Champlain Canal: Difference between revisions

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''[[United States Genealogy|United States]]&nbsp; [[Image:Gotoarrow.png|go to]]&nbsp; [[United States Migration Internal|Migration]]&nbsp; [[Image:Gotoarrow.png|go to]]&nbsp; [[US Migration Canals|Canals]]&nbsp; [[Image:Gotoarrow.png|go to]]&nbsp; [[Champlain_Canal|Champlain Canal]]''<br>
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| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Migration Internal|Migration]]  
| link3=[[US_Migration_Trails_and_Roads|U.S. Migration Trails and Roads]]  
| link4=
| link5=[[{{PAGENAME}}]]
}}


[[Image:Erie Canal Lock 32.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]<br>[[Image:Champlain map.png|right|400px|Champlain map.png]]  
[[Image:Erie Canal Lock 32.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]<br>[[Image:Champlain map.png|right|400px|Champlain map.png]]  


In 1823 the 60-mile (97 km) '''Champlain Canal''' in [[New York Genealogy|New York State]] connected [[Lake Champlain]] to the [[Hudson River]] and thus [[New York City, New York|New York City]], as well as to the [[Erie Canal|Erie Canal]] and rural upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]]. In 1843 Lake Champlain was also connected by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambly_Canal Chambly Canal] in [[Quebec Genealogy|Quebec]], [[Canada Genealogy|Canada]] to the [[Saint Lawrence River]] and thence to the North Atlantic Ocean. 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.<ref name="Erie">"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal]" in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011)</ref>  
[[Champlain Canal|In 1823 the 60-mile (97 km) '''Champlain Canal''' in New York State connected Lake Champlain to the Hudson River]] and thus [[New York City, New York|New York City]], as well as to the [[Erie Canal|Erie Canal]] and rural upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]]. In 1843 Lake Champlain was also connected by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambly_Canal Chambly Canal] in [[Quebec Genealogy|Quebec]], [[Canada Genealogy|Canada]] to the [[Saint Lawrence River]] and thence to the North Atlantic Ocean. [https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Champlain_Canal?veaction=edit 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.<ref name="Erie">"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal]" in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011)</ref>  


=== Historical Background  ===
=== Historical Background  ===
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The Champlain Canal connection with the Erie Canal made it a natural route for residents of [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]] and New York near [[Lake Champlain]] to use to move south and west via the [http://www.eriecanal.org Erie Canal]. The Champlain Canal is part of the [http://www.nyscanals.gov/ New York State Canal System], now mostly used for recreation.  
The Champlain Canal connection with the Erie Canal made it a natural route for residents of [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]] and New York near [[Lake Champlain]] to use to move south and west via the [http://www.eriecanal.org Erie Canal]. The Champlain Canal is part of the [http://www.nyscanals.gov/ New York State Canal System], now mostly used for recreation.  


{{FHL|181733|title-id|disp=Family History Library Catalog}}
*{{FSC|181733|title-id|disp=FamilySearch Catalog}}
*[http://www.eriecanal.org/ Erie Canal website]


=== Canal Route  ===
=== Canal Route  ===
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The migration pathways connected at the Champlain Canal ''north end'' included:  
The migration pathways connected at the Champlain Canal ''north end'' included:  


:*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Champlain Lake Champlain] with connections to:  
{{Block indent|*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Champlain Lake Champlain] with connections to: }}
::*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richelieu_River Richelieu River]  
{{Block indent|*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richelieu_River Richelieu River] |2}}
::*[[Chambly Canal]] 1843  
{{Block indent|*[[Chambly Canal]] 1843 |2}}
::*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lawrence_River Saint Lawrence River]  
{{Block indent|*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lawrence_River Saint Lawrence River] |2}}
::*[[Halifax Road]] or Grand Communication Route before 1812
{{Block indent|*[[Halifax Road]] or Grand Communication Route before 1812|2}}


The migration pathways connected at the ''south end'' included:  
The migration pathways connected at the ''south end'' included:  


:*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River Hudson River] with connections to:  
{{Block indent|*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River Hudson River] with connections to: }}
::*[[Erie Canal]] 1825  
{{Block indent|*[[Erie Canal]] 1825 |2}}
::*[[Mohawk or Iroquois Trail]]  
{{Block indent|*[[Mohawk or Iroquois Trail]] |2}}
::*[[Forbidden Path]] or Catskill Turnpike  
{{Block indent|*[[Forbidden Path]] or Catskill Turnpike |2}}
::*[[Hudson River Path]]  
{{Block indent|*[[Hudson River Path]] |2}}
::*[[Greenwood Road]]  
{{Block indent|*[[Greenwood Road]] |2}}
::*[[Old Connecticut Path]]  
{{Block indent|*[[Old Connecticut Path]] |2}}
::*and via the Hudson River, several trails out of New York City  
{{Block indent|*and via the Hudson River, several trails out of New York City |2}}
::*the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean Atlantic Ocean]
{{Block indent|*the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean Atlantic Ocean]|2}}


