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Thanks to everyone who unearthed information, I know a lot more than I did before posting this thread. Whilst I haven't been able to trace a death for Joseph, I found a newspaper article relating to brother Arthur's death in which he is mentioned as a surviving brother, that was in 1951 when he would have been 88.

Who knows what the full story was here, it would be easy to paint Joseph black, but perhaps Ellen refused to go. The hard part about family history research is that there are often too few pieces of the puzzle to see the whole picture.

Thanks for this. I thought there was a distinct possibility that the young couple with Joseph in 1930 were connected to wife Emma.

I'm guessing that Arthur may have simply been buried at what he regarded as his "home" church in 1951.

I think the 1930 census is correct for Joseph.

Stanley Porter is the son of Emma Paxton on the 1930 census. (Priscilla H -nee Gray is Stanley's wife). Stanley's father was John Porter.

This is Emma with son Stanley and husband, John, in 1920:

Us Census 1920
Immigration year 1899
County Essex
State New Jersey
John Porter Self Married Male 45 1875 Scotland
Emma Porter Wife Married Female 42 1878 England
Stanley Porter Son Single Male 11 1909 New Jersey
Samuel Porter Son Married Male 9 1911 New Jersey
-----------------------------------------

Arthur was still in New Jersey in 1949:

U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Arthur M Paxton
Residence Year: 1949
Street address: Do
Residence Place: Verona, New Jersey, USA
Occupation: Employee
Publication Title: Verona, New Jersey, City Directory, 1949

Thanks Austin for the various items, I'm not sure about the 1930 census. Your message with that almost escaped my notice. It might fit if the couple described as daughter and son-in-law are actually Emma's daughter and her husband from an earlier marriage. Arthur was buried back in Stroudsburg, I found his entry in the church records in 1951, but the likelihood of 2 Arthur Mee Paxton's being around at the same time - unless father & son - seems remote. Will have to follow up on that.

Just back from dog walking duties. Looking at the 1891 census entry Dea has found, despite the place of birth not fully matching, I agree it's probably her. She had a sister Elizabeth who married quite late on in life. Not sure why it didn't appear on my searches, Parton should have come up on the "similar" criteria. I hadn't found Elizabeth in 1891 either so that's 2 gaps filled.Interesting that the sisters are together as they didn't actually grow up together, Elizabeth was brought up by her paternal grandparents. Their father set up home with another woman, whose husband had gone to the US. Seems the family was a bit "messed up".

She is calling herself a widow in 1891:

Record Transcription:
1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census

Kirk Gate, Newark upon Trent, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England
What can I do with this record?
View an image of this record
We will use the details from this record to create your family tree for you
Report a transcription error.
Elizabeth Rastall's Household Members
Members that resided in the household at the time of the census.
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Elizabeth Rastall Head Single Female 33 1858 Confectioner Lincolnshire, England
*** Helen S Parton Sister Widow Female 31 1860 Confectioner Lincolnshire, England
Kate E Jenkinson Boarder Single Female 80 1811 School Teacher Lincolnshire, England
Louisa A Jenkinson Boarder Single Female 18 1873 Dressmakers Assist Lincolnshire, England
Martha M Judge Boarder Single Female 26 1865 Dressmakers Assist Worcestershire, England
Emma J Smith Boarder Single Female 20 1871 Dressmakers Assist Lincolnshire, England
Betsey Jackson Boarder Single Female 22 1869 Dressmakers Assist Lincolnshire, England

Dea x

Annoyingly, the confirmation was updated to show he was deceased, but no dates given.

I did wonder if the Joseph Mee Paxton who was confirmed in 1911 was the son of Joseph's brother, Elias. That Joseph died in 1920.

An obituary in the paper for his brother Elias: (doesn't mention siblings)
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14641300/obit_elias_paxton/

I found burial details for several members of the Paxton family in the register for the episcopal church for Stroudsburg, Munroe, but nothing for Joseph. Various members of the family seemed to have been active in the church. It appears the confirmation referred to earlier was Joseph himself, as I can't find a younger Joseph.

I found an article on familysearch which indicates that come the 18th century, in England, if someone disappeared ,it was accepted that an abandoned spouse could marry again after 7 years. However, if the original spouse turned up that invalidated the 2nd marriage. It's not clear from the article whether this was also accepted into the 19th century.

