Bradley-Hingston Project
Ancestor Y-06

Carlin Line
By Don Taylor

Arvid Frithiof Carlin(1876-1959)
Updated 30 Jan 2020[1]

Arvid was born Arvid Frithiof Karlsson-Karlin[1] in Värmskog, Värmland, Sweden on 27 November 1876.[1] From his naturalization papers, it was unclear where in Sweden he was born. In my original post I asked for help in deciphering that location. A genealogy  friend, whose skill in Swedish immigration I highly respect, provided that it was Degerbyn. She also provided a source for his Karlsson part of his surname.

Värmskog is a tiny village (2000 population of 65 people) in Värmland (a historical province), which is about 180 miles west of Stockholm (about 40 miles from Norway).

Childhood

Nothing is known about Arvid’s childhood. When he was 23, he immigrated to the United State. On 8 September 1900, he left Southampton, England aboard the SS New York. The trip took 8 days having him arrive in New York (Ellis Island), on 16 September 1900.

SS New York – before 1903 – Source: Wikipedia.

Initially built as the SS City of New York in 1888, the ship saw service as the USS Harvard during the Spanish-American War. After her wartime service, she was renamed the SS New York and returned to civilian service in January 1899.

Arvid was living in the tenements at 228 East 20^th when he entered an “Intent to become a US Citizen” in 1903.

In 1909, Arvid was living at 156 East 39^th Street. It also was probably a tenement. Today that location appears to be a three-story walk-up that was built in 1920.  Arvid was a tailor.

Following the American Dream, in February 1912 he filed his first patent request for a new type of clothes hanger.  Between 1912 and 1954, Arvid was granted 18 patents for a variety of items including toys and toilet paper holders.  Also, in March 1912, Arvid submitted his petition for naturalization and in June took the oath as a citizen.

Marriage

In 1915, Arvid married Pauline Van Damm in New Jersey. Certificate 05445 applies.

Arvid and Paulene had three children. They are:

In 1918, Arvid registered for the Draft. From his registration card we learn that he and Pauline were living at 2174 Amsterdam Ave. The apartment where they lived was built in 1900 and is still standing.

2174 Amsterdam Ave. New York City – Photo courtesy Google Maps.

He at that time, he worked for Jas H. Yell as a tailor in the Garment District. His work was about a mile and a half away at the corner of West 39^th Street and 5^th Avenue. Today, at that location is a Payless Shoe Store.

Arvid was of medium height, medium build, had blue eyes and light brown hair.

In 1920, Arne (Arvid) and Pauline were still living at 2174 Amsterdam and Arvid was still working as a tailor.

Sometime between 1920 and 1923, Arvid and Pauline moved away from Midtown Manhattan about 18 miles to Mamaroneck, about 5 miles from Connecticut.

The 1930 Census found Arvid, Paulina, Walpole, Virginia, and Vivian at 43 Keeler. A separate household at the same address was the Gustave Melesk household consisting of Gustave, his wife Helena, and daughters Bertha and Helen.  Gustave owned the house valued at $8000, Arvid rented from him for $35.00 per month.

1110 Keeler Ave. Mamaroneck, NY – Photo courtesy Google Maps

The 1940 Census confused me for a while. It indicates they were living in the household of Gustave Malesk at 1110 Keeley. A review of the neighbors indicated that in both the 1930 Census and the 1940 Census the Waters family lived on one side of the Malesks and the Doyle family lived on the other side. As such, I’m sure the street went through a renumbering sometime between 1930 and 1940.  A bit more confusing, 16-year-old Virginia was the person the census taker spoke with. She reported that Pauline was the sister of Gustave and her father was the Brother-in-law of Gustave. This seemed very odd. In the 1930 Census, I learned that Gustave and his wife Helen have been born in Poland, this Census, Gustave, and Helen were reported as being born in Germany. Additionally, the census taker entered Walpole, Virginia, and Vivian as being the children of Gustave. Ignoring the relationships of the kids, if Pauline is Gustave’s sister, then Pauline’s maiden name is likely to have been Melesk.  That Gustave was born in Poland/Germany and Pauline born in Holland suggests that the Melesks migrated west to Holland sometime between 1887 and 1897. Something about these relationships doesn’t seem quite right. I will look more closely into the relationships when I research Pauline.

