Find Ancestors

I'm about to make dinner, too...
It's weird to think that I have relatives in America probably finishing breakfast (not good with time zones!) and they don't even know I'm trying to find them.
Thankyou, everyone.
Love Julia

Probably Lisa in California is just finishing breakfast but this side of the continent it's lunch time.

Not sure if this is young George from 1930.


Social Security Death Index
about George Day
Name: George Day
SSN: 036-01-7951
Last Residence: 02860 Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
Born: 31 Dec 1914
Last Benefit: 02863 Central Falls, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
Died: Jun 1981
State (Year) SSN issued: Rhode Island (Before 1951)

It certainly looks very likely. Many thanks. Presumably, George was James Day's son by a previous marriage since Lily didn't go out to Pawtucket until 1920. I wonder if his children (if he had any) know anything about the history; and of what happened to 'Helen' Crompton (or Ellen). If the George and Bruce my mum mentioned were 'Helen's children, they may still be around.
Many thanks for the info,
Kindest Regards,
Julia

Margaret :))

Julia, generally (unless countries are setting their clocks forward or backward): the eastern side of North America is 5 hours behind the UK. The western side of North America is 8 hours behind the UK. The middle of North America varies between those times. My math isn't good enough to figure out Australia and New Zealand. They're just wayyyy ahead of California. ;)

Julia, we share a similar experience; according to my aunt, my dad's side of the family was such a close-knit group. Except for a grandfather who died when I was 4, the rest passed away before before I was born, or shortly after. My parents, brother and I moved to California many years ago. (Thank goodness my dad worked for the airlines, and we had the ability to fly home 1-4 times a year!) I believe the reason I continue to look for ancestors and living people is to have a connection to family that I never knew.

Someday and you I, and others, will find our answers and distant cousins.

Hi Margaret,
Yes- a very similar situation. Sadly, I have only one uncle left out of 7 aunts and uncles on my dad's side and he is quite ill, elderly and frail.
I wish you every success in tracking down your family.
Love Julia

Hi Julia

Just for info: On your previous thread I suggested that Helen may be Ellen. Now seeing that she is listed as Helen on the US 1930 census I searched again, this time in the complete index.

I've searched for a Helen Crompton in the years 1909, 1910 and 1911 - there are no Helen Crompton births registered at all. I also checked to see if she could have been registered as Helen Poole....same again, no Helen Poole registerd. So I think my initial guess was right and that she is listed as Ellen in the birth index.

Mary

Just managed to get in touch with my sister. She has found an old calendar of my mum's and a few things, at random, had been jotted down.
"Stayed with UNCLE TOM and AUNT BRIDIE" she wrote ie: when they went to Rhode Island. So, would that have been Thomas Poole. Did he stay out there for a while? (It still doesn't explain the Hutton connection).
Another note:
"Grandma (Esther Poole) came back from America to be with mother at my birth." (My mum, Esther Moxham was born June 1921).
Now, another mystery? Which Uncle Tom? Thomas Poole or Thomas Moxham?
Sometimes, I think they did all this deliberately! Certainly, Esther (my great-gran) told a lot of half-truths to cover dark family secrets so it wouldn't surprise me if she was being a bit obscure here!
Anyway, back to my ultimate goal: to find relatives.
So, I need to find who Helen/Ellen Crompton married and then to locate her children (George and Bruce??)
And, maybe George Day (her step-brother's) children who may know something.
Simple....not!
Thankyou, again for all your invaluable help and advice.
What an amazing journey!
Love
Julia
X

Just about to do the 'school run'. To summarize:
We know that Lily Crompton became Lily Day and died in 1978.
Do I need to do a new thread for her child/ren and grandchildren, do you think?
Trying to Find: Helen (christened ELLEN) Crompton, born Bolton 1910.
Trying to find: Grandchildren of Lily Day; first names: George and Bruce.
Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Please advise.
Love Julia
X

Possible:

Births Jun 1910 (>99%)
CROMPTON Ellen Bolton 8c 427

Hi Julia,

I'm away to work now, pretty boring but bills don't pay themselves. I'm absolutely enthralled by your story and would much rather stay here searching for that elusive record for you but will havt to leave it till tonight. Maybe someone in the States will have found something by then.

Fingers crossed.

Liz

Yes, that seems to be Ellen.
NEW SEARCHES:
1. Descendants of Helen Crompton.
Who did she marry?
Who were her children (were they the George and Bruce mentioned by
my mum?
2. Any descendants of George Day (james Day's son).
3.Back in England:
a) THOMAS POOLE (born 1885, Blackburn). He visited Pawtucket in 1924 with mum, Esther Poole. It states he was "married".
Who did Thomas Poole marry. Any children? At the time of his voyage, he gave his address as Barnoldswick which is not far from Skipton in Yorkshire. Was his wife living there, too? We know that his brother-in-law (Moxham) also lived at that address.
My mum put in her notes that, when she went out to Rhode Island in 1927, they "stayed with Uncle Tom and Aunt Bridie". Any Uncle Tom could only have been Thomas Poole (Lily's sister) or Thomas Moxham (my grandad's brother). Did this Thomas stay out there to live? Who was Bridie?
Mystery after mystery!
Please help me if you have the time...
Love
Julia
X

Hi Liz,
Just saw your message. Thankyou so much for taking an interest. I look forward to 'talking to ' you later and, fingers crossed, I hope to be able to tell you of exciting new developments.
Love
Julia
X

Good morning, Julia, it's 6:47 in the morning here.( Just to keep you informed of the time difference.)
I just remembered something that I meant to mention yesterday which surprised me.
When Esther and Thomas Poole arrived at Ellis Island in 1920 they said that they had planned to stay in America permanently. We know that Esther didn't but perhaps Thomas did.

