Thoughts on John Stephen Craig

Not long after my grandparents’, Rose Stroesser and Jack Hoyt’s, marriage they moved from the midst of their families in the Omaha, Nebraska/Council Bluffs, Iowa area halfway across the country to Oregon. Therefore, they raised their children with the knowledge of a multitude of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, but with little actual contact with that extended family.

So when we learned that a Stroesser cousin was coming to visit and wanted to meet her Hoyt cousins, we (Rose and Jack’s children and grandchildren) swooped down upon her, voracious for kinship. I was present for an evening’s potluck with the family, during which our “new” cousin posed the question: “Did you ever hear that Grandma was supposed to ride on the Titanic?”

The Titanic at the docks
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

We all eagerly assented to our having heard that rumor before. And that set me on a course of thought which finally led to a breakthrough.

Every seasoned genealogist has heard that well-known rumor of an ancestor who was supposed to ride the Titanic but luckily didn’t—and we have all been taught to scoff at such wishful oral history. But oral history quite often contains a kernel of truth, and the trick is to tease that truth out into the open. Quite some time ago I believed I had discovered the truth of my family’s Titanic story: I found a ship’s passenger list containing two people who appeared to be my great-grandmother Mary Craig and her father John Craig. And how did this tie to the Titanic? The ship they were riding on was the Mauretania, which turned out to be the sister ship of the Lusitania. If you recall high school history class, you may remember that the sinking of the Lusitania was an impetus for the U.S. becoming involved in World War I. And if you have any understanding of human nature, you can easily see how one famous sunken ship could become confused with another when retelling an imperfectly remembered tale.

The Mauretania and the Lusitania passing one another
By UnknownAquitania at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

You will notice I said “I believed I had discovered” and “who appeared to be my great-grandmother.” I had not been able to prove to myself that the John and Mary Craig on the passenger list were my John and Mary Craig. The evidence on the list inclined me to think that they probably were, but there just wasn’t enough information to be sure. But I had long ago laid this question aside to focus on other research objectives, and filed away my conclusions as an interesting sidenote.

However, this turned out to be a very opportune time to return my thoughts to the passenger list. My experience with the 1907 passenger list of Nicholas Stroesser revealing my great-grandfather’s pre-Omaha residence was still fairly fresh in my mind, and it struck me that perhaps like that manifest the Mauretania’s had a second page. I returned to the image on Ancestry to check. Sure enough, it had. And it contained not only the certainty I was seeking, but another much-needed piece of John Craig’s puzzle.

And now, before I address the aforementioned much-needed piece of the puzzle, I need to back up a little. John Craig is, of course, my great-great-grandfather who was an unsolved murder in Omaha. My knowledge of his life is scanty despite a number of sources: apart from those articles I have already shared concerning his death, I had some other articles (which I will undoubtedly share sometime, for they paint a portrait of a very... ornery man), some city directories, a couple censuses, and a marriage record.

However, he seemed to have fallen out of the sky to marry Martha Robbenult, because I had been utterly unable to confirm any record prior to that. Although the marriage record conveniently identified his parents and said he was born in Scotland, try looking for a James and Margaret Craig with their son John in Scotland! And then expand the search to all of England as well, because some sources give his birthplace as England. Even narrowing it down to only those of the right age, there are far too many to choose from. I needed more information.

But there, on the second page of the portion of the Mauretania’s manifest applying to John Craig, was a birthplace listed. The first one I had ever seen that specified not only the country of his birth, but the town as well: Whitehaven, England.

The Old Quay at Whitehaven
Humphrey Bolton [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

So naturally the first thing I did was to google Whitehaven. I learned that it is situated in the county of Cumberland, in the far north of England, bordering Scotland. That geographical location could explain why John Craig is sometimes described as Scottish. The next thing I did was to plug this new information into what I already knew about John Craig and search for a census record. The result was almost immediate: a household popped up in the 1881 census, and I read the list of names. There were James and Margaret—the former born in Ireland, the latter in Scotland—there was John himself, slightly older than expected but in the right range and born in Whitehaven. As my eye ran farther down the list chills ran up my spine. The next two names were Matthew and Mary, siblings here but familiar to me as the names of two of John’s own children. Perhaps these were those children’s namesakes.

