Re: EMMETT; IRL>USA; c. 1871 Hello, She-Bear? :-) Shebbear wrote in message <68gg4t$vqg@bl-4.rootsweb.com>... > My g-grandfather, Frank EMMETT (b. 1847-1849 Ireland) >came to US c. 1871 and lived in Missouri from at least 1892-1906 (when he died >in Kansas, City, MO). This is the father of my maternal grandfather). Have not >been able to establish exact place of birth or parents. Know the feeling, believe me . . . >He was naturalized >before US gov centralized naturalization records. Since you didn't include the year that he was actually naturalized in your posting, can we assume you are assuming that: 1) he was naturalized, and 2) that since he arrived circa 1871, he was naturalized immediately when elgible? If so, these could be erroneous assumptions. Many immigrants did not go through the process of natualization at all, and those that did so very often didn't do so anytime really soon after arrival. We've seen ancestors wait as long as 10-20 years to complete the process. Why? Anybody's guess. >All vital records I have on >him do not give parents and only say "Ireland". Again, I know the feeling. However, did you say you searched the 1900 soundex for the US census of Missouri? If not, you certainly should do that. Locating your ancestor in this soundex will give you a reference in order to locate an actual census document which in turn, for the years 1900, 1910, and 1920, indicates whether the person is naturalized, and when that took place. Then you might get the naturalization records that do exist. They may not have what you want, but one never knows and should never assume. This is also true of census documents. In fact, a prime example is something that happened to us recently. We had been (actually still are) searching for the exact birthplace of our ancestors in Ireland. (They arrived in this country between 1832 and 1836/37.) As has been your experience, we kept coming up with nothing more specific than "Ireland." However, when we ordered the last available census document, and for whatever unknown reason, the census enumerator had written in the birthplace as "Munster," Ireland. This just narrowed our search to a province of six counties. We're still not there, but we feel it is a giant step. We also feel like we have a place to travel to now. But, back to your project . . . If I were you I would look into the 1900 census, like I mentioned. I checked the Red Book, and unfortuantely, it doesn't appear that Jackson County's state census documents have survived, so that's out as an option. You said you had some "vital records." Do you have birth, death, AND marriages? Have you searched or had searched, the local newspapers in KC for an obituary at the time of your ancestor's death? Have you considered writing a query to the county court there to see if there might be a probate package on your ancestor (not always useful for what you want, but you should exhaust all sources in the USA before looking East across the "big pond." If you do get the 1900 census and even if yo don't, you should check with the county clerk in Jackson county of see if he has a record of a naturalization for you ancestor. His address is . . . Jackson County Clerk Jackson County Building 415 East 12th Street Kansas City, Missouri 64106 State your information as concisley as possible, and inquire about fees. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. However, from where I sit, I would strongly recommend that you do the census first. Then your query may just be more focused which also means less work and a greater liklihood that a clerk might actually follow up on it. If you are able to get actual naturalization documents, even if they don't have your exact information as they occured too early, you still may well get a port and date of arrival. This would give you the data needed to locate the passenger list for the ship your ancestor arrived on. Again, these older lists don't usually have an exact place on them, but stranger things have happened, and you should, as I mentioned, exhaust ALL available resources. >There is no evidence of a >connection to the EMMETTs of early 1800's renown. I assume you mean no connection to Robert Emmett. Well, maybe yes and maybe no. Who knows until the search is finally over. Hope all this rambling has some bit of info. that is food for thought. Regards, Charles Edward Tucker ctucker@wzrd.com P.S. Oops! Forgot to mention. There was also a census for 1880 worth searching. It is soundexed for all those who had a child in the house at least 10 years of age. So, If your ancestor may have fit this description, you should check that soundex and get the census document. Again, a fluke could happen that was just the piece you needed.