Just a hint for those of you with a family member who disappeared. Definitely track down all the the siblings/cousins on the census. My great-great grandfather left his wife and seven children in Kentucky and moved to Oregon with the woman he had gotten pregnant. They lived together as man and wife for almost twenty years. But he went to Oregon because he had brothers there. They might not be in the same town, but they may be in the same area. Collateral relatives can be a great source. Teresa

BILL HAMILTON Missing since 1959, William James Lawrence Hamilton, from Victoria, BC, Canada. Someone wrote my mother(around 1959) saying the RCMP found an empty rental boat, last rented to Bill Hamilton, floating in the water. I have been searching everywhere, wrote many, many letters, and can find no proof of this. I believe Bill started a new life somewhere, perhaps with a new name. How easy is it to change your identity? I was thinking of making a home page based on Bill Hamilton, with old photo's, maybe someone will recognize him that way, if indeed he has a new name. Does anyone have any ideas? Description of Bill. 6'2" tall, slim, wavy blond hair, blue eyes, wore glasses. Loved to fish, had a brother named Ross (raised in differant homes though), went to Victoria High School from 1950 to 1953. Was in the RCAF from 1953-58. Lived at 3017 Shelbourne Street 1958-59. The next door neighbor knew Bill from school, I don't know her name, but she had 2 sons named Lance & Wade who would be about 40'ish now. This is the person who wrote the letter about the empty boat. I would like to contact her, for more details. Deborah Reid ----- Original Message ----- From: <GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2000 5:47 PM Subject: GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-D Digest V00 #16

My husband is a police lieutenant in Englewood, OH and he will retire with 27 years of service on Sept. 19. Before he retires, I would like to identify a woman who was apparently the victim of a serial killer and dumped on the side of an Interstate 70 onramp in the city in 1987. Another woman was found six years earlier about 20 miles away, but these cases don't seem to be related even though they are both strangulations. If you are interested, please check this out http://web.qx.net/aubriana/oh.htm#Montgomery Somebody has to wonder about these girls! Martha Martha HARDCASTLE GUTHRIE L'homme paresseux travaille le plus dur You can see my pathetic wobbly first web page at: http://hometown.aol.com/lofiwoman/myhomepage/index.html Coming soon! Martha's "I Used to be a Babe" page!

I have a great-great-grandfather, Richard COOK, whose parents were listed as "the late Joseph COOK of Yarmouth [Nova Scotia] and Mary RING". The following is what I have been able to find out about Mary. Joseph COOK seems to have disappeared since I have two Canadian cousins that have spent 20 to 30 years trying to find him without success. In consolidating the information I received about possible parents of Richard COOK I have the following: 1 William RING (born about 1767) sp: Mary (born about 1765) 2 William RING (born about 1790) sp Susanna Nickerson (married 1816, died 1817/1821) 3 Sarah (born 1817) sp Mary SMITH (born 8 May 1789 married 1821) 3 William (born 1822) 3 Elizabeth (born 1823) 1 James Gray sp Mary Brackett (married 14 Nov 1776) 2 Mary (born 8 May 1789) sp William SMITH (married before 1821, died before 1821) sp William RING (married 1821) 3 William (born 1822) 3 Elizabeth (born 1823) The Mary SMITH who married William RING seems to be the Mary Gray in the second family. The baptism record for Richard COOK in August 1825 at the Brunswick Street Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia implies that Elizabeth RING and Richard COOK had the same mother. If that is true and the two families presented above is correct there are two possibilities: Mary GRAY married Joseph COOK before marrying William SMITH or Richard was born "out-of-wedlock". The RING and GRAY families mentioned above seem to be "Halifax" families so I do not know how Joseph COOK of Yarmouth fits into the picture. The only Joseph COOK or the correct age in Yarmouth at the time of Richard's birth moved to Digby with his wife who was not a Mary. Appreciate any comments you have about the above. Thanks.

