Immigration and Ships Passenger Lists Research Guide
Section 3.0 - Last updated Sept, 2011

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Section 3.0 - Research in Years Before 1820
3.1 What Information May be Found
3.2 Where are the Records
3.3 How to Search for your Ancestor
   3.3.1 Using the Internet  
   3.3.2 Using CD-ROM'S  
   3.3.3 Using Indexes, Bibliographies and Compilations in Libraries 

3.1 What Information May be Found
    Prior to 1820, there were no requirements to maintain passenger lists.   Most of the sailing ships were primarily cargo ships and the passengers may be listed on the ship's cargo manifest. These lists vary broadly in the amount and type of information they contain.
    The lists may possibly contain the following information for the passenger: Back to the top

3.2 Where are the records

The ship's manifests were normally deposited at the port of arrival and were originally kept at these colonial ports.  But  since there was no central depository for these early records, many of them have been lost, or destroyed.  Those that remain are scattered into libraries, historical societies, museums and private hands.  These original records are rarely indexed.

Many passenger lists for this time period have been extracted and published, either in books and periodicals.  Many of these published works also now appear on the Web and on CD-Rom's.  Except for the following records available from the NARA, you should use those extracted records online, on CD-Rom, and/or in books for your research in this time period.

The United States Congress had first required the deposit of lists of passengers of vessels arriving at U.S. ports in 1798.  From this act of Congress, apparently only a few fragmentary lists of aliens disembarking at Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts, now survive.  Customs officials at each port did maintain lists of vessels arriving at the port.  For example, those for the port of New York, extending from 1789 to 1919, have been microfilmed as National Archives Record Administration (NARA) Microfilm Publication M1066 (27 rolls).    Note that these port records contain no passenger lists, but rather consist of a list of ships and provide information concerning a vessel's port of origin, master, tonnage, nationality, value of its freight, and custom duties.

Until 1820, the U.S. Federal Government did not require captains or masters of vessels to present a passenger list to U.S. officials.  As a general rule, there are no NARA passenger lists of vessels arriving before 1820. There are, however, two exceptions - records do exist on microfilm, CD Rom, and the Internet for: 

          Arrivals at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1813-1819, are reproduced in NARA microfilm publication:
                Roll 1 of M2009, Work Projects Administration Transcript of Passenger Lists of  Vessels  Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1813-1849 

          Arrivals at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1800-1819, are reproduced in two NARA microfilm publications:
               Rolls 1-29 of M425, Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1800-1882   (Baggage Lists)
               M360, Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1800-1906
                              Note: M425 only includes those with baggage arriving at Philadelphia during 1800-1819.

 
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3.3 How to Search for your Ancestor
Many passenger lists for this time period have been extracted and published in books and periodicals.  Many of these published works also now appear on the Web and on CD-Rom's.
Hint:  The published works that now have been replicated on CD-Rom's and are being placed on web sites may use different databases.  For example, the online databases may not use all of the original works that are included in the CD-Rom versions .  For this reason, and also since different errors and ommissions can exist in the indexes to each resource, it is sometimes desirable to search all three resouces
Hint:  If possible, start by researching the on-line and/or the CD-Rom resources.  These generally have an  "integrated" index for all of the publications that are included, saving time in your search.

  3.3.1 Using the Internet
Hint: Today (2011), Ancestry.com has the most extensive amount of searchable resources for this time period, and therefore, you may want to start here if you wish to subscribe to this service or use it freely available at a local LDS FHC or library.  

1)   Start with the following outstanding websites and search any databases applicable to your area (country) and/or year of interest:
       The Olive Tree Genealogy by Lorine McGinnis Schulze   
A very large genealogy website emphasing Passenger List s and Immigation Records . There are more than 2,500 pages of free information and links to other free and subscription sites.   Free searchable databases include ships' passenger lists, military records, Native American Genealogy, Palatines, Huguenots, Mennonites, USA Genealogy, Canadian Genealogy and more.  There are so many choices that it can be overwhelming and confusing - allow yourself lots of time to look around. 
Some pages on this site to start with:
Immigration to USA Before 1820 
Emigrants From England 1773-1776 and Pennsylvania Baggage Lists 1809 
Ships Passenger Lists to New Netherland, New York 1624 to 1664
Ships Passenger Lists to U.S.A.1400 to 1900  
Browse 2,451 Olive Tree FREE Passenger Lists 

    Arrivals at US Ports from Europe before 1820 -by Joe Beine
A well organized bibliography including links to online databases, cd-roms & books.   Arranged by port of entry and also the country or origination.

