My name is Jim Wilson and I’m looking for Harry R Wilson, my grandfather. Harry was born to John R. and Sarah (Guiles) Wilson on October 20, 1888. According to several of Harry's document's, he was born in Reading PA. He also applied for and was granted a SS# on February 9, 1943 while leaving in Verona, NJ, and his address was the Essex Mountain Sanatorium, and he was employed by the Essex County Board of Freeholders, Hall of Records, Newark, New Jersey. Because his SS number doesn't show up on the SS death index, I'm assuming he never made a claim, and may have died shortly after he made application.

According the 1910 Census, Harry R. Wilson was listed in the U.S. Navy Yard, Washington D.C., U.S. Navy Mariner, age 22, single b. PA/father-German/mother-Dutch.

In the 1920 Census, Harry (same age, date of birth, born in PA, and parents identified as Dutch) was aboard the USS Black Hark as a sailor.

I’ve made several formal inquiries to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records in St. Louis with “We have been unsuccessful in identifying a military service record for the above-named individual.”

I’m hoping someone has a New Jersey/Navy connections or may have come across Harry, John, or Sarah in your own search.

Thanks,

Jim