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I have a rellie born in Wuchang China 1917.. his parents were Robert Maxwell Carnson born 1889. married to a Jennie Burton in Wigan 28 07 1891. I am looking to find out why they moved to Wuchang China.(no date as to the move but Lomax Burton Carnson was born 12-02-1917) .Can anybody give me some help.

This from the 1911 census, would perhaps suggest that as he was a theology student he went to China as a missionary?

Name: Robert Maxwell Carnson
Age in 1911: 22
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1889
Relation to Head: Student (Institutional)
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Thornton, Yorkshire
Civil Parish: Handsworth
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Street address: Wesleyan College, Handsworth, Birmingham
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Theological student
Registration district: West Bromwich
Registration District Number: 371
Sub-registration district: Handsworth
ED, institution, or vessel: 24
Household schedule number: 212
Piece: 17229

They were back by 1922

Name: Robert Maxwell Carnson ( and Jennie )
Year: 1922
Country: England
County: Surrey
Parliamentary Division/Constituency: Epsom
Place of Abode: -2 Worple Road
Reference Number: CC802/35/3

ame: Reverend R M Carnson
Gender: Male
Departure Date: 26 Sep 1911
Port of Departure: Southampton, England
Destination Port: Shanghai, China
Ship Name: Prinzess Alice
Search Ship Database: Search for the Prinzess Alice in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: Norddeutscher Lloyd
Master: Captain P Grosch

Reverend R M Carnson in the UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

Name: Reverend R M Carnson (Wesleyan minister)
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Birth Date: abt 1890
Departure Date: 21 Jan 1927
Port of Departure: London, England
Destination Port: Cape Town, South Africa
Ship Name: City of Karachi
Search Ship Database: Search for the City of Karachi in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: Ellerman & Bucknall
Official Number: 120846
Master: A Thomson


travelling with Mrs Carnson, Master B ( Burton?) age 10 and master S aged 4

address 52 Lewisham Park SE 13

Robt Carnson in the UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960

Name: Robt Carnson (Minister)
Birth Date: abt 1889
Age: 41
Port of Departure: Durban, South Africa
Arrival Date: 28 Jul 1930
Port of Arrival: Southampton, England
Ship Name: Carnarvon Castle
Search Ship Database: Search for the Carnarvon Castle in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company Ltd
Official Number: 148766

travelling with Jennie, Lomax (13)and Malcolm (6)

address 6 Buckingham gate London Sw1

looks like he may also have travelled back alone during that period

Rolt Maxwell Carnson in the UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
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Name: Rolt Maxwell Carnson (Robt ...Minister )
Birth Date: abt 1889
Age: 40
Port of Departure: Natal, Brazil ( listed as Brazil in error... but is South Africa on image)
Arrival Date: Aug 1929
Port of Arrival: Southampton, England
Ship Name: Armadale Castle
Search Ship Database: Search for the Armadale Castle in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company Ltd
Official Number: 118350

I think they came home from China via the USA, Robert, Jennie and infant Lomax B

Name: Robert M Carnson (missionary)
Birth Date: abt 1889
Age: 28
Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States
Arrival Date: 24 Oct 1917
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ship Name: St Louis
Search Ship Database: Search for the St Louis in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: American Line

Always worth googling someone, this link indicates that Robert Maxwell Carnton was a sci-fi writer as well as a minister:

http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/carnson_maxwell

It appears also that Robert was generally just known as "Maxwell Carnson" - loads of newspaper articles about him and his talks given.

ADDED: Also lots on FamilySearch

School
Surname: Carnson
Given Name: Robt Maxwell
Father's Name: Geo H Carnson
Mother's Name:
Birth Date:
School: Warrington Free Grammar School
Residence Place: 15 Park View Wigan, Cheshire, England
Event Date: 16 Sep 1902
(Edit: The image to this record is available on FindMyPast where it shows his father was also a Wesleyan minister. Robert left the school in July 1906 - his previous school was Erdington High School)

Death
Age: 84
Given Name: Maxwell
Middle Name:
Surname: Carnson
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 29 January 1889
State: California
Last Place of Residence: Denver, Denver, Colorado
Previous Residence Postal Code: 80203
Event Date: June 1973

His WW1 Draft card indicates he was a US resident and not just returning from China via that route:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26183-29373-48?cc=1968530

He appears to have been back and forth across the Atlantic most of his life and seems to have settled in the US from the mid 1940s.

Arrival in the US from China:

California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Name: Robert M Carnson
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1889
Age: 28
Arrival Date: 24 May 1917
Port of Arrival: San Francisco
Ship Name: Colombia

Travelling with Jennie C (25) and Lomar B (3 months). They embarked Shanghai and onward destination was Des Moines, Iowa.

There are also entries in The Gazette relating to military commissions for both Lomax Burton Carnson and his father.

I'll let Peter know there is information here for him.