One of my cousins asked if I knew why our ancestors came to the United States, and while I have a pretty fair idea, I really don't have proof. That being said, there are some things I do know about people coming to this country and some of it might help you in your research.
Europeans departed from a limited number of ports and faced great uncertainty. Picture these people crammed into tiny little cabins with a high probability of being exposed to all kinds of illness. In addition, there was a very real threat of pirates -- and not like the Disney characters -- and horrific storms that relentlessly pounded into the side of the ship. It was certainly a hardship for most of these brave souls, and they may have been in these conditions as long as four months.
Once your ancestors arrived in America, they may have had $25 to their name. If you are lucky, your ancestors may have passed through Ellis Island which opened in 1892 -- as you may have guessed, I was not that lucky. If they are pre-Ellis Island, you may find them being processed at Castle Garden which is located at the edge of Manhattan and you can find out more at The Battery Conservancy which is a park and worth a visit if you are in New York City. For those with Asian immigrants, you'll want to look at the Pacific Mail Steamship Company warehouse in San Francisco if they arrived before 1910. After that you'll want to look at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay.
Good luck in your search! If you want help let me know: Association of Professional Genealogists - Kathleen Riley-Daniels
No comments:
Post a Comment