Had a great visit at the National Archives on Tuesday, what a beautiful place! I hadn't been there in over 10 years, so wasn't sure what to expect, but it is very clean and modern and quiet. The staff were very helpful and I got quite a bit of good research done.
I first looked up Thomas Peters in the census for 1880, 1900, 1910,1920 and 1930. Unfortunately, the 1890 census was destroyed by fire many years ago and there was no backup copy. I checked the censuses for "occupation or trade" and the old writing was VERY difficult to read, so here is my best guess of what they said:
1880 - resided in Framingham, occupation "works in woolen mill"
1900 - resided in Cambridge, occupation Fireman Factory
1910 - resided in Cambridge, occupation [fireman, foreman, fariman?] factory, stationary (?)
1920 - resided in Cambridge, occupation [foreman or fireman?] Rubber shop
1930 - resided in Cambridge, occupation blank, he would have been retired by this point
I then searched for his Naturalization papers, since it showed in the 1900 census that he was naturalized and year of immigration (1862), I went to the Soundex file, found him and with the information on his index card (on microfilm) I requested to see the record. I was a little disappointed to see it was very brief, two half sheets of paper, but I felt like I was entering Fort Knox getting into the room to see it. I had to apply for a "researcher's card" with ID, leave absolutely everything on their counter, and go into the next room where the paper was on the table like the Magna Carta next to a magnifying glass (handy!) and a pencil and a piece of scrap paper in case I wanted to take notes. I read the papers and requested a photo copy ($.75 a page, good deal). The papers, dated October 26, 1887, didn't give much information, though, only his birth date of 15 December 1853, arrival in New York March 25, 1868 and was born in County Tipperary, Ireland.
Well, I didn't know about the County Tipperary part, so that was cool. Also, I had searched the Boston Passenger Lists for him and found one Thomas Peters whose information was close, but not quite the same as ours, now I realize I will have to search New York Passenger Lists, if they are on Ancestry.com at the library ::::fingers crossed::::::
Not sure what the next step will be, I have to process this information first and then decide.
1 comment:
County Tipperary, what a pretty name. I wonder where in Ireland that is. Him and Katie almost have the same birthday, she's the 17th of December and he's the 15th.
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