My Great Grandmother was Adopted from England-sent to America...

ChillyBean

New Member
Hello-
I am trying to find out the biological parents and the complete story behind my Great Grandmothers adoption. From what I have gathered she was born
May Anna Dotson April 29 1878 in England -her father was a miner and killed in a work accident. Supposedly her mother was Dorthea Kitson and adopted her out to a relative- possibly her Aunt - who lived in America.
From what I know as fact- her adopted parents where George and Emily/Emma Dawson- the lived in Blossburg, Pennsylvania, USA. Upon adoption she became known as Anna May Dawson.- they had 2 older biological children Margaret and George Jr.
She married William Elias Tompkins - and gave birth to 13 children- 11 survived to adulthood. She died in Barberton, Summit County, OH May 17 1943.

BUT the biggest stumble is- Native Indian Bloodline. My Grandmother and a few of her siblings had very strong DNA physical features of Native American Indian in them- from what my Grandmother said- one of her Grandparents- whom she never knew was Native Indian. I have traced the Tompkins side back- no Native Indian. So did it come from Anna May Kitson-Dawson. ALSO- her adopted father was also in the mining business- and spent time in British Columbia Canada. Was Anna May born in Canada and not England- could her mother or father been Native Indian she had Native Indian features.
Colleen
 

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Welcome Colleen! Interesting puzzle, but we love puzzles ;)
Could you please enter your location to help us when we find answers or have even more questions for you?

Thanks.
 
As for her birth, I can only find a May Dodson born in 1878 in England. Birth registered in the 2nd quarter.
Will keep looking, but have to go and check the dessert in the oven!!
 
The 1880 US census has George Dawson 34 miner, born England
Emmely Dawson 34 wife born Pennsylvania
Marget Dawson 15 daughter born Nova Scotia
George W. Dawson 10 son born Pennsylvania
May Ann Dawson 9 adopted born Pennsylvania
Try as I might I cannot make out where Emmely's father was born.. I am wondering if this was a 2nd marriage for both of them and also..look at the difference in age for May Ann....
 
There are three census entries in the US for a person with a similar name to Dorthea living in Pennsylvania.
I do not have full access to the details just the index but I have a feeling that race is one of the questions on the US census.

1910 - Dortha Kitson / born 1860 / spouse Thomas Kitson / at Tioga,
1920 - Dorothy Kitson / born 1861 / at Lycoming,
1930 - Dorothy Kitson / born 1860 / at Bradford,
 
Try as I might I cannot make out where Emmely's father was born.. I am wondering if this was a 2nd marriage for both of them and also..look at the difference in age for May Ann....

I think it is New York. Some others further down the page are very similar but clearer.

Karen
 
There are three census entries in the US for a person with a similar name to Dorthea living in Pennsylvania.
I do not have full access to the details just the index but I have a feeling that race is one of the questions on the US census.

1910 - Dortha Kitson / born 1860 / spouse Thomas Kitson / at Tioga,

This Dortha Kitson's parents are listed as Eng/English.
 
YES- William E Tompkins mother was Phoebe Francis See- growing up- I always assumed she was the Native Indian Grandmother- BUT NO- in tracing back she is German.
 
Welcome Colleen! Interesting puzzle, but we love puzzles ;)
Could you please enter your location to help us when we find answers or have even more questions for you?

Thanks.
? sorry new here- I assumed automatically go to my registered email address.
 
There are three census entries in the US for a person with a similar name to Dorthea living in Pennsylvania.
I do not have full access to the details just the index but I have a feeling that race is one of the questions on the US census.

1910 - Dortha Kitson / born 1860 / spouse Thomas Kitson / at Tioga,
1920 - Dorothy Kitson / born 1861 / at Lycoming,
1930 - Dorothy Kitson / born 1860 / at Bradford,
 
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