Grace, My grandmother emigrated around 1906/07. I know this because when she became a citizen in 1938 she had to get a letter from Dept. of Education saying when she entered school , Sept. 9, 1907. She was not able to obtain any records from her birth country. Her address at that time was 458 New Point Road. Her family later moved to Cherry Street. They were Roman Catholic. Her parents emigrated before she did. Once they were established they sent for her so she was probably not required to go through the standard immigration process. Thanks for your help. Cynthia [email protected] wrote: > Cynthia, > I went to school with Deckers. I was born in 1935. If you know where they > lived, probably be able to tell you the school area, and their church. > Include their religion. > Grace > > ==== NJUNION Mailing List ==== > The best queries contain dates and locations.

The Singer factory was on the Kill van Kull right next to the old Staten Island to Elizabeth ferry terminal. I remember seeing it every time I rode on the ferry to Elizabeth. We alwaye took the ferry (25 cents) rather than the Goethals Bridge (50 cents) in those days. Bill Staples

If there was an S&S Sewing Co in Elizabeth around the turn of the century, it would be listed in the appropriate issue of the Elizabeth City Directory, of which is a reasonably complete set in the Elizabeth Public Library. I don't think Singer's was ever known as S&S. -John

Bill, Many eons ago..when the River was clean..we used to swim there..and my brothers would swim over to Staten Island and back.. Wonderful memories..especially good to remember because I lost one brother in Korea, and the other brother suddenly two years ago. Grace

My family (JOBB, POTH, FORD) were from Austria Hungry and settled in Elizabeth about 1901-1903. POTHS and JOBBS all worked at the Singer factory. Mathias POTH lost his fingers at Singer. He use to play violin and it was added stress to him to have to give up playing. I would be happy to share any information on these immigrant families. Marlene Ford [email protected] Always treat people with the same compassion you wish for yourself. > Does anyone have any info on sewing factories in the Elizabeth area > around the turn of the century? My grandmother Marie DECKER worked in > one starting at the age of 14. > > I am also interested in immigration from Austria-Hungary to Elizabeth at > the turn of the century. Should I look at the Port of New York for ship > records?Any help would be greatly appreciated. > > Cynthia Busch > > > ==== NJUNION Mailing List ==== > To contact the Union county listowner, send email to Robin at [email protected] > >

Hello Everyone! Does anyone have any info on sewing factories in the Elizabeth area around the turn of the century? My grandmother Marie DECKER worked in one starting at the age of 14. I am also interested in immigration from Austria-Hungary to Elizabeth at the turn of the century. Should I look at the Port of New York for ship records?Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cynthia Busch

Singer Sewing Machine was in Elizabeth NJ. My grandmother also worked there, packing needles. Diane San Francisco CA ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve & Cynthia Busch <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 1999 11:29 AM Subject: [NJUNION] ELIZABETH > Hello Everyone! > > Does anyone have any info on sewing factories in the Elizabeth area > around the turn of the century? My grandmother Marie DECKER worked in > one starting at the age of 14. > > I am also interested in immigration from Austria-Hungary to Elizabeth at > the turn of the century. Should I look at the Port of New York for ship > records?Any help would be greatly appreciated. > > Cynthia Busch > > > ==== NJUNION Mailing List ==== > To contact the Union county listowner, send email to Robin at [email protected] > >

Cynthia, I have a dental appointment..but wanted to tell you to be prepared to get a few emails.. It will show where these streets were..then I will find the parishes for you. Regards, Grace

Karen, Do you know where they lived? Unfortunately I did not know anyone but my relatives that worked at Singers.. I was #8..and it was olderSis<#1 and older brothers that worked there. Grace O'Kane

Marlene, Your naturalization papers should be filed at the Courthouse in Elizabeth. Sorry to hear about your ancestor's accident. I do love the violin..Times were hard enough for some folks..and to lose the ability for this wonderful talent was a pity. BTW.. my Greatgrandmother was from Austria, but they did not emigrate, only my grandfather. He was from Ostpreussen. Grace O'Kane

Did you happen to know the BRENNAN family, HENSLER family that worked there? My husbands family. Thanks Karen

I also had relatives working in the S&S sewing co, and was told it was Singer.Please let me know if any more info becomes available.

Diane, My Sis and two brothers worked at Singers too. Grace

Cynthia, I went to school with Deckers. I was born in 1935. If you know where they lived, probably be able to tell you the school area, and their church. Include their religion. Grace

Cynthia, Singer Sewing Machines were the biggest employer in Elizabethport which is an area of Elizabeth.. When you say turn of the century for a ship, Elizabeth had a port then, not too far from the factory, but there were many ports in the immediate area. Sometimes it takes a lot of your time looking for an unknown ship.. Do you know the years> You could go to www.nara.gov/ and read about the years into Ellis and Castle Garden, but don't rule out any port in Elizabeth or surrounding areas. I was born and raised there, and know some folks who had family as far into the late 30s and early 40s who got off near Elizabeth.. Staten Island also was used as a port. It just depends on when. Also, you may wish to search for the intent for citizenship first..after you search the census..that will give you a hint where they lived. If it was Elizabeth, before 1906, records were kept right there.. afterwards, they went to NARA.. www.nara.com/ You can get a form at that site to look for their papers. Good luck, Grace O'Kane

