Genealogy Chat

I have an ancestor that I have been trying to trace for about 10 years. I think I have traced him back to 1868 in the USA army enlistment register.

Firstly, WHY WOULD AN IRISHMAN ENLIST IN THE US ARMY??????

I have the following info on Henry Francis Bennet, I am pretty sure that I have the correct person on all my documents as the rest of the family info matches

On 1911 UK Census he says he is born in Killala, Co. Mayo, Ireland
[SD7/ED4/SN359]

On 1901 UK Census he says he is born in Co. Mayo, Ireland
[RG13/3473/40]

On 1891 UK Census he says he is born in America, Pine Bluff
[RG12/2954/74/76]

On 1881 UK Census he says he is born in Lancashire, Liverpool
[RG11/3644/12/28]

On his Wedding certificate (wedding took place in Manhattan, New York in April 1872) he says he is born in Ireland. He married Eliza Hogg which I know is correct as I have their daughters birth certificate which gives the mother as Eliza Bennett, formerly Hogg.

I cant find him on any 1871/1870 census in the UK or the USA

However I have found a Henry Bennett, born in Mayo Ireland enlisting with the US army in New York in 1868. He served 3 years in Baton Rouge and was discharged in January 1971.
This would fit in the time scales for his marriage.

Also Henry Bennett can be found on the NYC directory for 1871-72 and 1872-73 at number 285 Mott Street which is the address given on his marriage certificate.

Henry and Eliza's eldest child, Isabella is listed on all UK census as being born in America around 1873.



I don't understand why he would lie about his place of birth or why would he would enlist in the US army???

any help greatly apprediated

thanks
Lianne

A large amount of the USA army was made up of Irish.Infact in the Amercian Civil War for example there were thousands of Irish in the Union.

I expect he imigrated to US and at the time he enlisted as an occupation in the army.

Hi Michelle

I also thought this but the US civil war ended in 1865, would Irishmen still be enlisting into the army when the war was over?

The main question I need to answer is why Henry decided to lie about where he was born? What would have been the benefit of this?

thanks
Lianne

Yes the civil war was over but Irish who moved to USA joined the army as an occupation.Like any nationality of the time when you move to a country you look for an occupation and it was a secure job and 1 alot of Irish did at the time.

Michelle

Thanks for the info. I think I might be able to narrow down my search for his emigration to the US to the 12 months immediately preceeding his enlistment into the army then?

Still non the wiser about him changing his mind about where he was born though!

kind thanks
Lianne

Lianne:
I haven't done enough research to know this as fact, but I've read that the Irish were not well accepted in parts of America. Supposedly, in some cases, it was difficult to find work. Perhaps Henry arrived in America in hopes of making a better life for himself and ended up in the Army?

As far as lying about his place of birth: my mum found "Honora", whom we believed to be a distant rellie of ours. It was 35 years later that we found out that we were incorrect in assuming "our John" was Honora's ancestor's brother! Three years ago I did find out we are indeed related to Honora, just not how we thought we were.
I would be very careful assuming you have found the correct census returns. We thought we were correct, and look what happened to us.

Having given you my warning...I have an ancestor, Grandpa Bob, who was born in America in 1850 ("right off the boat" from Ireland). My mum remembers hearing Grandpa Bob tell people he was in fact born in Canada. He was embarrassed to be the only person in the family not born in Canada and either told people he was born in Canada, or told them he was born right off the boat. It was only after researching my mum's side that I found out his parents had been living in New Jersey 6 years before his birth, so apparently, he wasn't born right off the boat, eh?

If you have actually found your Henry, perhaps he was embarrassed about his place of birth??? Or, perhaps whomever gave the census information didn't know where he was born?

I can have a look for your Henry in America, if you like. May I ask his date of birth, please?

Thanks for the kind offer Lisa J

He was born around 1850 (give or take a few years). His parents names, according to the infomation on his marriage certificate are Robert and Susan Bennett.

hope you have more luck thane me!

Lianne:
I'm not finding anything yet.

Where is Bine Bluff? Is that a "typo", or perhaps Bine Bluff, Arkansas? When was Elizabeth born, please? What was Henry's occupation on the later census, please?

Have you tried looking on UK Incoming Passenger Lists for the family returning to the UK?

It is after 1:00 a.m. and I have to work in the morning. I will check back here again tomorrow night. Sorry I haven't found anything yet.

Hi Lisa J,

hope you were not too tired at work!!


Henry and Eliza (she is always Eliza, never Elizabeth) were married on 2nd April 1872; (pastors details and location of the wedding are unclear on copy)

It says:
- Henry F Bennett, aged 22, a Dyer, place of birth is Ireland; residence is 285 Mott St, NY. Father is listed as Robert Bennett and mother is Susan nee McGurer/McGuire?? (unreadable on copy)

- Eliza Hogg, aged 25, place of birth is Liverpool. Father is listed as John Hogg and mother as Sarah nee Mackal??(unreadable on copy)

Witnesses to the wedding were Robert Haggerty and Eliza Kingsley



Their first child, Isabella gives her place of birth as USA (although she uses both New York and New Jersey in the UK Census returns that I have). She was born c.1872/1873 from the ages she gives on UK census returns.


Their second child, Louisa was born in Liverpool (I have her birth certificate) on 27th June 1874. Mother is Eliza Bennet (formerly Hogg and Father is Henry Bennett, Occupation is Feather Dyer - which fits in with the info I have on the Manhattan marrriage certificate.

UK incoming passenger lists only begin in 1878 so a couple of years too late for this family!!!! - so frustrating as they must have returned between 1872 and 1874.


I have looked for the family getting to USA and on US Census returns a while back but had no luck and have had no luck finding a birth record for Isabella.

Hope you are more sucessfull than I have been!
Thanks again for the interest and help

Lianne

hi liane

it's not actually true about passenger lists after 1878.

Lisa J found passenger info for my ancestors who travelled from Liverpool to Utah in 1856!

Hi Natasha

The passenger lists that are on ancestry for passengers entering the UK only begin in 1878.

Do you know of another passenger list for entry into the UK which covered the years 1872-1874 for passengers travelling from the USA to the UK?? - I hope so!


Thanks for the input

Lianne

oh bugger sorry that's my bad!

I got confused and thought you meant out of UK into USA!

Thanks anyway - though I might have a way forward then!

Lianne