Genealogy Chat

Hello, Peggy, Thank-you for replying. This seems more likely because family rumour said they thought it was the New York area but no-one really knows. The story goes that this ancestor and his wife were Irish but had been to (US where their 1st son was born) and owned a tannery. They subsequently went back and forth between the two countries then finally sold it around1905 - 1909. The search continues!

Tanneries required a lot of trees, and could be located far from the cattle. My ancestor worked in a tannery in the Catskill Mountains of New York in 1840. The hides were brought in from around the country or from South America, and the leather shipped around the world, including to England.

Bob and Pat, Thank-you for your ideas - at least it gives me somewhere to start. Helen x

Just to let you know a lot of tannery workers in the USA used to be self employed, they would buy a ranch and set up a business, perhaps you could get access to a business directory. But there again if you are unsure of the area in USA it will be like a needle in a hay stack. Good luck Pat

I fear there were rather a lot of them...Try Tannery USA 1905 in Google and you get a lot of hits

Thank-you, Jacqui - I hadn't thought about those states! Something else to chew over!

Hi - as a tannery utilises the bye-products of cows (i.e. leather products) might I suggest Texas, Wyoming, Nevada etc somewhere big on cattle production? Just a thought, as really I have no idea. Jacqui

Now where in the USA might I have found a tannery about 1905?