This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: PA Dutch, Thompson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3dB.2ACI/6174 Message Board Post: My father and mother met in NYC in 1944. My Mom was homeless, living in the subway. My Dad was a pin-setter in a bowling alley. He saved her from a "masher". They developed a friendship and eventually got married (no record of marriage is yet found). But Social Security Admin states that a record was shown when my Dad applied for disability in 1958. He died in 1960. So there is a record someplace. Growing up, my mother always told us that her maiden name was Florence Thompson. She said she was Dutch and German, born in Chicago to Ada Thompson on 4/16/1920. I've been researching her history for nearly 30 years. This information did not turn out to be true. All of the records I've researched go no place and cannot be verified with any documentation. Also, Thompson is not a German name. I do have her social security records. She put the same info on them that she gave to us growing up. So she stuck to her story! I found a Florence Thompson on the 1930 Census at the Evangelical Lutheran Home's orphanage in Chicago. I put a lot of effort into that find and it turned out not to be her. Before my Mom was in NYC, I know she was in Reading, PA, living in the household of Beulah and Clarence Coad from 1939 to 1942-43. I spoke with Beulah years ago and was given no information except that my mother also used the name "Marie". It was also said that there was some confusion about her age. When I asked my mother why she wouldn't tell me who her people were, her only answer was, "IF THEY FIND ME, THEY'LL MAKE ME GO BACK." It sounded as though she had escaped from some place. Since I know she was in Pennsylvania I'm thinking it is possible that she actually was of PA Dutch origin. I have an electronic copy of an old photo of my mother. If you need to see it, I'll be glad to send it as an attachment to an email. I did notice that my mother always appeared to be 10 to 15 years older than she said she was. When she was younger, she dyed her hair dark reddish brown, to cover up her natural dark blonde color. Growing up we were very conservative and frugal. We didn't get our first television until the year Band-Stand came on TV. We had an ice box until 1956 and got our first telephone in 1960. When other little girls in the 1950's wore petty coats, I wore a Buster Brown hair cut and plaid cotton dresses that were below my knees (no petty coats). She was also very uncomfortable around anyone who was drinking. I took her to a restaurant in 1988 when I was in my 40's. I ordered a drink with my dinner. She became so frightened and jumpy; I had to ask the waiter to take the drink away. She was clearly afraid of me while I was having a drink, and I'm not violent. It never occurred to me that she'd never seen me drink alcohol...that there had never been any alcohol in our household growing up. My Dad always stopped at a local cafe for a glass of beer on his way home from work. And he wasn't a violent man either. Does anyone know if there were any customs or rules in any of the Dutch/German groups that would compel them to chase down a run-away girl and make her return to their community? Any information will certainly be looked into and much appreciated. Thank you kindly, Angie Custis