Genealogy Chat

I have found details of a relative who left for USA in 1927. I have the ships passenger list, and confirmation of arrival in USA from the Ellis Island records. He was only 13 years old and travelled alone - I believe to join his parents who had already emigrated from UK. Can anyone advise on how I find where he went after entering the USA?

There are the US census records on ancestry.

Would you like to give us his details so we could have a look?

If you're using the Ellis Island site be sure to make note of the line number that he's listed on then go to the previous or following page and check that line number to get extra info about him.

If you care to post his name we can check the 1930 and 1940 US censuses.

I have had a go at the 1930 census but not come up with anything. However I much appreciate any help. Details I know are name George H Nettleton, DOB 1914, arrived New York on the ship Samaria 1927 age 13. Mother was Doris Nettleton, nee Marritt and father was Walter H Nettleton. Doris was born 1896 and she married Walter 1913. She and Walter went to USA sometime before George - I have not found their immigration records, details of passage etc.

The Ellis Island site quotes George as passenger ID 901727045499, Frame 708, Line number 24

I hope this helps you to help me through the 'what comes next' question

Thanks

He was listed on this ship but did not embark.


George H Nettleton

in the New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Record Image View

View image(s) of the ship

Name: George H Nettleton
Arrival Date: 21 Aug 1927
Birth Date: abt 1914
Birth Location: England
Birth Location Other: Hull, United Kingdom
Age: 13
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality: English
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Franconia
Search Ship Database: Search for the Franconia in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

But embarked on this one:

George H Nettleton

in the New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Record Image View

View image(s) of the ship

Name: George H Nettleton
Arrival Date: 8 Nov 1927
Birth Date: abt 1914
Birth Location: England
Birth Location Other: Hull, United Kingdom
Age: 13
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality: English
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Samaria
Search Ship Database: Search for the Samaria in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

He's going to join mother & stepfather,Mr. & Mrs. Craig, 38th. St., Jackson Heights, NY.
Nearest relative at home was uncle, George Wakefield, 98 Linn(something?) St., Hull.

He's George H. Craig on the 1930 census:

George H Craig

in the 1930 United States Federal Census
Record Image View

View blank form

Name: George H Craig
Birth Year: abt 1915
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: England
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Queens, Queens, New York
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: 75 St.
Block: F
House Number in Cities or Towns: 4007
Dwelling Number: 104
Family Number: 310
Lives on Farm: No
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: England
Language Spoken: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Gilbert Craig 35
Dorris Craig 35
George H Craig 15

Mother's second marriage?

Marriages Jun 1920 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Craig Gilbert C Nettleton Marylebone 1a 1667
Nettleton Doris Craig Marylebone 1a 1667

Many thanks for the advice - It really has helped - the next frame of the manifest shows his intention to join mother and step father Mr and Mrs Craig (she must have remarried) and an address in Jackson Hts - wherever that is! I am getting very excited!

Messages got crossed there - sorry! but so many thanks once again to all! Wow - so much info now - really looking forward to following all this up. Could mean a visit to the States!!!!

Jackson Heights in New York City but don't think of paying a visit until things warm up. I'm in Canada just north of New York State, temperature is -20 celsius, still abt. 2 feet of snow on the ground.

I will pack my thermal vest!!

Regarding your research - strange that there were 3 boys in my school called Abbott - 2 were brothers, the younger in the same year as me (I was born 1946).

Do you have access to Ancestry? There's a tree with George. It has a photo of Staff Sergeant George Herbert Nettleton Craig.

Edit: It also says his father Walter was killed in action 10 Nov. 1916, France & Flanders.

OMG this gets better every minute! I don't have a subscription to Ancestry, but I will follow up a 'one off' look at the records.

Must be past your bedtime over there, it's only 6:30 here. People of our age have to get their beauty sleep you know. Yes, I'm 3 years older than you.

Unfortunately I don't have anything further on my Abbotts. Great grandma was an illegitimate child, I will never know who her father was.

You can view for free Walter Nettleton's entry on the War Grave Commission site here
http://tiny.cc/z4m2tx
The Home page for the CWGC is http://www.cwgc.org/

An image of his memorial
http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=3805856

His grave and headstone
http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=3778617

Bedtime for sure, but I guess my mind will be working overtime! I have had a quick look at Ancestry and there is even more for me to follow up. Once again many thanks, but for now goodnight!

Detective

Thanks so much for those web connections. Tonight has been a very emotional one for me! I have so much now to follow up, all because of a story I remember from my father about a relative who as a boy of 13 caused family problems. Now I find his father was a first world war casualty, and that George was a staff sergeant in WW2. WE don't have many heroes in the family, but I will treasure all this and get it all written down in my family history

I can't stop saying thank you!

Bye for now

If you do take out a sub to Ancestry, you'll be able to view Walter's medal card

Name: Walter H Nettleton
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Private
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps: East Yorkshire Regiment
Regimental Number: 23687
Previous Units: 7th E. York. R. 23687 Pte.

There is a notation - Regarded as Dead. So the date on the CWGC sites presumably refer to the day he was last seen alive.

As over 70% of WW1 service records were destroyed in WW2 bombing, all you have left are his medal cards.

His Will can be ordered at a cost of £10 from here
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#soldiers

I think that Gilbert & Doris came to Canada first and this is them in Montreal in 1921 but curiously they have a 7 year old son Walter with them.

Gilbert Craig

in the 1921 Census of Canada
Record Image View

Name: Gilbert Craig
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 28
Birth Year: abt 1893
Birth Place: Ireland
Relation to Head of House: Chef (Head)
Spouse's Name: Doris Craig
Father Birth Place: Ireland
Mother Birth Place: USA
Year of Immigration: 1921
Racial or Tribal Origin: Irlandais (Irish)
Province or Territory: Quebec
District: Montreal (Maisonneuve)
District Number: 180
Sub-District: Mercier and Maisonneuve Ward
Sub-District Number: 29
City, Town or Village: Mercier Maisonneuve
Street or Township: 2912 Lafontaine
Municipality: Mercier Mais
Occupation: Machiniste
Income: 150
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Gilbert Craig 28
Doris Craig 26
Walter Craig 7

Another curiosity is that Gilbert's mother was born USA.

Arrival in Canada. She's with Gilbert, 26 but no Walter.

Doris Craig

in the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
Record Image View

Name: Doris Craig
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Birth Year: abt 1896
Birth Country: England
Date of Arrival: 9 Jan 1921
Vessel: Empress of Britain
Search Ship Database: Search for the Empress of Britain in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: St John, New Brunswick, Canada
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England