How do I trace a possible emigration for missing relative?

[A Lee]

Having firstly assumed my missing ancestor was killed in the war and put a few postings on here he does not appear on the war graves site.

I am now thinking maybe he emigrated but I have no idea where to start. I have already tried Ellis Island with no luck.

Or are there any other reasons why I would have a birth and a 1901 census entry but no death?
Any help would be welcome!

[Geoffers]

Having firstly assumed my missing ancestor was killed in the war I am now thinking maybe he emigrated......Or are there any other reasons why I would have a birth and a 1901 census entry but no death?Loads of possible reasons - moved to Scotland, Channel Islands, somewhere other than America, you haven't searched the right time period, changed surname, used a different forename, etc, etc. But before you start on all that, do you know when this person's father died and if so did he leave a will?? If he left a will, does he mention your ancestor?

Geoffers

[Wirral]

Most Britains emigrating at that time would be more likely to go to the British colonies, rather than to the USA. Try Canada, South Africa & other African states, Australia & New Zealand.
The only links I have are for Canada http://www.collectionscanada.ca/collection/index-e.html
& South Africa http://www.national.archives.gov.za/index.htm

[Procat]

Or are there any other reasons why I would have a birth and a 1901 census entry but no death?

Have you tried checking in the back bar of the local pub to see if he is still going in for his daily pint? :)

Sorry couldn't resist.

There are a large number of resources available but if you don't know where he went or when you may have a hard slog ahead of you. It is of course possible that he did not emigrate - his death may not have been recorded or is under a wrong name or he died on holiday outside England & Wales.

This site is a veritable treasure trove of links that may help:

http://www.cyndislist.com/ships.htm

The UK National Archives also has this information:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/migration/step1.htm

[Mutley]

He doesn't happen to be the 106 year old Chelsea Pensioner that went to France this year to take part in their Poppy Day ceremony?

Sorry, only joking :D

This link has lots of useful info
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Emigration.html

I am sure if you give his name or a reference to your other posts, one of our more intelligent members will give you a more helpful answer.

Mutley

[Procat]

I have checked the Australian National Archives web site for William Hammant without success along with the Australian War Memorial web site - this site lists all service personnel who served with the Australian Forces in WWI & II.

I have also checked all the indexes I have along with the various online indexes again with no success. I cannot guarantee he did not come to Australia but it is looking unlikely.

[blue eyes]

Hi Lee, I thought there was a posting from you giving his name, was it William Hammant ? Did he marry. when and where was he born? Have you looked under different spellings?.


Julie

[Dennis Harker]

I could have a look through Ancestry for you but would need more info such as place and date of birth, was he married or single in 1901 (depends on his age of course) and anything else that would identify him.

I've just done a quickie on Ancestry and there are a number of William Hammants, who originated in England and that is why I need more info to narrow the search down a bit.

[A Lee]

Wow, so many responses. You are all so helpful|hug|

William James Hammant was 8 in the 1901 census and he was born in Fulham. His father also had the same name. I cannot find any record of him at all after this. I do know when his father died - I have a certificate - but haven't yet checked to see if he had a will.

Once again thanks Dennis Harker, Blue Eyes, Procat, Mutley, Wirral and Geoffers for your help and advice:)

[Mutley]

I suppose you have his birth

William James Hammant
Born last quarter of 1892 in Fulham 1a/239
(this is a dodgy transcription of the reference number)

But I cannot see a death unless it is wrongly transcribed, there are loads of William James Hammonds. Could he have moved out of London or emmigrated?

Sorry not more helpful
Mutley

[Dennis Harker]

The William Hammants on the Ancestry U.S. Census reports do not tie in with the birth in Fulham 1892. I have looked through the Immigration Passenger lists and there are a couple of William Hammants but all before the 1901 census.

As Mutley says there are plenty of William Hammonds, not so many William Hammants.

I have found the birth index and Mutley's transcription is correct : Fulham 4th Qtr 1892 Vol 1a Page 239.

I have also found the 1901 census which shows him at age 8 living with his family in Bexley Kent.

I have the images of those two reports - do you wish them to be forwarded by email or have you got them already? They don't actually help much as you knew the info already.

I will have a further look sometime but it's not looking promising.

[A Lee]

Thanks Mutley and Dennis Harker for your time and effort.:)
I do have his birth and census records and you've both now discovered my stumbling block|banghead|

If his name has been transcribed as Hammond by mistake, I don't know where to start!

Thanks anyway, it's much appreciated|wave|

[Mutley]

Hi A Lee
God knows how many of us are waiting with great anticipation for the 1911 census! It may just move us on a bit, if it ever gets transcribed?

The weird bit about yours is I have a step family of Hammonds from the Bexley area, when I get around to tracking them I will let you know if they are not your Hammants, hopefully before 2011 :D

Sorry, that's not much help. For a census I have had to do a long hard slog and check each wrong name (eg. Hammond) to see if they in their right place. But for a death it is almost impossible to order all those wrong certificates, even if you ask them to do a check. Check what????

Maybe the will is your next try, most of my lot did not have enough to know the meaning of the word 'will', lets hope, for you, you will be lucky. Let us know.....

[Peter Goodey]

God knows how many of us are waiting with great anticipation for the 1911 census
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/131.htm

[Mutley]

We are now at the stage of detailed discussions with a short list of potential suppliers. It is intended that the contract for the service to deliver the 1911 census online will be awarded in March 2007.
Ooooh :D I can't wait........

[Mutley]

I was going through the LMA site for Black Sheep and spotted this:

William Hammet, born abt 1860 in Suffolk. Was released from Wandsworth Prison on 26/4/1873 age 14. His sentence was 1 months hard labour and 4 years in a reformatory for embezzling.

Not one of yours is he?

[blue eyes]

Possibly this may be your William Hammant.

Birth reg 1892 Fulham vol 1a page 177 William Hannant.

Julie

[A Lee]

Oooh it's a confusing business isn't it?:confused:

Thanks Mutley and Blue Eyes for your comments. I haven't looked too far into possible name variations as it does tend to throw up numerous 'possibilities' with no real way of proving for certain. I will however take all your suggestions on board and things may piece themselves together!