Person:Gerda Peterson (1)

Gerda Amanda Peterson was born on 25th May 1884 at Torsås, a small town in Kalmar County in south-eastern Sweden. She was the daughter of Peter Monson and Ingrid Peterson. In May 1902, just before she turned eighteen, Gerda emigrated to New York, travelling via Britain. Her immigration records show that her last residence was Torsås and that her sister Ida already lived in New York. She was also described as a servant.

By 1910 Gerda was working as a maid for a John and Annie Kane who lived at 1-3 West 49th Street in Manhattan. One of the other servants there was a waiter named Thomas William Palmer, from England. Five years later Gerda and Thomas married, on 3rd July 1915 in Manhattan. They do not appear to have had any children.

The 1920 census finds Gerda and Thomas living at 140 West 57th Street in New York, working as maid and valet respectively for a John and Carroline Wood.

In March 1922 Gerda and Thomas sailed to England, staying with his parents at the little village of Glapthorn. They stayed in England for about eleven months, returning to New York in February 1923. Gerda was described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall with fair hair and complexion and blue eyes.

The 1930 census finds Gerda and Thomas staying in a boarding house at 140 East 47th Street in Manhattan. A couple of weeks later they sailed for England again, this time staying for about six months with Thomas's parents, returning to New York in the October.

Gerda died on 15th September 1947, aged 63. Thomas survived her by about ten years.

1.   Ellis Island.

   Summary:
   Sailed on SS Oceanic, departing Liverpool 14 May 1902, arriving New York 21 May 1902:
   Gerda Peterson, 17 [1884/5], female, single, servant, last residence Torsås, going to join sister Ida Peterson, New York

2. ↑ United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T624)
   18 Apr 1910.

   1-3 West 49th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York
   John I. Kane, head, male, 59 [1850/1], b. Rhode Island, Own income
   Annie C. Kane, wife, female, 53 [1856/7], b. New York
   Eliza Boynton, servant, female, 60 [1849/50], b. England, maid
   Thomas Palmer, servant, male, 28 [1881/2], b. England, waiter, immigration year 1900
   William Grant, servant, male, 27 [1882/3], b. England, waiter
   William A. Bowles, servant, male, 24 [1885/6], b. England, waiter
   Margaret Henry, servant, female, 28 [1881/2], b. Ireland, kitchen maid
   Elizabeth Browne, servant, female, 26 [1883/4], b. Ireland, maid
   Mary O'Grady, servant, female, 22 [1887/8], b. Ireland, maid
   Margaret Collins, servant, female, 23 [1886/7], b. Ireland, maid
   Gorda [sic] Peterson, servant, female, 25 [1884/5], b. Sweden, maid, immigration year 1902

3. ↑ United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   140 West 57th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York
   John Wood, head, male, 50 [1869/70], b. New York
   Carroline D. Wood, wife, female, 48 [1871/2], b. Ohio
   Thomas Palmer, valet, male, 39 [1880/1], b. England, immigration year 1907
   Gerda Palmer, maid, female, 35 [1884/5], b. Sweden, immigration year 1902

4.   United Kingdom. Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960.

   Summary:
   Gerda A. Palmer, housewife, 37, arrived Southampton 7 Mar 1922 on 'Aquitania' (Cunard) from New York with Thomas Palmer, valet, 38: proposed residence Glapthorn.

5. ↑ Ellis Island.

   Summary:
   SS 'Berengaria', sailing from Southampton 10 Feb 1923, arriving at New York 18 Feb 1923
   Palmer, Thomas William / 39 / valet / last residence: Glapthorn, England / Relative in UK - Father: Thomas Palmer, Glapthorn, Oundle, Northants / final destination: New York N.Y. / Relative in U.S.A. - Brother: Charles Palmer, 1420 Third Avenue, New York / 5'10" / dark complexion / dark hair / brown eyes / b. Glapthorn, England
   Palmer, Gerda / 38 / housewife / last residence: Glapthorn, England / Relative in UK - Father-in-law: Thomas Palmer, Glapthorn, Oundle, Northants / final destination: New York N.Y. / 5'8" / fresh complexion / fresh [sic] hair / blue eyes / b. Torsas, Sweden

6. ↑ United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626)
   5 Apr 1930.

   140 East 47th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York [appears to be a boarding house - everyone listed as 'boarder', including:]
   Thomas Palmer, married, male, 46 [1883/4], b. England, parents both born England, immigration year 1912, Valet
   Gertrude Palmer, married, female, 45 [1884/5], b. Sweden, parents both born Sweden, immigration year 1902

7.   United Kingdom. Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960.

   Summary
   Gerda Palmer, housewife, 45, arrived Southampton 19 Apr 1930 on 'Homeric' (White Star) from New York with Thomas Palmer, valet, 46: proposed residence Glapthorn.

8.   Ellis Island.

   Summary:
   SS 'Caronia', sailing from Southampton 11 Oct 1930, arriving at New York 20 Oct 1930
   Palmer, Thomas W. / 48 / valet / nationality: British / b. Northampton, England / last permanent residence: New York U.S.A. / relative in UK - Father: Thomas Palmer, Glapthorn, North Hants [sic] / final destination New York, N.Y. / Relative or fried in U.S.A. [no name given] 791 Park Ave, New York Cy / 5'10" / dark complexion / dark hair / brown eyes
   Palmer, Gerda P. / 46 / housewife / nationality: British / b. Kalmar, Sweden / last permanent residence: New York U.S.A. / 5'8" / fair complexion / fair hair / blue eyes

9. ↑ ^9.0 9.1 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 (FamilySearch).

   d. 15 Sep 1947, Manhattan
   Name: Gerda P. Palmer
   Address: 885 Park Avenue, New York, NY
   Gender: Female
   Age: 63
   Married
   White
   Housewife
   Birth date: 25 May 1884
   Birthplace: Sweden
   Burial date: 18 Sep 1947
   Cemetery: Silvermount Cem
   Father: Peter Monson, born Sweden
   Mother: Ingrid M. Peterson, born Sweden
   Spouse: Thomas W. Palmer