Find Ancestors

Given that Johannes (John) died in San Francisco, this is likely to be him:

U.S. City Directories (Beta)

Name: John Priele
Residence Year: 1948
Street Address: 839 Jones
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Clerk
Publication Title: San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1948

There are numerous crew list entries for him right through the 1930s. Perhaps he wanted to put down some roots on dry land as he got older?

Just found another version of Hilda's death record - where did the middle initial M come from?

California Death Index, 1940-1997

Name: Hilda M Bernard
Social Security #: 078070295
Sex: Female
Birth Date: 17 Jan 1898
Birthplace: Other Country
Death Date: 12 Oct 1977
Death Place: San Diego

This looks like the death of her first husband:

California Death Index, 1940-1997

Name: John C Priele
Social Security #: 66010099
Sex: Male
Birth Date: 5 Oct 1885
Birthplace: Netherlands
Death Date: 21 Dec 1963
Death Place: San Francisco
Mother's Maiden Name: Steinvoo

The mystery now is why she changed her birthdate!

Do you think it's possible that George Bernard didn't know she's been married before? Could she have been covering her tracks somehow?

Or, perhaps it was a genuine mistake. My mother was one of 7 children and always celebrated her birthday May 17th. It wasn't until she was in her late 50s and needed a copy of her birth certificate she found out she was a few months older than she'd believed!! Poor grandma had got mixed up.

As regards Hilda's first entry to the US, it seems Johannes was ship's crew. Perhaps he had took her with him and she went unrecorded?

Its Laburnum Ave, we did have relatives there.

hi marieCeleste no sorry it does not but Doncaster is just up the road from Thorne wher she was born.

Bigbird, does the address 272 Beckett Road, Wheatley, Doncaster mean anything to you? That's where they were heading.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960

Name: Hilda Bernard
Birth Date: 17 Jan 1898
Age: 59
Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States
Arrival Date: 8 Apr 1957
Port of Arrival: Southampton, England
Ship Name: Queen Elizabeth
Shipping Line: Cunard Steamship Company Ltd
Official Number: 7601/01

Accompanied by husband George, a marine engineer. They were staying 6 weeks.

EDIT: On their return trip to the US they also said they'd been staying at 13, Acacia Drive, Laburnum Avenue, Hull.

Bigbird, we'll never know why people don't always tell the truth, perhaps because they don't know it themselves!

I really think you need to get a copy of that 1929 marriage certificate in Medway.

Reckon they had big pimples on their tongues MC, lol, it was the below bit, from her Naturalization on Choccy's post that threw me!.

She was born in Thorne on 5th August 1900

Chris :)

Hi everyone i am totally confused thanks for all your help.
I know Hilda born 1900 Thorne married Johannes Priele in 1919 because i have the marriage certificate..
but that does not help does it why would she say she was born 1898?

Chris, Hilda Major appears to have married Johannes Priele but then returned to England in 1927. Then, in 1929 she married George W Bernard (the record safc posted earlier today). They went back to US in 1929 (the outgoing shipping record that you posted).

That's where she fits in!

The birthdate is a bit different but given that she fibbed about never having been married before or never in US, well ....

Births Mar 1900 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Major Hilda Thorne 9c 911


(lol MC, where does above Hilda fit in, gets more puzzling!)

Chris :)

Based on the birthdate that Hilda provided for her naturalisation, this must be her death:

Social Security Death Index
Name: Hilda Bernard
SSN: 078-07-0295
Last Residence: 92010 Chula Vista, San Diego, California, United States of America
Born: 17 Jan 1898
Died: Oct 1977
State (Year) SSN issued: New York (Before 1951)

This is Hilda's naturalisation - note the birthdate:

Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 about Hilda Bernard
Name: Hilda Bernard
Age: 24
Birth Date: 17 Jan 1898 << born in Yorkshire, England
Spouse's Name: George
Naturalization Date: 22 Sep 1922 (actually 1932)
State: New York
Court Type: District Court
Court Location: Eastern District, New York
Naturalization Record Type: Petition for Naturalization

Her arrival in the US and last residence tie up with the incoming shipping record I posted.

She lived 335 44th Street Brooklyn, with George. They'd married 24 June 1929 in Medway. They had no children. George was born 22 Feb 1898 in Brooklyn.

This looks like the arrival of Hilda from the outgoing list that Chris posted:

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Hilda Bernard
Arrival Date: 16 Aug 1929
Birth Year: abt 1898
Birth Location: England
Birth Location Other: thorne <<
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: English
Port of Departure: Southampton, England
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Washington

her nok in England was her sister Mrs Groscoigne in Gillingham. She says she'd never been to the US before!!

Her onward destination is described as Mrs (think that's Mr) GW Bernard at 375 Glenmore Avenue, Brooklyn. Next to the address is typed "Home"

Also, on the 1930 census posted above, it states Hilda was 29 at her first marriage!! (So what about the first one to Johannes Priele?)

wonder what Hilda's status is on her 2nd marriage certificate?

NOK - Hilda, 348 Senator St, Brooklyn

(same address as on Petition for Naturalization - which I omitted to post)


seems he's making it up as he goes along!

Yes, I believe it says next-of-kin, w Hilda, 348 Granton?, Brooklyn, NY.

1930 Census of Merchant Seamen
about John C Priele
Name: John C Priele
Age: 43
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887
Birthplace: Holland
Race: White
Port in 1930: New York, Westchester, New York
Page: 23A
Ship Name: Steel Age

(does that say next of kin Hilda, on image, (if anyone can check!)

Chris :)


Outgoing Passengers

Name: Hilda BERNARD
Date of departure: 8 August 1929
Port of departure: Southampton
Passenger destination port: New York, USA
Date of Birth: 1898 (calculated from age)
Age: 31
Marital status:
Sex: Female
Occupation: Housewife
Passenger recorded on: Page 3 of 15
Ship:
Official Number:
Master's name:
Steamship Line:
Where bound:
Square feet:
Registered tonnage:
Passengers on voyage:
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Captain A B Randall
United States Lines
New York, USA
13472
13902
362

Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974

Name: John Cornelus Priele
State: New York
Court Type: District Court
Court Location: Southern District, New York
Naturalization Record Type: Petition for Naturalization
Naturalization Record Number: 233542

dated 1st June 1929


EDIT - address in USA is 348 Senator Street, Brooklyn



He was born on 5th October 1885 in Rotterdam.


States married to Hilda in November 1919. She was born in Thorne on 5th August 1900. He says he is a Widower (!) and Hilda died in 1919 in England. (looks like he was stretching the truth ...)