2)  Subscribe to either of the following services and search the data base for your ancestors surname.
(Hint: If too many returns occur as a result of your search, try only searching the  individual database(s) applicable to your area of interest:
Ancestry's Immigration & Travel Lists   http://www.Ancestry.com
       Records included in this collection  (click to see the list)

**** Note:  Contact your local LDS Family History Center and check whether Ancestry.com is available online on their computer.  (Now available Free at many Family History Centers).
You may also check with local libraries to find if they have Ancestry Library Edition available (Having a similar database)
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3.3.2 Using CD-ROM'S

CD-ROM's are becoming available at many genealogical libraries and genealogical societies.  CD-ROM's  generally have a fully searchable index offering a variety of different search criteria (different than the similar on-line data base).  The CD-Rom may also include database material that is not in the "equivalent" on-line database. Search one-or-more of the following CD-Rom’s (for the pre-1820 period) that may be applicable to your area of interest.  ( Note:  A good place to start is with Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [CD 354] which includes all volumes of Filby's Passenger and Immigration Lists Index and has an integrated search engine.)

Hint:   Generally start your search using only the surname.  A list of  passengers having that common surname and similar spellings is displayed. Then browse through the names  to find one with the desired first name, age, and or place of origin.  If you find an ancestor, you can find all others coming on that same ship by clicking on the Search button and then entering the date and ship name in the search criteria. You can also search by parts of names (using wildcards) origin, date of arrival, ship name and other criteria.

Most CDRom's are available from Genealogical.com    Look at their web page for a description for each CD-Rom, the lists of books, and other references included on that CD, and ordering information.    Genealogical.com also has a catalog of hundreds of additional genealogical CD-Rom's.  To use these CD-Rom's, either Family Tree Maker software or the free Family Archive Viewer program must be installed on your computer.

CD-Rom's --  Pre 1820 Databases
Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s -[CD 354]
Immigrants to America 1600's - 1800's[GPC7352]
Irish Immigrants to North America 1735 -1871 [GPC7257]
Scottish Immigrants to North America, 1600s-1800s.[GPC7268]
Scotch-Irish Settlers in America 1500's - 1800's [GPC7276]
Immigrants to the New World, 1600s-1800s [GPC7170]
Immigrants to Pennsylvania [GPC7501
Huguenot Settlers in America [GPC7600]
German and Swiss Settlers in America, 1700s-1800s [GPC7267]
The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1776 [GPC7350]

3.3.3 Using Indexes, Bibliographies and Compilations in Libraries

If you were unsuccessful in finding your ancestor by using any of the previous resources, you should search indexes, bibliographies, and compilations that are available in libraries with genealogy collections.  The LDS Family History Centers also have some of these books and indexes available on fiche - check their catalog.
 
Hint: It is recommended to research a published book or other reference, even though the information may also appear on the Internet or on a CD-Rom.  Remember that errors and ommissions do exist on these other resources.
Hint:  A good place to start is with Filby's Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, now online at Ancestry.   If you find a reference to your family in one of these volumes,  click here to find out how  to interpret the information and how to get a copy of the original source material.

  Other Library Resources - (Indexes, Bibliographies, and Compilations)

  Bibliographies

          Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Bibliography, 1538-1900: Being a Guide to Published Lists of Arrivals in the United States and Canada.   2d ed. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1988.  If you find a reference to your family in one of these volumes,  click here to find out how  to interpret the information and how to get a copy of the original source material)  Also available online and on CD-Rom 354

          Lancour, Harold, comp. A Bibliography of Ship Passenger Lists, 1538-1825; Being a Guide to Published  Lists of Early Immigrants to North America. 3d ed. New York: New York Public Library, 1978.  Also available on CD-Rom 170

          Wood, Virginia Steele. Immigrant Arrivals: A Guide to Published Sources. Revised. (Washington, DC:  Library of Congress, Local History & Genealogy Reading Room, n.d.).

