Margaret Edith (Meredith) Frantz (1898 - abt. 1991)

Born 24 May 1898 in Upolu, Western Samoa

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 10 Jun 1991 at about age 93 in San Diego, CA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Frantz [send private message]

This profile is part of the Meredith Name Study.

This profile is part of the Frantz Name Study.

Margaret (Meredith) Frantz migrated from American Samoa to United States.

Biography

ROYALTY: Daughter of Annie Siafiafi-o-Tuimanua YOUNG, the Tu'i Manu'a princess and sister of both the 39th Tui Manu'a Matelika Totoluafilo’isāmoa YOUNG and 41st Tu'i Manu'a Taliutafa Christopher Leiesilika YOUNG
Also: Step-granddaughter to the sister of the Queen of New Guinea and Princess of Samoa (Malietoa), Emma Eliza COE.

Name

• First Name: Margaret ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]}
• Alternate First Name: Magaret ^[19][20]
• Alternate First Name: Margrett ^[21]

• Nickname: Rita ^{[1][15][16][22]}

• Middle Name: Edith ^{[2][3][9][14][15][17][18]}
• Middle Initial: E. ^{[4][19][20][23][5][6][11][12]}

• Last Name: MEREDITH ^{[1][2][3][4][19][20][23][13][14][15][16][17][18][22]}

Birth

• Birth Date: 24 May 1898 ^[2][3][16]
• Alternate Birth Month: 24 Jun 1898 ^{[6][7][17][18]}
• Estimated Birth Date: 1900 ^[21][15]
• Estimated Birth Date: 1899 ^[11]

• Birth Place: Apia, Upolu, Western Samoa ^{[2][3][21][15][16][17][18]}
• Alternate Birth Place: Pago Pago, American Samoa. ^[6][7][11]

Parents

• Father: Thomas James III MEREDITH, (1875, Samoa—1918) ^{[1][2][3][15][16][17][18][22]}
• Mother: Annie Siafiafi-o-Tui Manua YOUNG, (11 Sep 1874, Ta'u, Manu'a—1918, Western Samoa) ^{[1][2][15][16][17][18][22]} (or Marie ^[3])

Life: Pre-Marriage

• 1919: Lost both of her parents to the Spanish Flu (influenza) at age 20 a little after Aft. 3 Nov 1918 when the world wide pandemic hit Western Samoa. They and 3 other family members were in Western Samoa which took 7,542 people there. Margaret was in American Samoa which one of the few places on the globe spared the effects of the pandemic due to a strictly enforced quarantine covering all of American Samoa. ^[24] As she was the oldest, she took responsibility of finish raising the surviving eight siblings. ^[25]

• Between 1920 and 1922: Met Paul A. FRANTZ when he was deployed by Navy to Pago Pago, American Samoa. ^[25]

• 1922: At the time of her marriage, she lived in Neloaloa, Leloaloa, Tutuila, American Samoa, and probably due to the death of her parents and grandfather 4 years ago during the pandemic, was a ward of her maternal uncle, Stephen YOUNG, of Apia, Upolu, Western Samoa. ^[4][19][20]

Samoan Wedding. Rita is on the far left.

Rita and Paul FRANTZ Marriage Certificate. [20]

Marriage

• Spouse: Paul A. FRANTZ, (of Compton, CA) ^{[1][4][20][23][8][9][21][7][10][4][19][20][13][5][14][11][12][15][16][22]}
• Marriage Permit: 18 Feb 1922 (The examination and permission by the goveror of American Samoa, H. EVANS for Paul, a foreigner, to marry a local, Margaret E. MEREDETH, a ward of Stephen YOUNG of Apia, Upolu, Samoa). ^[4]
• Marriage Date: 22 Feb 1922 ^[20][25][15]
• Marriage Place: Leloaloa, Tutuiila, American Samoa. Witnesses: A.S. MEREDITH (paternal uncle, Arthur Stephen) and S. F. YOUNG (maternal uncle, Stephen Francis), as both parents were deceased. ^[20][23][15]

Children

• Extended family: 45 known descendants (as of 11/2022):

