Hello Listers,
About 2 years ago I started to research the family history of my neighbor's father.
His name is George TOI and he came to Arizona sometime around 1915. It was always
understood that his birthplace was Glasgow, Scotland, and this is confirmed by the 1920
U.S Census where he indicated that he was born in Scotland as was his parents.
After a fruitless search thru Scottish records I discovered an entry on the Ellis Island
site that showed a George TOY entering New York in 1907. His traveling companions were the
WOOSENCRAFT family, all bound for Dunbar, Wisconsin. The ship's manifest indicated
that the WOOSENCRAFT's were Welsh from Montgomeryshire and that George TOY was also
Welsh and his birthplace was listed as Swansea.
Somewhat confused I mentioned my findings to my neighbor who told me that she had family
still living in the Welshpool area. I was able to locate a name and address and wrote to a
lady in Welshpool. A few days ago I received a letter from a lady in Stroud, Glos, saying
that she was the daughter of the ' Welshpool ' lady and that my neighbor and her
mother were half-cousins. Apparently, George TOI/TOY was the son of a John TOI, from
Hayle, Cornwall and was born about 1888 in Swansea. His mother's name was Edith
and that this was John TOI's third marriage.
A check of the 1881 Census did reveal a John TOI age 40 from Hayle, Cornwall living at 30,
Singleton St, Swansea together with his son, John age 14, and daughter Catherine age 11
both born in Swansea. They were living with and related to a COOK family.
I then looked-up the FreeBMD index and found a marriage for a John TOY in 1886 in Swansea.
I then displayed the list of potential wives on the same index page and found a listing
for an Edith COOK. I then went back to the 1881 Census and saw that John TOI's niece
was a Edith COOK aged 11 and that she was born in Hayle, Cornwall.
Did John TOI sr marry his niece, Edith COOK ? Did George TOI decide to become Scottish
when he found out that his mother was also his cousin ? Would SKS like to check the 1891
census of Swansea and see if they are still listed in Singleton St ? ( I suspect not ! )
Any other info/suggestions gratefully received.
Bernard
Phoenix, Arizona