Whether anything similar applied in the US, if say a spouse refused to join their partner in the country, I haven't been able to establish.

U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards
Name: Arthur Mee Paxton
Gender: Male
Race: White
Residence Age: 61
Birth Date: 13 Jun 1881
Birth Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Residence Date: 1942
Residence Place: Essex, New Jersey, USA

***Name and address of person who will always know your address:
Joseph Paxton
Address: 8 Livingstone Ave, Roseland, NJ
----------------------------

In view of the area, and the fact that Arthur declares he was born in Pennsylvania, this 1930 entry for Joseph M Paxton might be worth looking at:

Name: Joseph M Paxton
Birth Year: abt 1869
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Marital status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Roseland, Essex, New Jersey, USA
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: Cortland Street
House Number: 46
Dwelling Number: 13
Family Number: 13
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 50
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Age at first Marriage: 27
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Laborer
Industry: hospital
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph M Paxton 61
Emma E Paxton 53 Wife
Stanley Porter 21 Son-in-law
Priscilla H Porter 23 Daughter
John E Porter 1 Grandson
-----------------------------

Despite the wording of relationships in the household, Stanley Porter is the son (not son-in-law) of Emma.

I can't see anything on BillionGraves or on FindAGrave

Julie posted ............

"Julie Report 4 Mar 2019 20:56

On looking at 1910 census again 1886 is date of arrival. The 1920 census does stated 1894 for naturalisation, but 1885 as year of arrival."


Glad that you confirmed what I posted at 19:55 pm .............

"Record Transcription:
Us Census 1920
County Philadelphia and City

Jos M Paxton Self Married Male 54 1866 England
Lydia Paxton Wife Married Female 57 1863 Pennsylvania


Looking at the image on FMP ...........

Joseph says he was naturalized in 1894, was the manager of a Publishing House

Address:- 5802 Jackson St

House is rented"

decided to have a look at newspapers on FMP ...... and foudn this in passing. Is the boy Joseph's nephew?


Philadelphia Inquirer
Joseph M. Paxton, aged fourteen, son of Elia8 M. Paxton, who left mysteriously on Wednesday, November 4, with
10 November 1914 - Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia,

He and a friend took off for New York, had about $75 between them, and had fun going to movies, etc for a few days. Joseph then returned home, while the other boy stayed in a hotel in New York until his father forgave him!

I had to go out .............. but I spent an hour searching on several sites for Joseph's appearance on another census or his death. Same for Lydia. Same for father James.

Didn't find anything, and never found Joseph or James on the Ellis Island site entering the US

Have found death cert for US wife Lydia 1924, Joseph was the informant so he was obviously still alive then. Can't find a 1930 census entry for him at the moment.

On looking at 1910 census again 1886 is date of arrival. The 1920 census does stated 1894 for naturalisation, but 1885 as year of arrival.

Have found the 1910 census for Joseph, Lydia and brother Arthur, this shows naturalisation for Joseph as 1886 and Arthur as 1887.

Austin posted ...........

Record Transcription:
Us Census 1920
County Philadelphia and City

Jos M Paxton Self Married Male 54 1866 England
Lydia Paxton Wife Married Female 57 1863 Pennsylvania


Looking at the image on FMP ...........

Joseph says he was naturalized in 1894, was the manager of a Publishing House

Address:- 5802 Jackson St

House is rented


I'm trying to find a later census to nail down his death

I can't find Joseph on the Ellis Island site

From the Ellis Island site .............

Arthur's arrival in the US .........

Passenger Record

First Name : Arthur
Last Name : Paxton
Nationality : England
Place of Birth : England
Date of Arrival : 1887
Age at Arrival : 4
Gender : Male
Ship of Travel : City Of Chicago
Manifest Line Number : 21

The manifest is very dark and hard to read, but he's with mother Ann, shown as Wife, and siblings Maria (?) age 19, Hub.. (??), age 10 and Elias age 7

It would not have been legal unless she had had him legally declared dead.

But many couples separated, and then "remarried". Thoe marriages were NOT legal, as you know. The person lied about their marital status.

But you didn't have to provide any proof of your status or age.