Phyllis Greaves was the daughter of Edward William Greaves (1860-1912) and Rebecca Seymour Wimshurt (1858-1933). Her grandfather, George Hudson Greaves (1821-1885), was a lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the 64th Liverpool Irish Volunteer Rifles in Lancashire, England, and served for many years in India. A great-uncle, John Henry Greaves (1807-1868), was a paymaster for the British Royal Navy and had served in the Crimean War.
Phyllis had four siblings: Marjorie, Queenie, Stanley Wimshurst (1887-1949) and Robert Edward (b. 1890).
In 1912, Phyllis and Rebecca accompanied Edward William on a business trip to South America. Edward died in Valparaiso, Chili, leaving the mother and daughter stranded. His death touched off a long-running legal battle between U.S. immigration authorities and Phyllis and Rebecca.
When the mother and daughter returned to the United States via England on April 12, 1913, they told the immigration officer they were U.S. citizens based on the fact that Edward had taken out citizenship papers for himself. Edward was not an American citizen. However, the immigration officer wrote the father was a citizen. The U.S. Government contended they entered the country illegally and sought to deport them to England. The government was tipped off to their alleged illegal entry by a family acquaintance who believed the mother and daughter owed her husband money in a South American business deal.
Following several years of court deportation hearings the U.S. Government allowed the mother and daughter to stay in the United States and seek citizenship. Phyllis became a naturalized citizen in 1932.
During the numerous deportation hearings, Phyllis and her mother lived together in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Rebecca Greaves died in 1935 in Los Angeles.
Phyllis was briefly married to actor Peter Paul Porcasi from 1916 to 1917. They divorced and he moved to Chicago. Porcasi appeared on Broadway and in such films as "King Kong" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."
Phyllis was a stenographer and secretary for a stock exchange company for many years, and later managed a stationary distribution company. She died at the age of 77 in San Francisco and was cremated.
Phyllis had four siblings: Marjorie, Queenie, Stanley Wimshurst (1887-1949) and Robert Edward (b. 1890).
In 1912, Phyllis and Rebecca accompanied Edward William on a business trip to South America. Edward died in Valparaiso, Chili, leaving the mother and daughter stranded. His death touched off a long-running legal battle between U.S. immigration authorities and Phyllis and Rebecca.
When the mother and daughter returned to the United States via England on April 12, 1913, they told the immigration officer they were U.S. citizens based on the fact that Edward had taken out citizenship papers for himself. Edward was not an American citizen. However, the immigration officer wrote the father was a citizen. The U.S. Government contended they entered the country illegally and sought to deport them to England. The government was tipped off to their alleged illegal entry by a family acquaintance who believed the mother and daughter owed her husband money in a South American business deal.
Following several years of court deportation hearings the U.S. Government allowed the mother and daughter to stay in the United States and seek citizenship. Phyllis became a naturalized citizen in 1932.
During the numerous deportation hearings, Phyllis and her mother lived together in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Rebecca Greaves died in 1935 in Los Angeles.
Phyllis was briefly married to actor Peter Paul Porcasi from 1916 to 1917. They divorced and he moved to Chicago. Porcasi appeared on Broadway and in such films as "King Kong" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."
Phyllis was a stenographer and secretary for a stock exchange company for many years, and later managed a stationary distribution company. She died at the age of 77 in San Francisco and was cremated.
Phyllis Greaves was the daughter of Edward William Greaves (1860-1912) and Rebecca Seymour Wimshurt (1858-1933). Her grandfather, George Hudson Greaves (1821-1885), was a lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the 64th Liverpool Irish Volunteer Rifles in Lancashire, England, and served for many years in India. A great-uncle, John Henry Greaves (1807-1868), was a paymaster for the British Royal Navy and had served in the Crimean War.
Phyllis had four siblings: Marjorie, Queenie, Stanley Wimshurst (1887-1949) and Robert Edward (b. 1890).
In 1912, Phyllis and Rebecca accompanied Edward William on a business trip to South America. Edward died in Valparaiso, Chili, leaving the mother and daughter stranded. His death touched off a long-running legal battle between U.S. immigration authorities and Phyllis and Rebecca.
When the mother and daughter returned to the United States via England on April 12, 1913, they told the immigration officer they were U.S. citizens based on the fact that Edward had taken out citizenship papers for himself. Edward was not an American citizen. However, the immigration officer wrote the father was a citizen. The U.S. Government contended they entered the country illegally and sought to deport them to England. The government was tipped off to their alleged illegal entry by a family acquaintance who believed the mother and daughter owed her husband money in a South American business deal.
Following several years of court deportation hearings the U.S. Government allowed the mother and daughter to stay in the United States and seek citizenship. Phyllis became a naturalized citizen in 1932.
During the numerous deportation hearings, Phyllis and her mother lived together in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Rebecca Greaves died in 1935 in Los Angeles.
Phyllis was briefly married to actor Peter Paul Porcasi from 1916 to 1917. They divorced and he moved to Chicago. Porcasi appeared on Broadway and in such films as "King Kong" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."
Phyllis was a stenographer and secretary for a stock exchange company for many years, and later managed a stationary distribution company. She died at the age of 77 in San Francisco and was cremated.
Phyllis had four siblings: Marjorie, Queenie, Stanley Wimshurst (1887-1949) and Robert Edward (b. 1890).
In 1912, Phyllis and Rebecca accompanied Edward William on a business trip to South America. Edward died in Valparaiso, Chili, leaving the mother and daughter stranded. His death touched off a long-running legal battle between U.S. immigration authorities and Phyllis and Rebecca.
When the mother and daughter returned to the United States via England on April 12, 1913, they told the immigration officer they were U.S. citizens based on the fact that Edward had taken out citizenship papers for himself. Edward was not an American citizen. However, the immigration officer wrote the father was a citizen. The U.S. Government contended they entered the country illegally and sought to deport them to England. The government was tipped off to their alleged illegal entry by a family acquaintance who believed the mother and daughter owed her husband money in a South American business deal.
Following several years of court deportation hearings the U.S. Government allowed the mother and daughter to stay in the United States and seek citizenship. Phyllis became a naturalized citizen in 1932.
During the numerous deportation hearings, Phyllis and her mother lived together in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Rebecca Greaves died in 1935 in Los Angeles.
Phyllis was briefly married to actor Peter Paul Porcasi from 1916 to 1917. They divorced and he moved to Chicago. Porcasi appeared on Broadway and in such films as "King Kong" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."
Phyllis was a stenographer and secretary for a stock exchange company for many years, and later managed a stationary distribution company. She died at the age of 77 in San Francisco and was cremated.
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