1911 Passenger List Request

[Ted]

Hi Everyone

Can I enlist some help to interpret an entry on a passenger list I have uploaded to the gallery- just waiting on approval:-

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-533



This is the 1st page of a passenger list from SS Ivernia leaving Liverpool on 7 March 1911 – bound for Boston, USA.

Passenger No 7 – John Allan – to the right of the words ‘stone cutter’ is written a number 8-85387 – he is the only passenger with a number against his entry on the manifest – other than the numbers in the far left column. I came across such an entry only once before and I thought then that it related to a return journey at a later date – can anyone confirm if this is what the number entry means?

This John Allan is my G Uncle and is one of my brick walls – I know he was in Barre, Vermont in December 1914 but cannot trace him after that. If I can establish that he may have returned to the UK I may be able to focus my searches back here. His brother Alexander was in the US at the same time and he returned to the UK in 1914 to fight in WW1. It may be that John did the same.

I'd be happy to consider any suggestions as to the meaning of the number on the list.

Thanks lots

Ted

url added by JustJean

[JustJean]

Hi Ted

First off I have no real idea what the number represents. It is similar to the arrival numbers which I assume must correspond with a ticket number???? I'll have a look around and see if I can find any explanations that might help. However........in the meantime...........it can't escape my notice that on the whole page there is one other stone cutter (granite cutter) from Aberdeen with intended destination Barre VT. Were they traveling together?....oddly enough this one other person has a stamp next to his name that he intended permanent residency. Hmmmmm

Best wishes
Jean

[Ted]

Hi Jean

Thanks for your help so far - I was fairly sure you would be one of the first to rise to the challenge.

I have a wee feeling that the number may be a ticket number at a later date - if so my problem will be to find out when etc.

I have not found any connection between John and the other Granite Cutter on the list. But I am not too put off by that - at the time the granite works in Barre Vt sent recruiters across to Aberdeen (and to granite quarry areas in Italy) to get workers for their sites. Even to this day the population of Barre is mainly of Scottish or Italian decent.

I think that when the recruiters were in Aberdeen and called out "any granite cutters looking for work?" - if you put your hand up you were on your way. I think that some of the main granite works in Barre were so short of skilled labour that they paid assisted passages to go there. At least 4 of my lot went there and only one ever remained in the granite quarries.

Anyway - here's hoping someone can shed some light on what the number means.

Thanks lots

Ted

[Ted]

Hi Everyone

For info - a very kind lady in the USA has notified me that the number means that he later became a US citizen and the the numbers in the left hand columns relate to the contract ticket number. She also gave me a US web site which provides info on US Citizenship and Immigration Services - which has great info on interpreting passenger lists etc. I'll post it on TS resources pages - also below.

Thanks for your help and views

Ted

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/h ... annot3.htm