|
New York Passenger Lists
Port of New York Passenger Lists
The Port of New York has long been one of the most important arrival points for American immigration. During the last one and one-half century, more than 53 million people left their homes destined for American shores. For more than two-thirds of these passengers, their port of arrival would be New York Harbor.
During the early years of American immigration, little more than a passengers first and last name were recorded on New York Passenger Lists. As time progressed and American immigration laws changed, the amount of information required of each arriving passenger increased. By the turn of the 20th century, passengers arriving through Ellis Island were required to share details that are now among the most imporant facts for genealogists and family historians. Take a detailed look at the content of New York Passenger Lists during the 19th and 20th century.
Ellis Island vs. Castle Garden
Although Ellis Island has a long and interesting history dating to the early 1600s, it was not until January 1st, 1892 that the first passenger was processed through the new Ellis Island Immigration Station. For nearly four decades immediately prior to the opening of Ellis Island, immigrants arriving through the Port of New York were received through Castle Garden, (later renamed Castle Clinton National Monument). In 1855, New York State leased the Castle Garden site for the task of processing immigrant arrivals. In that same year, The Battery is extended to join Castle Garden with the Island of Manhattan. Learn more about Castle Garden and immigration before Ellis Island.
What Time Periods Are Covered?
New York Passenger Lists existed in many forms. Many of the originals were microfilmed prior to being discarded. In some cases, the data from individual manifests has been transcribed resulting in an electronic index. This has made it far easier for more people to access the records of their immigrants in New York Passenger Lists than was previoiusly possible using microfilm. In general, the majority of New York Passengers Lists for the years 1820 through 1924 are avaialbe via one or more electronic index. Some services provide this material free of charge (Ellis Island and Castle Garden, while others provide the data through a fee-based subscription (Ancestry.com). View dates and details for New York Arrivals here.
Useful Links for working with New York Passenger Lists
|
|
|
|
