Thomas and James Turnbull

[frances]

I am trying to help out a friend who is looking for information on two great uncle's who supposedly emigrated to Canada/America .

1) Thomas Turnbull son of Thomas Turnbull and Helen Hutchison, born Fife Scotland C 1883.He married Mary Ann Myles( b C 1885 also in Fife) on the 8th April 1911 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

2) His brother James Turnbull born C 1886, Fife. Family history says that James immigrated to Canada and died in a drowning accident.

Any information on the above would be much appreciated.

Frances

[speleobat2]

Hi Frances,

If I read things correctly, on the 1891 Census for Scotland, your Thomas was born in Anstruther, Fife. If so, then he is on two passenger lists arriving in the USA in 1907 and 1910. On the 1910 list, he is a returning resident of Ridonville, ME and has "brother, Jas." written in after that part of the listing on page 2 of the passenger list below:

Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943 Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943
Name: Thomas Turnbull
Arrival Date: 30 Jun 1910
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
Gender: Male
Ethnic Background: Scottish (Scotish)
Port of Departure: Queenstown, Ireland
Ship Name: Ivernia
Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts
Last Residence: United States of America
Birthplace: Anstruther, Scotland



Hope I got that right!

Carol

[frances]

Hi Carol,

That's him all right-- wonder why he went back and forward

Thanks for the info--- can always rely on the SP family

Frances

[speleobat2]

I think that sometimes they were just "trying it out". My grandfather first came over in 1906 and stayed three years. In 1909 he went back to Scotland, stayed a year, married my grandmother and returned to the USA permanently in 1910. Neither ever went back to Scotland again.

Leaving home for a place several thousand miles away and finding your place in a country the size of this one had to be daunting even to the most adventerous!

Carol

[frances]

Couldn't agree more Carol.

I wonder when Mary Ann went out. My friend was confinced that the two Great Uncles went to Canada--- maybe they ended up there.

You get the answer to one question only to find that it leads to even more questions -- don't you just love family history.

Thanks again for your help

Frances

[speleobat2]

Frances,

I wouldn't be surprised if they did end up in Canada. I tried to find both on the US census records and couldn't. It was very easy to cross the border then and without the Canadian census after 1911, it makes tracing people hard. I have one relative of my mother's whom I know moved to Sudbury, CA sometime after 1920, married and had two daughters, but has disappeared. Of course, her husband's name was John Smith just to make things more difficult!

Turnbull is also one of those names that lends itself so well to mistranscription! I'll have a look for Mary Ann in the passenger records.

Carol

[speleobat2]

That was easy! Here's Mary Ann in 1911. Note the friends name!

Atlantic Ports Passenger Lists, 1820-1873 and 1893-1959 Atlantic Ports Passenger Lists, 1820-1873 and 1893-1959
Name: Mary Ann Myles
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884
Birthplace: Linchers, Scotland
Gender: Female
Ethnic Background: Scottish (Scotish)
Arrival Date: 6 Apr 1911
Port of Arrival: Portland, Maine
Port of Departure: Glasgow, Scotland
Ship Name: Scotian
Friend's Name: Thomas Turnbull
Last Residence: Scotland
Place of Origin: Scotland


Carol

Edit: On page 2, Thomas is down as "Intended" and he must have been. Looks like they were married 2 days after she arrived in Maine!

[speleobat2]

Looks like they did end up in Canada:

Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924 Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924
Name: Thomas Turnbull
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884
Birth Place: Scotland
Age: 38
Date of Arrival: 1922
Port of Arrival: Saint John, New Brunswick
Port of Departure: Dundee, Scotland
Ship Name: Metagama


He's married to Mary Ann and has been back to Scotland for a vacation. At the bottom, it says his nearest relative in Scotland was Thomas Turnbull, brother? Must have meant father?

Carol

[frances]

Carol--- your a STAR =D>

What great information, can't thank you enough.

Cheers

Frances