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[[File:Erie Canal, Lock 32.jpg|thumb|Erie Canal]] | [[File:Erie Canal, Lock 32.jpg|thumb|Erie Canal]] | ||
The Erie Canal allowed boats from [[New York, United States Genealogy|New York]] City on the Hudson River to reach rural upstate New York and Lake Erie. Eventually the Great Lakes were also connected to the Ohio River and Mississippi River systems by other canals. As canals developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the canals provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a canal, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting waterway. | |||
== Historical Background == | == Historical Background == | ||
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The Erie Canal in [[New York|New York]] allowed boats from [[New York City, New York|New York City]] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River Hudson River] to reach rural upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Erie Lake Erie]. Eventually the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Lakes Great Lakes] were also connected to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_River Ohio River] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River Mississippi River] systems by other canals. As canals developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the canals provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a canal, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting waterway. | The Erie Canal in [[New York|New York]] allowed boats from [[New York City, New York|New York City]] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River Hudson River] to reach rural upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Erie Lake Erie]. Eventually the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Lakes Great Lakes] were also connected to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_River Ohio River] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River Mississippi River] systems by other canals. As canals developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the canals provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a canal, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting waterway. | ||
The Erie Canal contributed to the wealth and importance of New York City, Buffalo, and New York State. It increased trade throughout the nation by opening eastern and overseas markets to Midwestern farm products and enabling migration to the West. New ethnic Irish communities formed in towns along the canal, as Irish immigrants were a large portion of labor force involved in its construction. | The Erie Canal contributed to the wealth and importance of New York City, Buffalo, and New York State. It increased trade throughout the nation by opening eastern and overseas markets to Midwestern farm products and enabling migration to the West. New ethnic Irish communities formed in towns along the canal, as Irish immigrants were a large portion of labor force involved in its construction.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011).</ref> | ||
== Canal Route == | == Canal Route == | ||
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== Settlers and Records == | == Settlers and Records == | ||
Because so many immigrants traveled on the canal, many genealogists would like to find copies of canal passenger lists. Unfortunately, apart from the years 1827-1829, canal boat operators were not required to record or report passenger names to the New York State government. Those 1827-1829 passenger lists survive today in the New York State Archives | Because so many immigrants traveled on the canal, many genealogists would like to find copies of canal passenger lists. Unfortunately, apart from the years 1827-1829, canal boat operators were not required to record or report passenger names to the New York State government. Those 1827-1829 passenger lists survive today in the New York State Archives.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011).</ref> | ||
Prior to the building of the Erie Canal the settlers in upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] were often from New England, especially [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]]. Once the Canal was finished, setters along the canal and farther west into [[Ohio Genealogy|Ohio]] would have reached the Erie Canal from [[New York City, New York|New York City]], or from along the Hudson River in New York, or from Vermont via the [[Champlain Canal|Champlain Canal]]. Most of the men who labored to build the Erie Canal were from [[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland]] and many of them settled near it. | Prior to the building of the Erie Canal the settlers in upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] were often from New England, especially [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]]. Once the Canal was finished, setters along the canal and farther west into [[Ohio Genealogy|Ohio]] would have reached the Erie Canal from [[New York City, New York|New York City]], or from along the Hudson River in New York, or from Vermont via the [[Champlain Canal|Champlain Canal]]. Most of the men who labored to build the Erie Canal were from [[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland]] and many of them settled near it. | ||