There is, of course, always the possiblity that the remaining spouse "murdered" the one who "left" - perhaps dropped them down the well - sorry it could be. Regards, K>, Robin Hood Country. ----- Original Message ----- From: Wendy Dolphay <ourhome2@flash.net> To: <GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 18 January 2000 14:37 Subject: Re: [GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES] Did he really disappear? > This may be a something of a repeat, but here goes anyway. > One thing that is obvious from this thread is that MANY people have > someone in their family who willfully abandoned a family. For the ones > left behind, this leaves a hurt that continues... the sad truth is that > it is less of an unique mystery, than it is a more common occurance than > we like to admit. God only knows, it is going to be even more common to > the researchers 50 years down the road, given today's society. > I have a situation similiar in my own background, so there is no > judgement in what I am saying. These men chose to leave, for whatever > cause, and it will be hard to find them. They did not want to be found > when they left, and in many instances, will have deliberately blocked > creating records that we would use today. In any family dispute, there > are always two sides to "why", and we need to accept that we may never > determine the reasons. > Secondly, these also become a question that is common to any other > genealogical challenge. Analysing the circumstances of your search is > the key to knowing which records may or may not be out there. For > example, knowing that social security is something we take for granted, > blocks research at times. This is because it was created in the mid > 1930's as a "pension" system... but the majority of Americans in the > 1800's were farmers, who would not have been eligible. Later, people may > have worked in other occupations, but had alternate "pensions" and never > used social security. Records were kept by the agency from the time of > its creation in the '30's, however these records were not computerized > until the early 1960's, so anyone who died in the interim AND who > happened to qualify for benefits, would not show up. > A very very large percentage of records concerning people who MAY still > be alive are not going to be available, on the philosophy that living > persons reserve some rights concerning what information should be > available about them. As researchers, we may not want to hear this. If > we become the victim of something like credit card fraud, because > someone accessed easy information and misuses it, then the perspective > becomes very different. > Keep your mind open, continue to educate yourself as to differing > situations and historical context. > Wendy > > -- > RESEARCH is what you start doing when no one alive remembers, no one has > written a book, and no one has posted a gedcom. > >

Probably the reason why the youngest brother remembers is that the older siblings would probably be either at work or at school. I made the mistake of not asking the youngest sibling in my father's family, when I did she filled in a good many gaps. Regards, K>, Robin Hood Country. ----- Original Message ----- From: <KIDDKID@aol.com> To: <GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 18 January 2000 12:22 Subject: Re: [GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES] Did he really disappear? > Hello everyone, > I have been watching the list and am really interested in the discussions > about someone disappearing completely. In my husbands family we have the > same situation. His grandfather disappeared in the middle to late 1930s > leaving eight children and his wife. The story goes, that grandpa was > somewhat of a cad and got another woman pregnant. When he asked grandma for > a divorce she refused, being the good Catholic that she was. So he left > anyway and supposedly went to a small town about 80 miles away. The youngest > brother remembers his father coming home to bring money. The other older > siblings say they don't remember anything. I think they just didn't want > too. Well, all but two of the children have died and I am still unable to > trace this man. I only know approximately how old he was when he left and I > think I know where he was born(there is conflict about this). I have checked > the town where he was supposedly born and have found nothing. Can anyone > give me some direction on this mystery? I am really at my wits end. The > SSDI shows nothing either. Thanks and sorry about the length of this letter. > > Vicki Kidd > >

To Vicki Kidd, You said that the man you are looking for went to another town and that you've checked the town and found nothing. Did you do all your checking by internet, or were you able to go in person? The golden tip that a couple of subscribers on this list gave me was to really concentrate on the last known whereabouts. The many suggestions were: to do a phone search on the same last name and call or write anyone with the same last name; to do a lookup in the city directory (I'm still not sure what that is, exactly...); to check the local library for obituary notices; to check the local courthouse, etc. Eventually I found his name on a cemetery listing and the brick wall was suddenly gone. What is amazing about these lists is that you can just ask for help and people will come to your aid. This is especially helpful to me because I live overseas and I can't just hop on over to my local public library or LDS! Keep asking, I'm sure you'll get the golden tip you are looking for. Johanna Moose in Holland

