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Where would I find more information on my grandfather ? He was known as Frederick William Harrison when he married my nan (Dorothea Holland) on 27/12/1939.in Handsworth.

I believe his original surname is Schmidt since I can remember when he died his original birth certificate said so and that he was born Phildelphia, NY. But that was a long time ago.

His father was William Charles Harrison according to their Wedding certificate.

I believe they've changed their surname twice. Either here or in America.

I also believe he had a brother and sister here in the UK. And possible half brothers and sisters too but they may have been back in America.

The family is also believed to come from Germany originally before America but I'm not sure how far back.

Where would I go to find out Passenger list from USA to UK for around 1903 / 1920. He was in the UK before 1920 since he'd married an Amelia Binns in Hansworth too.

And where would I get information about the family in America ?

Thanks, if anyone can assist since I've not got a lot to go on.

???
Frederick Schmidt
Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States
Arrival Date: 14 Nov 1910
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ship Name: Mauretania
Search Ship Database: View the 'Mauretania' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Cunard Line
Official Number: 124093



Regards Vera

Amelia Jane Binns
England and Wales Census, 1881

birth: 1869 —Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
residence: 1881 —Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
census: 1881 —Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
parents: Enoch Binns, Jane Binns

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Amelia Jane Binns
age: 12
gender: Female
birth year: 1869
birthplace: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
relationship to head of household: Daughter
marital condition: Single
profession/occupation: Scholar
address: 142 Irving St
census place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1341712
the national archives reference: RG11
piece/folio: 2975 / 32
page number:

So he was Harrison when he married Amelia:

Marriages Dec 1921 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Binns Amelia Harrison W.Bromwich 6b 1812
Harrison Frederick Binns W.Bromwich 6b 1812

Frederick Wm Schmidt
United States Census, 1910

birth: 1894 —Pennsylvania
residence: 1910 —Philadelphia Ward 37, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
parents: Leonard Schmidt, Louisa Schmidt

record title: United States Census, 1910
name: Frederick Wm Schmidt
birthplace: Pennsylvania
relationship to head of household: Son
residence: Philadelphia Ward 37, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
marital status: Single
race : White
gender: Male
father's birthplace: Germany
mother's birthplace: Germany
family number: 157

Frederick W Schmidt
United States Census, 1920

birth: 1892 —Pennsylvania
residence: 1920 —, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
spouse: Florence E Schmidt
child: Frederick H Schmidt

record title: United States Census, 1920
name: Frederick W Schmidt
residence: , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
estimated birth year: 1892
age: 28
birthplace: Pennsylvania
relationship to head of household: Self
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Married
father's birthplace: Pennsylvania
mother's birthplace: Pennsylvania
digital folder number: 4384924
sheet number:

Frederick W Schmidt
United States Census, 1920

birth: 1916 —Pennsylvania
residence: 1920 —, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
parents: Frederick L Schmidt, Anna E Schmidt

record title: United States Census, 1920
name: Frederick W Schmidt
residence: , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
estimated birth year: 1916
age: 4
birthplace: Pennsylvania
relationship to head of household: Son
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Single
father's birthplace: Pennsylvania
mother's birthplace: Pennsylvania
digital folder number: 4384802
sheet number: 3

Frederick W Schmidt
United States Census, 1920

birth: 1916 —Pennsylvania
residence: 1920 —, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
parents: Frederick L Schmidt, Anna E Schmidt

record title: United States Census, 1920
name: Frederick W Schmidt
residence: , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
estimated birth year: 1916
age: 4
birthplace: Pennsylvania
relationship to head of household: Son
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Single
father's birthplace: Pennsylvania
mother's birthplace: Pennsylvania
digital folder number: 4384802
sheet number: 3

Frederick W Schmidt
United States Census, 1910

birth: 1892 —Pennsylvania
residence: 1910 —Philadelphia Ward 21, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
parents: Henry C Schmidt, Louise M Schmidt

record title: United States Census, 1910
name: Frederick W Schmidt
birthplace: Pennsylvania
relationship to head of household: Son
residence: Philadelphia Ward 21, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
marital status: Single
race : White
gender: Male
father's birthplace: Pennsylvania
mother's birthplace: Pennsylvania
family number: 152
page number:

Curious that he changed his name to Harrison. If he just wanted to anglicize his name because of WW1 why didn't he just become Smith?

Do you have an age for him please?

Maureen

Frederick William Schmidt 1904(c) / 1979
Known as Frederick William Harrison

Father

William Charles Schmidt 1880(guess) / 1963 (guess)
Known as William Charles Harrison

So

Frederick Schmidt
Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States
Arrival Date: 14 Nov 1910
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ship Name: Mauretania
Search Ship Database: View the 'Mauretania' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Cunard Line
Official Number: 124093

Sounds like a possible if doesn't show his age. Hopefully his father William Charles Schmidt would have also travelled on the same date. There may also be a brother and sister but don't know any details about them. Not sure about the mother since my mother only mentioned William.

I believe that they'd changed the family name twice but not sure of when or where. Harrison does seem to be a big jump from Schmidt.

Sorry-I must be thick. Does he die as Harrison? Can't quite place a death for him.

Maureen

Died as Harrison around 1979 (i think) in Birmingham - Frederick

Married 1937 and the certificate says his aged 36 years old.

Sorry-been out for a while. I just wanted to get a better fix on his date of birth )or what the informant thought was the dob:
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005 about Frederick William Harrison
Name: Frederick William Harrison
Birth Date: 25 May 1901
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1979
Age at Death: 78
Registration district: Birmingham
Inferred County: West Midlands
Volume: 32
Page: 0687

Maureen

Thanks.

How do I check births for Phildelphia for Frederick William Schmidt for 1901?

And can I confirm the age of Frederick on 14 Nov 1910 from New York ? Plus check other Schmidt's on that ship.

I am interested in the source of the information too. What websites or searches do I need to check ?

The Frederick in 1910 doesn't have an age listed and he seems to be the only Schmidt on that voyage.

There's not a lot online for Philadelphia (if you're sure that's where he was born!).
http://www.phila.gov/phils/docs/inventor/genealgy.htm
A little risky,though,as it's probably one of those things where if you get any of the info wrong they'll take your money and say "sorry-couldn't find him".

Most of us are using Ancestry/FMP,I imagine. I'm never sure what AofGG uses!!

You could have a look at:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1®ion=NORTH_AMERICA

Maureen

I believe now that when they came to the UK they'd already changed from Schmidt to Harrison.

So I'd be looking for Harrison family travelling to UK from around 1903 to 1920. I know my grandfather had a brother and sister and probably travelled with their dad and mother.