1. Adopted Daughter (actually her baby sister), Frances S. (Carrie) or Nances F. FRANTZ (?), (26 Jan 1912, Pago Pago Tutuila—1980) ^{[1][13][21][10][5][6][14][25][15]}
2. Daughter, Lillian Theresa FRANTZ, (29 Dec 1922, Leloaloa, Mauputasi, Tutuila, American Samoa—2019) ^{[1][8][13][21][10][5][6][25][15][22]}
3. Son, Chester Irvin FRANTZ, (30 Jun 1925, Western Samoa—25 Feb 2020) ^{[1][13][21][10][5][6][12][25][15][22]}
4. Daughter, Margaret Eleanor. FRANTZ, (1931, Pago Pago, Tutuila, American Samoa—living) ^{[1][13][5][6][9][10][25][15][22]}

Life: Post-Marriage

• 1930: Margrett E. FRANTZ lived in Leloaloa Village, Mauputasi, Eastern Tutuila, American Samoa at age 31, of Upolu, Western Samoa, with: ^[21][15]

1. Husband, Paul A. FRANTZ, age 32 of PA. Worked in the US Navy.
2. Daughter, Lilian T. FRANTZ, age 7, of Tutuila, American Samoa
3. Adopted daughter, Frances S. FRANTZ, age13, of Tutuila, American Samoa
4. Son, Chester Irvin FRANTZ, age 5, of Western Samoa

Governor's travel letter

• 1930: Immigrates to San Francisco, CA, 25 July, on the S. S. Sonoma from Pago Pago, Samoa. Her husband, Paul may not have acturally been with them on the ship, but met them upon arrivial in San Francisco. His address in the US was listed as his receiving US Navy ship in San Francisco. They carried a letter written by the Governor of American Samoa, G. S. LINCOLN dated June 23rd 1930 allowing native America Samoans to travel with Chief Petty Officer Paul A. FRANTZ, U.S.N. They are: ^[5][6][7]

1. Mrs Margaret E. FRANTZ, age 33, (24 Jun 1898, Pago, Pago, Samoa), and her children all born in the same place:
2. Frances S. or Nances F. FRANTZ, age 14, (5 Sep 1916)
3. Lillian T. FRANTZ, age 8, (9 Dec 1922)
4. Chester I. FRANTZ, age 7, (30 Jun 1923)
5. Margaret E. FRANTZ, age 2 mon., (6 Jun 1930)

• 1940: Lived in Montebello, East Los Angeles, CA (for at least 5 years), age 41, of Western Samoa, with: ^[10]

1. Husband, Paul A. FRANZ, age 42 of PA. Worked as a watchman/custodian for the Post Office for $2562/year
2. Daughter, Lillian T. FRANZ, age 17, of American Samoa
3. Son, Chester Irvin FRANTZ, age 15, of Western Samoa
4. Sister, Margaret E. FRANTZ, age 9, of American Samoa

• In 1918, the 6 surviving children of Thomas James III MEREDITH inherited a portion of the land "Taumauga" in Pago Pago, on which will later be located the "Meredith Inn", renamed later as the "Sadie Thompson Inn". They were:

1. Daughter, Mrs. Margaret Edith MEREDITH (FRANTZ)
2. Daughter, Mrs. Frances Siafiafi HARRINGTON
3. Daughter, Miss Annie MEREDITH
4. Daughter, Rosie MEREDITH (MANN), (LEOTA)
5. Daughter, Mrs. E. BETHAM
6. Son, Arthur S. MEREDITH.

In 1944 the sisters... "Mrs. E. Betham and Rosie Meredith Mann Leota conveyed their shares to their brother, Arthur S. Meredith on May 8, 1944 and May 17, 1944, respectively". It was then rented to a Sesera BROWN for 5 years for annual rental of $1,200.00, by their recently deceased brother, (Arthur Stevenson MEREDITH who died 1948).
In 1948 the Meredith children then argue over the renting of the Inn. The three remaining sisters, who still had interest in the land, had not approved nor had they benefited from the deal. They now wanted the lease broken, but it was denied in court. (Bank of American Samoa acted as agent to the sisters, as they all were residing in the USA at the time). They had to pay $50 court costs. ^[14]

Other information on the inn:

