Mrs. Yarnold
At the top of the card is typed: "Deceased - Died 11/18/42 at Boston, Mass"

I wonder if this is your Robert?

[Lisa in California]

1924 Boston Directory
Robert Morrison, waiter, res 60 Chandler

[Lisa in California]

Could this be Thomas?
WWI Reg Card
Thomas Morrison, born December 8, 1874. Great Britain
41 Astor? Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Mass
Occupation: Porter(?) The Marshall House (Corp) York Harbor(?), York, Maine
Annie E. Morrison, Wife
Medium height, medium build, gray(?) eyes, light brown hair
Date: September 4, 1918

[rickpat]

Lisa,

Thank you for all the details and possibilities you provided!

Reply #1 - I don't know where to look for U.S. to Glasgow/Liverpool records.  If you could direct me to a site or two I'll be sure to explore them.

Reply #2  -  Richard's border crossing record indeed states his occupation as salesman with no permanmet address in Buffalo and it seems to indicate that this was a temporary visit.  It also says he arr. in Quebec, June 12, 1911 on the S.S. Scotia (or Scotian). Haven't yet been able to locate that passenger list.  I'll tey to attach the border crossing record.

Reply #3 I'll contact the Fraser Cemetery.

Reply #4 I did not have that WWI Draft Card for Robert.  I have his DOB as 12 May 1885 and the draft card is Oct. 26, 1885.  The May date could be wrong.

Reply #5 The date of death on the WWII draft card certainly opens some possibilities.

Reply #6 The Robert in Replies 4 & 6  are at the same address

Reply #7  I have this WW1 draft card on Thomas with wife's name & Boston address.  The 1910 Census lists him as a hotel porter so he could have been working in York, ME which is a coastal/vacation area north of Boston when he signed up for the draft.

Thanks again for all the details and for your effort.

Richard