Hi
I am trying to obtain some advice on the best course of action in trying to locate a missing ancestor in NewYork. I would really like to know if there is any way of finding him or wether it is a lost cause. The family information I have on him is that he jumped ship while in New York and desertion being an offence went on to change his name. After an extensive search by family he was found, apparently by then he was married and had a family.
The ancestor in question had been in the British Navy until 1923 and while in Bermuda had bought himself out, and enlisted in what I assume was the Merchant Navy. He travelled from Bermuda to New York on a number of occasions, this information I have from the ships manifests, but what I can not understand is that the last manifest I have shows in 1924 he was discharged. Why then would he have needed to change his name if that is the case?
I can find no trace of him in the death records under his original name, so have to assume that the information the family gave was correct. Perhaps he reenlisted and then deserted.
Surely to obtain work in America he would need some sort of documentation, i.e. social security number and to marry wouldn't he need his birth certificate, and have to give his father's name, unless he lied about that?
I have his birth date and where he was born, his parents names etc, is there any way then of finding some one with these details even if he changed his name, which I assume was only the surname?
I would appreciate any help you could give, many thanks.
regards
Margaret Machin
I am trying to obtain some advice on the best course of action in trying to locate a missing ancestor in NewYork. I would really like to know if there is any way of finding him or wether it is a lost cause. The family information I have on him is that he jumped ship while in New York and desertion being an offence went on to change his name. After an extensive search by family he was found, apparently by then he was married and had a family.
The ancestor in question had been in the British Navy until 1923 and while in Bermuda had bought himself out, and enlisted in what I assume was the Merchant Navy. He travelled from Bermuda to New York on a number of occasions, this information I have from the ships manifests, but what I can not understand is that the last manifest I have shows in 1924 he was discharged. Why then would he have needed to change his name if that is the case?
I can find no trace of him in the death records under his original name, so have to assume that the information the family gave was correct. Perhaps he reenlisted and then deserted.
Surely to obtain work in America he would need some sort of documentation, i.e. social security number and to marry wouldn't he need his birth certificate, and have to give his father's name, unless he lied about that?
I have his birth date and where he was born, his parents names etc, is there any way then of finding some one with these details even if he changed his name, which I assume was only the surname?
I would appreciate any help you could give, many thanks.
regards
Margaret Machin
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