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Heirloom Investigation: Where Did This Cutlery Set Come From? Part 1

My father-in-law recently gave me a box of goodies that has me very excited! He gave me an old set of cutlery - five knives and four forks, and I've been on the hunt for who the set might have belonged to.  It's time for an heirloom investigation! I'm going to draw on some lessons I learned in a material culture class I took a few years ago to do so.   Description First, let's look at what we have and describe it. This process slows me down to really look at the items as a whole and at each individual piece to find every clue possible. (Click on any photo to enlarge it.)   The Box   The set was in an old paperboard box which was very brown with stains and age. The box had been sealed with brown tape, possibly gummed tape.  The box measures 10" long x 3-7/8" wide x 2" deep. The box bears a typed mailing label addressed to Mrs. Harold Casey, Box 307, Crescent, Oklahoma. Another postal label covers the zip code.  The return address states: After 10 days retu...
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GENEALOGY CHALLENGE 2021 - Immigration Record





GENEALOGY CHALLENGE 2021

Immigration Record - January 11th entry of a 31-day challenge to post a document, photo or artifact on social media every day in January. 

by Nancy Gilbride Casey  


Immigration journeys do not necessarily cover a long distance or cross over oceans as one most frequently imagines. One can also simply cross over a nearby border for any number of reasons. 

Such was the case for Edward Joseph Baker (1886-1961, above), my great grandfather, who crossed from Ontario, Canada at Niagara Falls, New York. He was on his way to Cleveland, Ohio to look for work in February 1910. 


This document, the "List or Manifest of Alien Passengers Applying for Admission to the United States from Foreign Contiguous Territory," gives all the details of Edward's border crossing, as well as interesting personal details, such as his appearance:1


  • He was 23 years old, married, and could read and write. 
  • He was Canadian, of German descent, and listed his occupation as an iron moulder.2
  • His last residence was Port Dalhousie in Ontario. 
  • He lists his father Joseph Baker as his nearest relative in Canada. 
  • Edward lists his final destination as Cleveland, Ohio. 
  • He paid for his passage himself, and notes that he has $114 with him for the journey. 
  • Interestingly, in answer to the question "to which relative or friend you are going?" and their address, he lists "no address." He may not have known anyone in Cleveland, and apparently had no where to stay. 
  • He describes himself as 5' 9-1/2" tall, with a dark complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.

An accompanying individual card (Form 548B), indicates that this is Edward's first time in the United States, and spells out his reason for coming: to look for work. The reverse notes that apparently his health exam was waived and that he was admitted to the U.S.3



Edward's quest for work was successful; by April 1910, he and his wife Catherine (Cassidy), and their son Charles were living on W. 11th Street in Cleveland. His occupation? "Molder" in a "foundry."4

 

NEXT UP: Interesting Letter


1 Manifests of Passengers Arriving at St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954, Port of Niagara Falls, sheet 17-18, line 15, Edward Baker, arriving Niagara Falls, 23 Feb. 1910; digital image "Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1075/images/m1464_118-0248 : accessed 10 January 2021), image 248/784; citing Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004, Record Group Number: 85, Roll 118, NARA, Washington, D.C.
2 Wikipedia, "Molding," (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldmaker#:~:text=From%20Wikipedia%2C%20the%20free%20encyclopedia,as%20aluminium%20and%20cast%20iron. : accessed 11 Jan. 2021); last updated 10 January 2021, at 07:26 (UTC). "A moldmaker (mouldmaker in British English), or molder is a skilled tradesperson who fabricates moulds for use in casting metal products. Moldmakers are generally employed in foundries, where molds are used to cast products from metals such as aluminium and cast iron."
3 Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Buffalo, Lewiston, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, New York, 1902-1954, Form 548-B, Edward Baker, arriving Niagara Falls, 23 Feb. 1910; digital image "Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960," Ancestry  (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1075/images/m1464_118-0248 : accessed 10 January 2021), image 1800-1801/5223; citing Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004, Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: M1480, Roll Number: 009 National Archives, Washington D.C
4 1910 United States Census, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, sheet 3-B (penned), Supervisor District 19, ED 125, Cleveland City, 6th Ward, Line 87, house 3115 W. 11th Street., household 58, family 78, Edward J. Baker, age 23 ; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449824_00881 : accessed 11 January 2021) image 6/29; citing FHL film 1375181.



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