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Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 10:12PM GMT
Classification: Immigration
Surnames: Gaumond
My great-great uncle Joseph Alexandre Dollard Gaumond (shortened to Alexander Gaumond) arrived in the U.S. from Canada on 3 May 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, but I am having trouble reading the second page of his border crossing record.

I think it says that he was deported back to Canada by Detroit & Canada Tunnel on 3 May 1938 "in conformity with exclusion order..."

I can't make out the rest. Does it say why he was deported? He had a couple of aliases (Alexander Gorman and Alexander Gammond), so I am wondering if it was because of something criminal.

I have attached the record. If anyone can read the second page (it will have to be rotated) and tell me what it says, I'd greatly appreciate it.

--Jill Hurley
Attachments:

Re: Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Posted: 20 Apr 2012 3:09AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gaumond
I think the reason he was deported might be whatever is written on the top right corner of the back of the card, but, I can't read it. Gammon and Gorman were common "americanizations" of Gaumond so these alias names do not mean he was a criminal. He could have been sick, or didn't have enough money, or the reason he gave for coming may not have been acceptable. It's not clear to me if he was coming for a visit, or to immigrate, and that may be the problem. On the front of the card is the reason he was going to the US - something about a farm but I can't read that either.

The rest of it says the alien herein named deported by me to Canada May 3, 1938 via Detroit and Canada Tunnel.
In conformity with the exclusion order entered by the board of special inquiry.

There is a box on the front that says Act of 1924, so he was deported under the rules of that Act. That's the immigration act that prohibited Asians from coming to the US and also enacted quotas limiting everyone else.

You would have to find out if there are any records for the Board of Special Inquiry to find out more.

Lisa

Re: Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 10:25PM GMT
Classification: Immigration
Surnames: Gaumond
Lisa,

Thank you for your information. He was coming "to stay perm[anently]." (That's perm. instead of farm.) He had already been to the U.S. (arriving at St. Albans, VT) to visit his brother Alfred Gaumond at 69 West 105th Street in NY from 5 Oct 1916 to 30 Apr 1918. Then, he arrived in Michigan on 3 May 1935 "to stay perm." at his brother's.

The transcription of the record says "Arrival Date: 3 May 1935," but do you think it really says 3 May 1938 on the record? He was deported on 3 May 1938, so he probably would have been sent back right away, correct, instead of waiting three years to deport him?

There is nothing written in the box for the Act of 1924 on the front of the card, so I don't know if that is the reason. He wasn't Asian (though I know they excluded other people, as well).

I think the back says something like "No c...," but it can't be cash because the front states that he paid $25.

Still a mystery, but I really appreciate your help!!

--Jill Hurley

Re: Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Posted: 22 Apr 2012 9:04PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gaumond
I think the date he was deported was 1938. The date on the front is less clear, but it would make sense it was the same date he arrived. I don't have access to this database, but if you go back to this entry there, the cards were hopefully filmed in chronological order. Take a look at the cards before or after to see if the handwriting is more clear, so you can see what year they were all arriving.

I took the act of 1924 to mean that was the law in effect at the time he arrived, so the reason he was turned back would be in those rules. In addition to the Asian exclusion, there were quotas for all the countries. It's possible we had reached the quota for immigrants from Canada by that time. In 1924 it would have been all immigrants from Great Britain, so it would have included people from other countries besides just Canada.

The $25.00 is money Shown, not paid. I know they had to have a certain sum of $ in order not to be considered a person who would likely become a pauper. This amount was raised over the years as well, but I don't know what it was in 1938.

There could also have been some problems with the dates he reported being here. On the front of the card, it was originally 10/3/1916, then that was crossed out and the date Spring of 1923 was filled in. Maybe they thought he was lying to them?

Lisa

Re: Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Posted: 25 Apr 2012 7:47PM GMT
Classification: Immigration
Surnames: Gaumond
Yes, I wondered about why they crossed out the date and put Spring of 1923, as well. Again, thank you for your help!

-Jill

Re: Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 3:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gaumond
Since no one else has commented on on your message, you might want to post it to another board -
Advanced-Research at rootsweb.com is a good one, or

http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/other/Newsgroup_Gat...

Gen Methods which you don't need to join, but can post to the newsgroup.

Lisa

Re: Help reading Detroit Border Crossing record for Alexandre Gaumond

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 4:35PM GMT
Classification: Immigration
Surnames: Gaumond
Thank you. I will try that.
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