Genealogy Chat

Hello, Was looking for some rellies on the 1901 census and it seems that between 1890 and 1895 some of my rellies were living in America. The husband was a coal miner and cycle dealer and before going to the U.S they lived in Derby, where they also returned to when their son was born in 1895. Can anybody think of reasons for going to the U.S and then moving back? I didn't think coal miner's wages could support that kind of cost, and surely travelling wasn't cheap? I'm just alittle baffled by it. Would appreciate any suggestions. Thankyou, Kirsten

My ggrandparents did similarly, moving form Salford in 1881 to Texas and returning before 1894 with 3 children. He appears on their marriage cert as a Club steward but is later a shopkeeeper then coal merchant. I too deliberated on motives for going and returning. They may have been involved in Cotton growing but seem to hav eleft no footsteps in the US. Family lore says his wife was homesick for Shropshire but they came back to industrial Salford. I'd love to know how much it did cost. Frustrating isn't it! Elaine

Hi Elaine, Same with me! No trace of them in America. I can't find a marriage of the parents over here and I can't find the daughter's birth as she wasn't born here. I've looked on all the possible American Census' that I can and because our 1901 census just says she was born in the United States it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

1901 census: Mary E Brailsford (nee Corbett) abt 1864 Hasland, Derbyshire, England, Wife, Hasland, Derbyshire Mary E Brailsford, abt 1890, United States, Daughter, Hasland, Derbyshire Thomas Brailsford, abt 1863, North Wingfield, Derbyshire, England, Head, Hasland, Derbyshire Thomas B Brailsford, abt 1895, Hasland, Derbyshire, Son, Hasland, Derbyshire, England Alice Haslam, abt 1880, Hasland, Derbyshire, England Servant ,Hasland, Derbyshire Thomas is a coal miner and cycle dealer. Cannot find a marriage between Mary E Corbett and Thomas Brailsford. Their daughter wasn't born in England.

Sue, that explains it! I looked in Ancestry and it said that they had the 1890 census but it was 'fragmented'. I typed the name in, but there was no record of any Brailsford's in U.S at that time : (

Yes, most of the 1890 US census was destroyed by fire. At that time Texas did not register births, so my grandfather never had a birth certificate. The local history group in Texas said unless the family bought land there probably won't be any record of them there. And I doubt they could afford to do that. I do have their passage from Liverpool on the Egypt, have you tried the ships lists? Also my grandafther's brother had his place of birth written on the back of his baptism certificate, they were baptised when they came back to Salford. The 1901 UK census gives them as born in Texas. so later censuses, when they are published, might give you a town in the US. Elaine

Elaine, passenger lists and the 1901 census are not helping. All the census discloses is that she was American British Subject. No town or anything like that, so I haven't even got a state to follow on.