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I am looking for any information on Catherine Hunter. I think she was my grandfathers cousin. She was my mothers godmother. Catherine was secretary to charlie Chaplin and sent my mother and her sisters many autographed pictures of movie stars. I have not been able to find any information on her birth, it would probably have been somewhere in Ireland. My Great Grandfather was from Castleblayney so I am not sure if she was also born in this area or not. Any information would be helpful. :-S

Hello Catherine, it would be useful if you could at least say approximately when she was born.

What was your grandfather's name and who was his father? To be your grandfather's cousin, Catherine would be the child of one of your great-grandfather's siblings.

ADDED: I guess you've read through the various articles about Catherine found on Google?

Here's a link to the 1940 US census for Catherine Hunter, publicity representative in motion pictures, age 39, born Illinois. She's on line 77.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-27791-13965-13

This is certainly the woman mentioned in numerous newspaper articles about Chaplin's secretary and publicist. She's been described in articles as sharing an apartment on Fountain Avenue with Thelma Todd.

This could be her in 1920:

Catherine Hunter in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Catherine Hunter
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1901
Birthplace: Illinois [Illinois;Chicago]
Home in 1920: Manhattan Assembly District 7, New York, New York
Street: 68th Street
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Roomer
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland <<<
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Clerk
Industry: Publishing Co
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Attended School: Yes

Could this be her arrival in US? She's with her mother Catherine going to join her mother's sister Mrs. O'Donaghue, 152 E. 22nd. St., New York.

Catherine Hunter

in the New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Record Image View

View image(s) of the ship

Name: Catherine Hunter
Arrival Date: 2 Sep 1906
Birth Date: abt 1901
Age: 5
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/ Nationality: Irish
Port of Departure: Queenstown, Ireland
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Celtic
Search Ship Database: Search for the Celtic in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

Catherine Hunter
New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island)
Given Name: Catherine
Surname: Hunter
Last Place of Residence: Ennis Co. Clare, Ireland
Event Date: 02 Sep 1906
Age: 5y
Nationality: British, Irish
Departure Port: Queenstown
Arrival Port: New York
Gender: Female
Marital Status: S
Ship Name: Celtic

Catherine Hunter
New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island)
Given Name: Catherine
Surname: Hunter
Last Place of Residence: Ennis Co. Clare, Ireland
Event Date: 02 Sep 1906
Age: 30y
Nationality: British, Irish
Departure Port: Queenstown
Arrival Port: New York
Gender: Female
Marital Status: M
Ship Name: Celtic

In this link she's called Mrs Catherine Hunter.

Might be a mistake. But if not, the Catherine Hunter in 1920 census can't be her (listed as single - unless that's a mistake too), and nor can the child who arrived in NY in 1906.

http://www.eoneill.com/library/curse/xxvii.htm

PM sent to let Catherine know she has replies, and how to find them.


EDIT:
On the other hand, this link says "Miss Catherine Hunter"!
http://preview.tinyurl.com/lzgk65o

There's another single Catherine Hunter, born 1901 Illinois, with Irish mother, in Manhattan in 1920 - as a possible alternative to the one posted by MC:

Catherine Hunter

in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Catherine Hunter
[Catharine Hunter]
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1901
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1920: Manhattan Assembly District 15, New York, New York
Street: 60th Street
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Michigan
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Typist
Industry: Automobile Co
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Catherine Hunter 19

I was under the impression that Catherine Hunter was born in Ireland but I could be wrong.
She never married.
My great grandfathers name was Samuel Robert Hunter born in Castleblayney Ireland and my granfather was Albert victor Hunter - he was Catherines cousin as far as I know. I am fairly sure it was one of Samuels brothers who was Catherines father. I don't know when Catherine was born but my grandfather, her cousin, was born in 1899 so could be around that time? Only guessing.

I think there's little doubt that Catherine Hunter was single - unless she was fibbing on the 1940 census.

I did see the other 1920 census that ArgyllGran posted but I'm guilty of plumping for the easy option - someone working in a publishing company seemed more likely to become a studio secretary/publicist. However, that's not cast in stone.

I have struggled to find a 1910 census that fits.

Catherine, if she was your mum's godmother then I'm assuming she was present at her christening (or was it honorary godmother?) When/where was your mum christened? Just thinking that if Catherine Hunter was present we may find her on corresponding passenger lists.

Do you know when/where she died?

