I found this census for the Carroll family at an unknown date. I started to look for this after hearing and verifying the story of my Uncle Richard "Dick" Nelson's first wife Ida, was found dead on the floor of their home. Uncle Dick was working at St. Agnes Hospital - I believe. He came home for lunch and found Ida dead on the floor. She had been dead for "awhile".
The Carroll family was living in New Jersey, Union County, in the town of Roselle. Their address was 263 First Street East,
Ida Mae was the oldest of the children. Her brothers and sisters were Jeanetta born 1908; Rebecca born 1909; James born 1910; Garse [?] born 1911; William Augustus born 1914; and Orion George born 1915.
I am going to concentrate on William [aka Bill]. I do not have first hand knowledge about Bill, but I do know that he was a dancer. He must have been pretty good as he traveled throughout Asia with a dance company for a number of years.
They met, and eventually joined forces, possibly in Manilla, Philippines. I don't know if they were planning on staying there, but I also know that Doreen became pregnant.
At or about the same time, the Japanese had overwhelmed where Doreen and Bill were residing in the Philippines, and occupied China. The camp they were sent to was in Shanghai China, and interned nearly 130,000 civilians without trial.
I have learned that the women's camp would make quilts and give them to the guards. The women would sew their names into the quilts. Eventually the quilts would end up in the men's camp. The men would know if their wives, daughters or other relatives were alive by reading the quilting.
The story I heard from Richard was that the family was in the Shanghai Internment camp. The camp was divided into two - one for men and one for women. He also said that the Japanese - to show how magnamimous they were - were holding a raffle. I believe it was only in the men's side of the camp. Each prisoner was given a numbered ticket. The companion ticket was put into a jar. The drawing of the winning tickets took place. Bill, had one of the winning tickets!
Bill knew the pastor that was also interned in the camp. He asked if the pastor would take his ticket - but the pastor had to go to Fresno first to let Bill's family know that he, his wife, and daughter were alive in Shanghai. The pastor agreed and was true to his word. It made the front page news in the Fresno Bee.
This article documents the part of the above. This clipping reads as:
THE FRESNO BEE
VOL. 46, No. 8303
FRESNO, CALIF., WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 5, 1945 (TWO SECTIONS)
[Caption under picture:] "Billy and Cheetah Carroll, internationally famous dancers, hold their baby, Sharon, 17 months old, after their liberation by the Japanese from the Chapei interment camp of Shanghai, China. Carroll is a son of Mts. Ida Carroll of 451 Echo Avenue. Sharon was born in the Chapei cap. AP Telephoto.
ExFresno Dance Star Wins Freedom from Enemy Prison
Visual confirmation, today provided by an Associated Press photograph, of the safety of her son, Billy Carroll, 30, and his wife, Cheetah Carroll, internationally famous dancers, and their 17 months old daughter, Sharon, all recently liberated prisoners of the Japanese, delighted Mrs. Ida Carroll of 451 Echo Avenue.
Her son, a former Fresnan, and his wife the daughter of an English father and a Hindu mother and whom Carroll met in Calcutta, India, were living in Manilla when they were seized by the Japanese soon after the war began. They were moved to the Chapel Camp in Shanghai some time later and there their daughter was born.
Red Cross Gives Word
The only other news of her son's and family's liberation was received by Mrs. Carroll in August through the Red Cross which invited her to send them a 120 word message.
Mrs. Carroll was preparing to go to Manila to live when the war intervened.
She received only two direct communications from her son during his long captivity. One, which reached Fresno last June 12th, was written December 12, 1944, from Chapei. Signed with the name of the baby, it said:
"I am nine months old today. Daddy and Mommie are fine. I have black eyes and light heir and am very pretty. I can dance like my Mommie and Daddy. We have been receiving your mail."
Get More Letters
`A week later Mrs. Carroll and her daughter, Mrs. Ida Nelson of Fresno, received through the Red Cross leeters which Carrol had written earlier in 1944. They announced the birth of Sharon.
Mrs. Carroll, her husband, the late James E. Carroll, and their five children cam to Fresno from New Jersey about 25 years ago. When Billy was 12 years old he began to study dancing. Three years later he went to Los Angeles. At the age of 17 he entered into a contract with Sir Victor Sassoon to dance in the Catthay Hotel in Shanghai. several years later he joined the Russian Ballet and during the two year engagement studied under the director, Dmitri Folkine.
Dances As Child
Carroll's wife, whose maiden name was Gladys Bond, is the daughter of an English army lieutenant and a Hidu mother. She is said to be a niece of the Maharjah of Kucia. Known professionally as Conchita and as Cheetah Carroll she began dancing as a child and made her professional debut with the Folies Bergere in Paris when she was 14.
Late in 1940 she and Carroll came to the United States, intending to be married in Fresno, but she was detained on Terminal Island, San Pedro, by immigratioin authorities because of an exhausted quota. She and Carroll later were married in Manila and intended to make their permanent home there.
(Continued on Page 4, Col. 8)
Fresno Couple Win Freedon
(Continued From Page One)
the exchange ship Gripsholm that, in the determination of which of the captives would be exchanged, Carroll also drew a lucky number.
His wife did not, however, and he refused to leave her and their child.
Besides Mrs. Nelson, with whom her mother lives, Carroll has two brothers, Orion Carroll of Venture Avenue and D Street, and Jimmie Carroll, a mess sergeant who served with the 7yth Army in Europe and who expects to return to Fresno before Christmas.
Another sister, Mrs. James W. Gibbs of Fresno, died some time ago. Mrs. O. M. Judd and Mrs. Jessie Potter of 632 Harrison Avenue are aunts of Carroll.
Carroll's mother expects him to bring his family to Fresno for a visit.
This is the Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists for Arriving Seattle, 1890-1957 > 287.
Carroll family are listed on the first 3 lines of the Manifest. This reads as:
No. on List: 1 ADMITTED
HEAD-TAZ STATUS chg. Paid
Family name: Carroll
Given name: Gladys D. Age: 35yrs. Mon. 4
Sex: F
Married of single: M
Calling or occupation: Housewife
Able to: read : Y, Read/language: English. write: Y
Nationality. (Country): British
No. on List: 2 ADMITTED
HEAD-TAX STATUS: USC [United States Citizen]
Family name: Carroll
Given name: William A. Age: 32yrs. Mon. -
Sex: M
Married of single: M
Calling or occupation: USC
Able to: read : Y, Read/language: English. write: Y
Nationality. (Country): [empty]
Race or people: Br/Engl.
Place of Birth: New Jersey.
Immigration Visa, Passport, Visa or Entry Permit Number: #83 P/P Visa
Last permanent residence: County: 451 Ecks Ave. City or Town, State, Province or District: Fresno Cal.
No. on List: 3 ADMITTED
HEAD-TAX STATUS: USC [United States Citizen]
Family name: Carroll
Given name: Sharon C.
Ex. and found adm. Publis Law 271 Aug. 27 1946. San [?] Califor. Files 1300-38949
Sex: F
Married of single: S
Calling or occupation: [empty]
Able to: read; Read/language; write: USC [United States Citizen]
Nationality. (Country): [?]
Race or people: Shanghi, China
MORE TO COME!
[https://www.chinafamilies.net/internees/821-carroll-william-augustus/]
https://library.csun.edu/SCA/Peek-in-the-Stacks/civilian-internment
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