Fortune Family New York, William Fortune
Dear Sir / Madam,
I am trying to find a relative of mine a William Fortune. He was born in 1888 in Courtown Hbr, Ireland. He moved to New York, where he married Mary Smith in 1918. He was a longshoreman on the docks in Manhattan, as did his brother Joe, John & Murtha. His sister also lived and died in New York, Martha. I know he lived in 910 Columbus Avenue in 1930 as I found him on the census, and he lived there up to 1940.
He did serve in the World War 1 (In France), we as a Sergeant, but unfortunately a fire in the National Archives and Records Administration in 1973 and it destroyed approximately 80% of Army veterans that who were discharged between 1912 through 1960. William Fortune who died in 1970 according to the social security is one in the same of the person the family thought died in 1953 or 54 because they sent me the original form he filled out and it is definatly him.
The only thing we know about his army service is that he was recommend for commission but declined as he thought he was not educated enough for the peacetime army. We know he served in France because on his way home he dropped home to Ireland and this was his only return trip to Ireland 1918. We have recently found his army service number and we think he was part of the US transport division.
I have also spoken to the International Longshoreman Association and all there records were destroyed in September 11th. He worked on the old Cunard White Star pier in Manhattan, his brother John secretary of the Longshoreman for a time.
The family where told that William died in 1954 approx but according to the social security he died in Feb 1970.
Mary died in 1938 and she is buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne. He is not buried with her. They had one son that I know of also called William, he was born in 1922 approx.
That's where I reach a dead end. I can not find his burial location and have been unable to locate his death cert.
My father who has been ill for sometime wants to make sure Williams grave is been looked after. For some reason years ago the family lost touch.
Any advice or help you can give would be greatly appreciated. If possible can you check your records?
There does not seem to be logic in the where he lived and where he buried his wife etc.. His sister was buried in Calvary and Allied but as far as we know he is not there also. He seems to be a mystery, I am starting to think he fell down in the street and no one knew him, but then someone told the social security he was dead !
Since starting this search I have traced and found Martha’s and Murtha’s grandchildren, living all over the US and concentrated in New York.
Thank you, looking forward to hearing from you,
Áine Stafford
Wexford, Ireland