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Leah Koester

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Mar 13, 2006, 5:19:19 PM3/13/06
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hello everyone,

I have a question regarding name changes. We have a relative who died approx
1933, b. in 1879.
Now, he is very difficult to find any information on. When he left his wife
and chidren in 1922 he was said to have gone to the states, but there are no
records for him at all. Now, maybe he didn't leave Canada, he could have
stayed here. I have a feeling he changed his name. I know at some points in
his life he used his middle name, for example on his daughter's school
record he signed it with his middle and then current last name.

My question is is there anywhere to look for name changes in Canada and the
United States? Or is the end of the research for him.

Another question, where would I look for police departments, or databases
that would have handled paupers back then? By this I mean police had called
his family they couldn't afford to pay for the return, nor did they want
anything to do with him. So the police have to do something with the body?
I would need info for both Canada and the United States.

Thanking You in Advance

Leah Koester

--
People will not look forward
to posterity, who never look
backward to their ancestors.
--Edmund Burk


KL

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Mar 13, 2006, 6:02:33 PM3/13/06
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on 3/13/2006 4:19 PM Leah Koester said the following:
Speaking of name changes, anyone here have any ideas on how to research
a relative who supposedly changed their name on arrival to the US from
Finland circa 1912?

--

KL

Joe Pessarra

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Mar 13, 2006, 8:41:36 PM3/13/06
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"KL" <klbj...@aohell.com> wrote in message
news:Vrqdnf13CuBhZIjZ...@telcove.net...

What is the name?

Joe in Texas


Mary_...@tvo.org

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Mar 13, 2006, 8:49:26 PM3/13/06
to
Give us the name and maybe someone can dig something out for you.

M.

Mary_...@tvo.org

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Mar 13, 2006, 8:52:31 PM3/13/06
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Its OT, but the subject calls for the old joke about a Jewish immigrant
who chose a anglicized name for himself but didn't remember it after
crossing the Atlantic. When asked his name at Ellis Island, he said in
Yiddish, ``Shoyn fargessen,'' meaning ``I already forgot it.''
>From then on, his name became Sean Ferguson.

M.

Tim Campbell

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Mar 13, 2006, 9:03:13 PM3/13/06
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> > Leah Koester
> >
> Speaking of name changes, anyone here have any ideas on how to research
> a relative who supposedly changed their name on arrival to the US from
> Finland circa 1912?
http://www.ellisisland.org/


KL

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Mar 13, 2006, 10:13:25 PM3/13/06
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on 3/13/2006 7:41 PM Joe Pessarra said the following:
His name here in the US was Sylvester Bjorn. His wife's name is not
clear, but some called her Anna. Their daughter, who was born in
Finland in 1908(?) was called Mary (I believe), but that doesn't seem to
be her birthname. Their son Theodore was born in 1912 here in Illinois.
He is my grandfather, so I have more knowledge that his facts are correct.

--

KL

KL

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Mar 13, 2006, 10:15:01 PM3/13/06
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on 3/13/2006 8:03 PM Tim Campbell said the following:
I have looked here before and not had any luck....partially because I am
not sure of the original name. Maybe I am not accessing the information
the right way. Any tips would sure be appreciated.

--

KL

Joe Pessarra

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Mar 13, 2006, 11:50:53 PM3/13/06
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KL,

The information that you provided is very confusing. Please present it in
date order, and it would be easier to follow your message. This is what I
understand. Is it correct? If not, please rewrite it correctly for us, and
maybe someone can help you. Some of your year dates may be typos, otherwise
they are very confusing.

Your Relative - Name not sure.
Born in Finland 1879.
Wife's name - Anna
Daughter's name - Possibly Mary, born 1908 in Finland.
Family came to Canada in 1912
Family came to USA in 1922
Your Relative - Now had name of Sylvester (Middle Name?) Bjorn
Son Theodore born in Illinois, USA, in 1912.
Theodore is your grandfather.
Sylvester died in about 1933 in Canada? or USA?

Hope you can clear your information up for us so that we might be able to
help you.