<A HREF="http://web.qx.net/aubriana/main.html">The Lost and The Found</A> http://web.qx.net/aubriana/main.html <A HREF="http://www.unclaimedpersons.com/"> </A><A HREF="http://web.qx.net/aubriana/links.htm#Genealogy">The Lost and The Found: Links</A> http://web.qx.net/aubriana/links.htm#Genealogy <A HREF="http://www.unclaimedpersons.com/"> Unclaimed Persons</A> http://www.unclaimedpersons.com/ <A HREF="http://www.interment.net/help/bodies.htm">Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies</A> http://www.interment.net/help/bodies.htm <A HREF="http://www.inca.net/hmpp/morgs/morg-d2h.html">Medical Examiners and Coroners,</A> http://www.inca.net/hmpp/morgs/morg-d2h.html <A HREF="http://www.inca.net/hmpp/missing/morg.html">Medical Examiners/Coroners/Morgues</A> http://www.inca.net/hmpp/missing/morg.html <A HREF="http://170.164.50.2/coroner/coroner.htm">Nationwide Coroner Page</A> http://170.164.50.2/coroner/coroner.htm

This may be a something of a repeat, but here goes anyway. One thing that is obvious from this thread is that MANY people have someone in their family who willfully abandoned a family. For the ones left behind, this leaves a hurt that continues... the sad truth is that it is less of an unique mystery, than it is a more common occurance than we like to admit. God only knows, it is going to be even more common to the researchers 50 years down the road, given today's society. I have a situation similiar in my own background, so there is no judgement in what I am saying. These men chose to leave, for whatever cause, and it will be hard to find them. They did not want to be found when they left, and in many instances, will have deliberately blocked creating records that we would use today. In any family dispute, there are always two sides to "why", and we need to accept that we may never determine the reasons. Secondly, these also become a question that is common to any other genealogical challenge. Analysing the circumstances of your search is the key to knowing which records may or may not be out there. For example, knowing that social security is something we take for granted, blocks research at times. This is because it was created in the mid 1930's as a "pension" system... but the majority of Americans in the 1800's were farmers, who would not have been eligible. Later, people may have worked in other occupations, but had alternate "pensions" and never used social security. Records were kept by the agency from the time of its creation in the '30's, however these records were not computerized until the early 1960's, so anyone who died in the interim AND who happened to qualify for benefits, would not show up. A very very large percentage of records concerning people who MAY still be alive are not going to be available, on the philosophy that living persons reserve some rights concerning what information should be available about them. As researchers, we may not want to hear this. If we become the victim of something like credit card fraud, because someone accessed easy information and misuses it, then the perspective becomes very different. Keep your mind open, continue to educate yourself as to differing situations and historical context. Wendy -- RESEARCH is what you start doing when no one alive remembers, no one has written a book, and no one has posted a gedcom.

Hello everyone, I have been watching the list and am really interested in the discussions about someone disappearing completely. In my husbands family we have the same situation. His grandfather disappeared in the middle to late 1930s leaving eight children and his wife. The story goes, that grandpa was somewhat of a cad and got another woman pregnant. When he asked grandma for a divorce she refused, being the good Catholic that she was. So he left anyway and supposedly went to a small town about 80 miles away. The youngest brother remembers his father coming home to bring money. The other older siblings say they don't remember anything. I think they just didn't want too. Well, all but two of the children have died and I am still unable to trace this man. I only know approximately how old he was when he left and I think I know where he was born(there is conflict about this). I have checked the town where he was supposedly born and have found nothing. Can anyone give me some direction on this mystery? I am really at my wits end. The SSDI shows nothing either. Thanks and sorry about the length of this letter. Vicki Kidd

thanks Gayle - gives me some insight on some of my "missing".... makes sense! Carol in Okla Always looking for cousins: Adkisons,Butlers,Byrne,Ellis,Haney,Isaacs,Kincannon,Love,Morgan,Morse,Nelson ,Patterson,Payne,Weir

Yes, I am fairly sure he did... Ed Clapper was likely one of the gold rush men, who made it to Northern California. He was still there in the late 1850's when he and Peter Lassen were murdered in the Black Rock Desert. Contemporary reports were kept at the time. Ed's hastily buried body was lost for many years, until erosion left the grave visible, and was found in the early 1990's by a rock hound in the desert. After being investigated, it was found yes, the remains matched all historical accounts. But... one step further: forensic experts did a computer aided reproduction, which has a striking resemblance to old family photos of a branch of Clappers, who originated in or near Stark co, Ohio. I am still trying to find people in that area who are skilled in researching court records. MY goal is to return Uncle Ed (I adopted him) to his relatives. Wendy -- RESEARCH is what you start doing when no one alive remembers, no one has written a book, and no one has posted a gedcom.

