William Kee b. Nov. 1842

Hello Jacque,

Do you have any more information, such as your William Kee's approximate dates of birth and death, his wife's name, his children's names, etc.? There are many U.S. records available, including NY vital records, and some of them may provide William's place of origin in Ireland.

About the change of name...do you have proof of this, or is it a family story? Sometimes such stories don't pan out.

I hope this is helpful

Hi Patricia,
So this name change is a family story. I have found all 5 birth records of his children in NYC and New Jersey, as well as US census records for 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895,1900, 1905, and 1910 (children were living with an aunt after the death of William in 1902 and Elizabeth in 1905). The passenger lists for William Kee in 1871 on the ship Assyria, may be him. I have possible immigration records for William, but none for Elizabeth, no marriage records for either of them and no death record for Elizabeth due to New Jersey not having them after 1903, I think. I'm just having a lot of difficulty tracing them back to Ireland and England before they arrived in the US in 1871 (according to the 1900 US Census). Any thoughts or assistance is greatly appreciated.

William Kee, DOB Nov 1942, Ireland
Spouse Elizabeth Fountain, DOB May 1842, England
On the 1900 US Census, both reported immigration in 1871.
Children- Stillbirth 1884 NYC
Mary J. Hamilton Kee, 1886-1887, NYC, there is a baptismal record somewhere and she was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, NY
William H. Kee, DOB 1887 (born 3 days after Mary died), NYC
Julia Fountain Kee, DOB 1889, East Orange, Essex Co., New Jersey
Robert Harrison Kee, DOB June 28, 1892, East Orange, New Jersey