General Notes

British and American flag tattoed on left arm

Detail Provided by Richard Buchanan

1.  There have been several "dates of birth" found for Alexander:

    The World War I Draft Registration Card (completed and signed by Alexander) shows his date of birth as June 19, 1885.
    The World War II Draft Registration Card (completed and signed by Alexander) shows his date of birth as June 19, 1885.
    The Social Security Death Index shows his date of birth as July 19, 1885.
    The Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989 shows that he was born in about 1886.
    The New York Passenger Lists, 1820 - 1957 shows his birth year of "about 1886".  (For his arrival in the United States on March 30, 1907)
    The New York Passenger Lists, 1820 - 1957 shows his birth year of "about 1890".  (For his arrival in the United States on June 24, 1913).

Because the World War I and II Draft Registration Cards were completed and signed by Alexander, his date of birth as June 19, 1885 is being used in this report as his official date of birth.

2.  The World War I Draft Registration Card shows that Alexander was living in Manhattan, New York, New York at the time of his registration with the draft board.  The card shows that he was born on June 19, 1885 in Gibraltar and that he was employed as a Freight Hand in New York City.  The "nearest relative" listed on the card is "Fred Podesta (Brother)" living on West 20th Street, New York, New York.  The card shows the signature of "Alexander Podesta".

    World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917 - 1918:
      Name:  Alexander Podesta
      City:  Manhattan
      County:  New York
      State:  New York
      Birth Date:  19 Jun 1885
      Race:  White

3.  The World War II Draft Registration Card shows that Alexander was living at 208 East 88th Street, New York City, New York, New York.  The card shows that he was born on June 19, 1885 in Gibraltar.  The "Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address" is "Charlie Stokars, 219 East 84th Street, New York City, New York".  Alexander was unemployed at the time he registered with the draft.  The draft card is signed by Alexander's "X" and witnessed by a Marjorie Sand.

    World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942:
      Name:  Alexander Podesta
      Birth Date:  19 Jun 1885
      Birth Place:  England
      Residence:  New York, New York

4.  Social Security Death Index:

    Name:  Alexander Podesta
    SSN:  090-07-5966
    Last Residence:  10021 New York, New York, New York, United States of America.
    Born:  19 Jul 1885
    Died:  1982
    State (Year) SSN Issued:  New York (Before 1951)

5.  Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792 - 1989:

    Name:  Alexander Podesta
    Birth Date:  abt 1886
    Naturalization Date:  11 Apr 1944
    Residence:  New York, New York
    Title and Location of Court:  New York Southern District

(Note:  The Petition Card shows that Alexander was living at 216 E. 77th Street, New York, New York, New York, he was 58 years old, and was issued his Naturalization Certificate on April 11, 1944 by the U. S. District Court at New York City, New York.  Petition Number 479006.

6.  New York Passenger Lists, 1820 - 1957:

    LIST OR MANIFEST OF ALIEN PASSENGERS FOR THE U. S. IMMIGRATION OFFICER AT PORT OF ARRIVAL:
    Required by the regulations of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor of the United States, under Act of Congress approved March 3, 1903, to be delivered to the U. S. Immigration Officer by the Commanding Officer of any vessel having such passengers on bard upon arrival at a port in the United States.
    S.S. Napolitan Prince sailing from Gibraltar, March 1907 -  Arriving at Port of New York 29 March 1907
      Name in Full:  Alexander Podesta
      Age:  Years - 21
      Sex:  M
      Married or Single:  Single
      Able to Read - No  Able to Write - No
      Nationality:  British
      Race or People:  Spanish
      Last Permanent Residence:  Country - Spain   City or Town - Gibraltar
      Final Destination:  State, City, Town:  Pottsville
      Whether having ticket for such final destination:  Yes
      By Whom Was Passage Paid?  Himself
      Whether in possession of $50, and if less, how much?  $25
      Whether ever before in the United States and if so, when and where?  No
      Whether going to join a relative or friend, and if so, what relative or friend, and his name and complete address:  Pottsville
      Condition of Health:  Good
      Deformed or Crippled.  Nature, length of time, and cause:  No
      Height:  5' 3 1/2"
      Color of Hair:  Brown - Color of Eyes: Gray
      Marks of Identification:  None
      Place of Birth:  Gibraltar

    New York Passenger Lists, 1820 - 1957:
      Name:  Alexander Podesta
      Arrival Date:  30 Mar 1907
      Birth Year:  abt 1886
      Birth Location:  Gibraltar
      Age:  21
      Gender:  Male
      Ethnicity/Race/Nationality:  Spanish
      Port of Departure:  Gibraltar
      Port of Arrival:  New York, New York
      Ship Name:  Napolitan Prince

7.  New York Passenger Lists, 1820 - 1957:

    LIST OR MANIFEST OF ALIEN PASSENGERS FOR THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION OFFICER AT PORT OF ARRIVAL
    S. S. Carpathia sailing from Gibraltar on the 12th June 1913 - Arriving at Port of New York 24 June 1913
      Name in Full:  Family Name - Podesta     Given Name:  Alexander
      Age:  Yrs. 23
      Sex  M
      Married or Single:  Single
      Calling or Occupation:  Driver
      Able to Read:  Left blank    Able to Write:  Left Blank
      Nationality (Country of which citizen or subject):  British
      Last Permanent Residence:  Country:  Gibraltar
      The name and complete address of nearest relative or friend In country whence alien came:  Brother: Jose Podesta, Rosia Steps, Gibraltar
      Final Destination (Intended for future permanent residence):  Pottsville, PA

    New York Passenger Lists, 1820 - 1957:
      Name:  Alexander Podesta
      Arrival Date:  24 June 1913
      Birth Location:  Spain
      Birth Location Other:  Gibraltar
      Age:  23
      Gender:  Male
      Ethnicity/Race/Nationality:  Spanish
      Port of Departure:  Gibraltar
      Port of Arrival:  New York, New York
      Ship Name:  Carpathia

Note:  The Carpathia was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited, Newcastle, England, 1903 - 13603 gross tons, 558 (bp) feet long, 64 feet wide.  Steam quadruple expansion engines, twin screw.  Service speed 14 knots.  1,704 passengers (204 first class, 1,500 third class.  One funnel, four masts, steel hull, three decks.

    Built for Cunard Line, British flag, in 1903 and named CARPATHIA.  Liverpool - New York and Trieste - New York service.  Rescued 705 survivors on April 15, 1912 from the sunken TITANIC.  Torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the English coast in 1918.

8.  The 1930 Census for Manhattan, New York, New York:

    Name: Podastor, Alexander - Relationship to Head of Household: Head - Rent or Own: Rent - Value of Home or Monthly Rental: $18.00 - Radio: Yes - Does the family live on a farm: No - Sex: M - Color or Race: White - Age at last birthday: 40 - Martial Status: Married - Age at First Marriage: 36 - Attend School or College: No - Whether able to read or write: Yes - Place of Birth: Gibraltar - Father's Place of Birth: Gibraltar - Mother's Place of Birth: Gibraltar - Language Spoken:  English - Year of Immigration to the United States: 1907 - Naturalized or Alien: Alien - Whether able to speak English: Yes - Occupation: Elevator Operator - Industry:  Office Building - Whether Veteran of U. S.
Forces: Yes

(Note 1:  The name "Podesta" is spelled above exactly as it appears on the United States Census Reports.  It was common for the census taker to spell the name as it sounded to the taker without asking for the correct spelling)