Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I know this is not a Liverpool question but I'm hoping one of our members in the States could help.

I'm posting this for a Society member who hs no PC.

His grandfather William JONES was born in 1881 possibly in the Wrexham area and then came to Golbourne near Leigh were he was christened. His father was a miner and William also became a miner.

In 1906 William sailed on the Oceanic from Liverpool. The Ellis island web site records he was married paid his fare and was going to William Blackburn (his cousin) in Munson Station Clearfield Co Pennsylvania. William left behind a wife and 2 children and was never heard of again.

Apparently there is a possible William Jones on the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census married to Blodwyn maiden name unknown living in Blakeley Lackawanna Pennysylvania.

What the member would like to know is
How does he find out/obtain a marriage certifcate for Pennsylvania to see if the William and Blodwyn Jones are the right family
Local papers in either areas he could perhaps contact for possible descendants of either William Jones or William Blackburn
Lastly how would he go about getting a death certificate are the indexes available as they are in England?

I'm asking for help as I'm very hazy on US vital records etc.

Many thanks

Ed Officer

I have an image for WWII enlistment papers
Name: William Jones
Birth Date: 30 Oct 1881
Birth Place: Hanley North Strafford, England
Residence: Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Roll: WW2_2240561

http://www.pa-roots.com/clearfield/

http://www.kindredtrails.com/PA_Clearfield.html

Susan

Many many thanks that sounds really hopeful.

Ed Officer

I don't suppose you happen to have the exact date of birth?

There are Social Security Death Index entries for five William Jones born 1881, deaths varying between 1956 and 1973, in Pennsylvania.

PS none of them were the William shown in the above image.

bmd's in the USA are done on a state level. if you check the kindred trails link it gives the local and state addies. you could contact the clearfield genealogical society and see if they hold any mining records, but as this was a huge mining area we had many welsh men and lancashire miners who emigrated. I checked for a Blackburn in the mira index, but none that seemed promising. do you have an approx dob for blackburn and I will check again tonight

Many thanks for all the help.

I only have the information I gave to start with. I think William Jones was born in 1881 in Golborne but I don't have this confirmed. I will get hold of the member and ask for more details and details of William Blackburn.

Ed Officer

I've now got an exact date of birth for William Jones 20 March 1881 and place of birth Golbourne Lancs. Sadly this means he's not the one Susan found.

The member seems a little unsure of William Blackburn so I'm trying for more details.

Ed Officer