Joe in Texas

"KL" <klbj...@aohell.com> wrote in message

news:Z-KdnaeWy5pVqYvZ...@telcove.net...

Huntersglenn

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Mar 14, 2006, 12:22:09 AM3/14/06
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You're getting the two questions mixed up. The OP (Leah)was from was
regarding a relative who supposedly left Canada. Then KL asked about a
Finnish relative in a reply to the OP. It's actually two different
queries in the same thread.

Cathy

catalpa

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Mar 14, 2006, 12:22:35 AM3/14/06
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"KL" <klbj...@aohell.com> wrote in message
news:Z-KdnaaWy5q1qIvZ...@telcove.net...

If your ancestor became a citizen, then get the citizenship petition records
from the appropriate court. If your ancestor did not become a citizen and
lived until 1940, then file a Freedom of Information Act request to get the
1940 Alien Registration Act form. Both forms list the date your ancestor
arrived, the arrival port, the ship name and place and date of birth. The
name used to enter the USA may also be listed. If Ellis Island is the point
of entry, then use the ship arrival information and person's age to find
your ancestor in the Ellis Islands records using the Stephen Morse searches
at www.jewishgen.org/databases/EIDB/ellis.html . If more than one person
fits the critera, then use other manifest information (such as final
destination and destination relative/friend name) to get the right person.
Be aware that family and first names may be horribly mangled or even
reversed in the Ellis Island database.


KL

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Mar 14, 2006, 1:21:25 AM3/14/06
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on 3/13/2006 11:22 PM catalpa said the following:
Actually, this time I made a real good hit at the Ellis Island database.
But apparently the last name was recorded as Bjorni. And it appears
that the family came over in two parts. The father who we know as
Sylvester is recorded as Scrafia Bjorni, who was 25 in 1910 traveled on
the same boat as Eusio Bjorni who was 11 months old (male). Then in
1911, Aina Bjorni, age 20, appears to have travelled with Toini Bjorni
who was 2 yrs old at the time. This does seem to fit well with what
little I know of the family. The really interesting part is this name
Scrafia...how does that become Sylvester? Go figure!

Thanks all for the advice and good resources. Now I at least have some
direction to move forward. Now to check the Finland database at
http://www.genealogia.fi/indexe.htm

--
KL

catalpa

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Mar 14, 2006, 5:16:56 AM3/14/06
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"KL" <klbj...@aohell.com> wrote in message
news:oJOdnVhyrb9K_YvZ...@telcove.net...

Sorry, you have the wrong people. Scrafia Bjorni is a married female going
to join her husband Joseph.


Joe Pessarra

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Mar 14, 2006, 5:33:38 AM3/14/06
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Yes, I sure did get the two messages mixed up. However the original message
from Leah is still confusing to me. And she gives no names at all to help
in the research. Guess I will bow out of this thread.

Joe

"Huntersglenn" <hunter...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:5psRf.504103$0l5.126183@dukeread06...

catalpa

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Mar 14, 2006, 6:57:21 AM3/14/06
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"catalpa" <cat...@entertab.org> wrote in message
news:sKwRf.9861$Km6.3550@trnddc01...

This is complicated. On 03 Feb 1911, Aina Bjorni is going to her husband
Wester Bjorni in Dekalb, IL (523 N 10th) with 2 year old Toini. Toini is
shown as born in the USA, most likely in1908, meaning that Wester and Aina
must have come to the USA in 1908 or earlier. Or Toini was not really born
in the USA. Wester appears to be a Finnish version of Sylvester.

On 21 May 1909, Jozef Bjorn is going to his sister Maria (?) Bjorn in
Dekalb, IL. Jozef is married and his wife Cerafina (?) is in Jurva,
Findland. The Scrafia Bjorni arriving on 14 Nov 1910 is the wife of Jozef
Bjorn(i) as she is going to his address in Dekalb, IL (523 N 10th).

Clearly Jozef Bjorn(i) and Wester Bjorni are related (brothers?). Since
Maria Bjorn is already in the USA in 1909, when did she arrive? And when
before 1911 did Wester Bjorni arrive? Have fun.


