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Lost in America!

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Xtine000 (U2217223) on Friday, 14th October 2005

  Hi, My name is Christine Johnes and I live in New York. My grandmother, Robina Higney, was born in Scotland, somewhere neare Glasgow I have heard. Her mother was reputed to be very strict and worked as a nurse. She had 4 children- Olive, the oldest, Robina, my grandmother(who died recently at age 94), Grace and Ross. My grandmother suffered from Altzheimers and couldn't tell me the information I wanted to know about family. My grandfather is a bit more lucid and he is still around at age 93 but he doesn't like to talk about family- he and my grandmother Robina ran away and got married so I guess since nobody approved of the match, he doesn't like to speak of them.
  
  Someone in my grandma Robina Higney's family died recently, an older lady, and she sent jewelry over to my parent's house in America for me to have. I have most of it in a safety deposit box, but I wear one item, a gold ring with five emeralds all in a row. I look at the ring daily and I wonder, "who is the woman who remembered me and sent me this ring"? All my father told me is that "it was an old lady in Scotland associated with your grandmother".
  
  So, the question is...who are my great grandparents? My great Grandmother's last name was Higney through marrige. Her husband was a bricklayer and his last name was Higney. They came to New York sometime around 1905(?) when my grandmother Robina was only about 4 years old. He helped to build some of the buildings in downtown Manhattan.
  
  There is also a story I heard...that my Grandmother's ancestors were actually French, not Scottish, and their last name was Cour(spelling could be off?). They were French Hougonauts who had to flee France in a rowboat in the middle of the night to Scotland because of persecution. That is how they came to Scotland.
  
  Robina Higney married Ellsworth Charles Johnes, my grandfather, an only child, and they had one son, William Charles Johnes, my father, also an only child. I would also love to have information on the Johnes family. Apparantly, Ellsworth's father was Welsh(he died when my grandfather was very young) but his family had been in America for quite a while when he had been born. Someone in his side of the family(Johnes) helped found Princeton University, I know that much. Perhaps there is more info on that particular Johnes ancestor so I could figure out who my family is in Wales.
  
  Robina's sister Grace married Dennis Carslile and they had two sons, Alan and Peter. Peter never married and died recently on Staten Island, but Alan had one son, Scott Carlisle, who lives in Manhattan not far from me. Neither Scott nor I know much of our grandmothers' family in Scottland.
  
  I never found out what happened to "Aunt Olive", she was older than the others and she died when I was very young. Nobody really talked about her, but I have a beautiful watch that belonged to her which has gold leaf around the edges.
  
  Ross had three daughters who live in Vermont- one of their names is Lorna, and I'm not sure of the other two.
  
  Everyone lost contact with me because my father was eccentric and moved us to the South in Virginia and never had any contact with the family. My mother, Pirkko Kustonen, didn't have any interest in contacting my father's family either(she is from Finland and has no relatives in this country).
  
  So I am "Lost in America"! A series of "only children", an eccentric father, an elopement, and perhaps other issues, have completely severed my ties.
  
  Any information on the Higney family near Glasgow or the Johnes family in Wales would be greatly appreciated!
  
  Christine Johnes
  
  
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Linda1111 (U1103093) on Friday, 14th October 2005

  Xtine, it strikes me that you need to do some basic background reading on how to trace your family and its tree. This will give you the information that you need.
  
  You can start online or buy a book! Online there are many resources available to you but try starting off on this site:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Once you have done some background reading then you might find the Scotland's people site useful:
  
  
  
  And I notice that Robina's entry to the USA through Ellis Island is there online:
  
  www.ellisislandrecords.org
  
  You will be able to purchase any certificates that you need to establish who your Great Grandparents were online and also search and view any census entries.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Xtine000 (U2217223) on Saturday, 15th October 2005

  Thanks for the tips on how to find my family! I looked but couldn't find Robina's Ellis Island entry. How did you do it?
  
  I found a great deal of info on the Johnes side of the family...it seems they at one point were very influential, being one of the first families to settle in America.
  
  My first ancestor here on the Johnes side was Edward Johnes, who later on helped to found Southhampton, NY. I found an online doccument that said he came to Salem, Massechusetts in 1622 with John Winthrop's fleet. I'd love to know where in Wales he originated from, so that I could know who my family in Wales is, even though it's been a very long time!
  
  Thanks again,
  
  Christine

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Jowin1 (U1940449) ** on Saturday, 15th October 2005

  Robina & Joseph Higney both aged 30 arrived in NY on 29th Oct 1911 on the Caledonia. with their daughter Ena aged 1, which if your G Gran aged 94 died recently, is about the right age.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Xtine000 (U2217223) on Saturday, 15th October 2005

  Wow, thank you so much! I didn't even know my great grandmother's name is also Robina! And Ena was the nickname they called my Grandma, who was actually Robina. My own name is Christine Robina Johnes.
  
  Thank you again!!!
  
  Christine

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by (( sean )) Free Nordmann (U2053581) on Saturday, 15th October 2005

  ...another happy ending!

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Jowin1 (U1940449) ** on Sunday, 16th October 2005

  Joseph Higney Born 12th Feb 1881 in Hutchesontown Lanarkshire. His father was Edward Higney and his mother was Helen. Her maiden name looks like Robb or Robe but its not very clear.
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by reader (U1767310) on Sunday, 16th October 2005

  Hi Christine
  Have found a Joseph HIGNEY in 1881 census; 2mths old living with father Edward (31 year old cork cutter) both born Glasgow. Looks like it was his mother, Helen's second marriage because there are 3 step children with surname Boyle. Helen was 39 and born Strath? Renfrewshire. Their address was 155 Wolseley St. Govan, Lanarkshire. Do you think the name Higney is of Irish origin?
  If you go to web page scotlandspeople.gov.uk you should be able to find your family.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by (( sean )) Free Nordmann (U2053581) on Sunday, 16th October 2005

  ...and Govan is still a place to leave today.

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