New York Emigration and Immigration: Difference between revisions

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The [[United States Emigration and Immigration|United States Emigration and Immigration]] Wiki article provides several important sources for finding information about immigrants. These nationwide sources include many references to people who settled in New York. The [[Tracing Immigrant Origins|Tracing Immigrant Origins]] Wiki article introduces the principles, search strategies, and additional record types you can use to identify an immigrant ancestor's original hometown.  

*'''1897-1902''' {{RecordSearch|3031525|New York, New York, Index to Passengers Lists of Vessels, 1897-1902}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/ FamilySearch] - [[New York, New York, Index to Passengers Lists of Vessels - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Index (images of original index cards)

*[https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2443349 New York, New York, Soundex to Passenger and Crew Lists, 1887-1921], index and images.

*[http://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/ Ellis Island, New York City Passenger Lists, 1892-1924]

*{{RecordSearch|1368704|New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924}} — index and images

*{{RecordSearch|3031525|New York, New York, Index to Passengers Lists of Vessels, 1897-1902}}, index

*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1277 New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1966] ($) index and images

*[https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2467808 New York, New York, Index to Alien Crewmen Who Were Discharged or Who Deserted, 1917-1957], index

*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10719/port-of-new-york-index-to-discharged-or-deserted-crew Port of New York, Index to Discharged or Deserted Crew, 1917-1957] at [https://www.myheritage.com MyHeritage] - index and images ($)

Immigration to the United States was relatively low until the second half of the 19th century, despite encouragement from the federal government for able-bodied individuals to settle western lands. Few laws protected these immigrants upon arrival in the United States. The lack of regulation or legislation concerning immigration meant that foreigners who arrived in New York City were often found knocking on the doors of almshouses or city hospitals in desperate need of help. The state of New York passed the responsibility of immigrants to New York City but still provided financial support to help fund this expensive endeavor. In 1824 New York passed the Passenger Act, which made the vessels arriving at the Port of New York partly responsible for the expenses associated with the needy immigrants they transported to and deposited in New York City. More regulations (from both the United States government and the State of New York) were enacted in the 1830s and 1840s to protect both immigrants and ease the burden immigrants placed on New York City. On August 1, 1855 [[US Immigration History#Castle_Garden|Castle Garden]] was opened as an "Emigrant Receiving Depot." It was the first official immigrant receiving station in the United States. Castle Garden continued to function as New York's emigration receiving station until the early 1890, when [[US Immigration History#Ellis_Island|Ellis Island]] opened. Ellis Island was constructed, in part, because Castle Garden could no longer handle the flow of immigrants.<ref>"The History of Ellis Island," ''GGD'' 45 (January 2006): 30-31.</ref> The Barge Office (federally-run) was the temporary receiving station after Ellis Island was destroyed by fire. On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island permanently opened. For more information on the history of emigration in New York, read "The Port of New York Before Ellis Island" by Nancy Levin Arbeiter.<ref>Arbeiter, Nancy Levin. "The Port of New York Before Ellis Island". ''AVOTAYNU'' XXI (Fall 2005): 27-34.</ref>

New York City was the major port of entry for immigrants coming to the United States.  

'''Federal Immigration Lists'''. Few pre-1820 passenger lists exist. The National Archives does have some unmicrofilmed manifests and baggage lists for 1798–1819 that mention passengers' names.  

<br> '''New York City Passenger Lists.''' For customs arrival lists and indexes see:  

'''Online Records'''

*'''1892-1924''' - {{RecordSearch|1368704|New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images

'''Passenger lists''' '''(1820–1942).''' These contain the names, ages, and countries of origin. After 1897 they usually give the last residence and final destination in the United States. The National Archives—Northeast has the lists through March 14, 1909. The [[New York Public Library]] has them on microfilm through at least 1906. The Family History Library has the lists from:  

*1897–1942

'''Indexes''' '''(1820–46, 1897–1902, 1902–43, 1943–48).''' The [[Family History Library]] and the [[New York Public Library]] have the indexes through 1943, and the National Archives—Northeast has them through 1948:  

*1902–1943

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'''New York City Crew Lists'''

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'''Published Lists.''' Published passenger lists include:  

*Voultsos, Mary. ''Greek Immigrant Passengers, 1885–1910: A Guide and Index to Researching Early Greek Immigrants''. Three Volumes. Worcester, Massachusetts: the author, 1992. (Family History Library book {{FHL|572781|title-id|disp=973 W2vm}}.) Contains indexes and lists for Boston 1900–1910 and New York 1885–1910.

Some records recently made available at the National Archives include:  

*Soundex Index to Arrivals at Malone, Ogdensburg, and Rooseveltown, New York, 1929–1956 (three microfilms, not at Family History Library).

