Chasing the Records

Until 1820 there were no manifests or passenger lists required in the United States.  Before that, passenger identification was not required, but that does not mean there is no record of your immigrant ancestor.  Here are three possibilities.

• About one half the immigrants from Europe were indentured servants.  Most of the time there was a document laying out the terms of the indenture for both parties.  There are several books that include these and they may also be found in the records of the county where they landed or were living.

• Some colonies, especially Virginia, gave land patents to people who paid for an immigrant’s passage.  They did this to encourage colonists to come and settle the land.

• If your ancestor was a member of a group that came together often a member of that group would write an account of their voyage and their lives in America.  An example might be a group from a particular religion or church.  Sometimes histories would be written of a town where immigrants arrived that named newcomers.

Who’s on Your Ship?

After 1820 The Steerage Act required that ships captains submit a list of their passengers.  These lists got better over time and the more recent the date the more passenger lists are available.  There are several websites available to track passenger lists.  If they came into New York City, be sure to check on the Ellis Island Foundation website.  New York and other ports can also be found on your favorite family history website.

As mentioned in the last blog, before 1906 immigrants could pursue citizenship in almost any court.  Be aware that only about 25% of immigrants became citizens, so you are not guaranteed to find your immigrant ancestor in naturalization records.  A good place to check whether they were naturalized is the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses.  If they did pursue citizenship, you will need to check the court documents in the county where they landed and the county where they settled.  Often immigrants would get a temporary home near where they entered the U.S., file their Declaration of Intention in that place, then when they settled in their permanent homes they would file their Petition for Naturalization.  Also be aware that it could be filed with almost any court.  I’ve seen them in the county court records and also in the federal district courts.  It depends on what location was convenient for them.

Genealogy Gold!

After 1906 things get easier.  Only certain courts could be used and they had to use standardized forms.  They also had to send a copy to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which means that they are available after a waiting period.  These forms can be a goldmine to a family historian, often listing when they came, the name of the ship, where from, the names of their spouse and children, and much more.  Sometimes the application even has a picture!

If you really get stuck and want a comprehensive list of places to check for immigration records, check out the FamilySearch Wiki for U.S. Immigration Online Genealogy Records.  This list goes on for several pages giving a comprehensive list of websites for different states and countries which contain immigration records.

If this all seems overwhelming, help is available.  Contact us today to begin the search for your ancestors who “skipped over the pond.”