I was able to locate this family in three other census years as well. Although I haven’t found the proverbial smoking gun to confirm beyond a doubt that these are indeed my 3great-grandparents, all the evidence thus far tends to support that conclusion. (When I find evidence that this Margaret’s maiden name is Mury or Murray I will finally rest easy.) In a future post I will lay out all the evidence in detail, but this post is already long enough.

Sources:

1861 census of England, Cumberland, Whitehaven registration district, Egremont ecclesiastical district, Egremont parish, folio 73, page 30-31, Household of James Craig; digital images, Ancestry, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 Apr 2015); citing PRO RG 9/3952.

1871 census of England, Cumberland, Egremont civil parish, folio 66, page 8-9, Household of Janes Crag; digital images, Ancestry, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 Apr 2015); citing PRO RG 10/5262.

1881 census of England, Cumberland, Cleator Moor, civil parish of Cleator, folio 117, page 48, Household of James Craig; digital images, Ancestry, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 Apr 2015); citing PRO RG 11/5191.

1891 census of England, Cumberland, Cleator Moor, civil parish of Cleator, Egremont parliamentary division, ecclesiastical parish of St. Johns, folio 91, page 19, Household of James Craig; digital images, Ancestry, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 Apr 2015); citing PRO RG 12/4317.

FamilySearch, “Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934,” database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 May 2013), entry for John Stephen Craig and M. M.Robbenult’s 1886 marriage; citing Crawford, Iowa, United States, county courthouses, Iowa; Reference ID: p 60, GS Film Number: 1035129, Digital Folder Number: 004311125.

“New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957,” online images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Feb 2010), manifest, S.S. Mauretania, 10 Mar 1911, list 6, lines 18-19, John Craig and Mary Craig; citing Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957, Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls; Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36; National Archives at Washington, D.C; Microfilm Roll: Roll 1637; Line: 19; Page Number: 68.

Amanuensis Monday: Barbara THINES’ birth certificate

Since there are still so many records to present in my Luxembourg record project, I think it good policy to post two at a time whenever possible. Therefore, today will see the birth of both my great-great-grandparents, Peter STROESSER and Barbara THINES.

I have already summarized the life of my great-great grandmother Barbara THINES, but as this project is intended more as a presentation of my sources, here is her birth certificate.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

 

Transcription (the italicized parts were handwritten on the record):

Im Jahre tausend achthundert vier und vierzig, den sechsten Tag des

Monats Maÿ , um zwei Uhr des Nachtmittags ist,

vor uns Jean francois Laporte Burgemeister , Beamter des Civilstandes des Gemeinde

von Heltzingen , Kanton von Clerff , im Groß=Herzogthum

Lutzemburg, erschienen Michel Thines oder Theines Ackerer wohnhaft zu Heltzingen

alt dreyßig sieben Jahre, vater des Kindes

wohnhaft in dieser Gemeinde, welcher uns erklart hat dass seine ehfrau anne marie

Schmidt ohnegewerb alt dreyßig sechs Jahre wohnhaft zu Heltzingen, gestern

um eilf Uhr des vormittags ein Kind gebohren hat vom weiblichen

geschlecht und welches er uns vengezeigt hat.

und welchem er des Vornamen Barbara

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Welche Erklärung und Vorstellung in Gegenwart des Phillippe schmitz Ackerer,

alt vierzig drei Jahre, vun Weiler

und des Peter Thull feldhuter, alt vierzig vier

Jahre, von Hoffelt die in dieser Gemeinde wohnhaft sind, Statt gehabt haben;

und haben zeugen mit dem vater und mit mir

den gegenwärtigen Geburts=Akt, nachdem er ihnen vorher vorgelesen worden ist, mit uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, the sixth Day of the

Month of May at two o'clock in the Afternoon is

before us Jean francois Laporte Mayor Officials of the Civil State of the Commune

of Hachiville , Canton of Clervaux , in the Grand-Duchy

Luxembourg, appeared Michel Thines otherwise Theines Farmer residing in Hachiville

aged thirty-seven Years, father of the Child

residing in this Commune, which to us has declared that his wife anne marie

Schmidt without occupation aged thirty-six Years residing in Hachiville, yesterday

at eleven O’clock in the before-noon had a Child of the female

gender and which he has shown before us.

and which he the First Name Barbara

has declared to want to give.