If you have a birthdate for him--you could try locateme.com I have had good results with them-money back if no hits. Lady Patricia -----Original Message----- From: PeggyLynnRowe@aol.com <PeggyLynnRowe@aol.com> To: GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-L@rootsweb.com <GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, January 17, 2000 1:19 PM Subject: Re: [GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES] Did he really disappear? >I just got your mail from the Mysteries List. It really hit home. Thank you >for sharing. >I, too, have a grandfather who has been missing since 1955. >But any time I have shared ideas other than "he just ran off & disappeared" >with my father (His son), my Dad scoffs at the notion. (I always thought >there must have been an argument leading to this separation/disappearance). >Hard to convince the kids left behind that perhaps there is more to the >stories than their Mother told them. Actually, my father was 25 yrs old when >his father "disappeared". His dad had gone by my dad's house to say Hello >(goodbye?) and had fishing gear in the car. He was never seen nor heard from >again. Grandmother divorced him 7 years later (about 1962). I have not been >able to find a death record, or even a birth record (!) or marriage, for him. >No record of any kind from this man's life has been found. Strange. I have >been researching everywhere! >Anyway.....thanks for the information. I will continue to try to find out >whatever happened to him... my father really needs to know, for his peace of >mind. I am interested in his (our) genealogy so I am trying to locate records >that may have his parents names on them..no luck so far though. >Many Blessing to you. >Peggy PeggyLynnRowe@aol.com > >Searching for: >ALBION LEE ROWE >Born: March 9, 1892, Florida >Died: ??? >Disappeared: 1955 La Mesa, San Diego County, CA >

If Dad really wants to locate this person, get him to talking and reminiscing, see if you can identify where she may have gone to high school, and get a list of graduates/students for that time frame. Once he has her name, then he is better able to track down a possible marriage. Does he recall her having any siblings, especially brothers? Bear in mind... try one of the adoption forums, please, and talk to some knowledgeable people about the emotional risks. The child may not be willing to meet your father, or even be aware that he exists. Not saying to not go for it, just do so with caution. Wendy Wendy -- RESEARCH is what you start doing when no one alive remembers, no one has written a book, and no one has posted a gedcom.

Hi, Peggy: I think I would zoom in finding the original marriage record for the grandparents. This, at least, will confirm the name/age. In 1900, he would have been 8 yrs old, presumably living in his parents home. Were there any siblings that your father remembers? Tracking their records is the best way you might find a place in Florida to search. Once you have that, I would scour the 1900 census with a fine tooth comb. don't settle for a transcription in this instance. If he should have been in one county, but was not, fan your way out to the surrounding ones. You can also try using the soundex film for any/all Rowe families. Second, the grandmother is very unlikely to be able to remarry without either a divorce or proof of death. Find the date of marriage, and work back from that point. Call a local court to find where she might have gotten presumption of death, if that was really the case. If it was a divorce, the file should have details about when/where they married. Maybe names of family members. Did she in fact file a missing persons report? Keep in mind that he may have left of his own accord, and willfully. And, he could be one of the actual really lost ones, possible met with an accident. It can be horrible to think about but you may even consider trying to see if the coroner's office in the area maintains a file of unidentified persons found. Let me know what you think... Wendy -- RESEARCH is what you start doing when no one alive remembers, no one has written a book, and no one has posted a gedcom.

