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My father was born in either 1918 or 1919, he married my mother in 1943 in Blackburn Lancashire, I was born in 1944 and we went to New York in 1947. My mother and I had to pass through Ellis Island but my father was in New York when we arrived. My mother and I returned to Blackburn in 1952 and my father was supposed to follow us back, but he never did. I was under the impression that he came from Galway but I do not know anything about him as my mother was reluctant to talk about him and I did not want to upset her. My father divorced my mother in the late 50's but my mother was not divorced until 1960 differences in legalities. I understand that my father remarried and had children but I do not know anything else except that they lived in Brooklyn. I do not know if he was in Britain as an American GI or if he was living in Blackburn and because he was from the Irish republic then not eligable for service in the forces (he was a fit 23/24 year old). I have tried lots of sites to find him but to no avail due to the fact that I do not have a lot of information. I thought I had found him through family Search but when I contacted the Irish office they could not find the records. Any help or advice would be great, cheers Bill

Hi Bill,

maybe??

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 about Michael Joseph Larkin
Name: Michael Joseph Larkin
Arrival Date: 1 May 1950
Birth Date: 10 Mar 1921
Birthplace: Febeg Galway Co Eire
Birth Country: Eire
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: Irish

Port of Arrival: Buffalo
Departure Contact: Mother Kathleen Dayer Larkin
Arrival Contact: Foster Sister Mr. H King
Record has photo?: No

Occupation; Carpenter


Dee x

Do you have your parents' marriage cert? This would give his occupation at the time and also his father's name and occupation. If you do not have it, you can find the ref on this site:

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

and you can buy the cert online through this site:

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

Is this the birth reference you found on familysearch:

Name: Michael Joseph Larkin
Registration District: Loughrea
Event Type: BIRTHS
Registration Quarter and Year: Jul - Sep 1916
Estimated Birth Year:
Age (at Death):
Mother's Maiden Name:
Film Number: 101076
Volume Number: 4
Page Number: 269
Digital Folder Number: 4194695
Image Number: 00468
Collection: Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 about Michael J Larkin
Name: Michael J Larkin
Arrival Date: 7 May 1955
Age: 33
Birth Date: 10 May 1921
Birthplace: Febeg Galway Eire
Birth Country: Eire
Gender: Male

Port of Arrival: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
Record has photo?: No


I think this is the same person as the above record.


Dee x

Bill,

IF this info looks right there is a tree on ancestry.co.uk with him in it and he has a spouse and living child, his spouse was; Estelle Audrey Rossiter
1932 – 1987................. is it worth contacting the tree owner and just checking???


Dee x

Well, he certainly went to Canada first:

passenger transcript details
Name: Michael LARKIN
Date of departure: 3 September 1948
Port of departure: Southampton
Passenger destination port: Halifax, Canada
Passenger destination: Halifax, Canada

Date of Birth: 1918 (calculated from age)
Age: 30
Marital status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Erector
Passenger recorded on: Page 36 of 64

Address: 119 London Rd., Blackburn. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! **

Intending to stay in Canada.

Ship:
AQUITANIA
135538
H Grattidge
Cunard White Star Limited
Halifax, Canada

44786.41
1821


Dea x

Thanks Potty, yes I have their marraige certificate but all it says is that they were living in Blackburn and that both of my Grandfathers were deceased. I know he was 23 on the the marraige certificate and my mother was 24. Unfortunately I dont think the one above is mine.

I think we have 2 Michael Larkin's here.

This seems to be the one posted by Batmans Daughter & Potty:

passenger transcript details
Name: Michael LARKIN
Date of departure: 26 April 1949
Port of departure: London
Passenger destination port: New York, USA
Passenger destination: New York, USA

Date of Birth: 1922 (calculated from age)
Age: 27
Marital status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Carpenter
Passenger recorded on: Page 1 of 3



Ship:
AMERICAN PACKER

W R Pendergast
United States Lines
New York, USA

Last address is the one in Galway.

............................

The Michael I posted on previous message was certainly living in Blackburn before he travelled and the birth year matches.!

Can you see a border crossing for that one?

