BADEN-WURTTEMBERG-L Archives

From: "Carla Heller, M. A." <>
Subject: [B-W] Emigration: With & WITHOUT Permission :-)
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 09:01:30 -0800

Dear Baden-Wuerttemberg List Friends,

It is important to keep in mind that emigration (the leaving of one's
country to settle in another) was not always motivated by positive
circumstances. *While it was the usual procedure* to seek official
permission from the local authorities before leaving, many, many emigrants
did NOT. For many of them, emigration was the only means to avoid obligatory
military service, economic hardship, serious diseases, the ravages of war,
revolution, and other compelling situations. Under these kinds of
cirumstances, people may have decided not to *publicize* their intention to
leave by applying for formal permission beforehand, and left without it. A
considerable number of departing emigrants NEVER obtained this permission.

The reasons for European emigration were many, and in effect over a long
period in the 19th century. As has been mentioned, one factor that led to
German emigration was the the unstable political situation in the German
states in 1848, following the failed revolutions. Many individuals indeed
fled Europe during this time, but their departure in considerable numbers
was not limited to that immediate period, nor to that cause. Don't forget
that there were various notable wars in the German states over time, and
many people emigrated to avoid military service, or the hardships imposed by
war.

Increases in taxation created economic hardship for many people, and
affordable land became scarce with the ever-growing population. Increasing
industrialization negatively affected a number of trades, and drove many to
the overcrowded cities in search of employment. As available employment
progressively declined, many people chose to emigrate to avoid economic
problems. Others were attracted to emigrate to the US because they already
had someone here who was benefitting from better employment opportunities or
plentiful land to encourage them. Added to unstable European political
climates or the threat or reality of war, these and other factors no doubt
made the prospect of life in the USA quite promising at the time.

Regardless of one's specific reasons for leaving, if an emigrant did NOT
formally apply for *permission* to leave, no official record would have been
created concerning their emigration, and therefore their names and other
information would NOT likely be found in the emigration indexes. This does
not necessarily mean you won't find information about their travel in a
ships' passenger departure or arrival lists, which is sometimes a good
alternative if you can't locate emigration permits for them.
Remember--EMIGRATION records and PASSENGER LISTS are NOT
the same things! They were created for different reasons, in separate
places, and at different times in the course of a person's emigration and
travel.

For detailed practical help on researching *ships' passenger lists* (and
also US Naturalization documents), see Arnie Lang's Immigration, Ships'
Passenger Lists & Naturalization Research Guide [excellent step-by-step
advice]:

http://home.att.net/~arnielang/shipgide.html

For more general info on what to expect in *emigration records,* you
might like to visit my Web page on the subject, Research
Access/Background for the Baden Emigration Index:

http://www.geocities.com/wingedpig.geo/

Hope this helps! :-)

Warmest wishes,

Carla HELLER, Los Angeles, California USA
List Co-Administrator, ROOTSWEB'S Baden-Wuerttemberg Mailing List
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• [B-W] Emigration: With & WITHOUT Permission :-) by "Carla Heller, M. A." <>