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Ain't it just? FindMyPast just released a new database this week, and I have finally found records of what my grandfather was doing with the military in Ireland 1920-1921 (the latest dates so far available). Fifteen years too late to tell my dad, but I can tell his grandkids.

The New Jersey site is really confusing and unhelpful (re the Walter death).

I think I'd go with emailing the burial info you have and asking how to get a death certificate. Or possibly a will/probate.

I just keep going in circles and getting confused. The Archives only has records up to 1916.

Here we are.

http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/catgenealogy.html

- To order birth, marriage and death records from January 1916 to the present, visit the Department of Heath, http://www.state.nj.us/health/vital/

There's a physical address and phone number for Jersey City registrar but no email address
http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/dhss/vital/registrars.pl?county=Hudson

So ... start over and start here:

http://www.state.nj.us/health/vital/order-vital/genealogical-records/

It gets into the same whole thing of proof of identity / proof of relationship that we recently went through with somebody applying for a Canadian death certificate -- my advice is just to email and give the burial info and ask them what the * they will want from you!



As far as living family ... Robert was the only child of Walter (at least with Sarah) but Robert did have children.

1940 census again

Sidney A Hitchin Son M 18 Florida
Wanda E Hitchin Daughter F 16 Florida
Myra L Hitchin Daughter F 14 Florida

Wanda, the findagrave member's mother-in-law, is deceased. I expect the others, born in the 1920s, are too.

Sidney and his wife are here:

https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=125273690

but no family info

This is a next generation Robert K Hitchin who died relatively young and recently, who must be the son of Robert or Sidney, in the same cemetery as Sidney

https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=125273269

The member who created those pages does not seem to be related to the family.

Leaving 'virtual flowers' on the various pages might one day attract the attention of family. Be judicious in wording flowers. 'My husband's relation, and family in England would love contact with family in the US' sort of thing maybe.

Now, that Robert K he was born in 1951 and died in 2012, and the stone says 'beloved father', so he undoubtedly has a child or children living.

Obituary gives no info

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nky/obituary.aspx?pid=155865565

Unfortunately, the 3 Hitchins listed here in Milford OH, all aged 65+,

http://www.411.com/search/FindPerson?utf8=%E2%9C%93&who=Hitchin&where=Milford+OH

appear to be the three deceased: Sidney (died 2013), his wife Laura (died 2015), and Robert (died 2013).

One of the info agglomerators that are all over the net for the US:

https://www.advancedbackgroundchecks.com/sidney+hitchin/34896917

connects Sidney with Laura and Romola.


Now never underestimate google. This result is behind a newspaper paywall, but google

"Robert K Hitchin of Cincinnati, Ohio are pleased"

and you will get some names for further searching.

and then googling one of those names gets you facebook and twitter accounts that have no activity, but also this:

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32677415

Again, not created by a related person, but it gives you still more names :-)
(I think the three 'K' sisters are all married and Hitchin is the one woman's married surname)

And AHA. Laura's obituary with children's names (for privacy I'm not putting any of the living people's names here):

http://www.evansfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary/laura-louise-hitchin/

and I will leave the further name googling to you!

... oh okay, I did a quick 411 check.

http://tinyurl.com/k3425xt

Daughter of Sidney, the son of Robert, the son of Walter.

... of 'a' Walter, anyway!

Since she is a direct descendant, hopefully she may know more than the daughter-in-law.


Not finding anything on Myra.


That's a lot of bumph to get there in the end, but I just put it in as I went along and found it :-)

Wow, this is sooooooooooo addictive! Thanks for all that info, have looked at all the links you sent.
Sadly cant even find his death (as some have parents names on) but determined to find him!
Really want to confirm it is 'our' Walter that went to America and would be great to find 'living' relatives that could, just possibly, have more information on him.

Linda H

In the US it is all state by state and things changed over time so it's not possible to predict I think.

But ... I didn't look at the marriage info at familyseach since that search had already been done ...