Since I raised a question long ago on this list about the enumeration of children in the 1865 state census, I thought I would now (partially) answer it, in case anyone is relying on that census to resolve a question about family makeup or identity of one or more family members. The state census taker was supposed to have placed children between the ages of 5 and 16 in a separate category. However, in the case of the 1865 census of New Providence Township, Union County, a cross-check with the 1870 census shows that in many cases (in fact all cases that could be tested), the 1865 census taker incorrectly included children under age 5 in the age 5 to 16 category. Why this might have occurred remains a mystery to me. (Perhaps inflating the numbers of school age children to receive additional state assistance?) Whatever the reason, it seems pretty clear that the 1865 census, at least for New Providence, is not reliable with regard to the ages of children. Dave McMane Paris, France

Bill Thank you very much for posting the very interesting information from the newspaper article you have. My grandfather, Augustus H. Martin, was a volunteer with the Gazelle Engine Company and helped to extinguish the fire. He also owned a grocery store with his brother, James A. Martin, on the corner of Park Ave and West 2nd St. Plainfield. There were 28 firemen in the photo...8 are unknown in the photo. They were: 1. Joel D. HEDDEN 2. Edward VERMUEL 3. Reuben A. GIBBS 4. Albert FORCE 5. John J. McCUE 6. James DeCAMP 7. A. W. CHAPIN 8. Charles M. BOUGHTON 9. William L. FORCE 10. George RILLING 11. Henry VAIL 12. Daniel WEBSTER 13. Thadd O. DOANE 14. Marvin LEWIS 15. SAMUEL D. JOHNSON 16. William H. VOORHEES, Chief. 17. James VOORHEES 18. Josiah LAYTON 19. William E. JONES 20. Augustus A. MARTIN, my grandfather. Snip << The fire being referred to actually occurred about 1872 according to an article published in the Plainfield Courier News on Saturday, June 7, 1934 recalling some historic events. On page 20 it contains a picture of the ruins that destroyed Dr. Voorhee's Drug Store on Front Street. Men from the Gazelle Engine Company No. 1 were given credit for extinguishing the fire. There was always great rivalry between fire companies to see who could get to the fire first since apparatus was either towed by men and boys and later on horse(s) before the advent of mechanized fire wagons. The picture contains a lineup of firefighters in front of the ruins, but mentions no one by name. In the background can be seen Hogan's Blacksmith Shop on Somerset Street. The only date was given in the article was a generalization stating that the fire occurred about 1872.>>

The fire being refrred to actually occured about 1872 according to an article published in the Plainfield Courier News on Saturday, June 7, 1934 recalling some historic events. On page 20 it contains a picture of the ruins that destroyed Dr. Voorhee's Drug Store on Front Street. Men from the Gazelle Engine Company No. 1 were given credit for extinguishing the fire. There was always great rivalry between fire companies to see who could get to the fire first since apparatus was either towed by men and boys and later on horse(s) before the advent of mechanized fire wagons. The picture contains a lineup of firefighters in front of the ruins, but mentions no one by name. In the background can be seen Hogan's Blacksmith Shop on Somerset Street. The only date was given in the article was a generalization stating that the fire occured about 1872. In another column on page 22 in the same issue was an anticle by Philip Swain, a 91 year old cub reporter, writing about life in 1868. In it he states that there was only one brick building in the entire block on West Front Street between Somerset and Grove .That was on the corner of Grove Street. All of the rest were old wooden dwellings containing: Doc Voorhee's Drug Store, Martin Giles Paint Store, Oliver Runyon's Furniture and Undertaking, and Mrs. Conklin's Ladies Furnishings. Also Samuel Vermeule, Gents Tailor, and L.L. Compton, Wholesale and Retail candy maker. The article goes on to mention that " there were men who used to number your store if you paid them." He then goes on to mention other establishments along the way to the site of the Oxford Theater plus an alley running down to the Brook. I found this old newspaper in my mother's trunk after she passed on. I guess she kept it for me to later discover more about my great grandparents. Her father was John H. Tier owner of Tier's Ice Creamery and Pavillion and Plainfield's first ice man who havested ice from Tier's Pond behind the Strand Theater. He was the first to make homemade ice cream and sell it in the Plainfield area. His ice house and elevated coveyor was also destroyed by fire in the early part of this century. The site was later to filled-in and eventually become a municipal parking lot. William Langstaff Smalley, my other great grandfather was a prominent Plainfield meat merchant who operated Smalley's Meat Market and the father William Jr. and Newton Smalley who served terms as Mayors of North Plainfield. Good luck in your quest to learn more about the fire of 1872. William Smalley Cadmus [email protected]

Those of us researching early N.J. families have to remember not to ingnore New England origins. I just received the current "Great Migration Newsletter" Vol. 8, No. 2, [published by NEHGS], and the lead article is entitled "New England in New Jersey". Robert Charles Anderson discusses, in general terms but with citations, the various migrations to Elizabeth, Woodbridge, Piscataway, Middletown, Shrewsbury and Newark, mentioning such familiar names as John Baker, John Ogden (Elizabeth), Pike, Bishop, Jacques, March, Dennis, etc. (Woodbridge), and Martin, Gilman, Dunn and Hull (Piscataway) -- among many others. I recommend getting hold of a copy -- it gives good foundational background for consideration of these areas. Harman Clark

<> That I know, that is why I am looking for the exact or at least a close date. Otherwise it would have to be searched year by year and page by page for every newspaper printed. <<......Former Plainfield resident.......John J. >> Former North Plainfield resident. Alice