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U.S. Immigration and Emigration Class Handout (view source)
Revision as of 18:01, 27 September 2015
, 27 September 2015→BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO ACQUIRE BEFORE SEARCHING PASSENGER LISTS
(Created page with "==='''United States Immigration and Emigration Class Handout'''=== Courtesy of Jill Shoemaker - with information from [[United States Emigration and Immigration|United States Emi...") |
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==='''BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO ACQUIRE BEFORE SEARCHING PASSENGER LISTS'''=== | ==='''BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO ACQUIRE BEFORE SEARCHING PASSENGER LISTS'''=== | ||
*Before searching passenger lists, learn everything you can about your immigrant ancestor from other sources, so that you will be able to: | *Before searching passenger lists, learn everything you can about your immigrant ancestor from other sources, so that you will be able to: | ||
:'''''Identify him in relevant passenger records.''''' | |||
;'''''Distinguish him from others of the same name.''''' | |||
:'''''Concentrate your efforts in the right time period and location.''''' | |||
Knowing your ancestor’s full name,''''' approximate date of arrival in the United States''''', approximate age on arrival to the United States, the likely port of arrival, the name of their spouse, their religion, and their occupation will all help in identifying your ancestor in passenger lists<br> | |||
*'''A Note about Names:'''It is important to understand that many''''' immigrant names were misspelled''''', misunderstood' because of heavy accents or the lack of the ability to speak English, or Americanized. John Black in the United States may have been Johannes Schwartz in the homeland. A name may have been lengthened or shortened. For example, Wise may have once been Weisen and before that Weisenberg and earlier still Weisenberger. This makes searching a passenger list index for your ancestor a real challenge.' | *'''A Note about Names:'''It is important to understand that many''''' immigrant names were misspelled''''', misunderstood' because of heavy accents or the lack of the ability to speak English, or Americanized. John Black in the United States may have been Johannes Schwartz in the homeland. A name may have been lengthened or shortened. For example, Wise may have once been Weisen and before that Weisenberg and earlier still Weisenberger. This makes searching a passenger list index for your ancestor a real challenge.' | ||