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READER'S FEEDBACK: Coping with Destruction of Bremen Passenger Lists
From:
NCBrannen@aol.com
DearMYRTLE,
I always enjoy your
newsletters but I read with special eager interest your article on "ACROSS MY
DESK: Coping with Destruction of Bremen Passenger Lists" and how the American
passenger arrival records were created. My grandfather Andrew (Andreas), then
aged 14 years came over to NY the year before Ellis Island opened and started
keeping records (1891?). He celebrated his 14 birthday in July aboard a ship.
After arriving in NY he stayed for a short time with his sister Barbara Graf and
her family in Ridgewood (I think) and then with his brother George who had a
barber shop in Brooklyn or Middle Village, NY.
Grandpa slept on a cot in
a storage room and earned his keep by keeping the shop clean and swept until he
was able to find a paying job. One of the jobs he had was helping to build the
army barracks and years later used that knowledge and skill to build a home for
his wife Anna (Bauersfeld) and their family on 70th Avenue in Glendale, just
across the street from the cemetery and railroad tracks. We loved that little
house, built next to a warehouse and Rickter's Dental Manufacturing Company
where my dad worked for 17 years.
I have often wanted to
learn the name of the ship grandpa came over on and see a copy of the ships
manifest but have been unable to do so. This is why I was so eager to learn that
the information I was seeking, might finally be within my reach. My question to
you is this:
-- Where can I find the Customs Passenger Lists for after 1871 for New York as
stated in your newsletter & referenced below? It appeared the records for
1820-1897 were available, but the timeline of the four volumes ends with the
year 1871. Weren't the 1872-1897 years ever completed or did I misunderstand the
article?
Thanks for your help and
all the interesting articles and information.
A faithful reader,
Nancy
DearNANCY,
THANK-YOU for writing! The book
series described in my column is published by Genealogical.com. They're getting
so close to your ancestor's range of years for arrival, but I don't think the
book series will include this.
Looks like you'll want to access
the CASTLE GARDEN records or the BARGE OFFICE records, which predate the opening
of Ellis Island as a processing point for immigrants through New York. While
http://www.CastleGarden.org
may have the info you seek, I prefer to look at this (and the Ellis Island
website) through
http://www.stevemorse.org
Steve defines the Pre-Ellis
Island arrival records into the following classifications:
1851 to 1855: pre Castle Garden
1855 to 1890: Castle Garden
1890 to 1891: Barge Office
His site can also help you
understand how to order a copy of the microfilm that contains the passenger
record.
FOR FURTHER
READING:
“ACROSS MY DESK: Coping with
Destruction of Bremen Passenger Lists”
http://www.dearmyrtle.com/06/0211.htm
Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
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