Haggbridge.com – Truth is stranger than fiction

Jim Thompson’s South American Adventure

James “Jim” Thompson (1881-?), our Great Granduncle, took a leap of faith in September 1907. Married in York just four months earlier, Jim departed Liverpool bound for the southern tip of the South American continent, Patagonia. The isolated and remote location had developed a large and highly profitable sheep industry which recruited shepherds from British farms. Patagonia occupies nearly the...

Thompson Comments: 0

Our families and 1906 San Francisco Earthquake!

5:12am Wednesday, 18th April 1906, Northern California was struck by an estimated 7.9 magnitude earthquake, shaking the city of San Francisco for 42 seconds. 80% of the city was affected by the quake, however the subsequent four days and nights of fires caused the total destruction of historic downtown San Francisco and the loss of thousands of lives. In the...

Brandon/Gracia/Grant/Mahood/Mendoza/Thompson Comments: 0

Marchetti & Togliatti V State of Utah

The Marchetti & Togliatti families emigrated from Balangero, Piedmont, Northern Italy, just 16 miles northwest of Turin. Emigration commenced at the turn of the 20th Century and within 13 years both families had emigrated to the USA. The families embarked from Italy, taking multiple paths, but all ultimately passed through the copper mining town of Bingham Canyon, Utah. Immigrants had...

Marchetti/Togliatti Comment: 1

Wilfrid Hudson & Fortress Engineers

Wilfrid Hudson was born and raised in Bridlington, by Jane and Joseph Henry Hudson, who ran a building firm in the town. After studying civil engineering he joined the Bridlington Corporation as an assistant borough surveyor.

Hudson Comments: 0

Nobby Clark & The Searchlights

Albert Wear Clark aka Nobby Clark was born 1921 in Darlington, County Durham, the third of nine siblings born to a steel worker and worsted cotton spinner. Nobby followed in his father’s footsteps as a labourer in the steelworks. As with many large working class families Nobby joined the Territorial Army after leaving school. The opportunity for extra income and...

Clark/Hudson Comments: 0

Montreal House

1300 Stockton Street, San Francisco, California. Newlyweds, Francois & Marguerite Gracia, initially lived at 13001/2 Stockton Ave, from 1877. Known as Montreal House, it was a three story lodgings and saloon at the north eastern corner of Stockton & Broadway. Francois aka Frank worked for the Hotel, providing furnished rooms by the night, week or month, and Marguerite, aka Maggie,...

Gracia/Mahood Comment: 1

Marguerite Martha Mahood 1856-1921

Marguerite “Maggie” MAHOOD was the first child of Eliza Ann BUCK & Sergeant John MAHOOD, Royal Artillery, stationed with the British Army in Ireland. Maggie was born in July 1856, shortly before the outbreak of hostilities in the Second Opium War. Her father shipped out to China before the year’s end and would not return for all almost three years.

Gracia/Mahood Comments: 2

Prohibition, what prohibition?

To avoid prohibition, entrepreneur, James S Marchetti (1900-1965) partnered with his brother-in-law, Victor R Delu, to establish Vick’s Place in Tijuana, a restaurant, bar, dance and music hall.

Casella/Marchetti/Togliatti Comment: 1

John Mahood 1825-1885

This article recounts the dramatic, traumatic, and tragic events leading to the first immigrant to California from the Gracia & Marchetti family. It is remarkable that one man’s life can be so thoroughly documented, placing him as, not only an eye witness, but a participant in historical events. John Mahood was born 1825, son of Adam Mahood, in Magherally Parish...

Mahood Comments: 4

John Henry Bainbridge 1892-1940

John Henry was the youngest of five siblings, born 2 March 1892 in Tollerton, to Elizabeth Ann Headley and Charles Bainbridge, a platelayer for North Eastern Railways. John Henry was named after his great grandfather John Bainbridge and grandfather Henry Bainbridge. Unlike his elder siblings in domestic service, John Henry, took an apprenticeship with a clothing and outfitting retailer in...

Bainbridge/Edgar Comments: 2