• History of the Inn: The original name was "Meredith Inn". Then the author W. Somerset Maugham resided at the Inn for six weeks from mid-December, 1916, during an extended trip through the South Sea Islands. He wrote a short story based the Inn called "Rain", published in 1921, which later became a famous play . It had a main character, Sadie, from which the inn was later named. : ^[26]
• Listed in National Reg. of Historic Places. ^[27]
• Current owners: Sadies Hotels

• 1947/48: Traveled from San Francisco CA to Auckland, New Zealand at age 50, arriving on 29 Dec 1947 on board the S. S. Marine Phoenix with wife, Margaret FRANTZ, age 49. (There were 69 adults and 7 children as passengers. ^[28]) Traveled back from Auckland, New Zealand to San Francisca CA (listed as a postal official), on 9 Jan 1948 (11 days later), (or 13 March 1948 ^[11]), also on board the S. S. Marine Phoenix. with wife, (listed as born in American Samoa). (There were 74 adults and 25 children as passengers.^[29]). Their address was listed as 5601 Via San delarro, Los Angeles, CA. In this list, it was recorded that she was born 6-24-1998 in Pago Pago, Am. Samoa ^[11]

• 1950: Lived in 5601 Delarro Rd., Lincoln Heights, East Los Angeles at age 51 (1899), of American Samoa, (Polynesian). She had an 8th grade educaion. She lived with: ^[12]

1. Husband, Paul A. FRANTZ, age 52 (1898) of PA. Work for the Post Office as a supervising Agent A. Agent (Leutenant of the Guard on the custonian force).

They lived next to (in their garage apt., 5609 Delarro):

1. Son, Chester I. FRANTZ, age 25, of American Samoa. He was not working.
2. Daughter-in-law, Marjorie E. FRANTZ, age 24, of MA
3. Grandson, David C. FRANTZ, age 5 mon. (Oct 1949), of CA

• 1975: Lived in 3619 Mt Vernon. Oceanside, CA ^[30] (a new 1,050 sq ft home built in 1975, The community owed backyard looked down, over an undeveloped mesa at the edge of the development. ^[31])

• Before 1984—after 1987: Lived in an assisted nursing apartment with husband Paul, in San Diego, CA. ^[1] It was the Coronado Retirement Village (299 Prospect Place), across the San Diego harbor near the North Island Naval Air Station. ^[32]
  At this time, there was in addition to their 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. ^[25]

Cremation Certificate of Margaret Edith FRANTZ'.

