The elusive Norah Prendergast

[Katie]

A look in the Liverpool Echo to see if there is a obituary for Nora may shed some more light on Nora.

[Blue70]

H Murray, 27990 of King's Liverpool Regiment is Hugh Murray not Herman Murray.


Blue

[Alison C]

At present cant find Mr Herman C Murraey

Other than the marriage to Norah there doesn't seem to anything for Herman in any UK records...no birth, no death, no census. It looks like he was born outside the UK and was just here temporarily - perhaps in connection with the WW1?

One option would be to send off for the marriage certificate which would give his age and also the name of his father, these may help track him down.

Alison

[Sue H]

Thanks Blue............that one out then.

Alison C.........yes slowly coming to that conclusion, found a Herman Murray sailing to Canada with his wife

What I think I will do is wait for death certificate see if anyone is named, if its Herman then will send for marriage certificate.

Once again many thanks for your help

Sue xx

[Sue H]

Thanks Katie really appreciate if you could xxx

[Katie]

July 27 1945

MURRAY-July 26, at 37, Hampden Street, Walton, Liverpool 4, after a long illness patiently borne., NORA, beloved mother of Norah, Sally, Jessie and gran of Richie, Ron, Charlie and Richard. R.I.P, Interment at Ford Cemetery on Monday next at 12 o.clock

MURRAY-July 26, NORA, beloved sister of Mary Usher and auntie of Syd, Joe, Mina, Flo and Jenny. Sadly missed by all.

[Sue H]

Katie I'm shocked. This is overwhelming everything I thought I knew blown clean out of the water. While it confirms everything we knew about the family ...it means she lived with my Nan till her death and Jessie has been reinstated as her daughter. Utterly stunned. Although no mention of husband it means she was part of the family. Thank you xxx

[MaryA]

I'm loving each new detail

[Fledge]

I know. It's starting to give me goosebumps.

[Sue H]

OK FOLKS JUST WORKING OUT HOW TO POST THIS NEWS!!!!

GOOSE BUMPS HAVE NOTHING ON IT !!

[Sue H]

Somebody suggested Rootschat.......I gave little information because as you know its a complex tale and I got this reply just now..............Ancestry been down it now !!!





Hi Sue!

I found a World War I draft registration for Herman Charles Murray. He was born 6 May 1882 in the US but it doesn't say where. He gives his occupation as a Mariner on the SS Cedric. He gives his wife's name as Nora Frances Murray living at 11 Rimrose Road, Bootle, Liverpool.

He gives his address as 507 West Street, New York. That was the Jane Hotel built in 1908 as a sailor's lodging. Herman signed the draft registration on 1 October 1918.

I then found the crew list for the SS Cedric (White Star Line) which was being used as a troopship at that time. It left Liverpool on 18 September 1918 and arrived in New York on 1 October 1918. Herman was incorrectly listed as Herbert Charles Murray. He probably went directly from the ship to the Jane Hotel, checked in and then went to enlist.

So far I've not been able to find any other records about Herman but I'll do some more searching.

English marriage records contain minimal information: name, age, occupation, marital status, address, father's name, father's occupation. But it might be worth sending away for it to get his father's name which will aid in searching.


my reply



Soosi I am in tears it's her. her real name was Annie Prendergast. Francis was her confirmation name she never married but took on her partners surname.

The address is I think her sisters address I will check.

Would she have gone to new York !!! I can't find any death for him here, would he have died there.


So many questions......overwhelmed xxx

[BarbaraW]

Great team work by all!!!

[Bertieone]

If you haven't seen it Sue,

[Sue H]

Sorry may not be PC but I could hug you all xxxx

[Sue H]

Thank you Bert its amazing xxx

Ordered marriage certificat, I think thats going to make interesting reading.

Thank you for all the years you have helped me to get to this point xxxx

[Blue70]

You can also download the US Registration Card on Family Search here:-

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXYB-25X


Blue

[Sue H]

Thank you Blue will do xx

[Sue H]

Hi folks

Sorry to be here asking favours again.

Herman is driving me mad

Fabulous weekend of free military records ....I have found nothing tried every combination of his name but nothing with his date of birth.

Things I have found out. He was on the ss Cedric which converted to a military ship but had he worked as a mariner on this ship before. It sailing route was Liverpool to NY. It was in a collision possibly around the time (1918/19) he was with it but can't find any fatalities.

War ended 8 weeks after he signed up. He gave Nora' s address and that she was his wife. If he was living a lie, would he have need to give these details .....there seems no purpose. Why did he not enlist before??


If he was Canadian/America would he have to register on any voters role here when his ship was in dock and maybe living with Nora.

If I came to Liverpool would any of the records there give me a clue???

Certificates expected on or before 26th............which is s life time away

So sorry yo be a pain but not sure what yo do next

Suex

[Blue70]

Hi Sue

Information about the US WW1 Draft Registration Cards:-

"During World War I there were three registrations. The first, on June 5, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 and 31. The second, on June 5, 1918, registered those who attained age 21 after June 5, 1917. (A supplemental registration was held on August 24, 1918, for those becoming 21 years old after June 5, 1918. This was included in the second registration.) The third registration was held on September 12, 1918, for men age 18 through 45."

"It is important to note that not all of the men who registered for the draft actually served in the military and not all men who served in the military registered for the draft. Moreover these are not military service records. They end when an individual reports to the army training camp. They contain no information about an individual's military service."

https://www.archives.gov/research/milit ... istration/


Blue

[Sue H]

Hi blue

So he could have just registered and then sailed back. Ok will have a look thank you xxx