Re: Passage Records - Ellis Island
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In reply to:
Passage Records - Ellis Island
2/23/02
I've been told that the Lithuanian form for the name "Vincent" is Vincas or Vincentas.But I know from long experience with the Ellis Island site that almost any spelling is possible.If you ever looked at original manifests, you'll see just how difficult it is to read the different handwritings used.Factor in that the clerk who recorded the names may have used his own phonetic spelling (see the web site http://www.cimorelli.com/pie/faq/emigfaqi.htmhttp://www.cimorelli.com/pie/faq/emigfaqi.htm about this).Then factor in the volunteer from the Mormons who looked at that handwriting and tried faithfully to copy it for the Ellis Island site.Then you'll see just how limited that site can be.You will have to use great imagination to find your kinfolk.I found the most reliable if complicated way to be this:First, get your grandfather's immigration papers, either his alien registration form (from 1940) or his naturalization forms (petition for citizenship).This will require a death certificate (usually available for a small fee) and a Freedom of Information Act request to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for those papers (this may take several months).The forms are available on the INS web page.These forms will list the date of arrival and the name of the ship your grandfather arrived on.(Bear in mind that he gave this info to the INS and his recollection may have been in error.)Then go to the web site of Stephen Morse (http://home.pacbell.net/spmorse/ellis/ellis.html) and use his "Missing Manifest" page to find the manifest for that date and that ship.Then you will be able to page through every entry on the manifest yourself.Be prepared for the same deciphering task that faced the volunteer at the Ellis Island site.But you will find other clues to help you, e.g., often the destination is given, a relative's name, that will help you find your grandfather's information.Before doing this procedure, I'd try Morse's advanced search using Netscape 4.5 or higher, asking for say 200 names at a time, but omitting all except maybe the first initial of his name "V" and the first two or three letters of his last name; I'd try "URB" "ORB" "ARB" "OSB" "USB" "ASB" and any other possible combination.The more specific the info you use in searching the more sharply the search will narrow; you want a broad search because accuracy is very unlikely in this business.My grandfather's name was Kutskailis.Using the procedure I described I found only one name that came close: it was copied by the EI volunteer as "Rutskailis" becuase the K was written with a bit of a loop on the top, making the K look like an R.
It is also possible that Vincent arrived at some other port or at Ellis Island before 1894 or after 1924, in which case his name will obviously not be on the EI site.But obtaining his AR form or Petition for Naturalization will likely show what port he arrived in and what port he departed from.You can verify any European arrival date, ship name, and ports of departure/arrival on the web site http://www.cimorelli.com/safe/shipmenu.htmhttp://www.cimorelli.com/safe/shipmenu.htm.
Hope this helps.