Which Statement and Presentation in the Presence of Phillippe schmitz Farmer,

aged forty three Years, of Weiler

and Peter Thull field watchman, aged forty-four

Years, of Hoffelt residing in this Commune, Instead have had;

and have testified to the father and to me

the current Birth-Deed, after having been previously read to them, with us signed.

Source:

Hachiville, Clervaux, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 8 (1844), Barbara Thines; digital image #131, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1828-1844,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 27 Jun 2010).

Amanuensis Monday: Peter STROESSER’s (Harry’s dad’s) birth certificate

Ah, I feel such a sense of completion now that I have finished presenting all the Luxembourgish sources for Harry STROESSER and his siblings. But there is still much to come: now we move back a generation and look at Harry’s parents. Today it is his father, Peter STROESSER.

Peter STROESSER was the son of another Peter STROESSER and his wife Anna Maria MERTZ, the fifth child of a total of eleven. He was born on 4 June 1834 in Ettelbrück, Diekirch, Luxembourg.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

 

Transcription (the italicized parts were handwritten on the record):

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert vier und dreißig, den Sechsten des

Monats Juni , um vier Uhr des Nachmittag ist,

vor uns Wilhelm hackmans , Beamter des Civilstandes der Gemeinde

von Ettelbruck , Kanton von Diekirch , in der Provinz

Lützemburg, erschienen Peter Stroesser

alt dreyzig sechs Jahre, Vater des Neugebohrnen

wohnhaft in dieser Gemeinde, welcher uns Ein Kind vor gezeigt gebohren

den Vier um dieses Monats um acht, dass des Morgens.

von seiner Ehefrau Anna maria Mertz sind

ihm vater dieses Kind männlichen Geschleicht

und welchem er den Vornamen Peter

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Welche Erklärung und Vorstellung in Gegenwart des Johann Herr

Sattler , alt dreyzig zwei Jahre, von Ettelbruck

und des Joseph Chomé , alt zwanzig zwei

Jahre, von Ettelbruck die in dieser Gemeinde wohnhaft sind, Statt gehabt haben;

und haben

den gegenwärtigen Geburts=Akt, nachdem er ihnen vorher vorgelesen worden ist, mit uns

unterschriben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, the Sixth of the

Month of June at four o'clock in the Afternoon is

before us Wilhelm hackmans Officials of the Civil State of the Commune

of Ettelbruck , Canton of Diekirch , in the Province

Luxembourg, appeared Peter Stroesser

aged thirty six Years, Father of the Newborn

residing in this Commune, which to us A Child before shown born

the Four of this Month at eight, that Morning

of his Wife Anna maria Mertz is

his father this Child male Gendered

and which he the First Name Peter

has declared to want to give.

Which Statement and Presentation in the Presence of Johann Herr

Saddler , aged thirty two Years, of Ettelbruck

and Joseph Chomé , aged twenty two

Years, of Ettelbruck residing in this Commune, Instead have had;

and have

the current Birth-Deed, after having been previously read to them, with us

signed

Obviously, the phrasing of the German in this certificate has left me puzzled for an elegant translation, but I believe the meaning is still comprehensible.

Source:

Ettelbrück, Diekirch, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 61 (1834), Peter Stroesser; digital image #1295 of 1477, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1797-1804 Naissances, mariages, décès 1804-1805 Naissances 1805-1838,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 19 Oct 2014). 

Amanuensis Monday: Clara STROESSER’s birth certificate

It was nearly a year after the passing of Catharina STROESSER before my great-great grandmother Barbara THINES gave birth to her eighth and final child, Clara. 

