George Beattie of Newtownards died in an accident in Manhattan, New York

[Derek Beattie]

Hello all,. New to this forum which a friend highly recommended so here goes,. stuck finding info on a Great Uncle George Beattie born Newtownards 22nd. July 1879 and later emigrated to the US via Canad,. the family grave stone in Movilla Cemetery states he died in an accident in Manhattan but no further details .. i have the family in the 1930 US Census but thats it,. 
1930 US Census
Brooklyn, Kings, New York - Districts 1751~1953
Surname    Forename    Age    Born    Birth    Relation    Religion    Birthplace    Arrived US    Marital Status    Years Married    Children Born    Children Living
Beattie    George    45    c1885    c1885    Head of         Ireland    1924    Married         2    
Beattie    Mary    40    c1890    c1890    Wife         Ireland    1924    Married              
Beattie    George E.    21    c1909    c1909    Son         Ireland    1924    Single              
Beattie    Leslie A.    15    c1915    c1915    Son         Canada    1924    Single              
Lynn    George    33         c1897    Lodger         Ireland    1925    Single              
Curley    David    32         c1898    Lodger         Ireland    1923    Single              
Murphy    Jack    28         c1902    Lodger         Ireland    1922    Single              

Arrived 1924 from Canada - Looks like Great Uncle George was one of those who took the cheap crossing to Canada then walked across the border to the USA - Also Mary may have been pregnant enroute to Canada ....

Any help much appreciated,. also big thank you to Lorraine for encouraging me to join you folks ,..  Derek Beattie

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat but what is it you are looking for? if you want to find details of the accident in Manhattan then click on 'report to moderator' and ask for this to be moved to U.S. board. If something else then let us know and we'll try to help with information or suggestions.

[shellyesq]

It looks like they were in Canada for a while if their son was born there circa 1915 and they didn't come to the US until 1924.

On www.fultonhistory.com, there is an obituary for Mary Beattie, wife of George and mother of Leslie and George Jr., in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 12 Feb. 1935.  Internment in Cypress Hill cemetery.  The same site has a mention of Leslie being sued by an insurance company as an administrator for George Beattie, deceased.  That mention was from 9 Aug. 1939.

http://www.italiangen.org/records-search/deaths.php has Mary's death listed as 10 Feb. 1935 in Kings County (which is Brooklyn). 

[avm228]

Welcome Derek 

Here they are crossing the US/Canadian border on 24 October 1923:

Beattie, George 48y 0m, Mar, Carpenter, Irish, last residence Winnipeg. Nearest relative there: (sis) Agnes Relso of 222 Smith St, Winnipeg. Final destination Brooklyn, N.Y., to join friend Mr Geo Moses of 5223 Ave T, Flatbush, Brooklyn, N.Y. Description: 5ft 6in, med complexion, brown hair & eyes, born Newtownards Ireland.

With him are:

Mary Beattie, 35yr 3mo, 5 ft 2in, dark complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, born Newtownards.
George E. Beattie, 15 yr 10mo, med complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, born Newtownards.
Leslie A. Beattie, 9yr 5mo, fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, born Winnipeg.

[avm228]

The 1916 Manitoba census shows the family (same four people) in Winnipeg (1162 Ingersoll). George senior again is a carpenter. Immigrated (other than 2yr old Leslie) to Canada 1912. Religion: Presbyterian.

[aghadowey]

Here's the family in Ireland in 1911-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Newtownards_Urban/Balfour_Street/267899

[shellyesq]

I found articles on www.fultonhistory.com that detail the accident that killed George.  It did not occur in Manhattan, but rather in Peekskill, New York, a town in Westchester Co. north of New York City.  It appears that he died on 7 May 1938 and son Leslie, who was driving the car, was injured.  If you do an exact search for "Leslie Beattie" and scroll down to the results in Mount Vernon and Yonkers newspapers, you should see the articles. 

[shellyesq]

On the image of the border crossing for this family, there are markings by Leslie's name that indicate he was seeking naturalization in the US. 

It appears that Leslie enlisted in the Army during WWII - http://www.ww2enlistment.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=2947907

[Derek Beattie]

You folks are amazing, Lorraine Brown told me you were good but you do realise that had you been this clever 200 years ago they would have burned you all at the stake,. cannot thank you enough, you have made a happy man very old ,...  Derek