Toms in Ann Arbor Michigan from London
I have been researching my family tree in England for many years and from what I can establish so far is that, following the death of their wives in 1864 and 1867 in England, two brothers John and James Toms, emigrated to the USA in 1869 on the ship Cella, to New York, settling in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
John had 6 children from a previous marriage and remarried in Sept 1865 in Croydon, England, to Emma, they had two children, John Henry, born Croydon, Sept 1867 and James William, born in 1869.
James snr. does not show on the ships passenger list so whether he was missed on the list or traveled out later or prior is unknown at this time. (maybe he stowed away!).
They were employed as gardeners in Ann Arbor.
Emma died in 1875 of inflammation at the age of 37 leaving John with two young children to bring up.
By 1880 James, now aged 13 was employed as a Servant, by the Schlider family, (Farmers). in Ovid, Branch County.John snr. was employed as a labourer and living with the Clarken family in Ann Arbor.
James snr. is recorded in Ann Arbor employed in 1870 as a gardener and in 1880 as a florist.
The 1890 census records were destroyed by fire so I have no records of James W. prior to a marraige to Lucy Cornish in 1899 in Saline MI.
This is as far as I have got at the moment, if anyone has any further info or would like information on the Toms Family, Croydon / south London 1782-present day please email me at [email protected]