In 1895 Canadian shipping companies agreed to keep passenger lists, or manifests, of people who were in transit to the United States. These lists allowed U.S. immigration officials to inspect passengers bound for the United States via Canada. The U.S. inspectors worked at Canadian seaports and major cities of the interior like Quebec and Winnipeg. The manifests from any seaport or emigration station in Canada were collected at St. Albans, Vermont.  

Border Crossing Lists may include information about name, port or station of entry, arrival date, literacy, last residence, previous visits to the United States, and place of birth. The passenger lists are reproduced in two series:  

*''Manifests of Passengers Arriving in the St. Albans, Vermont, District through Canadian Pacific Ports, 1929–1949'' (25 rolls; Family History Library {{FHL|452590|title-id|disp=films 1549387–411}}). In transit to the United States from Canadian Pacific seaports only.

'''Border Crossing Indexes'''. In many cases, the index cards are the only record of the crossing. Two published indexes apply to New York:  

*''Soundex Index to Entries into the St. Albans, Vermont, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1924–1952''(98 rolls; Family History Library film{{FHL|452590|title-id|disp=s 1570714–811}}).

The [[Soundex|Soundex]] is a coded surname index based on the way a name sounds rather than how it is spelled. Names like Smith and Smyth have the same code and are filed together.  

[[Image:Ellis island 1902.jpg|thumb|right|Ellis island 1902.jpg]]When individuals emigrated from one country to another, a list of the passengers on board was kept. A large number of immigrants coming to the United States landed in New York. There were three different ports in New York City from 1855 to 1954, where passengers landed: Castle Garden, the Barge Office, and Ellis Island.  

The passenger lists for the Castle Garden, the Barge Office, and part of the Ellis Island records are in the same record group. Regardless of whether your ancestor arrived in New York City during the Castle Garden, Barge Office, or Ellis Island period, you can search the same ship manifests. Many of the records are available on microfilm in the Family History Library. These can be viewed in the library or in a family history center. Follow these steps to find the film numbers in the library catalog.  

*8. Click '''View Film Notes''' to find the film numbers for the records.

The passenger lists from 1851 through 1891 are only partially indexed. The indexes are mostly for a few nationalities, such as German, Italian, and Russian. Follow these steps to find the film numbers for the passenger lists and indexes.  

*8. Click '''View Film Notes''' to find the film numbers for the records.

<br>A little known fact about New York City is that the State of New York had quarantine laws stating that&nbsp;''"Quarantine for the protection of public health shall be maintained in and for the ports of New York, for all vessels arriving thereat from other ports, and for the crews, passengers, equipage, cargoes and other property on board the same."''&nbsp; This allowed the New York State quarantine officers to board all ships arriving at New York City and review the health of all passengers and crew.&nbsp; Any one showing symptoms of a contagious disease was removed from the ship while still in the outer harbor and taken to the hospital on&nbsp;either Hoffman or Swinburne island.&nbsp; Some history of the New York State Quarantine hospitals can be found at the following web site:&nbsp; [[The Forgotten of Ellis Island: Deaths in Quarantine, 1909 to 1911]]  

*'''1906-1942''' - {{RecordSearch|2299396|New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists, 1906-1942}} at [https://familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images

Passenger lists show the names of those aboard the ship during its voyage but the [[Annotations on Passenger Lists|annotations]] can supply important information as well. Searching through many passenger lists can be time consuming. An online index can save time and help you find an ancestor's immigration date and ship. The index to many lists of New York City arrivals from 1820 to 1892 are available on the Ancestry Web site at [http://www.ancestry.com/ www.ancestry.com] (a subscription website). Some of this index is also linked to online images of the original passenger manifests on paper. The index includes passengers to some other ports in various years. Follow these instructions to search the index of passenger lists.  

#Click on the underlined name of the person to see more details.

[[Image:Ny-allegheny river325w.jpg|thumb|right|Ny-allegheny river325w.jpg]]

'''Pre-Revolutionary War.''' Before 1775 settlement in New York was confined to the Hudson, Mohawk, Schoharie, and Delaware valleys until after the Revolutionary War. During and after the war, New Yorkers loyal to the King of England emigrated to Canada and elsewhere. The Revolutionary War temporarily halted further expansion into the interior. Once the war was over and the title to western lands was obtained from the Iroquois in 1786, New Englanders flocked to all parts of the state. In the two decades after the war, 500,000 new settlers came into New York, and the state tripled its population.  

*'''''New York Children's Aid Society'''''

:New York, NY 10017

::Internet: http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/

*'''''New York Foundling Hospital (Catholic)'''''

:New Y:ork, NY 10011

:::This hospital was organized in 1869 and began placing out children in 1873.<br><br>

The Dutch brought the first Blacks to New York during colonial times. Blacks composed about 10 percent of the population during the eighteenth century. The greatest migration of Blacks came from the southern states and Caribbean after World War II.  

