I am hoping someone can get my research going again. I can't get further
than New York in the the mid 1850's. I have a family "album" that was
given to my gggmother in July 1855. It says "Yorkville", and mentions
"our beloved river" which I assume is the Hudson. I don't think this
is the Yorkville near Utica(?), because one child was already born in
Harlem and Yorkville is next to it in Manhatten. Here is the family:
father Henry Roome b. 1806(?) in France??
mother Maria Roome nee Cook b 1838
Parents married 1853(?) Note he was 47 and she 15! She may have
lied about her age in the 1870 census, but I have heard these large
age descrepencies did occur.
son Henry Cook Roome b. Feb 26 1854 Harlem NY
daugh Eugenie Marie Roome b. Jun 22 1856 Yorkville NY
(Yorkville is a section of NYC that touches
harlem)
I have looked through the 1855 NY state census for Harlem (12th ward)
and Yorkville (19th ward) with no luck (NOT INDEXED!) I have looked
through death records in New York county (wonderful records 1855-1860).
Henry the father supposedly died between 1856-1860 (see how young his
wife was again!).I am trying some of the small children deaths in
Greenwood cemetary to see if the parents show up as owners of the plot.
The births of Henry and Eugenie are recorded in the family album
in French. Family lore says the family were Hugenots, and that
Eugenie was named for the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III of
France who supposedly granted more religous freedom. Any french
churches in Manhatten where the births could have been recorded?
I am also interested whether Roome families appears in the city
directory for years 1854-1859. Henry Sr. may have been a businessman. He
died between 1856 and 1859. I have looked through the index to wills
for NY county with no luck.
How about the index of deeds/land transactions? Any ideas of where to
get?
How about naturalization records for persons living in NY state? Roome
is not that popular of a name. It is probably Dutch.
Maria writes in 1870 that she has an Uncle in New York who is a banker.
Any way to trace this - like a state list of bank officers or such?
As you can see, I have dug up some info from family rememberances, but
never get a concrete "hit" on the family in New York.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks! Tom Wood tomcat@visi.com