I live in Australia and as far as I know Catherine did not come out here. I suppose she was an honorary godmother - I'm not sure how these things work but I do know that she gave my mother a little gold thimble as a gift for her christening.
I think she died in Los Angeles. My mother did try to find her when we were there on holidays 1968 but could not find any contact details. She may have died by then.
Apparently she was an alcoholic so I'm not sure exactly what became of her. It's all very vague. A cousin of mine thinks she may have some information on her but she has most of her things in storage and it may be some time before she can find anything.
Unfortunately all my relatives in Ireland have long since died and I do not have any contact with their children so I can't find any information from over there.
I will try and have a look around on the internet and see if she was indeed born in Illinois.
I'm a bit short on time to do any research as I run my own business so I just have to fit it in where possible. :-)

For our ref, Samuel, Albert and family :

Albert Victor Hunter
in the Web: Ireland, Census, 1911
Name: Albert Victor Hunter
Gender: Male
Age: 12
Birth Year: abt 1899
Relation to Head: Son (Child)
Residence Date: 2 Apr 1911
Townland/Street: Kelvin Parade
District: Clifton
County: Antrim
Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Robert Hunter 38
Amy Hunter 38
Albert Victor Hunter 12
James T K Hunter 11
Honna Maud Hunter 10
Amy Alexander Hunter 9
Mareclla Daly 19 - step-daughter




Sam Robt Hunter
in the Web: Ireland, Census, 1901
Name: Sam Robt Hunter
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Birth Year: abt 1872
Relation to Head: Head
Residence Date: 31 Mar 1901
Townland/Street: Bridge End Street
District: Victoria
County: Down
Household Members:
Name Age
Sam Robt Hunter 29
Amy Arabella Hunter 26
Albert Victor Hunter 2
James F R Hunter
Marcilla Daly 8 - step-daughter
Richard A Daly 7 - step-son
Charles Hinds 30 - boarder
Peter McPartland 33 - boarder
John Close 45 - boarder
William McCappin 45 - boarder
Maggie Rafferty 23 - servant

????

Samuel Robert Hunter

in the Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
Name: Samuel Robert Hunter
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 20 Dec 1872
Birth Place: Ireland
Father's name: John Hunter
Mother's name: Eliza Jane Nelson Hunter
FHL Film Number: 255867



Samuel Robert Hunter

in the Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958
Name: Samuel Robert Hunter
Date of Registration: 1873
Registration district: Castleblaney
Volume: 1
Page: 483
FHL Film Number: 101050


And siblings:


Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
Birth, Baptism & Christening
Name: Martha Anne Hunter
Mother: Eliza Jane Nelson
Father: John Hunter
Birth: 17 Apr 1868 - Monaghan, Ireland


Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
Birth, Baptism & Christening
Name: James Hunter
Mother: Eliza Jane Nelson
Father: John Hunter
Birth: 21 Feb 1871 - Monaghan, Ireland


Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
Birth, Baptism & Christening
Name: Mary Elisabeth Hunter
Mother: Eliza Jane Hunter Nelson
Father: John Hunter
Birth: 7 Mar 1878 - Monaghan, Ireland


Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
Birth, Baptism & Christening
Name: Sarah Windru... Hunter
Mother: Eliza Hunter Nelson
Father: John Hunter
Birth: 22 May 1880 - Castleblayney, Monaghan, Ireland

Samuel's sister Mary Elizabeth:

Mary Elizabeth Hunter

in the New York, Naturalization Records, 1882-1944
Name: Mary Elizabeth Hunter
Birth Date: 7 Mar 1878
Birth Place: Ireland
Arrival Year: 1899
Naturalization Record Type: Petition for Naturalization
Event Date: 15 May 1930
Event Place: New York, USA
Court: Southern District, New York

Witnesses:
Edward Hunter, masseur, and Martha Anne Hunter [sister?], masseuse, both at 2525 Morris Ave, Bronx, NY.
emigrated From Londonderry on "City of Rome", 9 Oct 1899.

[EDIT: I don't see her on that passenger list.]

Name:Catherine Hunter

Residence Year:1940

Residence Place:Los Angeles, California, USA

Occupation:Pre** Rep Press, Charles Chaplin Film Corporation

Publication Title:Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1940


She's on various directories and the 1940 census

Catherine Hunter

in the 1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Catherine Hunter
Respondent: Yes
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1901
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Fountain Avenue
House Number: 7292
Inferred Residence in 1935: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
Residence in 1935: Same House
Sheet Number: 1B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 39
Occupation: Publicity Representative, Motion pictures
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 45
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 3rd year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 48
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 2800
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Catherine Hunter 39

Ref for what appears to be her death



Name:Catherin Hunter

Social Security #:563126968

Gender:Female

Birth Date:4 May 1901

Birth Place:Illinois

Death Date:9 May 1968

Death Place:Los Angeles

I'm not sure that the Mary Elizabeth Hunter in the naturalization records is the correct one. The date of birth is different although this could be a typo and I do not have a record of an Edward in the family although he may be a family member that I haven't found records for. I'll keep a note of them. Thanks...... I have now found evidence that this is the correct Mary but still do not know how Edward is related.