My grandmother was told that her mother had "run off", in fact she was left behind in Australia and died the following year. I often wonder if g.grandma was terminally ill and bringing the children to England was thought to be less traumatic. Regards, K>, Robin Hood Country. ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Brooks <sbrooks@ckt.net> To: <GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 17 January 2000 20:05 Subject: Re: [GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES] Did he really disappear? > My great great grandfather" disappeared"Son was told that he just went away.In > acuality he had died. My grandfather even thought that grandpa had ran out on > the family. Turns out that the Mother thought that abandonment was easier than > telling the little boy that his father had died. Took a hundred years to > straighten out > this mess > > gayle wrote: > > > I have been watching various queries where we have reports that a person > > just disappeared from the family, never to be heard of again. There are > > often much more complicated stories, if we just knew. As a former genealogy > > librarian/archivist, I would like to share some ideas. > > > > Any of the following may true, individually or collectively > > > > 1. Many times a husband and wife would agree to divorce, but to "spare" the > > children and the wife's reputation, he doesn't say goodbye, there was an > > agreement he would leave quietly, and mama says she doesn't know where he > > went leaving here to appear to be the "wronged individual." . > > > > 2. As someone commented recently, he may in touch with other members of his > > family and/or friends, but they do not share the information with the > > children (and/or the spouse). > > > > 3. Often the person who disappeared remains nearby, observes the growth and > > development of his family, without being seen. (We have a case where the > > father was not permitted to see the children, but he went to the same barber > > and was kept up on what was going on in his children's life. He didn't > > bother his former wife or the children, but what better way to know what is > > happening. > > > > 4. Be sure and check for divorce records when one thinks there was an > > abandonment. They often have eye opening information. (it isn't always the > > "fault" of the person who left) The divorce may have been filed and decreed > > before he left, they just didn't tell the children. > > > > 5. Remember the world is a much different place than it was even in the > > 1950-60's, and very much so from earlier times. People didn't air their > > dirty linen in public. Divorce was a scandal. Often the divorce was filed > > by the wife, even if she were the person who committed adultery, was the > > cause of irresolvable differences, etc. the two attorneys would agree that > > she would be the plaintiff in the divorce to keep her "good name." > > > > 6. There is a case for close to me whereby the husband was reportedly, > > "dallying with a sister-in-law". In the heat of passion, someone killed > > him. To cover up the killing, the family joined forces and hid the fact. > > The wife filed for divorce under abandonment. I hunted for years for this > > man, and finally was told that I would never find him, and what had really > > happened. Still I have no particulars, who killed him, how did they hide > > his body, did his wife know anything about it, etc. The one lady still > > living who knows says she will take the story to her grave. At least I know > > enough that I won't be spending any more money trying to find him. > > > > 7. At the time of the depression and during the wars many men were out > > hunting work, and traveling by hitch hiking, hopping trains, etc. There > > were many murders and accidental deaths and the people were never > > identified. > > > > Gayle > > gayle1@wheatstate.com > >

Out of selfishness !!!! Teresa ----- Original Message ----- From: BookWoman To: GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, January 17, 2000 3:20 PM Subject: Re: [GEN-UNSOLVED-MYSTERIES] Did he really disappear? A person I know is the son of parents who married just before World War II. The groom's parents were dead set against the marriage. After the groom went off to war, his parents informed the wife that he had been killed in the war. After he was an adult, he found out his father was still alive. He became close friends with his stepmother, but his father had no interest in him for the short time that he lived. Why do human beings try to play God with other people's lives? Martha

A person I know is the son of parents who married just before World War II. The groom's parents were dead set against the marriage. After the groom went off to war, his parents informed the wife that he had been killed in the war. After he was an adult, he found out his father was still alive. He became close friends with his stepmother, but his father had no interest in him for the short time that he lived. Why do human beings try to play God with other people's lives? Martha

