William John Best emigrated England to Canada or US after 1891

[jkennerdale]

If anyone could possibly suggest how to find a needle in a haystack I'd be glad of advice and suggestions!

Wm John Best born 1873 Dorset, son of William Pope Best and Martha Jane Moore, last documented evidence of him 1891 Warminster census.

Emigrated at some point. His (most likely) grandson, was stationed in England 1942ish, name unknown. My mother, then 19 yrs old met him.

I have been searching for his family, of which there are rumoured to be many, for the last fifteen years without a trace. There are a few of that name in Canada and the US but further research has eliminated them as they were born in Canada, or the US.

As I am aware new records go online all the time now, just wondered if anyone could possibly help?

kind regards
Judith

[t mo]

hi Judith
the big problem with passenger records is that they can be very hit or miss with the amount of info on them some have full names and birth yrs others only first initial and no birth yr,s the only 2 likely candidates I can see if your sure he,s not in brit census after 1891 are these .
w j best departure 2 sept 1893 from Liverpool to new York occupation mechanic , ship name lucania
w best departure 3 mar 1900 from Liverpool to n y no occ ,ship Etruria
regards
trevor

[jkennerdale]

Thank you Trevor, I appreciate your help, that gives me something to go on.
kind regards
Judith

[sami]

Hi Judith:

On the 1891 Census his occupation is Blacksmith. Assuming he kept the same occupation that may be one way to narrow down the search for him.

I'm wondering why you show him as 'emigrated to Canada or Us after 1891'. What about South Africa and Australia?

sami

[jkennerdale]

Hi Sami,

I have tried the occupation angle but not got any further.

 I have searched Australia, where there are large numbers of Best's but most arrived long before 1891,and/or are from Cornwall. I have checked South Africa and New Zealand where there are Wm John Bests but all were born in those countries, no trace of mine at all. I've looked at Canada and the States, but both many years ago and just felt maybe more records had gone online since then and that I might be missing something! The proverbial brick wall! I'm ever hopeful one of his descendants will get a sudden urge to start looking at their family history!!!

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it!

kind regards
Judith

[t mo]

as a guide take care when looking for anyone going to Canada or the usa as they may go into one country and then cross the border into the other so if he,s not found in one then always check the other .
collections Canada has records for a William john best and a William john best jnr  regarding western land grants 1870-1930 a possible ?.

occupations aren,t a good guide for this time period with technology changing so quickly the introduction of mechanical vehicles and machines in the late 1890,s up to and beyond ww1 changed the world one day a blacksmith next day a mechanic !! .
regards
trevor

[jorose]

Here's a possible - names flipped about, and his age has dropped significantly (perhaps because his bride was b. 1890!)
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KS88-TP5
(there may be more details then are on this index on the original)

Child b. 1912:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FMH4-G6J
Child b/d. 1915:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDJN-GZS

[jkennerdale]

Hi,

thank you SO much, I have a feeling this is the one!!! I don't want to get too excited,  I can't quite believe it after all these years. Any suggestions as to what Canadian records I can look at?

kind regards
Judith

[*Sandra*]

The place of birth given for John William Best (above) was Ireland. Apart from the age difference, another little idiosyncrasy 

The child Oswald died 17 November 1915 - Burial :- Prospect Cemetery. Disease causing death :- Inanition. Immediate cause of death :- Malnutrition.
Father:- Wm J Best and Mother Ella Godwin.

Sandra