Lindsay Smith, emigrated to USA in 1923 .....

[Rockford]

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice on where to go from here....

One of my grandad's uncles, Lindsay Smith, was born on 23/12/1902 in Dalziel, Lanark, and is listed in the Ellis Island records as going to the USA in 1923. Using Ancestry Canada, I've managed to find him in the 1930 US Census living at Flourston (?), Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania [although his age next birthday is given as 26!].

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how would I go about finding out more about what happened to him after 1930? I've tried various searches on Ancestry, but with no success. He's not listed as far as I have been able to see on the IGI either. He emigrated with his brother Edward, born 1887, whom I can't find anywhere at all

I'm also having the same difficulty with two of his aunties. The first is Isabella McCall (nee Smith) born 1858, who emigrated with her husband Dennis McCall in 1887, whom I've been able to find with their children in the 1910 US Census in Shamokin Borough, Northumberland County, PA, but not afterwards. The second is Elizabeth Duffy (nee Smith) born 1873 who emigrated in 1908 with her children to join her husband Peter Duffy who had emigrated the year before - I can't even find this family in 1910, although I know that they were living in East Linton, Indiana by 1923, as it was Elizabeth that Lindsay and Edward were going to stay with. When Peter Duffy emigrated in 1907, he is listed as going to stay with his brother in law, Dennis McCall, who is listed as living at 537 South Diamond St, Shanoken (which I assume is the same place as Shamokin)

This is my first experience of relations emigrating, so any suggestions on how to find out more gratefully received!

Brian

[DavidWW]

SSDI (Social Security Death Index)?

David

[Rockford]

David,

I've tried the SSDI for all the names but haven't had any luck. There don't even seem to be any that are close.

Brian

[SarahND]

Hi Brian,

He emigrated with his brother Edward, born 1887, whom I can't find anywhere at all

Could this be Edward in 1930? He's the right age and came over the right year. However, with Smiths you can never tell...

729 Thayer Street, Ward 33, block 308, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Smith, Edward O, Boarder, 43, born in Scotland, came to U.S. in 1923, separator in a battery company

All the best,
Sarah

[Rockford]

Sarah,

He's a definite possibility! Don't know what the 'O' stands for - as there's no names beginning with O anywhere in the family. The fact that there's a James Smith listed below him is even more intriguing, although I haven't yet got any of the right age......... k

Thank you!

Brian

[SarahND]

Hi Brian,
Here's another guess. Was Peter Duffy born in Ireland? And did they have daughters Belle and Bridget? This is his first marriage and her second. May not be right at all, but they are the only likely looking couple in 1910.

If so they are in Stockton Twp, Greene County, Indiana

Duffey, Petter, head, 38, born in Ireland, miner, came to U.S. in 1908
___ Elyzabeth, wife, 36, had 7 children, 6 are living, born in Scotland
___ Belle, daughter, 3, born in Scotland
___ Bridget, daughter, 2/12, born in Indiana
McCann, Matilda, daughter, 15, born in Scotland
__ Mary, daughter, 13, born in Scotland
__Elizabeth, daughter, 9, born in Scotland
__James, son, 7, born in Scotland

All the best,
Sarah

[Rockford]

Hi Sarah,

=D>

Duffey and Elyzabeth - they don't make it easy!

Yes, this is definitely them. Elizabeth was first married to James McCann, with whom she had Matilda, Mary, Elizabeth & James. After James' death, she married Peter Duffy [who was Irish] in 1906. On the Ellis Island record, all of the children are listed as Duffy, rather than McCann. Maybe this was to make the process easier, rather than having explanations at Immigration.

Do you know what the process would have been? i.e would they have needed passports, or some other proof of ID?

Best wishes

Brian

[SarahND]

And there they still are in 1920, spelled Duffie this time.

Duffie Peter, head, 55, came in 1907, born in Ireland, coal miner
---Elizebeth, wife, 47, born in Scotland
McCann, Elizabeth M, S.Daughter, 19
__James, son, 17, born in Scotland, coal miner
Duffie, Bella, sister, 18, born in Scotland, asst bookkeeper in general store
___Bessie, daughter, 9, born in Indiana
___Margaret, daughter, 7, born in Indiana
___Thomas, son, 1 10/12, born in Indiana

As for the proof of I.D., hmmm. Not sure what one did have at that time. I know that passports weren't required until the 1930's or so. The only experience I have with immigration in my own family was much earlier. For instance, one 4th great grandfather coming from Germany in 1752, needed an official release from his obligations there, as well as official permission to leave. Whether anyone at the U.S. end ever looked at these papers is anyone's guess. What they were really concerned with was the health of the immigrants.

Sorry, I don't know what kind of proof was needed-- or could you just re-invent yourself?!

Regards,
Sarah

[Rockford]

You beat me to it! I've just found them in 1920 too!

Off to try 1930 to see what combinations are in store.......

[SarahND]

I'll keep quiet until you find them in 1930 But I would suggest you cast a wide net... (hint: they are not where you think they are, but the spelling of the name is impeccable this time )

Good luck!
Sarah