Thomas John Jess was born on 15 December 1894 at 269 Nuneaton St, Glasgow, the son of Richard Jess, a lace weaver, and Sarah Jess formerly Jess. His parents had married on 21 November 1879 at Drumlough, Ireland. The informant of the birth was the father R. Jess, who was present at the birth. Thomas' birth was registered on 3 January 1895. [1]
The family moved back to Ireland and were residing at Ballykeel, Down, Ireland in the 1901 census. The family recorded were Richard Jess [signed the return as the head of the household], Sarah Jess, aged 45, Agnes Jess, aged 18, Margaret, aged 16, Joseph aged 11, Martha aged 9 and Thomas aged 6. Agnes and Margaret were both working as hemstitchers. [2]
By 1911 the family had returned to Scotland and were living at Nursery Buildings, Lanark, South Lanarkshire. Richard, aged 53, was a weaver. Sarah was aged 52. She had had 13 children of whom only 7 were then living. William, aged 22, was a power loom tenter. Joseph, aged 21, was a weaver. Martha, aged 19, was a spinner. Thomas J, aged 16, was still at school. Living with them was boarder William R Hawthorne, aged 38, also a weaver. [3]
Thomas John Jess immigrated to the United States in 1920. He sailed aboard Columbia on 24 January 1920 from Glasgow and arrived in New York on 4 February 1920. Aged 24, he was a bookkeeper. Thomas named his father Richard Jess of Nursery Buildings, New Lanark as his nearest relative in Scotland. He intended to join his brother Joseph Jess at 640 South Grant Ave, Pocatello, Idaho. Physically Thomas was described as 5 feet, 8 ½ inches in height with a fresh complexion and brown hair and eyes. [4]
In the 1921 Pocatello City Directory Joseph and John were both living at 640 S. Grant Ave. They were working at OSL [Oregon Short Line Railroad], Joseph as a foreman and Thomas as a repairer. [5]
In the 1930 census Thomas was a hired man working for John Koepper, a proprietor of a road house in Stone Church Rd, Rhinebeck, Dutchess, New York. He was aged 35. [6]
Thomas has not been located in the 1940 census.
Thomas John Jess married Clara Jane Waterhouse on 3 September 1940 at New York City. The date of marriage was recorded in both Clara and Thomas's Petitions for Naturalization.
Thomas John Jess completed a WWII Draft Registration card on 25 April 1942. At that time he was living at 1153 Intervale Ave, Bronx. His address was amended to 1223 Simpson St on 8 October 1943. Aged 47 years, Thomas had been born on 15 December 1894 at Glasgow, Scotland. He was employed by Dennis Ward of 1422 Third Ave, Manhattan, NYC. The name and address of a person who would always know his address was recorded as wife Clara, of the same address. Physically Thomas was described as 5 feet, 7 inches in height and weighed 138 pounds. He had a light complexion with brown eyes and black hair. [7]
Thomas John Jess completed a Petition for Naturalization on 23 October 1942. He and Clara were then still living at 1153 Intervale Ave, New York and Thomas was employed as a porter. Aged 47, Thomas had been born on 15 December 1894 at Glasgow, Scotland. He had married Clara on 3 September 1940 at New York, NY. She had been born on 17 June 1879 [sic] at Birmingham, England and had entered the US on 1 July 1923. Clara had been naturalized on 20 February 1941. Thomas had entered the US on 4 February 1920 aboard the Columbia. Physically Thomas was described as 5 feet, 7 ½ inches in height and weighed 135 pounds. He had a fair complexion, brown hair and brown/green eyes. Thomas also had a scar on the back of his neck. His witnesses were wife Clara Jess of the same address and John J. Scanlon of 713 E. 237 St, Bronx. The latter was a bricklayer.
Naturalization was granted on 12 April 1943, Certificate No. 5315021. [8]
Clara and Thomas travelled to England to visit the Smith family [Clara's daughter and her husband and children] in 1946. They arrived in Southampton on 19 April 1946 aboard the John Ericsson. The Smith family were then living at 55 High St, Smethwick. Ship records state Clara was aged 67 and Thomas was aged 51. He was working as a car inspector. [9]
This couple returned to New York, departing from Southampton on 4 July 1946 aboard the Argentina. They arrived in New York on 12 July 1946. Their address in New York was then 4364 Richardson Ave. [10]
Clara Jess died on 1 November 1957 aged 78 years. [11]
Thomas Jess died in March 1965 aged 70 years. His date of birth was recorded in the Social Security Death Index as 15 December 1894. Thomas' last residence was in the Bronx, New York. [12]
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