Dea x

Hi Dea, this is definately him, I know from the address because we stayed there when we came back from New York. I am absolutely stunned and now I have to ask if you could give me some advice on how I can find out more. We lived in Brooklyn at 501 57th Street, 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, and my mum and I left in July 1952 just before my 8th Birthday. I guess we must have travelled over after him so it must have been late 48 or early 49. My head is buzzing so I will settle back down and be back in a little while.

Thank you so very much.

Bill xx

Bill, when you and your mum travelled over in 1948 - your address had also bee n at London Rd., Blackburn (at No 51).

passenger transcript details
Name: William LARKIN
Date of departure: 20 November 1948
Port of departure: Liverpool
Passenger destination port: Montreal, Canada
Passenger destination: Montreal, Canada

Date of Birth: 1944 (calculated from age)
Age: 4
Marital status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Child


The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -

Marjorie LARKIN

Ship:
ASCANIA
147307
James Quayle
Cunard White Star Limited
Halifax, Canada

The Michael I posted MUST be the same one??

Dea x

Hi dea just to confirm that this is him,
Name: Michael LARKIN
Date of departure: 3 September 1948
Port of departure: Southampton

I just need to work out how to follow it up from here.

Bill

Hi Bill and Dea,

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 about Marjoria Larkin
Name: Marjoria Larkin
Arrival Date: 23 Dec 1948
Birth Date: 17 Aug ??18
Birthplace: Manchester
Birth Country: England
Gender: Female
Race/Nationality: English

Port of Arrival: Buffalo
Accompanied By: Son William
Departure Contact: Brother-in-law William Larkin; Son William
Arrival Contact: Husband Michael
Record has photo?: No

With Bills DOB and address for Michael; 218 Park Pl. Brooklyn.


Dee x

Bill,

You mention that Michael could have been American??? and you seem to think there is an Irish connection............ so could this be him??? Note a brother William as is stated in the Canadian USA border crossing I found;


1920 United States Federal Census about Michael J Larkin
Name: Michael J Larkin
Home in 1920: Brooklyn Assembly District 8, Kings, New York
Age: 1
[1 8/12]
Estimated birth year: abt 1919
[abt 1918]
Birthplace: New York
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Michael Larkin
Father's Birth Place: Ireland
Mother's Name: Winifred Larkin
Mother's Birth Place: Ireland
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Sex: Male
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Michael Larkin 30 >> Born Irealnd
Winifred Larkin 26 >> Born Ireland
William Larkin 6
Michael J Larkin 1
[1 8/12]

Living at President Street.

Dee x

Hi Dea and Dee, This is us, My mum said we passed through Ellis Island so I guess we still had to go through the formalities. My mums DOB was 18th February 1918 and I had an uncle Bill so it all fits into place. I can't thank you both enough, I have to leave my office just now and I wont be back on line until tomorrow. I am not sure how to stay in touch with you but I will come back on this page and hopefully I can let you know how I get on.

With great affection to you both

Bill xx

You are very welcome Bill - we are glad to help.

Yes - do come back on here and let us know how you get on. If you leave a message on this thread, we will see it.

Best wishes,

Dea x

The brother Williams address in Canada was;

126 Regina Ave, York, Mills, Toronto, Ontario

I have saved this record Bill and would like to send you a copy as there is something on it which I can't understand but maybe you could. So when you're about tomorrow if you click onto my board name this will send a private message to me, if you add your email address I'll send you a copy.


All the best, Dee x

Hi you 2, I have sent away to Florida for a copy of the death certificate for Michael Larkin you found in the hope that I can find a relation who reported his death.

Cheers

Bill

Thanks for the update Bill,

Do let us know when you receive it and what it says.

Good luck,

Dea x

Hi Bill,

Ditto from me also, hopefully hear from you soon.

Dee x

Hi folks, sorry its been so long but I have had a very busy time with the family.
This is just to let you know I filled in the form and sent it to florida in the hope that I could find out who reported his death and maybe get a name or address.
They wrote back to say they had searched their records for the full year and could not find any records, so I am a bit stymied at the moment.
I will keep on trying though and if I hear anything I will let you know.

Bill xx