My great great grandfather" disappeared"Son was told that he just went away.In acuality he had died. My grandfather even thought that grandpa had ran out on the family. Turns out that the Mother thought that abandonment was easier than telling the little boy that his father had died. Took a hundred years to straighten out this mess gayle wrote: > I have been watching various queries where we have reports that a person > just disappeared from the family, never to be heard of again. There are > often much more complicated stories, if we just knew. As a former genealogy > librarian/archivist, I would like to share some ideas. > > Any of the following may true, individually or collectively > > 1. Many times a husband and wife would agree to divorce, but to "spare" the > children and the wife's reputation, he doesn't say goodbye, there was an > agreement he would leave quietly, and mama says she doesn't know where he > went leaving here to appear to be the "wronged individual." . > > 2. As someone commented recently, he may in touch with other members of his > family and/or friends, but they do not share the information with the > children (and/or the spouse). > > 3. Often the person who disappeared remains nearby, observes the growth and > development of his family, without being seen. (We have a case where the > father was not permitted to see the children, but he went to the same barber > and was kept up on what was going on in his children's life. He didn't > bother his former wife or the children, but what better way to know what is > happening. > > 4. Be sure and check for divorce records when one thinks there was an > abandonment. They often have eye opening information. (it isn't always the > "fault" of the person who left) The divorce may have been filed and decreed > before he left, they just didn't tell the children. > > 5. Remember the world is a much different place than it was even in the > 1950-60's, and very much so from earlier times. People didn't air their > dirty linen in public. Divorce was a scandal. Often the divorce was filed > by the wife, even if she were the person who committed adultery, was the > cause of irresolvable differences, etc. the two attorneys would agree that > she would be the plaintiff in the divorce to keep her "good name." > > 6. There is a case for close to me whereby the husband was reportedly, > "dallying with a sister-in-law". In the heat of passion, someone killed > him. To cover up the killing, the family joined forces and hid the fact. > The wife filed for divorce under abandonment. I hunted for years for this > man, and finally was told that I would never find him, and what had really > happened. Still I have no particulars, who killed him, how did they hide > his body, did his wife know anything about it, etc. The one lady still > living who knows says she will take the story to her grave. At least I know > enough that I won't be spending any more money trying to find him. > > 7. At the time of the depression and during the wars many men were out > hunting work, and traveling by hitch hiking, hopping trains, etc. There > were many murders and accidental deaths and the people were never > identified. > > Gayle > gayle1@wheatstate.com

I have been watching various queries where we have reports that a person just disappeared from the family, never to be heard of again. There are often much more complicated stories, if we just knew. As a former genealogy librarian/archivist, I would like to share some ideas. Any of the following may true, individually or collectively 1. Many times a husband and wife would agree to divorce, but to "spare" the children and the wife's reputation, he doesn't say goodbye, there was an agreement he would leave quietly, and mama says she doesn't know where he went leaving here to appear to be the "wronged individual." . 2. As someone commented recently, he may in touch with other members of his family and/or friends, but they do not share the information with the children (and/or the spouse). 3. Often the person who disappeared remains nearby, observes the growth and development of his family, without being seen. (We have a case where the father was not permitted to see the children, but he went to the same barber and was kept up on what was going on in his children's life. He didn't bother his former wife or the children, but what better way to know what is happening. 4. Be sure and check for divorce records when one thinks there was an abandonment. They often have eye opening information. (it isn't always the "fault" of the person who left) The divorce may have been filed and decreed before he left, they just didn't tell the children. 5. Remember the world is a much different place than it was even in the 1950-60's, and very much so from earlier times. People didn't air their dirty linen in public. Divorce was a scandal. Often the divorce was filed by the wife, even if she were the person who committed adultery, was the cause of irresolvable differences, etc. the two attorneys would agree that she would be the plaintiff in the divorce to keep her "good name." 6. There is a case for close to me whereby the husband was reportedly, "dallying with a sister-in-law". In the heat of passion, someone killed him. To cover up the killing, the family joined forces and hid the fact. The wife filed for divorce under abandonment. I hunted for years for this man, and finally was told that I would never find him, and what had really happened. Still I have no particulars, who killed him, how did they hide his body, did his wife know anything about it, etc. The one lady still living who knows says she will take the story to her grave. At least I know enough that I won't be spending any more money trying to find him. 7. At the time of the depression and during the wars many men were out hunting work, and traveling by hitch hiking, hopping trains, etc. There were many murders and accidental deaths and the people were never identified. Gayle gayle1@wheatstate.com