American ancestors

[fairkatrina]

Is there anywhere I can search American census and BDM records for free, apart from the Ellis Island ship records?

[noxlumos]

Not that I know of, but I can do a look up for you if you give me the details.

[fairkatrina]

Hi, thanks ever so, I am trying to trace forward from Herbert Beech, who was born in Widnes, Cheshire, England, in 1877, and who emigrated to Redwood City, CA (or that was his given destination) on 5th September 1908 aboard the 'Umbria' which sailed from Liverpool.

He was the oldest of 6 children, the others were John, Ernest, Edith (my paternal great-grandmother) Harold and Adrian. His parents were John Beech (b. 1855 in Sandbach, Cheshire) and Elizabeth (surname unknown). He was the only one of his immediate family to emmigrate.

I know that he was 32 and unmarried when he arrived, but after his arrival the family lost contact with him and I am keen to know if I have any undiscovered American relatives. I am having trouble locating him after his arrival because of the price of obtaining records - which tend to be for the wrong people anyway! Any information you can find would be very helpful, thanks for looking! Kate x

[noxlumos]

This is very interesting . The last record I can find of him in the US is his World War One Draft Registration Card.I've checked the US 1910, 1920 and 1930 census' and he's not showing anywhere in the US in the exact form you gave me. I also can't find him in UK births for 1876/77 which is odd as he's showing as being 4 and being born in Widnes as you say on the 1881 english Census,living at 2, Carlton St, Widnes.That data matches the 1891 census where they are all there at the same address. He's not on the 1901 census with his family, but at 21 Shrewsbury Road, Buildwas with his aunt Mary Beech working as a Gardener but on that census his birthplace was given as Buildwas.
On the 1910 US census I found a Herbert Beach living in 328, 330 San Mateo CA whose listed as being born in England in 1877 and being a building contractor ( which his father John was so he looks possible). He's single. I can't find him on the 1920 or 1930 US Census' though or anyone even vaguely resembling him so the last document I can access is his draft card ,giving his mother in Widnes as his next of kin, an image of which I've added to my photobucket so you can copy it via the link below.

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q53/paddydr agon_photos/?action=view¤t=HerbertBeechW W1DraftCard.jpg

He appears to still be unmarried at that point, 42, and I can't find him in the US after the war so unless he returned to the UK ( and I can't find a death for him here) then I'm afraid I'm at a loss as to where he went as his draft card is dated September 1918 so I doubt anything grim happened to him.
If you can think of anything might have missed let me know and I'll look it up for you.

[fairkatrina]

Thanks so much for that, it's certainly very interesting, although something of a mystery! I'm afraid that's all the family know of him, but I'll do some digging around what you've turned up. Kate x

[spudqueen]

His birth is listed as being in Prescot (next to Widnes) in the quarter ending September 1876. The reference number (if you want to order his birth certificate from the central place) is 8b 661. If you order his certificate from Prescot they will not want that reference number. His birth certificate will give his mothers maiden name.

[spudqueen]

There is also someone looking for Herbert Beech born Widnes 1876 on genesreunited. Though I suppose this could be you!

[fairkatrina]

It is indeed! I've got the tree set up there. I've since found him through ship records travelling between America and Liverpool. He was naturalised in Redwood City, Ca, on Dec 26 1909. I know he first went to America in 1901 (hence why he's not on the UK census) but I can't find the original ship mainfest from that year. In 1926 he was aboard the franconia which docked in NYC 20/12/26. He was also on the 1930 US census living in Oakland City, Ca, and that census says he got married aged 38, but I can't find any record of that and in 1930 he was living alone. Finally he was on the Georgic, which docked in NYC 7/8/35.
As I know that he was in America in 1901 he couldn't be the same Herbert Beech that was living in Buildwas (there is also no family record I can find of Mary being related, or indeed any other conection to Buildwas). It must just be a coincidence! Thanks again to both of you.