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

Transcription (the italicized parts were handwritten on the record):

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert fünf und achtzig, den neunten

des Monats Januar um sechs Uhr Nach mittags ist vor Uns

Mathius Probst, delegirten Shöffen Beamten des Civilstandes

der Gemeinde folscheid , im Kanton Redingen , Groß=

herzogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Peter Streusser

alt vierzig acht Jahre Eisenhändler

wohnhaft zu Schweidelbruch , welcher Uns ein Kind weiblichen

Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren Schweidelbruch gestern

um Zehn Uhr Nach mittags, im Hause Nr. ----- Gasse,

erzeugt von Ihre Comparenten und seine Ehegattin Barbara Thinnes,

alt dreizig acht Jahre, ohne Stand, wohnhaft im selben Orte

und welchem er den Vornamen Clara

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Nicolas Wilmes

alt fünfzig drei , alt dreizig acht [unintelligible] Jahre Straßenwärter

wohnhaft zu Bondorf und des Johann Peter Stephany

alt dreizig neun Jahre Notar Gehilfe

wohnhaft zu Rambruch und haben die Comparenten diese

Urkunde, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden, mit Uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, the ninth

of the Month of January at six o'clock After noon is before Us

Mathius Probst, delegate Alderman Officials of the Civil State

of the Commune of folscheid , in the Canton Redange , Grand-

duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Peter Streusser

aged forty-eight Years Iron Merchant

residing in Schweidelbruch , which to us a child of the female

Gender has presented, born in Schweidelbrouch yesterday

at Ten O’clock After noon, in House No. ----- Street,

begat by The Appearing Party and his Lawful Wife Barbara Thinnes,

aged thirty-eight Years, without Occupation, residing in same Place

and which he the First Name Clara

has declared to want to give.

This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence Nicolas Wilmes

aged fifty-three , aged thirty-eight [unintelligible] Years, Street Warder

residing in Bondorf and Johann Peter Stephany

aged thirty-nine Years Assistant Notary

residing in Rambrouch and have the Appearing Parties this

Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.

There is an area of confusion in the witnesses on this document: Nicolas WILMES seems to be assigned two ages, and the word which might explain it all is squished so tightly between “dreizig acht” and “Jahre” that I am unable to make it out. If anyone has any insight into this confusion, I would love to hear it!

With the birth of Clara STROESSER, the STROESSER household consisted of two parents: Peter STROESSER and Barbara THINES; and six living children: Michel, age 11; Baltasar, age 9; Anna, age 8; my great-grandfather Harry, age 6; Johann-Nicolas, age 4 (but who would be 5 the following day); and baby Clara.

Later, after the death of their parents, several of these children would make the long journey across the Atlantic to the New World. According to family lore, though I have not yet been able to find the ship manifest, Clara traveled with her brother, my great-grandfather, Harry STROESSER to the United States. Given the hint in the manifest of the S.S. Finland, which carried their brother Nicolas in 1907, and which I mentioned in my post on hisbirth certificate, I have been able to uncover some evidence that Clara, Harry, and Nicolas first settled in Estherville, Emmet, Iowa. Harry and Clara, at least, were both residing there in 1904.

Again according to family lore, Harry disliked Clara’s husband and moved to Omaha, Nebraska when they were married. What little evidence I have found supports this: Clara appeared in the 1905 Iowa state census and was married to Nicholas FANK that same year. I was unable to find Harry in that census, so he had likely already departed.

I have added a template for an 1885 birth certificate to the collection.

Sources:

1905 Iowa state census, Emmet, Iowa, population schedule, Estherville Ward 2, p. 371 (population schedule card), Clara Strosser; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 Feb 2015); citing GS Film Number: 001430397, Digital Folder Number: 007486245, Image Number: 01524; State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,430,397.

FamilySearch, “Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934,” database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 Feb 2015), entry for Nick Fank and Clara Strasser’s 1905 marriage; citing Estherville, Emmet, Iowa, United States, county courthouses, Iowa.

Folschette, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 4 (1885), Clara Streusser; digital image #995 of 1489, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1821-1890 Mariages 1800-1823, 1797-1830,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Jul 2010).

Janet M. Young, “Estherville City Directory, 1904: Estherville, Iowa,” database, Emmet County, Iowa: IAGenWeb (http://iagenweb.org/emmet/1904dir.html : accessed 25 Feb 2015), entry for Clara Strosser; Compliments of The Estherville Democrat, October 1904.

Janet M. Young, “Estherville City Directory, 1904: Estherville, Iowa,” database, Emmet County, Iowa: IAGenWeb (http://iagenweb.org/emmet/1904dir.html : accessed 25 Feb 2015), entry for Henry Strosser; Compliments of The Estherville Democrat, October 1904.