Compilations

          Boyer, Carl. Ship Passenger Lists, National and New England (1600-1825). Newhall, CA: C.   Boyer, 1977. Covers Lancour entries 1-71.

          Boyer, Carl. Ship Passenger Lists, New York and New Jersey (1600-1825). Newhall, CA: C. Boyer,  1978. Covers Lancour entries 72-115.

          Boyer, Carl. Ship Passenger Lists, Pennsylvania and Delaware (1641-1825). Newhall, CA: C.  Boyer, 1980. Covers Lancour entries 116-197.

<>          Boyer, Carl. Ship Passenger Lists, the South (1538-1825). Newhall, CA: C. Boyer, 1979. Covers  Lancour entries 198E-243.

          Tepper, Michael. New World Immigrants: a Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists and Associated Data from Periodical Literature. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.

          Tepper, Michael. Passengers to America: A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977.

          Tepper, Michael. Emigrants to Pennsylvania, 1641-1819: a Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists  from the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1978

          Tepper, Michael. Immigrants to the Middle Colonies: a Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists and Associated Data from The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1978
  Ethnic Groups

There are numerous published name indexes to 16th through 19th century arrivals of persons of various ethnic groups, including persons of Czechoslovakian, Dutch, English, German, Irish, Italian, and Russian descent.  For a listing of some of these indexes in the Library of congress, see:

Bibliographies and Guides  http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/

Listed below are published guides to a few of the genealogy collections of the Library of Congress available in full text by selecting the desired link.

Wood, Virginia Steele. Immigrant Arrivals: A Guide to Published Sources   includes references to:
 
Passenger Lists
The Ships
The Immigration Experience
Immigrants As New Arrivals
Personal Narratives & Correspondence
Internet Resources

Two online bibliographys to immigration by particular ethnic groups are

Douglas, Lee V. Danish Immigration to America: An Annotated Bibliography of Resources at the Library of Congress. Research Guide No. 28. (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Local History & Genealogy Reading Room, n.d.). 

Douglas, Lee V. A Select Bibliography of Works: Norwegian-American Immigration and Local History. Research Guide No. 6. (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Local History & Genealogy Reading Room, n.d.). 

Other resources available in Libraries are:
Schenk, Trudy and Ruth Froelke:  Wuertemberg Emigration Index: (7 volume set)  Individuals who applied to emigrate from Wuerttemberg, Germany between 1750 and 1900. Contains information such as place and date of birth, or age at application, month and year of application, and destination in the New World.  Also available on line (Ancestry.com)

Coldham, Peter Wilson. The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607 - 1776: (4 volumes)  Surry England, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore 1987.  Comprehensive listing compiled from English Public Records of those who took ships to America   Also on CD-Rom  350

Jones, Henry Z.  Palatine Families of New York (2 Vols.)  Documents all 847 Palatine families who came to colonial New York from Germany in 1710. Also included is the German ancestry for over 500 of the 847 families.

Jones, Henry Z.  More Palatine Families:  Some Immigrants to the Middle Colonies 1717 to 1776  data on 316 Palatine families who arrived in New York and New Jersey 1717-1776, plus their European origins. It also includes some 1710 immigrants who returned to Germany, or whose destination is unknown, plus some additional material on the Palatine immigrant families of 1710.
Another  important source for vessel arrivals are local newspapers, such as:
    For New York
        Commercial Advertiser (1797-1904)
        Evening Post (1801 onwards)
        Mercantile Advertiser (1792-1838)
    For Boston
        Boston Commercial Gazette (1795-1840)
        Colombian Centennial (1784-1840)
Most of these newspapers have been microfilmed, and copies of individual microfilm rolls may be accessible through interlibrary Loan.  Note that these newspapers give detailed information on a vessel's movements and cargo, but they seldom list the names of passengers.

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Copyright © Arnold H. Lang 2002