I'm working on a novel, and a key plot point revolves around a man leaving his home in the dead of night. What would his wife & loved ones (historically) do in this situation? The character(s) in question are lower-class, living in the area of New York that would later become Central Park (from what I can tell, by 1850 it was a lower-class community, so I figure a decade or so prior would work as well, and it ties in to my usage of the SS Sirius).

Nowadays, we would go to the police and a search would begin. Browsing the popular questions of this sub, it sounds like a local magistrate would be involved in my scenario, but I'm not sure as the question I found that particular answer to references crime and not missing persons.

Edit:

It has been brought to my attention that some other aspiring novelists/writers may have tainted the well of knowledge that /r/askhistorians is, whether due to differences in opinion (their scene/character trumping historical accuracy), or sheer neglect (ignoring the greater point being made).

My dilemma - and the reason I seek your answer(s) - is that I have no idea what the appropriate action(s) for those left behind would be. Would they wait? Appeal to the magistrate/police? Take matters into their own hands? It doesn't matter what the actual action is/would have been, I just need to know what it is. I just can't have an abandoned family sit on their hands and be unmentioned for 50k words, or have the police (or historical analogue, etc) suddenly decide to look for someone they otherwise wouldn't waste their time looking for.

All knowledge is worth having, and I thank you in advance for any of it you would care to impart.