The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. has a local chapter in Greater New York. To learn more, visit their [http://aahgs.org/chapters.htm#ny website].  

The original inhabitants of New York were Algonquian (Lenni Lenape, [[Mohegan Indians|Mohegan]], and Wappinger) and Iroquoian tribes ([[Mohawk Indians|Mohawk]], Oneida, [[Onondaga Indians|Onondaga]], [[Cayuga Indians|Cayuga]], and [[Seneca Indians|Seneca]]). The [[Tuscarora Indians|Tuscarora tribe]] from [[North Carolina Genealogy|North Carolina]] migrated to New York and joined the [[Iroquois Confederacy|Iroquois Confederacy]] in the 1700s.  

See also [[Indians of New York]].  

In the 1620s and 1630s, the Dutch and Walloons (French-speaking Belgians) settled in the Hudson Valley and on western Long Island. The Dutch West India Company made settlements at New Amsterdam (New York City) and Ft. Orange (Albany) in 1624 and 1625. Later settlements were at Beverwyck (outside Fort Orange), Esopus (Kingston), and western Long Island. In 1664 the English captured New Netherland and renamed it New York.  

Many Dutch families of New York can be found in:  

*Zabriskie, George Olin. ''Early Dutch - New Netherlands - Family Correspondence''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. (Family History Library films {{FHL|532504|title-id|disp=1421766–6}}.) Contains correspondence about Dutch families from the 1500s to the 1900s. Includes information from church, military, land, and probate records.

In the 1640s New England settlers came to eastern Long Island. New Englanders continued to migrate to the lower Hudson Valley in the early and mid-1700s.  

The naval office shipping lists for New York, 1713-1765 are available on microfilm {{FHL|156767|item|disp=FHL Films 965862-965865}}.

Huguenots settled on Staten Island and in New Harlem, Bushwick, and Flushing in 1657 and 1658. New Paltz, Ulster County, was founded in 1677 by Huguenots. In 1688 the Huguenots established New Rochelle in Westchester County. Non-Huguenot French Catholics from Quebec later settled large areas of the northern Adirondacks.  

Useful sources for Huguenot genealogy are:  

*Reeve, Vera. compiler. ''Register of Qualified Huguenot Ancestors: The National Huguenot Society''. Third Edition, Washington, DC: the Society, 1983. (Family History Library book {{FHL|55570|title-id|disp=973 D2rq}}.) Genealogies and sources. See also the 1995 supplement (Family History Library book {{FHL|771567|title-id|disp=973 D2rq 1992 suppl}}.)

German "Palatines" came in 1709/10 to the upper Hudson Valley, near present-day Germantown, Columbia County. Many had been lured to America after reading the "Golden Book," published by British authorities, to promote the colonization of America. It portrayed the New World as a paradise. Some lived in England for a few years. Reconstructed passenger lists are available online as part of AncestryProGenealogists' [http://www.progenealogists.com/palproject/ny/index.html Palatine Project]. After arriving in New York and working in the tar and naval stores industries to pay off their passage, they found themselves landless, and in an undeveloped wilderness. The British failed to keep their promise to grant each immigrant 40 acres of land for emigrating. Many ventured to the unsettled Schoharie Valley backcountry and purchased land from Indians. They established seven villages. 1709ers include Valentin Bresseler (ancestor of Elvis Presley) and Jost Hite "Baron of the Shenandoah."<ref name="hank" /><ref>Henry Z. Jones, Ralph Connor, and Klaus Wust, ''German Origins of Jost Hite, Virginia Pioneer, 1685-1761'' (Edinburg, Va.: Shenandoah History, c1979). {{FHL|488732|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 H637j}}.</ref>&nbsp; The "[http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/bios-season-2/tim-mcgraw/ Tim McGraw]" episode of ''Who Do You Think You Are?'' (NBC) brings this immigration story to life. McGraw descends from Hite. DNA has been collected from descendants of many 1709ers, see [http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/palatine/pats The Palatine DNA Project]. Many original documents regarding this migration are available on microfilm through FamilySearch, see {{FHL|289277|item|disp=''Collection of original documents selected from the Public Record Office relating to the Palatine immigration : original documents selected for filming from the Colonial Office and Treasury Papers'' (Arthur D. Graeff).}}<br>  

Jones shares the following strategies, learned from experience, for genealogists who wish to trace the German origins of Colonial Americans:  

#Follow your intuition as well as your intellect in genealogical searches<ref>Henry Z. Jones, ''The Palatine Families of New York: A Study of the German Immigrants Who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710'' (Universal City, Calif.: H.Z. Jones, 1985), iv-xxvii. {{FHL|237941|item|disp=FHL Books 974.7 D2j v. 1-v. 2}}.</ref>

Before 1776 Germans and Dutch settled the Mohawk Valley.  

