Bit of a brick wall - Joseph Harold Byrne

[Jon Byrne]

Well I started on my research journey over Christmas and have been really pleased in what I have found from very little information, however although I am very much enjoying working backwards with all the branches there is still one glaring hole in my tree, namely that I do not know when and where my Grandfather died.

To be fair 6 months ago I didnt know his name or what he looked like, but now have pictures, stories from his life and a very good understanding of what he did prior to about 1960.

From that point I can find no information at all regarding his death or  emigration from the UK or indeed anything. His details are

Born 28th November 1914 in Liverpool
Possible Merchant Navy Cook until WWII
Served in the Army in WWII
In Merchant Navy as Ships Cook until mid 50's
Married in 1953 to Eunice Murphy or Magee
Had three children with her and then contact was lost in approx. 1960

Does anyone have any ideas?

[Just Kia]

Are you sure he emmigrated? Do you know to which country? Could he have returned to the UK?
Long shot but could he still be alive (a good reason for not being able to find anything regarding his death) - he'd be 96-97 and that's not so unusual. My 1xG Grandmother died in 2004 aged 95 (proclaiming to be 85).

[Jon Byrne]

Hi thanks for the reply.

Yes I have thought of the possibility he is still alive, however I feel this is unlikely for a couple of reasons.

1) He was looked for for a long time, right up until the late 90's, I know this does not mean he isn't alive but it would make it less likely

2) The most important thing was his health, I know he was involved in an accident in the late 40's early 50's which saw him spend some time in the water and he was very ill after this, the last picture I have of him is from approx 1958 when he was 43 and he could be mistaken for someone in their 60's and looked quite ill.

I do not know he emigrated I just have not ruled it out as I have been unable to find a death here, he had 7 Brother and Sister all of whom went to Canada or the USA except on of them so I felt he may have gone looking for them, however I have been unable to find evidence of this either.

[haliared]

Hi there Jon,
Have sent you a personal message re: BYRNE family, but just thinking-have you checked the electoral records for the address where the last child was born ? Maybe you can trace him that way ?
Best wishes.

[Jon Byrne]

Hi Haliared

I will reply to your PM, but as for the checking electoral rolls I know this will lead to a dead end as he left the family there when he left.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[haliared]

There is a Joseph H BYRNE working on the vessel 'QUEEN OF BERMUDA' arriving at the port of New York, USA 23 Jul 1952. He has served 14 years at sea, his position in the ship's company is 'wiper', he is age 37 and English, weighs 142, height 5/7. He seems to be on this vessel from 18 Jul 1952-10 Oct 1952. I think that this Joseph could have been serving as a 'Trimmer' aboard the Carinthia before that (27 Aug to 3 Dec 1937).
Hope that this can help in some way.

[Jon Byrne]

I had seen that record and dismissed it due to the fact it does not appear in his seamans pouch and that all of his positions where Ships Cook or 2nd Cook etc, however on second look those dates do not overlap any of his other known whereabouts and the age and height match perfectly. 140lbs would fit the photos I have seen of him too.

Thank you for this!

[haliared]

You are very welcome 

[Jon Byrne]

Just been to the library and checked the Ancestry Passenger lists and there is a Joseph Byrne of the right age, height and build who worked a number of ships in the 30's and early 50's and landed in New York, I will do some more digging.

Does it sound reasonable that someone in the Merchant Navy would get a job working on a ship doing something other than their normal trade?