Death

Marker – Arvid Carlin – Photo by Ellen Bruster via Find-a-Grave.

Arvid died on 2 July 1959 in the Bronx, New York. He was buried in the Greenwood Union Cemetery, Section South, Lot 007e, Grave 9, in Rye, Westchester County, New York. He was survived by his wife, Pauline, and his three children, Walpole, Virginia, and Vivian.

Events by Location

• England, Hampshire, Southampton       – Ship’s port of embarkation to the United States.
• New Jersey                                                         – Marriage.
• New York, Bronx                                             – Death.
• New York, New York, Manhattan            – Immigration Arrival, Residence 1909,  1912, 1916, 1918, & 1920.
• New York, Westchester, Mamaroneck  – Residences, 1930, 1935, and 1940.
• New York, Westchester, Rye                     – Burial.
• Sweden (Possibly Segerbyn)                     – Birth.

Further Actions / Follow-up

• Get a copy of the marriage certificate for Arvid Frithiof Carlin and Pauline van Damm who were married in New Jersey in 1915. Certificate #05445.

————–  Disclaimer  ————–

ENDNOTES

[1] Thanks to my friend, Lois Knight, I learned that Arvid’s “Emigration Location” was Degerbyn.

Also note: Lois’ information confirmed that his surname was Karlin when he lived in Sweden. However, I use “Carlin” as that was the spelling used later in his life and is the name “carved into stone” on his grave marker.

Sources

• 1920 Census (FS), Family Search, Arne Carlin – Manhattan Assembly District 23, New York, New York. “United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ1L-L21 : accessed 22 January 2020), Walford Carlin in household of Arne Carlin, Manhattan Assembly District 23, New York, New York, United States; citing ED 1494, sheet 14A, line 42, family 317, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1226; FHL microfilm 1,821,226.
• 1930 Census (FS), Family Search, Arvid F Carlin – Mamaroneck, Westchester, New York. “United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X VGF : accessed 20 January 2020), Arvid F Carlin, Mamaroneck, Westchester, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 174, sheet 26A, line 21, family 652, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1661; FHL microfilm 2,341,395.
• 1940 Census (FS), Family Search, Gustane Melesk (Head) Arvid Carlin Brother-in-law – Mamaroneck, Rye Town, Westchester, New York. “United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7S4-9FB : 28 July 2019), Vivian Carlin in household of Gustane Melesk, Mamaroneck, Rye Town, Westchester, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-105A, sheet 1A, line 17, family 3, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 – 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2805.
• Find a Grave Memorial, Find a Grave, Arvid Carlin – Memorial 172514188. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 January 2020), memorial page for Arvid Carlin (unknown–2 Jul 1959), Find A Grave Memorial no. 172514188, citing Greenwood Union Cemetery, Rye, Westchester County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Ellen Brewster (contributor 47921251).
• New York City directory, New York Public Library Digital Collections, 1919-10 – Page 222 – Carlin, Arvid F. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. “New York City directory” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 22, 2020. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/db79fb30-7cee-0134-709c-00505686a51c.
• New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924, Family Search, Arvid Karlin – 1900. Database with images, dated 20 August 2019, accessed 20 Jan 2020. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGPQ-2CHP.
• New York, Southern District, U.S District Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1946, Family Search, Arvid Frithiof Carlin. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP76-92JP : 14 August 2019), Arvid Frithiof Carlin, 1912.
• S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 , Various, Arvid Frithoif Carlin – 12 Sep 1918. Registration State: New York; Registration County: New York; Roll: 1786807; Draft Board: 148.