Death

• Death Date: 1991 ^[15][16]
• Death Place: San Diego, CA ^[1][15]
• Burial: On 15 June, 1991, ashes disseminated at sea off the CA coast from the boat "The Orion" at Lat. 32º, 38.6 N. and Long. 117º, 12.5 W. ^[33]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Personal knowledge of David FRANTZ thru inteview with his mother, Marge FRANTZ
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Baptism/Margaret "Samoa Baptisms, 1863-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGF5-ZX1 : 10 February 2018), Margaret Edith Meredith, 24 Jun 1898; citing Apia, Upolu, Samoa, reference Pg 39/3; FHL microfilm 1,130,493.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Baptism/Margaret #2 (where a Marie YOUNG instead of Annie is listed as the mother). "Samoa Baptisms, 1863-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGF5-LYC : 9 March 2018), Margaret Edith Meredith, 24 Jun 1898; citing Apia, Samoa, reference #136; FHL microfilm 1,129,798.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} Marriage Permit/Rita "American Samoa, Vital Records, 1850-1930", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZKH3-YNW2 : 2 June 2020), Margaret E. Meredith in entry for Paul A. Frantz
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Samoan Passport Letter "American Samoa, Passenger Lists and Travel Documents, 1918-1965", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYG-BB3Q : 17 March 2018), Paul A Frantz, 1930.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8} Immigraton Ship List "United States, California, List of United States Citizens Arriving at San Francisco, 1930-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WB68-RH3Z : 29 August 2020), Chester I Frantz, 1930.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Immigraton Alien Case File "United States Index to Alien Case Files, 1940-2003," , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FYW-LRYP : 16 December 2022), Margaret Frantz, ; citing Immigration, Alien Registration Number , "Index to Alien Case Files at the National Archives at Kansas City, ca. 1975 - 2012," NAID 5821836, Records of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2003 - 2004, RG 566, National Archives at Kansas City.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Birth/Lillian "American Samoa, Vital Records, 1850-1930", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CC78-5G3Z : 26 February 2020), Margaret in entry for Lillian Theresa Frantz, 1922.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Birth/MargaretEleanor "American Samoa, Vital Records, 1850-1930", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CCWY-3Z6Z : 26 February 2020), Margaret Edith Frantz in entry for Margaret Eleanor Frantz, 1930.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6} 1940 US Census "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9W9-KF1 : accessed 14 January 2017), Chester I Franz in household of Paul A Franz, Montebello Judicial Township, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-422, sheet 62A, line 31, family 278, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 239.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6} 1948/CA Travel List/Margaret "United States, California, List of United States Citizens Arriving at San Francisco, 1930-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WBF3-LPZM : 29 August 2020), Margaret E Frantz, 1948..
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4} 1950 US Census "Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States records, Apr 1, 2022," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-SQH7-19FC-G?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6XGF-JKK8&action=view&groupId=TH-7772-115379-40759-48), image 10 of 93; National Archives and Records Administration.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6} MarriageCert/Margaret Eleanor "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8KV-TTX : 18 August 2022), Margaret E Meredeth in entry for Gerald Lee Murphy and Margaret Eleanor Frantz, 1947.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5} Court Case: Bank of American Samoa v. Brown http://www.asbar.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=317:2asr365&catid=47:2asr
15. ↑ ^{15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17} familysearch/KHXD-KMW https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHXD-KMW
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8} geni.com/Schaumkell https://www.geni.com/people/Rita-Margaret-Meredith/6000000012306477422?through=6000000060914134944
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6} rootsweb/gordonberry https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/143937/I57883/margaretedith-meredith/individual
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6} geneanet/Margaret https://gw.geneanet.org/krisgenealogist?lang=en&p=margaret+edith&n=meredith
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4} Marriage Declaraton/Rita "American Samoa, Vital Records, 1850-1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZKH3-YFT2 : Fri Nov 17 01:26:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Paul A. Frantz and Margaret E. Meredith. .
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8} Marriage Cert/Rita "American Samoa, Vital Records, 1850-1930", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZLTG-JN6Z : 7 June 2020), Margaret Edith Meradith in entry for Paul A Frantz, 1922.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7} 1930 US Census "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKVG-GXQ : accessed 10 November 2022), Margrett E Frantz in household of Paul A Frantz, Leloaloa, Mauputasi, American Samoa; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 46B, line 38, family 223, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2629; FHL microfilm 2,342,363.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7} geneanet/Rita https://gw.geneanet.org/krisgenealogist?lang=en&p=rita&n=meredith&oc=1
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3}
24. ↑ Samoan Timeline, The World at War, Samoa 1898 - 1951 http://www.schudak.de/timelines/samoa1898-1951.html
25. ↑ ^{25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7} Resident of the Month newsletter from probably the assisted living facility in San Diego, printed in approx.1984, giving the basic history of Paul and Rita FRANTZ, taken from a personal interview. Letter held in personal archives of David Frantz.
26. ↑ History of the Sadie Thompson Inn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadie_Thompson_Inn
27. ↑ National Reg. of Historic Places https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/03000582_text
28. ↑ New Zealand Travel List #1 "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KLYV-MMJ : 19 July 2017), Paul Frantz, 29 Dec 1947; citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm .
29. ↑ New Zealand Travel List #2 "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDN-FM5L : 8 August 2017), Paul A Franz, 09 Jan 1948; citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm .
30. ↑ Letter set to Paul FRANTZ on 4 Jan 1975 https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Shoff-70-2
31. ↑ Mt Vernon home info https://www.bing.com/maps?q=3619+Mt+Vernon.+Oceanside%2c+CA&FORM=HDRSC4
32. ↑ Letter addressed to Paul in 1986 from Lois K Vulpi of Newark CA. Held in personal archives of David Frantz
33. ↑ Cremation Cert.

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/21083517@N07/tags/margaretedithritameredithfrantz/

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