According to family tradition, Pop, Robbie and Frances's dad was born with the name Jeremiah Moylan, and was adopted in early childhood by the Wiltons. His parents, who were traveling with a circus, had died in a train accident in England.
Pop knew a good deal about the Wilton family, including the names of numerous Wilton siblings (one of my unfinished tasks is tracking down that family) but we know little of JWW Sr.'s birth parents.
Throughout his adult life, JWW Sr. gave his birth date as Jan. 12, 1892:
- On his 1917 WWI draft card
- On his 1942 WWII draft card
- On his Social Security record
There's just one problem. I find no Jeremiah Moylan born on or around Jan. 12, 1892 in New York. However, I have found a birth certificate for a Jeremiah Moylan born Jan. 11, 1893 at New York City Hospital to parents Jeremiah Moylan and Catherine Forman:
It is understandable that the someone adopted in early childhood, both of whose parents had died, might have lost track of his exact birth date. The date that JWW Sr. used is so similar to the date on the birth certificate, that I am reasonably certain this certificate is for Pop's dad. Without more evidence I can't be completely sure, but until I find something that contradicts this connection, I am going to try to follow Jeremiah Moylan Sr., and Catherine Forman back to their families of origin.
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