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Author Topic: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California  (Read 13063 times)

Offline ainslie

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Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« on: Wednesday 22 February 12 09:22 GMT (UK) »
I am new to researching USA links and would welcome advice on sources.

WILIAM RANKEN FORTUNE was born in Fife, Scotland in 1858, one of a large family.  He married in California, his wife's name is known variously as 'Mary Helen Hertzberg', or 'Helen Hersberg', and she is thought to have been from a California family.  How can I trace the marriage details?
It is thought that a son was born, and then a daughter.  No details of the son are known, but the daughter, born at Sansalito in January 1885 was formally EUPHEMIA CHARLOTTE FORTUNE.  Her successful career as an artist is well documented, her work signed 'E. Charlton Fortune', as she disliked her forenames.
William is believed to have died in California in 1894.  Any more information about him, his marriage, wife and son would be most welcome, or suggestions as to sources.

Ainslie

Offline AMBLY

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 22 February 12 10:31 GMT (UK) »
Hi Ainslie

Funeral Home record:
Sarah Helen Herzberg FORTUNE, b 9 Dec 1856 San Francisco, widow of William Ranken FORTUNE
Of Garden Nursing Home , 2750 Geary Street,  died there age 83 yrs,  on 20 Jan 1940
Father: Julius HERZBERG, b Mechlenburg, Germany
Mother: Mary CHARLTON, b Nova Scotia, Canada
Had lived in San Francisco all her life
Buried Holy Cross Cemetery on 22 Jan  1940
Informant: Daughter, E Charlton FORTUNE
Widow of E.uphemia Charlton and James Clephane FORTUNE

This is thought to be a portrait painted by Effie,  of her brother:
http://www.bonhams.com/usa/auction/16073/lot/45/
There is a bit of a bio on him there also.

Details of his grave:
http://www.histopolis.com/Grave/Detail.aspx?GraveID=847617226
born 29 Apr 1891, died 28 Oct 1960

Cheers
AMBLY

Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

"Now that we're all here, I'm not sure if we're all there...."

 Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz
 Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace
    ~Benito Juarez (1806-1872)

Offline AMBLY

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 22 February 12 11:32 GMT (UK) »
Some resources:

Have a good browse through this site:
https://www.familysearch.org/

Click on the US map to go to that section of records, including Census collections

Also search EllisIsland passenger lists:
http://www.ellisisland.org/

Cheers
AMBLY
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

"Now that we're all here, I'm not sure if we're all there...."

 Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz
 Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace
    ~Benito Juarez (1806-1872)

Offline shellyesq

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 22 February 12 12:10 GMT (UK) »
For San Francisco genealogy, definitely check out - http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/  It has various databases and tons of links to other helpful sites. 

This site has deaths from the time frame that you're looking for:  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cabf1905/San-Francisco/SanFranCoIndx.htm

Offline AMBLY

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 22 February 12 12:12 GMT (UK) »
It seems Helen, remarried after William died - in 1898 to one Stuart Fitzhugh Loughborough .

Search FORTUNE, 1898, CA here:
http://userdb.rootsweb.ancestry.com/marriages/

They also seem to have left the US shortly after that and were in Mexico at the time of the 1900 US Census  - according to information he supplied on  Passport aspplications in the early 1920's.  Possibly they divorced  - as Stuart (b 1861 in Upperville, Virginia), is still around in 1910 and later,  yet Helen is reverting to the surname FORTUNE & describing herself as a widow in 1910. She also never referred to LOUGHBOROUGH  in her Passport apps - only to William Ranken FORTUNE, as her late husband.

In 22 Jun 1904, the SS "Oceanic" arrived at New York out of Liverpool,  England with the following pair on board
Sarah H LOUGHBOROUGH 40
Euphemia FORTUNE, 19
Both US Citizens, Going to 2107 Valley's St, San Francisco

Cheers
AMBLY
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

"Now that we're all here, I'm not sure if we're all there...."

 Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz
 Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace
    ~Benito Juarez (1806-1872)

Offline ainslie

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 22 February 12 12:35 GMT (UK) »
I went out for a couple of hours and bingo! all that material was waiting on return.  Many thanks for helping - I shall enjoy following those leads.
Ainslie

Offline Lisa in California

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 23 February 12 06:19 GMT (UK) »
The 1904 immigration address most likely is Vallejo Street (it is difficult to read and was transcribed as Valley's).
Ellison: Co. Wicklow/Canada       Fowley: Sligo/Canada       Furnival: Lancashire/Canada       Ibbotson: Sheffield/Canada       Lee/DeJongh: Lancashire & Cheshire       Mumford: Essex/Canada       Ovens: Ireland/Canada       Sarge: Yorkshire/Canada             Stuart: Sligo/Canada       Sullivan: Co. Clare/Canada      Vaus: Sussex/Surrey      Wakefield: Tuam or Ballinasloe, Ireland              (Surname: Originated/Place Last Lived)  (Canadians lived in Ontario)

Offline ainslie

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 23 February 12 07:47 GMT (UK) »
Lisa
Thanks for the extra info.  I have not yet caught up with yesterday's offerings, but am finding it all very helpful.
A

Offline shellyesq

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Re: Fortune family of Fife, Scotland and California
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 23 February 12 19:49 GMT (UK) »
There is a William R. Fortune in the 1892 San Francisco city directory and it says he resides in San Rafael http://www.archive.org/stream/langleyssanfranc1892sanf#page/574/mode/2up/search/fortune

In the East Fife Record from 28 Dec. 1894, it apparently says that William Ranken Fortune, son of the late George Fortune, Barnsmuir, died at Los Angeles, California on 21 Dec.  Los Angeles is fairly far away from San Francisco, but who knows?
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