Also, the Champlain Canal route runs parallel to part of the [[Lake Champlain Trail]] from Albany, New York to Sorel-Tracy, Quebec.  
Also, the Champlain Canal route runs parallel to part of the [[Lake Champlain Trail]] from Albany, New York to Sorel-Tracy, Quebec.  
Line 51: Line 58:
=== Settlers and Records  ===
=== Settlers and Records  ===


Because so many immigrants traveled on&nbsp;canals, 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.[[Erie|<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Erie Canal" in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal (accessed 24 June 2009).</ref>]]  
Because so many immigrants traveled on canals, 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.[[Erie|<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Erie Canal" in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal (accessed 24 June 2009).</ref>]]<span class="mw-reflink-text">[3]</span><span class="mw-reflink-text">[3]</span><span class="mw-reflink-text">[3]</span>


Prior to the building of the Champlain and Erie canals the settlers in upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] were often from New England, especially [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]]. Once the canals were finished, setters could also move farther west into [[Ohio Genealogy|Ohio]]. Most of the men who labored to build the Champlain Canal were from [[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland]] and many of them settled near it.  
Prior to the building of the Champlain and Erie canals the settlers in upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] were often from New England, especially [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]]. Once the canals were finished, setters could also move farther west into [[Ohio, United States Genealogy|Ohio]]. Most of the men who labored to build the Champlain Canal were from [[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland]] and many of them settled near it.  


=== Internet Links  ===
=== Internet Links  ===


*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champlain_Canal Champlain Canal] in Wikipedia  
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champlain_Canal Champlain Canal] in Wikipedia  
*[http://www.champlaincanal.net/ Champlain Canal]&nbsp;History, boating information, maps, photos and business services  
*[http://www.champlaincanal.net/ Champlain Canal] History, boating information, maps, photos and business services  
*[http://www.lcmm.org/images/img_our_fleet/img_lois_mcclure/ERCA_web_test_map3.pdf Map of the Erie Canal] Modern National Historic Parks style map including the Champlain Canal
*[https://www.eriecanal.org/maps.html Map of the Erie Canal] Modern National Historic Parks style map including the Champlain Canal


=== Sources  ===
=== Sources  ===

Latest revision as of 08:18, 19 August 2025

Erie Canal Lock 32.jpg


Champlain map.png

In 1823 the 60-mile (97 km) Champlain Canal in New York State connected Lake Champlain to the Hudson River and thus New York City, as well as to the Erie Canal and rural upstate New York. In 1843 Lake Champlain was also connected by the Chambly Canal in Quebec, Canada to the Saint Lawrence River and thence to the North Atlantic Ocean. 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.[1]

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

The construction of the Champlain Canal began in 1817 and was worked on at the same time as the Erie Canal and was joined to it. In 1819 the Fort Edward to Lake Champlain section was opened. The whole Champlain Canal linked to the Erie Canal at Waterford, New York and was finished in 1823.[2] Many of the workers who helped build the Champlain and Erie canals were Irish immigrants.

The Champlain Canal connection with the Erie Canal made it a natural route for residents of Vermont and New York near Lake Champlain to use to move south and west via the Erie Canal. The Champlain Canal is part of the New York State Canal System, now mostly used for recreation.

Canal Route[edit | edit source]

The Champlain Canal connects the the Hudson River (and New York City) and the Erie Canal (and Buffalo) with Lake Champlain. It starts in the Hudson River Valley at Troy (some say Albany), New York and reaches north from Waterford toward Whitehall, New York on Lake Champlain. Some of the communities on the Champlain Canal from north to south include:

Erie Canal.jpg

Connecting Migration Routes. The Champlain Canal is linked to other migration routes at each end.

The migration pathways connected at the Champlain Canal north end included:

*Lake Champlain with connections to:
*Halifax Road or Grand Communication Route before 1812

The migration pathways connected at the south end included:

*Hudson River with connections to:
*Erie Canal 1825
*Forbidden Path or Catskill Turnpike
*and via the Hudson River, several trails out of New York City

Also, the Champlain Canal route runs parallel to part of the Lake Champlain Trail from Albany, New York to Sorel-Tracy, Quebec.

Settlers and Records[edit | edit source]

Because so many immigrants traveled on canals, 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.[3][3][3][3]

Prior to the building of the Champlain and Erie canals the settlers in upstate New York were often from New England, especially Vermont. Once the canals were finished, setters could also move farther west into Ohio. Most of the men who labored to build the Champlain Canal were from Ireland and many of them settled near it.

Internet Links[edit | edit source]

Sources[edit | edit source]

  1. "Erie Canal" in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia (accessed 15 April 2011)
  2. Wikipedia contributors, "Champlain Canal" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Champlain_Canal (accessed July 18, 2009).
  3. Wikipedia contributors, "Erie Canal" in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal (accessed 24 June 2009).



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