In the early 1770s Scottish and Irish immigrants settled in the upper Hudson and Delaware valleys. Ulster Scots, or Scotch-Irish, settled near the Hudson River in Orange and Ulster counties in the late 1600s. Millions (approximately 3 million) Irish (mostly Catholic) immigrated to the United States. Hundreds of thousands&nbsp;settled&nbsp;in New York City in especially the mid to late 19th Century. Some stayed for a few years and then migrated into the rest of the United States. Their migration fanned out into the midwest, i.e. Chicago St. Louis, south (Alabama and Georgia) and out west. Visit the [http://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-search.jsp?dt=180&cat=GP44&tf=F&bc=sl Famine Emigrants 1846-1851 database at the NARA] website for an online search of nearly 700,000 Irish Famine Immigrants, representing one of the most significant&nbsp;immigration epics of all time in America's history. In 1855, one in every four, or 54 percent of New York City's foreign-born population were Irish with over 200,000 registered as "born in Ireland". The largest New York immigrant passenger-list index, available for the first time for the years 1820 to 1957, is now online at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/DB.aspx?dbid=7488 Ancestry.com] with 68 million names. Here is&nbsp;an enlarged [[List of Irish Emigration]] websites for locating Irish ancestors on ships.  

Passengers Aboard the "Buchannon", Newry to New York August 1765. A list of 43 passengers who travelled from Newry Co. Ireland to New York in August 1765 aboard the ship "Buchannon". Article in The Irish Ancestor, vol. XII. no. 1-2, 1980, page 52, Family History Library Ref. 941.5 B2i  

Records of major ethnic groups, including Dutch, Swedes, German, French Huguenots, Quakers, and Jews, are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog Locality Search under:  

NEW YORK - MINORITIES.  

One of the largest waves of British migrants to the United States occurred in the nineteenth century.  

:*'''1817''' - Molerio, Dagoberto. "A Passenger List for the Ship ''William,''" ''The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,'' Vol. 101, No. 3 (Jul. 1970):142-144. Digital version at [http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/public-elibrary New York Family History] ($); {{FHL|1181533|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 101}}.

The German Genealogy Group can help you trace your New York German ancestors. Their [http://www.theggg.org/ website] offers many free resources to help you in your quest.  

[[National Archives and Records Administration|NARA's]] website includes [http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=GP44 Data Files Relating to the Immigration of Germans to the United States, documenting the period 1850 -1897].  

The Hispanic Genealogy Center of New York can help you discover your New York Hispanic ancestry. To learn more, visit their [http://www.hispanicgenealogy.com/ website].  

[[Image:Famine memorial dublin.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]Tens of thousands of potato famine Irish immigrants arrived at the Port of New York City in the nineteenth century.  

This publication provides a detailed list of record sources for tracing Irish families coupled with research strategies.  

The Italian Genealogical Group can help you discover your New York Italian ancestry. Their [http://italiangen.org/ website] offers many free resources to help you in your quest.  

*Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo. "Italian Naming Patterns and Necronyms: Six Generations of the Vallarelli Family as an Example of the Effect of Immigration," ''The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record'', Vol. 133, No. 3 (Jul. 2002):177-181. Digital version at [http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/public-elibrary New York Family History] ($); {{FHL|161380|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 133}}.

The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society will search their indexes and files at no charge. Supply the individual ancestor's name as spelled at the time of arrival and, if known, the year and port of entry and relatives traveling with the ancestor. It also helps to give birth and last known address. Records of Jewish immigrants since 1909 are at:  

The Jewish Genealogical Society can help you discover your New York Jewish ancestry. To learn more, visit their [http://www.jgsny.org/ website].  

The Polish Genealogical Society of New York State can help you discover your New York Polish ancestry. To learn more, visit their [http://pgsnys.org/ website].  

[[National Archives and Records Administration|NARA's]] website includes free [http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=GP44 Data Files Relating to the Immigration of Russians to the United States, documenting the period 1834-1897].  

*[https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/expanded-passenger-records-release The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.]

*[http://www.nypl.org/ www.nypl.org]

*[http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml www.archives.nysed.gov]

*[http://www.afhs.ab.ca/aids/talks/notes_mar99.html www.afhs.ab.ca]

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:</span><br>  

*[[New York, Passenger Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records|New York Passenger Arrival Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records]]

*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/ellis-island-castle-garden-immigration/ Ellis Island and Castle Garden Immigration Records]

*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/archive-ellis-island-records/ Complete Archive of Ellis Island Records—Now Online for Free]

*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/immigration-act-1924-ellis-island/ The Immigration Act of 1924 and the End of Ellis Island]

[[Category:United States Emigration and Immigration, New York Arrivals]]