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From: "Liz Davidson" <>
Subject: WHITEWAY Fitchburg
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 2004 17:56:46 -0000


Hello all, I'm new to this list and am hoping to unravel more of the story of my great-uncle Herbert Walter WHITEWAY. He was born in Teignmouth, Devon, England on 4th June 1878, 4th of 9 children. He served in the Royal Navy 1898 - 1910, described when he joined as a plumber. He married his first cousin Florence HUTCHINGS which caused much upset in the family. They appear in the US Censuses for 1920 and 1930 in Fitchburg, Worcester County, Ma where Herbert is described as immigrating in 1910 so I guess maybe he went straight to the US on leaving the Navy and married there.

From the censuses it seems that Florence and her mother had been there some time as they are described as immigrating in 1888. Florence's mother was Jessie nee CHURCHILL born Teignmouth 1850. She was married in Devon to HUTCHINGS and Florence was born 1879. Jessie and Florence are both on the UK 1881 census in Devon by which time Jessie is widowed.

By 1920 Jessie's surname is GOLBY, widowed again, and her birthplace is down as Canada so I'm wondering if she went to Canada before the US and possibly married there. She was a naturalised US citizen in 1895. She died before 1930.

Florence wasn't naturalised until 1912 - did she maybe come back to the UK for a time and maybe even marry here, though I haven't yet found a marriage.

Herbert states age at first marriage as 32 which suggests the marriage was in 1910. He was a naturalised citizen in 1917. Census entries say he was an assembler then a machinist in a machine shop. He and Florence were living with Jessie in 1920.

According to family story Florence died fairly young, possibly in the 1930s or maybe 1940s. They had no children. Herbert died in the early 1960s having spent his last years in a Masonic Home. He had written quite regularly to my grandparents and mother though none of the letters survive. However I do have a postcard which has a return address, unfortunately under the postmark, which appears to say 'Masonic Home, Charlton' and a photo with a reference on the back to a visit to someone's house in Southbridge. Are these places near Fitchburg or had he moved a distance away?

I hope that's not too long-winded and rambling - forgive me if it's not your usual format.
Can anyone shed any light on their lives for me please?

Many thanks in advance for any help received

Liz Davidson
Suffolk, UK



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