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Yes -- thats grandad on 1920 census.
Martha is his 2nd wife. The girl Catherine is his stepdaughter I think.

I know he gave his sister Georgies add. for his WW1 reg.

I have his enlist/discharge papers for Boer War 1897-1902.
Grandad ran away from home and enlisted in UK army.

His home address then was 2007 N.3rd St. Phila.
Mothers name Annie Sells- sister Georgie May.

He married my granma in Liverpool 1904 and my father was born1905.
By 1908 (aprox) he had gone back to the US alone.

I've not found any passenger lists for him.
Sorry about confusing the situation.

Best wishes Jean

Arrrghhh.. is there a tall building handy.

I suppose that she could have been unmarried.
I didnt know the 1880 index and actual record said different things about her marital status.
I do have details of sister Georgies birth.. it said parents were Mary A.Sells and George H.Sells. cashier. It didnt say deceased.
I was pinning my hopes on this number 2003 N. 3rd St giving me something solid.

I have asked for help with the marriage toThomas McDermott, so I will see what happens with that.

thanks a million - your all so kind. Jean.

Jean,

According to your John James Sells' WWI Draft Registration card. He was living with his sister, Georginia May Scheere at 2202 North Orkney Street in Philadelphia.

Is this your John J. Sells in 1920?

1920 United States Federal Census
about John Sells
Name: John Sells
Home in 1920: Philadelphia Ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age: 43 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Martha
Father's Name: Catherined
Father's Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent 2159 Reese Street
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 179
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John Sells 43
Martha Sells 33
Catherined Sells 8
Joseph McNealis 25
Grace Hart 25

Jean,

Another scenario, is it possible that Mary Ann's maiden name was Sells and that John and Georgiania are illegitimate. Although the 1880 U.S. Census index stated that she was widowed, the actual record did not. Perhaps she lied.

My suggestion would be to obtain a copy of the marriage record to McDermott (between 1879-1900). It may state both surnames (her maiden as well as her first married name Sells).

My great grandmother remarried and it stated her previous married name and her maiden name as "a.k.a.".

Also, either the family at #2003 were not home at the time of the census taker or the homes may have been renumbered. I found this to happen on both my maternal and paternal sides of the family in two different cities.

Joan

JOAN
Thank you for those address's I have taken note of them.

I have had a problem in the past trying to get grandads actuall birth details.
They wont issue one because I havent his fathers name or his mothers maiden.

Even though I have his full date of birth.
15th April 1877 Pa.
I got this from his army records and from his death cert.
I have sent off this week for a copy of his SSN application.
It might have his parents info on it.

His death cert had his number on but it was unreadable !!#

I am trying hard to locate Mary A.'s maiden name so I can go forward another little step.
Cheers Jean.

Was hoping to find a Sells living at 2003/2007 in 1870. Didn't find any.

Checked 1900 again - there isn't a 2003 on any pages.

Having trouble finding her neighbours in 1900 on the 1910 census (to see who was living at 2003 and 2007 in 1910.)

Will look again later. Night for now.
---------------------------
Can't wait to start looking again tomorrow. Perhaps with a few of us helping we might be able to find something. Worth a try anyway, eh? :)

Dont know who that is at all.

I just know that my grandad John James Sells b 1877 pa.
Had a sister Georgianna May Sells b 1879 pa.

Their mother was Mary A. or known as Annie Sells.

My first sighting of them as SELLS is 1880 census where her name looks like Ada a 24yr old widow with 2 small children..

On dau.Georgianna's 1897 marriage liscense to Scheerer her mother Mary A. signs as Mary A. McDermott - mother of bride.

To confuse the situation further on Georgianna's 1879 Birth cert it says her father is George Sells .. cashier .. Pa.

On Johns 1904 marriage cert it states his father is John Sells .. Pa .. Police Officer. deceased.

Your head is proberly in a whirl now. Best get some sleep.

best wishes Jean.

Jean,

Here are some addresses you could write to for copies of birth, death and marriage certificates in Pennsylvania prior to 1906.

Philadelphia County Birth and Death Records
City Archives

3101 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 685-9402


Philadelphia County Marriage Records
Marriage Bureau

City Hall, Room 415

Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 686-2234


Allegheny County Birth and Death Records
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania Department, Records Research

4400 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

(412) 622-3154

Allegheny County Marriage Records
Register of Wills
City-County Building
414 Grant Street; 1st Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 350-4180


Pennsylvania State Archives
350 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-3281

www.phmc.state.pa.us

Genealogy/Local History Section
State Library of Pennsylvania
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-1745
(717) 783-5991
www.statelibrary.state.pa.us

Jean,

According to the 1900 census, it appears that Mary married Thomas McDermott about 1874 at the age of 19 years.

Could this be your Annie in 1870?