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7W8-Q66

The result there directs here

http://cookcountygenealogy.com/

which has birth and death certificates and marriage licences

so I registered and searched for the marriage and got no result, which makes no sense since the marriage was in Cook County during the period covered.

And then I actually asked for all marriages with surname Small, and there were dozens, but no Sarah. And no Hitchin, or Walter with any variant spelling.

Okay here's the problem, the searchable database only has marriages back to 1930.

So you can apply for it with the info from familysearch ... but

http://cookcountygenealogy.com/FAQ.aspx

>> 'Note that parental information was not required on marriage applications prior to January 1, 1968.'
>> 'Marriage applications prior to 1968 contain the names of the groom and bride at the time of application, one or both parties’ address. Some applications will show ages and/or birthdates.'

So it would be worth trying in case it did have any info, but not counting on it, I would say.

It was disappointing... :-( so we are hoping to obtain a marriage certificate of Walter Hitchin and Sarah Small as that will tell us it's the right Walter. Do you know if they have the parents names on marriage certificates in America as they do in England?

Linda H

Well too bad - and not even interested to speak of, even though she was so devoted to her husband and so hopeful that someone would be interested in her family history work.

Maybe her stepson Walter's great-great-grandson will take an interest in the family history, down the road.

At least you can be pretty confident you've solved your Walter mystery!

Contacted Deanna through Findagrave and sadly she knows nothing, her reply is below.
Robert Hitchin was my late husbands grandfather. I know nothing of his family. Sorry I couldn't be of help. I wish you luck in your search.

Thank you all, in particular Mary and JoonieCloonie for the information you sent.

Linda H

Oops sorry, I meant emailed Deanna

Romola was Walter's daughter-in-law, grandmother of the findagrave member's husband (and is deceased) but we know what you meant. :-)

Assuming that the Walter who married Sarah Small is the right Walter, it's a sure bet that this is the right family, since Sarah is also buried in Ohio. And he sure looks like the right Walter.

Good luck!

Wow, thanks everybody for searching.
We have looked at Find a Grave site from Maryb's info and immediately sent an email to Romola, (Walter's granddaughter-in-law) unfortunately she has yet to reply :-(
We are hoping she can confirm we have the correct Walter if she knows his family history from England.

Linda H

Oh oops, I was looking at the image itself.
1920 at the top of the page.
Changes over to 1921 part-way down.
Yes, he was buried January 1921.

After the 1920 census in any case. :-)

He would have been 62 later that year.

Hope Linda returns.

I really do think Walter's granddaughter-in-law would be very happy to hear that her stories of the family in the US have been found by Walter's family in England. (And also her husband has a son, Walter's great-grandson.)

Glad you found it but it says Walter B Hitchin was buried 1921 not 1920.

Maryb

Mary could you give your sources for things like that death?

... Okay, I found it at Ancestry. I wondered whether the image might give cause of death, but no. It does say Walter B, aged 62, buried 21 Jan 1920. Walter David would have been 60, 61 later in 1920.

So that can't be the death of the Walter in the 1920 census!

Rather odd that there would be a Walter B and a Walter D almost the same age in Jersey City.

But I can't find a different Walter in US records to match.

Or a Walter B Hitch* born in England 1858-1861 in the births index.

No wait --

"The 1920 Census was begun on 1 January 1920."

So there's a good chance that is the same Walter.


Interesting info about the cemetery, at findagrave:

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=888907&CScn=jersey+city&CScntry=4&CSst=33&

I think there is every possibility that Walter did not have a headstone.



I do wonder whether "watchman" in the 1910 census was an error by his landlord or such, and he was really in watchmaking.

On the other hand, with him being estranged from his wife, the watchman occupation could suggest various things. They hit hard times and he had to go away in search of work. Or, and we have to remember that these things were not at all uncommon and we probably all have them in our tree, he had a problem like alcohol and could no longer hold a job in his occupation, and a watchman job suited.

??
Walter B Hitchin age 62
Born @ 1859
Buried 21/1/1921
Jersey City heights
New Jersey
USA

Maryb.

