Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Sometime in 1928, my g-g-grandmother (Elizabeth Popelar Hurbanis) passed away on a ship en route to America. Family history has her being buried in Liverpool, where I'm assuming the ship was making a layover. The port of departure is unknown, but she started the trip from present-day Slovakia.

Two questions:
What was the standard protocol for burial of passengers?

Is there currently a way to search for the cemetery/grave?

Hi

Welcome to the forum. I can't find a death registered by that name or similar around that time. It may have been recorded as an anglicised version of the name it was quite common for Europeans to change part or all of their name.

I've checked Toxteth Cemetery and the Roman Catholic Cemeteries for Liverpool and there is no record. If she died and was buried in England her death should be on the death registration records. What was her religion?

People going from Europe to America would usually arrive by ship at the port of Hull on the east coast of England. They would then take the train across England to Liverpool and from Liverpool the ship to New York, USA.


Blue

Hi from downunder!
Good luck with your search and a warm welcome to the forum.

Tina

Hi Blue there's a naturalisation record for an Elizabeth Hurbanis born in Czechoslovakia (1887) 1932 in USA 4 states listed.
No access with my subs.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

The Elizabeth Hurbanis naturalization that Tina found is No. H615, address 1637 Throop Street, Chicago, Certificate No. P.108475 CN-3566386
Born Czechoslovakia 28 July, 1887
Date of Naturalization 23rd March, 1932.

On the same date was Andrew Hurbanis born 24 Nov 1879 Czechoslovakia living same address.

and on 20 November 1935 was John born 7 Apr 1910 Czechoslovakia address 1901 S. May St, Chicago.

Here's an Elizabeth Hurban from Czechoslovakia on the 1930 US Census:-

https://www.familysearch.org/search/rec ... 0397905520


Blue

Thanks for the quick leads, but I have found some information to clarify the search:

Name: born Zuzanna Popelar, married became Zuzanna Hurbanis, and then a 2nd marriage (surname unknown)

Zuzanna was born in 1865 and died in 1928 en route to America and was buried in Liverpool.

Again, I am searching for any information on her death and burial.

You aren't looking for Elizabeth at all then?

The Death Indexes are available to search in many locations, Ancestry, Findmypast, Genesreunited and Society of Genealogy site amongst others online, also in person at Latter Day Saints Centres which you can find your nearest through a link on here https://familysearch.org/

If the usual searches draw a blank then it might be worth approaching the GRO direct - details at www.gro.gov.uk to ask if there might be an entry for a death at sea.

Once the entry is found a certificate can be ordered online at the GRO link given in the previous paragraph.

Once you have the exact date and place of death and registration from the certificate an approach can be made to Allerton Cemetery Lodge, 192 Woolton Road, Liverpool L19 5NF 0151 233 3004 and they will do a search for you - their charges are usually £10 per year per cemetery.

Alternatively, if the date of death is found to be in the Liverpool area you could ask a researcher if they would be able to find the grave location for you, it might be a cheaper option.

Hi

Name: born Zuzanna Popelar, married became Zuzanna Hurbanis, and then a 2nd marriage (surname unknown

Difficult isn't it not knowing second marriage name, so don't know what name she was when she died

sorry can't see anything obvious.. hope you can find her eventually

Simone x

Just to clarify - a death at sea cannot be registered at a local Register Office. It would have to be registered by the ship's captain and sent direct to the GRO.

Thanks for that confirmation Glenys. Contact details will be found on the site I gave the link for above.

I think the question should be asked - was she travelling alone and if not have you searched for arrivals of possible family to see what ship they were on?

If she wasn't travelling with family, how was the family story known about ?

Hi Khurbani

You really need a surname to have a chance of finding her death/burial record. Searching using a first name is too difficult. I tried searching for the first name but there were no deaths for anyone called Zuzanna. I also tried Susanna but couldn't find anything that was a possible match.


Blue

Thank you all for the replies.

- Yes, I am looking for Zuzanna. (The original post with Elizabeth was the result of my confusion.)

- I believe she was traveling alone, going to America to reunite with her son.

Not knowing her surname seems to be a stumbling block, one which I will ask family members about.

I must say, posting on this board has made me motivated to keep digging. Thanks again.

Sorry just on my way to work so no time to search

you say she sailed from Slovakia

found these sites

http://www.genealogylinks.net/marriages ... ovakia.htm

had a very quick look on this one

http://nbenyo.ipower.com/indx4.htm

searched on all names

and there are some Zussana's on there.. maybe you will hit lucky by searching one of the sites listed:idea:


Good Luck

Simone x

What if she reverted to her maiden name and anglicised her name, say zuzanna to susanna to susie!

On FamilySearch
There is a Susie Popelar 44 years old Born 1870 married 10/10/1914 Chicago, Cook County to Jan Hrusik 47 years old (Illnois Cook County Marraiges 1871-1920 / Digital Film 3272253

Maybe simone or someone could search Hrusik as her suranme, might be a long shot but worth a go possibly. Its chicago too, same as the hurbanis individuals.

Ali

Good find Ali

1920 census for Chicago Ward 20, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_330; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 1128
Saint? Rouble? Street - not clear handwriting at all
John Hrusik owns his own house free of mortgage, 50 years old, immigrated in 1902, naturalized 1918 born Slovak and parents both Slovak, able to read and write, occupation Labourer in Stock Yards.
Susanna his wife is 49 years old, Slovakian and parents also Slovakian
Step children, surnamed Popelar, all born Illinois.
Samuel 23, a letter carrier for the Post Office
Bessie 18, typist for a Mail Order House
Susanna 15 and George 11.
All the Popelars have both parents born Slovakia

Living next door are possibly Susanna's oldest son and his family
John 26 also born Illinois occupation Chauffer in Boilers trade.
Alvina 25 born Illinois, both parents Czech and their mother tongue is Bohemian
son John 4 7/12 and daughter Evelyn 1 1/12 both born Illinois.

1930 Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 480; Page: 24B; Enumeration District: 1492 N-Kolmar Avenue
Surname given as Hurick, John 62 Labourer in Municipal Park
Susie 60, Czechoslovakia given for both of them as birthplace and parents.
Stepchildren John 36 (status unclear) chauffeur Municipal, Sam 33 chauffeur Boiler steam?, Bessie 28 Saleslady Retail Dry Goods, Susie 25 Evelyn Granddaughter 11.

In 1910 Ruble Street Chicago Ward 9, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_250; Page: 35B; Enumeration District: 0516
Samuel Popelar 41 Watchman Sugar Refinery and Susan 39, John 16 Salesman Grocery Store, Sam 13, Bessie 8, Susie 5 and George 2

Well maybe not the same person, but could Samuel and Zuzanna be related?

The area they moved to appears to have many immigrants from the same part of the world, I suspect like the Irish coming to Liverpool they went where they knew there would be friends and people who spoke the same language.