Introduction

At long last, I have traced my Noble family back to Ireland. It seems that my grandfather, Robert James Noble, was born 4 August 1884 in Ennikillen, County Fermanagh, in what is now Northern Ireland. His parents were Robert James Noble, who was born about 1852 and worked as as cattle dealer, and Mary Anne (MacDermott) Noble, also born about 1852. My great great grandfather, a horse trainer, was named Andrew Noble.

I thought I would establish a blog to facilitate the gradual merging of all the information I've collected over the past thirty years. I'll begin by adding the inventory and transcript of the correspondence of my grandfather, Robert James Noble, as well as some of the history I've been able to put together. As times goes along, I'll add more and more of my research notes and pictures.

Inventory of Robert J Noble's Letters and Misc (1910-1920)

• Jun 7, 1910 SS Furnessia, Anchor Line; postcard from George [Noble], Glasgow, Scotland
• Jun 11, 1910 SS Furnessia, Anchor Line; Daily schedule of entertainment for cruise
• Dec 15, 1910 Letter from Milwyn Jenkins, aboard the SS Furnessia (Anchor Line) near Ireland; to Bob Noble, who has left the Furnessia and is now in Panama with recent promotion; Jenkins is fellow crewmate from Furnessia, old Squires left the crew, but rest of the crew still the same; Johnie Bumphy is receiving clerk at Anchor Line pier; Bob bought Panama hat for Jenkins and Bob is to get it to him.
• 1910 SS Panama; at meridian [near Bahamas]
• Feb 22, 1911 SS Panama; purser's envelope
• Mar 19, 1911 Letter from Milwyn Jenkins, aboard the SS Furnessia (Anchor Line) nearing Ireland; to Bob Noble
• Aug 22, 1911 TSS California, Anchor Line; menu
• Nov 30, 1911 SS Panama; thanksgiving menu
• Feb 14, 1912 Canal Zone hospitals; prescription for eyeglasses
• Mar 15, 1913 Grand Annual Ball, Friendly Sons of Ireland, Colon, Canal Zone (St Patrick's Day celebration)
• Apr 1, 1913 Letter from Mary J Scott, Chief Stewardess aboard the RMS Niagara off Port Elizabeth, South Africa; to Bob Noble, SS Panama. Scott is former Furnessia shipmate.
• May 21, 1913 Letter from Wellington, New Zealand, c/o Union Steamship Co of New Zealand, George St, Sydney, Australia; to Bob Noble, 2nd Steward, SS Panama, Panama Railroad Co, Pier 67, NYC
• Jun 30 ‑ Jul 1, 1913 Alma and her mother are waiting for Bob to return from sea at the Hotel Shelburne, Ocean Parkway, Brighton Beach, NY; series of communiques
• Aug 24, 1913 R W White, Willoughby House, Enniskillen, Fermanaugh, writes to R Noble, Esq, Panama; MP P Crumley, for this district; no word from Noble for seven years; Noble's great speech at Tempo written up in local newspaper editorial; NWI Printing Co failure; Cahal O'Byrne came around looking for Noble; Noble's sister Cis not well; Noble's father drinking and business not doing well; Noble ten years too young to win election when he ran, but his progressive ideas are now quite popular and he would easily win now. Come back!
• Aug 26, 1913 Handwritten text of communique from Robbie aboard S S Panama to Alma Wurdemann re cancelled trip to Panama.
• Dec 25, 1913 SS Panama; Christmas menu
• Jan 9, 1914 Letter from Eunice, sister of Isabel, from NYC; to Bob, SS Panama
• Feb 7, 1914 Letter from Milwyn Jenkins, SS Furnessia, Anchor Line, to Bob Noble, 2nd Steward, SS Panama
• Jul 11, 1914 Letter from A Roberts, Phila, PA, to friend Bob
• Aug 11, 1914 SS Panama menu
• Dec 21, 1914 SS Panama; Geo Goethall's wine order card
• Jan 27, 1915 New York City dental receipt
• May 13, 1915 Letter from the Holley Hotel, NYC, to Bob Noble, SS Christoble
• Jul 1, 1915 Panama Lines, envelope only
• Aug 9, 1915 Letter from Doris Cassell, 1025‑40th St, Brooklyn, NY and envelope from Brooklyn; Mr Noble and his sister are to visit
• Sep 4, 1915 Letter from Isabel, W 36 St, NYC, to Bob, who just shipped out; Lobley quit ship, S S Panama
• Telegram from M Foss, SS Bunker Hill to Bob Noble, wishing the latter luck
• Nov 2, 1915 Letter from Mrs Donovan, Brook Haven, NY, to Robt Noble, Panama RRSS Co.
• Nov 5, 1915 Envelope from Wash DC, to Bob, SS Panama, steward
• Nov 8, 1915 Letter from Isabel Bolton, 10 Ocean Port, Long Branch, NJ, to Bob, 2nd Stew, SS Panama
• Dec 18, 1915 Letter from Isabel Bolton, Long Branch, NJ, and envelope
• Jan 4, 1916 Letter from Isabel Bolton, 10 Oceanport Av, Long Branch, NJ, to Bob in Panama; Isabel refers to Mama and Papa; Isabel's sister is Eunice; McCally, Bolton's lawyer, to work on Eunice's case; Ethel & Frank live in nearby NJ; the Gordons (photo of the Gordons, Bob and Isabel); Bob's sister in NYC area; May is the Boltons' paid servant; Isabel fancies herself as Bob's fiance; Megdellain House (NYC jail?); Jefferson Market West (NYC jail?); Mrs Donovan, living in Panama; Mrs Smith, also lives in Panama
• Jan 28, 1916 Letter from Isabel to Bob
• Aug 6‑31, 1917 Receipts for bulk purchase of foodstuffs for ship E Luckenbacher in port in Chile (Stevenson)