Research Forum

He went to Peru
published by Brian & Pam Airey on Sat, 20/05/2017 - 16:30

I am researching an ancestor Harry PRESTON, born in Preston in 1896. He was last heard of travelling to Valperaiso in 1929 as a vet. I have made enquiries at the British Embassy in Peru without success. I am awaiting a reply from the Vetinery College archives. Does anyone have any other lines of enquiry I could follow?

Comments ..

Submitted by daveerasmus on Sat, 20/05/2017 - 20:45

Hi Brian.

If I have the right man he sailed on the SS Orbita with Mary aged 27 (his wife?) and Mary aged 4 (his daughter?). According to the Passenger List they were contracted to land in Mollendo, Peru. Is that right?

It's a long shot but is it worth contacting the Mollendo Port Authority to see if any records exist? The contact details appear to be:

The Harbour Master, Pasaje Zela 100, Mollendo, Peru, Tel: +51 54 532963, Fax: +51 54 533714, Email: capumole@marina.mil.pe

By the way there is one tree on Ancestry suggesting he died in Peru in 1971 but no source is quoted. If you are a subscriber you could try contacting the tree owner. The tree is Lamont Family Tree and the owner is Lizzykip. She is active having last logged on yesterday.

Dave Erasmus

Submitted by on Sat, 20/05/2017 - 21:05

A google search brought up a book published in 1940 by Harry Preston Director of Agriculture in Peru. I could not understand the title my linguistic skills are poor to say the least.

Submitted by daveerasmus on Sun, 21/05/2017 - 13:29

I put "Preston" in the last name box and "Peru" in the country box on FamilySearch and it came up with a birth of Harry Hernann Preston Wendorff in Lima on 7 November 1747. If you click on the original image you will see that the father is Harry Preston from Preston, England. My Spanish is a bit rusty but it is definitely your man. The document appears to contain some information which might be of use to you.

Dave Erasmus

Submitted by Brian & Pam Airey on Sun, 21/05/2017 - 17:41

Thank you so much for your help. I have used familysearch so many times for british records I completely forgot other countries. I am fired up to find more information

Brian

Submitted by daveerasmus on Sun, 21/05/2017 - 18:01

That should have been 1947, of course.

Do please let us know where your research takes you. I am intrigued now!

Dave Erasmus