1870 United States Federal Census
about Annie Sells
Name: Annie Sells
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
Age in 1870: 20
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1870: Pittsburgh Ward 11, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Female
Value of real estate: View Image
Post Office: Pittsburgh
Household Members: Name Age
Frank Sells 30, glass blower
Annie Sells 20

Oh Lisa ..so sorry didnt realise the time difference. I am in Australia.
I found her marriage to Thomas McDermott on Family Research Labs.
But it does not give any more info than I have given. Just their names and the license number.
I have been after the SELLS side of the family for about 7 yrs now. Its been very differcult.
I have never found a marriage for a Mr Sells and a Mary A unknown between 1872+1879. She was only 24yrs when 1st widowed. (Or he abandoned her)
I am still chasing Mary's maiden name.
I wonder if she applied for a widows pension.
If there is a Mary A. Mcdermott living at number 2003 N.3rd St on 1900 census then the death cert. I have does not belong to my gran. Because she is living at number 2007.on 1900 census ??

I will be back online tomorrow now.
A big thank you for your help. goodnight from Jean.

Sorry if I've confused things (I was googling, trying to find more info about her).

She did live at 2007, but the number above her looks like 2054. I checked the prior page and the numbers were something like 2020, 2024, 2028, etc. I also check the following page and didn't see 2003.

I would think that you have the correct death certificate, there was just a mistake somewhere.

I'll take a quick peek at her neighbours in 1910.

Hmmm..must be a transcription error.

You would think if she lived at number 2007 - then next door would be 2005 and next door again would be 2003. Is it back a page do you think?

The death cert definately says a Mary A. McDermott died 1903 age 44 at 2003 N. 3rd St. Phila.
If its not her then it must be her husbands family.
Hope I havent hit another brick wall.

thanks again Jean

Jean, it's about 5:30 am and I couldn't sleep (actually, haven't been to bed yet), so I should try to get some sleep.

How were you able to find her marriages?

Have you tried googling her name, city, etc. for further information?

I will check this thread later today. Sorry I have to leave. I'll be back in a few hours.

The address directly above her name is 2054 and the family is Wm D Althouse(?), born Penna.

2009 is Emma Lechler with daughter and boarders
2111 is Levi? Stemm? and family
2113 Julia A Green and boarders and nieces
2115 Lewis Perarig??? and family and boarders

Lisa.. I have her on 1880. her name is given as ADA Sells (a writing error prob.)

She is there a widow with my grandad John and his sister Georgeanna.

I only recently discovered she had remarried. I found a marriage 1890 for Annie + Thomas McDermott.
I feel sure it could be her. But would need further proof.
So it looks like she was a widow again by 1900. cheers Jean

Will go back and check her neighbours.

I did a double-take when I saw 13 and 2. I thought someone had made a mistake, but it very clearly shows 13 children, 2 living!

I do not have access to death records. I forgot to mention...Annie/Mary did live at that address in 1900.

I am checking now to see if I can find her in 1880. Unfortunately, there isn't an existing 1890 census.

YES... thats them she is down as Annie.
Thats my grt gran alright. DONT know about 13 kids though. She had 2 (i know of) to her 1st hubby who died (supposedly) when the 2nd baby was a few months old in 1879.

If they are living at 2007 could you please see who is at number 2003,
Thank you again Jean

Hi Lisa

I think in 1900 Grt Gran lived with her daughter married name 'Scheerer" poss at 2007 N.3rd St Phila.

Sometimes Mary A. called herself Annie McDermott.

I am interested to see who the Mary A. McDermott was who lived/died at number 2003 N.3rd St.in 1903.
I think it was ward 19.

I used to have an Ancestry sub but had to stop it because I wasn't finding enough info over last two yrs.

Thanks again .. hope you find it... Jean

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Connie McDermott
[Annie McDermott]
Home in 1900: Philadelphia Ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age: 44
Birth Date: Sep 1855
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Rents Home
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother: number of living children: 2
Mother: How many children: 13
Marital Status: Widowed
Residence : Philadelphia City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Household Members:
Name Age
Connie McDermott 44, married 26? years, Housework
Alice Shearer 30, daughter, June 1879, married 3 years, 2 children, one still living,
Charles Shearer 24, S-in-law, Oct 1875, born Penna, as were his parents, Clerk PRRW?
Agnes M Shearer 4.12, g-Daughter, Feb 1900
Josephine Wagner 60, Boarder, July 1839, married 34 years, born Maryland, parents born Germany
Ivor Thomas 23, Boarder, May 1877, Single, born Penna as were parents, Brakesman
James Garrs 40, Boader, Apr? 1860, Single, born England as were parents, immigrated 1880, Loom? Fixer?
Harry Bower 35, Boarder, March? 1865, Single, born Penna as were parents, Engineer [Name looks like Bowes]