The Missing 
Hanna Clan
an 80 year unsolved Mystery
 
My 68 year old mother, Verda Hanna, has dozens (maybe hundreds by now) lost Hanna cousins across the US and Canada.  So, here’s the sad story:
 

My Great-grandfather, JOHN HANNA, b. March 1846 in Belfast, Ireland.  John's father, name unknown, liven at Portsmouth Navy Yard, England.  John died 1913 in Dartford, England ...(he was a Calvary soldier)  John married MARY GARDENER b. 1851 in Newcastle upon Tyne.  Married in 1868.

At one time John was a Ship's Captain.  He settled down in CROYDON, ENGLAND, and lived at 55 Tainsworth Road where he had a small bakery.

All together, John and Mary had 11 children, we think.  All died in infancy or early childhood except the 5 surviving brothers.

FOLLOWING IS THE ONLY ACCOUNT WE HAVE OF JOHN HANNA, From a granddaughter, one of my mom's sisters.
John Hanna, sr. was Scotch Irish with a fiery temper, a small man.  Drinking made him mean.  He was a good man, good father, but drank on weekends.  He could puff his jaws out and play a regular tune with his mouth.  Sang Irish songs,   Loved fried onions.  Had pleurisy from laying in the cold on battle fields, died of this.

Mary Gardener was English born, January 1851 at New Castle upon Tyne, England.  Died at 35 years old in Croydon, England.  Married John at 17 years old in 1868.  Small woman;  her people were well off.  She died of Bronical Asthma and Pneumonia.  Had a baby daughter who died just before she took sick, was in a weakened condition after giving birth to the child.

 

 My Grandfather JAMES HANNA was born August 26, 1875 at 55 Tainsworth Road in Croydon.
 James was only 14 years old at the time he left England.  He was a stowaway on a ship, and said that when they discovered him they made him work onboard for his passage.  He came to the US about 1889...first port, Portland Maine.  James already had 4 brothers in Canada.  James lived 2 winters in Duluth, Minnesota at age 17.  Later lived in Missouri working sacking potatoes.  He hated the North and came South to live.
He played the Banjo an Flute and had a Punch and Judy show, traveling with the Wheeless show across the South.
 
 

JOHN HANNA, jr, b. 1869  was superintendent of  a coal mine in Fernie, BC. (had at least 9 children)
CHARLES HANNA...last heard of in 1918 worked for Railroad in Seattle, Wash.
ALBERT HANNA...last heard of in 1918 worked for Railroad in Seattle, Wash.
 FRANK SEPTIMUS HANNA...last heard of in 1918.  Married and living in Buffalo, NY (wife’s family had a home there).

Pictured here is
John Hanna, jr; (last heard of in Fernie, BC)
Albert Hanna, (Known to have worked for the Rail Road in Wash. state.)
Frank Septimus Hanna (Last heard of Married in Buffalo, NY. about 1912)

 
My grandfather James worked with his brother John in the coal mines in Fernie British Columbia for awhile.  For some reason he had a serious argument with John.  He said that John had a fiery temper.  In the argument they said to each other, "I hope to never see you again!"  My grandfather, James walked away and headed to the States, arriving in Texas in 1900 and lived there until his death Feb. 20, 1957
 
Many years after the argument, in 1918 the brothers came to visit James in Houston, Texas.  They said that they were returning briefly to England to “claim their mother’s inheritance.”  Grandfather James refused to go with them.  The brothers had a group photo made of which I have a copy.  And that’s the last we ever heard of the Hanna family.
A Few Miscellaneous Fact:
 
 
Verda "Hanna" Pierce (mom)
If any of this links with your Hanna clan or family legends, please let me know.
Mega thanks,
Dr. Greg Pierce in Virginia
email preacher@mounet.com
or email DrBible@yahoo.com