Coventry Herald - Friday 20 November 1863

MRS Hitchin (Widow of the late David Hitchin), begs to acknowledge her grateful sense of the respectful regard and esteem shown by the Officers and Members of the Coventry Volunteer Rifle Corps towards her late Husband, by so spontaneously attending with their band at his funeral- a tribute of respect which will ever be held by her in grateful remembrance.

155 Spon Street, Coventry
November 19 1863
------------------------------------------------

There are quite a few articles- one obituary describes the band marching through the streets accompanying him to the graveside.

Unfortunately none seem to give cause of death.

it's so easy to give the URL for newbies to sites! (I'm an old findagrave hand)

Robert K Hitchin
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=146673700

with photos and link to wife

The memorial was created by one person and is maintained by another, which means the person who now maintains it is a direct descendant (or a very close relation)

Her page is:

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47712713

and she sounds like she would be thrilled to meet family

Her email address is on her page so you don't even have to register at the site to contact her.


edit - her husband Mike was Robert's grandson, she describes the family here on her husband's memorial page:

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42488518&


1940 census

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW2T-PXJ

Robert R Hitchin Head M 38 Ohio
Romola P Hitchin Wife F 38 Ohio
Sidney A Hitchin Son M 18 Florida
* Wanda E Hitchin Daughter F 16 Florida
Myra L Hitchin Daughter F 14 Florida

* mother of Mike


Walter's wife Sarah Small is also buried in Ohio but there are no family connections and the person who created the memorial is not related.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32713561&

I have submitted an edit to connect Robert's page to his mother Sarah's.

When Sarah died in 1941 in Ohio she was recorded as widowed:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8ST-XLN


In 1920 Sarah is recorded as divorced

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDRC-S5L


so I wonder whether this might be Walter in 1920, working in 'stencilling' not far from New York City

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4RY-PGG

Name Walter Hitchin
Event Type Census
Event Date 1920
Event Place Jersey City Ward 10, Hudson, New Jersey, United States
Gender Male
Age 60
Marital Status Married
Relationship to Head of Household Lodger
Birth Year (Estimated) 1860
Birthplace England
Immigration Year 1886
Father's Birthplace England
Mother's Birthplace England

and Walter in 1910 (the alternate spelling was not submitted by an Ancestry user)

Name: Walter D Hilchin [Walter D Hitchin]
Age in 1910: 51
Birth Year: abt 1859
Birthplace: England
Home in 1910: Bronx Assembly District 33, New York, New York
Street: Tinton Ave
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1890
Relation to Head of House: Boarder
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Native Tongue: English
* Occupation: Gardener
* Industry: Florist
Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner
Naturalization Status: Papers

* mistranscribed: it actually says Watchman, Building industry

Robert K Hitchin's burial place can be found at Find A Grave .. and there are several photos, but no family history (such as names of parents or siblings).

https://www.findagrave.com

Thank you Abby for info, its more confusing now as that's 2 W D Hitchin's migrated the same time but on different ships! Though yours is spelt differently we do know that mistakes can be made with spellings.
Will also chase this information in the hope of finding him if no results from the info Mary sent.

Linda H

New York Passenger Lists & Arrivals Transcription

Learn more
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First name(s) W D
Last name Hitchins
Sex Male
Age 29
Birth year 1859
Arrival year 1888
Arrival city New York City
Arrival state New York
Arrival country United States
Ship name Circassia
Country United States
Film number 001027759
NARA roll number 523
NARA publication number M237
Record set New York Passenger Lists & Arrivals
Category Travel & migration
Subcategory Passenger lists
Collections from United States & Canada

Hi Abby,
Thank you for that info from 1881 census which we do have.
David Hitchin died and Sarah remarried John Ward.
Still trying to trace David Hitchin cause of death as only 32 but have sent off for death certificate in hope!

Linda H

Oh :-0 Maybe he had passed over...
Thank you again for this information, it is really helpful and maybe on the photo of Robert there will be a family resemblance, will see if we can access it.

Linda H