Boston Passenger Lists, 1820-1943
Name Arrival Date Estimated Birth Year Port of Departure Last Residence Ship
Ellen Moxham 7 Feb 1927 abt 1896 Liverpool, England United States of America Cedric
View Record
Esther Moxham 7 Feb 1927 abt 1922 Liverpool, England United States of America Cedric
View Record
Joseph Moxham 7 Feb 1927 abt 1891 Liverpool, England United States of America Cedric

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
Name Age Birth Date Arrival Date Port of Departure Port of Arrival
Ellen Moxham 32 abt 1897 2 Jul 1929 New York, New York, United States Liverpool, England
View Record
Esther Moxham 8 abt 1921 2 Jul 1929 New York, New York, United States Liverpool, England
View Record
Joseph B Moxham 38 abt 1891 2 Jul 1929 New York, New York, United States Liverpool, England

Hi Margaret,
That would make sense! I know that my great-grandma, Esther, did intend to stay but my grandma really missed her and, when Esther came back for Mummy's birth (also Esther!), I think they tried to persuade her to stay. The 'story' went that Esther went out there again and my grandma was so upset that she insisted that my poor Grandad (Joseph Moxham) uproot the family and go to America. According to my sister, he was not happy about this because he was a Senior Woodsaw Machinist and had been offered the job of foreman...which he would have to turn down! Well, grandma got her way...and off they went. As fot Thomas poole, I really have no idea. Maybe he did stay out there. On the passenger lists it said he was married so it implies he married in England. If so, where is his wife? And who is the Bridie my mum refers to in her jottings. "Uncle Tom and Aunt Bridie." Logically, it can only be Thomas Poole as I know that Thomas Moxham stayed in England. My goodness! That means there may be more descendants out there! But who? And where? Maybe that accounts for the fact that Esther wanted to stay there...maybe two of her children were emigrating: Lily and thomas! OOH! Now there's another part of the Quest to follow!
What happened to Thomas Poole??
Thankyou for all the wonderful info and for your tremendous input.
Love
Julia

Hi Jim and thelma,
Right! So, the second time they visited it was my grandad, my grandma and my mum and they spent about 2 years there. Where was Esther(Poole)? I need to check back. Was there a record of the last time she came back?
Also, following on from Margaret's suggestion, maybe Thomas Poole settled in America. Are there any records of his return? Please do not feel you have to do any more delving if time does not permit. You have all done so much already! It is utterly amazing.
I hope you don't mind me sharing this but, another part of the reason I am desperate to reunite the family is because I recently discovered that a series of tragedies in the past had caused a lot of turmoil and separation. Esther Poole was one of four girls whose grandad (John Washington Jex) was murdered by poachers in 1858 (he was a Gamekeeper). His first wife, Esther Hambling, had died tragically young and he had remarried. Elizabeth Jex was his daughter by his first wife, Esther. She met and married William Owen and they had the four girls: Ann, Elizabeth, Christiana and Esther. Again, tragedy struck poor Elizabeth. Firstly, her mother had died at 38, then her grandad was murdered and then, for some reason, her husband was sent to Parkhurst (Prison/Asylum) and she had to fend for herself and her daughters. Christiana was taken in by her sister, Adelaide. Elizabeth was taken in by William Owen's sister, Hannah and Elizabeth brought the older girls (Esther and Ann) to Blackburn. At some stage, Elizabeth (Jex-Owen) met an Irishman, Edward Bagnall, and set up home with him in Liverpool (having a son, Thomas). Her daughter, Ann, married. Her daughter, Esther, also married: Thomas Poole. Her daughter, Elizabeth stayed in Manchester and married Richard Walker. Christiana had the saddest life imaginable it seems. She also ended up in blackburn and had at least one child out of wedlock (Fred Gardner) who she had to give away. She later married William Harris but, very recently, I discovered that, not long after she married, she was sent to Prestwich Asylum where she ended her days. No-one had been told any of this sad tale so imagine my surprise to have, bit by bit, discovered the truth. My great-grandma Esther Poole (nee Owen) carried the 'secrets' to her grave. As far as I am concerned, rather than feel any shame at what my ancestors lives may have involved, I feel very proud at the strength of spirit exhibited by those women in the face of huge adversity. I know for a fact that at least three of those 4 girls kept in touch. I know that family was hugely important to Esther and to Ellen (her daughter, my gran) and to my mum. That is also why I am doing this. Sorry if it all seems a bit convoluted but finding all this out- much of it through Genes Reunited members!- has been rewarding in so many ways. I hope that I will be able to bring you good news at the end of all this!
Love
Julia
X

What a fascinating story, Julia! I can only imagine your excitement as you uncovered these tidbits one at a time. As you say what a strength of spririt your female ancestors had.
Have you googled "John Washington Jex"? There are quite a few hits, one with a lengthy description of the murder. There also seems to be quite a number of people working on his tree.

Hi Margaret,
Yes, I've 'googled' and I have got a lot of info and have even got photos of the cottage in which he lived on the Estate in Yorkshire. However, most of the people i know who are researching John are descended from his other children by Catherine moore. I only really know of one other person who has been very active in finding out about his daughter, Elizabeth's line (which is also my line). And I know of no-one at all researching Esther Poole (nee Owen)s line. If I can (if you pardon the pun!!!) pool all the knowledge I have aquired from the disparate lines and sources, I'll be able to build up a more complete picture than (I think!) has so far been done from the perspective of John Washington's tenacious daughter, Elizabeth (my gg grandma).
Love
Julia

Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1908
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
POOLE Esther SHARPLES William Blackburn, St Matthew Blackburn CE134/2/476
Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1920
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
MOXHAM Joseph Bernard POOLE Ellen Blackburn Register Office or Registrar Attended Blackburn RM/212/35