Tara

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Mar 14, 2006, 9:10:25 AM3/14/06
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"catalpa" <cat...@entertab.org> wrote in message
news:BcyRf.4143$Jz4.1385@trnddc08...

>
>> Sorry, you have the wrong people. Scrafia Bjorni is a married female
>> going
>> to join her husband Joseph.
>>
>
> This is complicated. On 03 Feb 1911, Aina Bjorni is going to her husband
> Wester Bjorni in Dekalb, IL (523 N 10th) with 2 year old Toini. Toini is
> shown as born in the USA, most likely in1908, meaning that Wester and Aina
> must have come to the USA in 1908 or earlier. Or Toini was not really born
> in the USA. Wester appears to be a Finnish version of Sylvester.
>
> On 21 May 1909, Jozef Bjorn is going to his sister Maria (?) Bjorn in
> Dekalb, IL. Jozef is married and his wife Cerafina (?) is in Jurva,
> Findland. The Scrafia Bjorni arriving on 14 Nov 1910 is the wife of Jozef
> Bjorn(i) as she is going to his address in Dekalb, IL (523 N 10th).
>
> Clearly Jozef Bjorn(i) and Wester Bjorni are related (brothers?). Since
> Maria Bjorn is already in the USA in 1909, when did she arrive? And when
> before 1911 did Wester Bjorni arrive? Have fun.
>
>

It does look as though they may have come and gone a few times before they
settled in America for good. Wester Bjorne is shown arriving on 01 Sep 1912
on the Campania. It's difficult to read the writing, (if only he'd been one
spot earlier in line) but it looks like he's going to a sister in Illinois.

--
Tara Larkin
Remove NO SPAM to reply by email.

Joy Weaver

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Mar 14, 2006, 9:20:19 AM3/14/06
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Was he naturalized? If so, his original name should be on the papers
along with his date of arrival in the US.

Joy

KL

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Mar 14, 2006, 9:29:59 AM3/14/06
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on 3/14/2006 4:16 AM catalpa said the following:
Yeah, you are right....I read the M for married as male....sigh

How did you know she was going to join her husband? I believe that
Sylvester may have had a brother Joseph. They first settled in DeKalb,
IL it seems, as my grandfather was born there in January of 1912.

--
KL

KL

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Mar 14, 2006, 9:33:25 AM3/14/06
to
on 3/14/2006 5:57 AM catalpa said the following:
Yes, this is all much closer to the information I have. Now to dig even
deeper :)

--

KL

KL

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Mar 14, 2006, 9:35:12 AM3/14/06
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on 3/14/2006 8:20 AM Joy Weaver said the following:

I am assuming he was naturalized, but I have no idea where to get a copy
of these papers. Actually never even thought about this. I am a total
amatuer at the genealogy research.

--

KL

Tara

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Mar 14, 2006, 9:51:39 AM3/14/06
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"KL" <klbj...@aohell.com> wrote in message
news:ovmdnRPSk7-...@telcove.net...

> on 3/14/2006 5:57 AM catalpa said the following:
>> "catalpa" <cat...@entertab.org> wrote in message
>> news:sKwRf.9861$Km6.3550@trnddc01...
>>
<snip>

>> This is complicated. On 03 Feb 1911, Aina Bjorni is going to her husband
>> Wester Bjorni in Dekalb, IL (523 N 10th) with 2 year old Toini. Toini is
>> shown as born in the USA, most likely in1908, meaning that Wester and
>> Aina
>> must have come to the USA in 1908 or earlier. Or Toini was not really
>> born
>> in the USA. Wester appears to be a Finnish version of Sylvester.
>>
>> On 21 May 1909, Jozef Bjorn is going to his sister Maria (?) Bjorn in
>> Dekalb, IL. Jozef is married and his wife Cerafina (?) is in Jurva,
>> Findland. The Scrafia Bjorni arriving on 14 Nov 1910 is the wife of Jozef
>> Bjorn(i) as she is going to his address in Dekalb, IL (523 N 10th).
>>
>> Clearly Jozef Bjorn(i) and Wester Bjorni are related (brothers?). Since
>> Maria Bjorn is already in the USA in 1909, when did she arrive? And when
>> before 1911 did Wester Bjorni arrive? Have fun.
>>
>>
> Yes, this is all much closer to the information I have. Now to dig even
> deeper :)
>
> --
>
> KL

