Bashing my head against a brick wall- Herbert Walter Tillotson

Question

He was born about 1871, in England and was in Fulton, Ohio to marry Ophie B Gamble on 28 Sep 1893, and in Gorham, Ohio in 1910 according to census data. Aside from that, most of the records I've found are about his 5 daughter's births and four surviving daughters getting married.

My grandmother thought she remembered something about he might have been adopted, but wasn't sure, and has no idea if Tillotson would be the adopting family or the birth family if he was adopted. I have no information on who raised him.

I'd like to try working the Tillotson's from England and Ohio to see who may have lost Herbert, or traveled with him, in case it is his birth surname, or if he appears anywhere as a child adopted or not, but there seem to be so many Tillotson's. I'm not really sure where or how to start chiseling down my brick wall from the other side.

I would appreciate any tips or help finding his immigration records

Comments

No census records after 1910 found yet? His middle name is Walter from one of children's marriage records. I'll see if I can find anything.

---

Not other censuses yet. I appreciate the help. I mistyped earlier. 5 surviving daughters out of 6 born. The M's get me, there are four M daughters and Delpha, and three of the M's lived on the same street for a while, so I sometimes add Delpha to them and forget the fourth. Whoops.

---

His wife is living with their daughter and son in law in 1930, so He may have passed by then
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X44N-3GN : accessed 23 May 2018), Opha Tillotson in household of Merle Householder, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 228, sheet 9B, line 60, family 148, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1837; FHL microfilm 2,341,571.

Just found her 1920 census, which has her as divorced. 
"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD5C-BW8 : accessed 23 May 2018), Orpha B Tiltson, Gorham, Fulton, Ohio, United States; citing ED 41, sheet 5B, line 51, family 155, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1384; FHL microfilm 1,821,384

I guess I must've assumed they were together and been searching for his records since I already had her family. I feela little dumb I didnt find that sooner. Thanks for inspireing me to double check my censuses.

Answer 1

There is a Death Certificate # 56994,for Lucas County,You can order online,

and hope his parents are listed.I am still searching.

Answer 2

Opha  B. Tillotson died Jan 27 1963,Fulton,Ohio age 90 listed as "divorced."

Find on Ancestry.com.

Answer 3

Looking at England records:

There were 4 Herbert Tillotsons born around 1871, 2 are still in England after 1900. One is herbert Yorke Tillotson, whio can be found in the US censuses.

The one I haven't been able to trace was born near Tadcaster to Charles Tillotson and Hannah Wilson in 1870. Is that any help?

Comments

Thank you- that's a great lead!

Answer 4

1910 Census,listed as Herbert Walter Tillotson.look at census sheet.

Opha was well educated 4 years of college,1940 census lists her as

owning her own home.

Comments

That's really cool. Fayette Ohio is where her daughters were, and where I believe she was burried. It, and Fulton Ohio are still smaller mostly farming areas, so a woman at that time getting a degree has to be exceptional.

Answer 5

See 1940 Census on Ancestry.com. living in Fayette,Fulton,Ohio,

Opha Tillotson age 69.She is listed as widowed.There was such disgrace

being divorced,she would say widowed.The word was she is divorced,something must be wrong with her,As a child remember my mom

saying that.

Comments

Thank you. Seeing a women in my family be divorced and having unmarried daughters at home to take care of, to having a college degree (I assume with four years) and her own household is a really inspiring thing.

Not to belittle how nice it is to know more about her, but hopefully having more about her helps me narrow down Herbert's branch too. I'm worried it's an adopted name and I'll never know more.
I've been singing cotton-eyed Joe to myself "where did he come from, where did he go, where did he come from [Herbert Walter Tillotson]" his name doesn't fit the cadence of that song though...