I had a similar situation with my paternal grandfather. he lived in Dumbraveni, Moldova, and sailed to New York from Liverpool to join family in Philadelphia. The family story is that he was mugged, had a steel plate inserted in his head, and had amnesia. He eventually returned home because he learned his father was dying, and he died in Dumbraveni. However, no one knew how long he had stayed in America. At our Jewish Genealogy of Palm Beach County meeting, we had a speaker from HIAS. For $35, he located my grandfather returning through England after 10 years, having changed his name from Einoch to Emil. You might be as lucky if you try that.

Molly Arost Staub    <staubmolly@...>