I found what might be the original arrival of Sylvester and his sister Maria
in the Boston Port arrivals. They mention another brother, Jaakko. I'm
sending you the images. They're easier to read than the Ellis Island
manifests, although the "going to join" field is filled out oddly, half
above the line, half below the line.

Tara

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Mar 14, 2006, 10:03:57 AM3/14/06
to

"Tara" <NOtnlar...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%LARf.3957$sL2...@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...

>
> I found what might be the original arrival of Sylvester and his sister
> Maria in the Boston Port arrivals. They mention another brother, Jaakko.
> I'm sending you the images. They're easier to read than the Ellis Island
> manifests, although the "going to join" field is filled out oddly, half
> above the line, half below the line.
>
> --
> Tara Larkin
> Remove NO SPAM to reply by email.
>
>

I found Aina and 2 children coming through Boston that I missed the first
time through. I'll send that along too if I can get a good email address. I
assume I just need to change to "aol" (although I reckon your is more
accurate) but I'll wait to make sure.

Tara


singhals

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Mar 14, 2006, 11:00:43 AM3/14/06
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Mary_...@tvo.org wrote:


Or the one about the about the Polish immigrant who wanted a
non-ethnic-sounding name, so AFTER he cleared immigration, he strolled
down NY's Fifth Ave, and chose his new "American-sounding" name from a
store marquee -- Macy.

Cheryl

ecunningham

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Mar 14, 2006, 2:01:01 PM3/14/06
to
KL wrote:
>major snip<

> How did you know she was going to join her husband? I believe that
> Sylvester may have had a brother Joseph. They first settled in DeKalb,
> IL it seems, as my grandfather was born there in January of 1912.


KL: Manifests post 1906 are usually in two pages. You are probably
only reading one! Use the next frame option on Ellis Island OR use
the previous frame option <g>
It depends upon how they were scanned! Page with full name will tell
you next of kin in the old country.
ecunn...@att.net

KL

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Mar 14, 2006, 5:45:47 PM3/14/06
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on 3/14/2006 9:03 AM Tara said the following:

WOW Thanks for this, I really do appreciate it!
Yeah...change the middle to aol...just keeps a few of the spammers away.

--

KL

KL

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Mar 14, 2006, 5:48:38 PM3/14/06
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on 3/14/2006 1:01 PM ecunningham said the following:
but it costs to see the manifests, doesn't it?

--
KL

ecunningham

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Mar 14, 2006, 8:59:32 PM3/14/06
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KL wrote:

> but it costs to see the manifests, doesn't it?

KL: Absolutely not! What you see at Ellis Island.org after registration
is what you get on the NARA films. Registration costs nothing. Payment
comes if you want a big, fancy manifest copy for the wall. That's how
they make money. You can look at manifests at any NARA office, or you
can rent films at the Mormon Family History Centers. The latter charge
a small fee for a four week rental.
ecunn...@att.net

KL

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Mar 15, 2006, 4:57:56 AM3/15/06
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on 3/14/2006 7:59 PM ecunningham said the following:
OK, I am catching on now....too bad the writing is near illegible. At
least it gives me more to go on.

--

KL

Joy Weaver

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Mar 15, 2006, 9:32:14 AM3/15/06
to
Ellis Island site is free.

If you want an easy way to do it, try Steve Moss' One-Step site:

> http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/EIDB/ellis.html

You can enter name, place of origin, age range, date range, etc. all on
one sheet and it will give you a list of possibilities. (It's linked
through the JewishGen site, but it's for all nationalities).

Joy

Leah Koester

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Mar 16, 2006, 5:33:49 PM3/16/06
to
This thread is huge.

