Ancestors seem to have moved to the US

[timfoster]

Hi,

I have traced a relative who appears to have moved to the US and back to the UK again. I found this because their daughter, Lena, is listed as having been born in the USA. She is on the 1891 UK census listed as a dressmaker living with her parents in Nottingham (aged approx 20).

On the 1880 US census I have found what I think is her and her parents in Philadelphia. I think she was born between 2 Jun and 31 Dec 1870 as she isn't on the 1870 US census, but is listed as 10 years old in 1880.

Her parents, Henry and Mary Foster appear on the 1861 and 1871 census (although I think they also appear on the 1870 US census). They don't appear on the UK 1881 census so I'm guessing that they may have been flitting between the UK and US. This raises all sorts of questions.

My primary question is how did they get to the US. I've searched the online passenger lists but can't find them. Where should I look next?

Any help would be hugely appreciated. The more I look into this stuff, the more intrigued I become. I started looking originally because I was told by my grandmother, many years ago, that we were related to Colonel Blood (the man who tried to steal the crown jewels). I doubted the story, even as a kid, but I want to find out for myself. Now I'm hooked!!

[ChristineR]

Her parents, Henry and Mary Foster

Did you mean to say Henry and Sarah?
as the 1891 American born dressmaker is living with parents with those names. Lena Foster, aged 21, dressmaker, born America, followed by what appears to say N.U.S.?

[timfoster]

Hi Christine,

Sorry, yes, I did mean Sarah. These are indeed the people I'm talking about. The bit on the end, I think, is "Notts" crossed out as an error.

[Astoria]

Sarah and Lena travelled from Liverpool to Philadelphia 15 July 1896 on the Indiana, do you have this information?

[ChristineR]

There are two entries for a Lena Foster on Ancestry in the Boston Passenger Lists, 1820-1943. I cannot look at them for more detail as I haven't a sub.
I see that Lena was born in Massachusetts. Her name does not come up in the online birth index, but there are a lot of 'female' Foster girls births registered.

There is also a big discrepancy in Sarah's age 1891 and 1880, but could be an index error in the US record as I couldn't check the image.

[timfoster]

Thanks for the help folks.

I checked the SS Indiana passenger list that you pointed me towards, Astoria. Thanks for that. It seems that this is the correct Sarah and Lena. Sarah is listed as a widow and so Henry must have died between 1891 and 1896 (I have him on the 1891 census). I'm going to try tracing the sister they were going to stay with too.

Christine, I'm not sure that the references you mention are correct. I can't find them, but neither of the dob's you mention seem right. Sarah is born in 1839 and Lena in 1870.

[Geoffers]

I have traced a relative who appears to have moved to the US and back to the UK again.

My primary question is how did they get to the US. I've searched the online passenger lists but can't find them. Where should I look next?

Bearing in mind your location this will be difficult. A lot of emigration occurred following the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834; the records of which are held at The National Archives (TNA) at Kew in Document class MH12. See this section of the TNA guide dealing with emigration (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=292#14).

There are very few passenger lists before 1889 - see this TNA guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=106)

[timfoster]

Bearing in mind your location this will be difficult. A lot of emigration occurred following the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834; the records of which are held at The National Archives (TNA) at Kew in Document class MH12. See this section of the TNA guide dealing with emigration (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=292#14).

There are very few passenger lists before 1889 - see this TNA guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=106)

Thanks for this Geoffers. Typically, the only bit that is useful is the bit that the records don't exist for |computer|.

Is there any other way of finding this information out that anyone can suggest?

[Geoffers]

Is there any other way of finding this information out that anyone can suggest?

Only thing that springs to mind is the port where they disembarked, if records exist - and you'd have to know which port in order to look.

[Sue Mackay]

According to the 1880 US census Lena was born in Massachusetts, though they were living in East Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia. I am intrigued that there is no occupation given for Henry but Sarah appears as "R Liquor D" - at least that's what it looks like to me, and they have a 33 year old bar tender as a lodger.

[timfoster]

Yes, I have a copy of the 1880 census. Sarah does appear as R Liquor D. I wondered if this was maybe something to do with ownership of a bar? This would make sense of having a barman lodging with them.

Any ideas how I might be able to clarify that?

[Sue Mackay]

Yes, I have a copy of the 1880 census. Sarah does appear as R Liquor D. I wondered if this was maybe something to do with ownership of a bar? This would make sense of having a barman lodging with them.

Any ideas how I might be able to clarify that?

I have moved this thread from Genealogy Beginners to the USA Genealogy Forum in the hope that it will attract the notice of some of our American members. I am not sure, for example, if it is possible to trace US liquor licences in the way that it is possible to trace licensed victuallers in the UK.

[AdeleE]

The listing in Gopsill's Philadelphia City Directory For 1881 is:

Foster, Henry, liquors, 113 E Chelten av. Gtn

so I'm assuming that the 1881 census enumerator recorded the occupation on the wrong line.

Adele

[timfoster]

The listing in Gopsill's Philadelphia City Directory For 1881 is:

Foster, Henry, liquors, 113 E Chelten av. Gtn

so I'm assuming that the 1881 census enumerator recorded the occupation on the wrong line.

Adele

Hi Adele,

Can you ellaborate on this for me? Can I get access to the Philadelphia City Directory at all?

[AdeleE]

The directory is viewable on Anc*. Do you have access to their directories section?

Adele