I has asked for some info , but none of my questions were answered.
I believe someone else jumped into my thread saying somehting like"speaking
of name changes" he got all the replies. Maybe he could have opened a new
thread for his questions. I am new to newsgroups so I am unsure if what he
did was proper.

Anyway, if anyone could help that would be awesome.

Again thanking you in advance.

Leah Koester


"KL" <klbj...@aohell.com> wrote in message

news:Vrqdnf13CuBhZIjZ...@telcove.net...
> on 3/13/2006 4:19 PM Leah Koester said the following:
>> hello everyone,
>>
>> I have a question regarding name changes. We have a relative who died
>> approx 1933, b. in 1879.
>> Now, he is very difficult to find any information on. When he left his
>> wife and chidren in 1922 he was said to have gone to the states, but
>> there are no records for him at all. Now, maybe he didn't leave Canada,
>> he could have stayed here. I have a feeling he changed his name. I know
>> at some points in his life he used his middle name, for example on his
>> daughter's school record he signed it with his middle and then current
>> last name.
>>
>> My question is is there anywhere to look for name changes in Canada and
>> the United States? Or is the end of the research for him.
>>
>> Another question, where would I look for police departments, or databases
>> that would have handled paupers back then? By this I mean police had
>> called his family they couldn't afford to pay for the return, nor did
>> they want anything to do with him. So the police have to do something

>> with the body? I would need info for both Canada and the United States.


>>
>> Thanking You in Advance
>>
>> Leah Koester
>>

> Speaking of name changes, anyone here have any ideas on how to research a
> relative who supposedly changed their name on arrival to the US from
> Finland circa 1912?
>

> --
>
> KL


Leah Koester

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Mar 16, 2006, 6:53:19 PM3/16/06
to
her is the man's name Tipton Bradford Mcnair b, Aug 9 1879 Collinsville
Alabama what he may have changed it to if at all is unknown. thank you

Leah Koester
"Leah Koester" <ljk...@telus.net> wrote in message
news:hJlSf.1837$Zf3.498@clgrps12...

singhals

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Mar 16, 2006, 9:05:54 PM3/16/06
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Yes, what he did was acceptable. Not particularly helpful to either of
you, but acceptable just the same.

OK, to answer your question directly.

In the time period in which you are interested, it would *extremely*
unlikely to find any formal, official, proceedings for a name change
such as you suggest. I have any number of instances in my trees where
people, both male and female, used their middle name in daily life, but
were occasionally identified by their first name when some idiot
insisted on it. And there are a couple Louis who got their name spelt
Lewis or Lewey.

Changing one's surname was just as easy -- it is still legal in the US,
UK and presumably Canada, to use any name you want, so long as you're
not intending to defraud by it. *IF* by some chance he really did file
paperwork, you'd look in the court records under deed poll -- WHICH
court, you need someone familiar with the area in question who knows the
local court system.

HTH

Cheryl

Joy Weaver

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Mar 17, 2006, 5:46:04 PM3/17/06
to
One thought which may or may not be useful-- From 1895 to 1924, the
U.S. kept records of all non-U.S. citizens who crossed the border from
Canada. They are lumped together under the title "St. Albans Records"
but they cover most of the possible crossing points.

What I'm thinking is that if he crossed under his original name, you
might be able to find out where he was going. The form asked for the
name and address of where you were going as well as when and how you
entered Canada, your dob and the closest relative left behind, with that
address.

It's Soundex indexed and available through the U.S. National Archives.
You might take a look at their website for further information.

Joy

Leah Koester

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Mar 17, 2006, 10:21:16 PM3/17/06
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He was a US citizen.


Leah
"Joy Weaver" <joyw...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:M_GSf.36$8G2.10@trndny01...

Leah Koester

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Mar 17, 2006, 10:22:08 PM3/17/06
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but I do have a canadian regiatrtion card with a number on it ,could that be
useful.

Leah
"Joy Weaver" <joyw...@verizon.net> wrote in message
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