NY-IRISH-L Archives

Archiver > NY-IRISH > 2008-12 > 1229815226


From: "Gerry Eberwein" <>
Subject: Re: [NY-IRISH] Hudson River to Lake Erie
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:20:26 -0700
References: <494D4C7A.4030104@wildblue.net>
In-Reply-To: <494D4C7A.4030104@wildblue.net>


After the canal was completed it was the principal route from New York City
(via the Hudson River to the canal link up near Albany) to Buffalo NY. From
there it was by ship to anywhere in the Great Lakes region. Which includes,
Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois; all of which have
shoreline on one of the several water bodies. I'm not sure if there were any
detailed records of the inland passengers (immigrants or otherwise) on the
canal. The ships up the Hudson or on the Great Lakes may have been much
better. Especially, if the ship touched a Canadian port - even though the
passengers did not disembark - the shipping line may have had a list of
passengers.

Gerry

Tracing my ancestry in New York State, England, Ireland, Italy and elsewhere
through Orson Burgess and Elizabeth O'Bolger, their lineage and posterity of
the Finger Lakes Region in New York.
BURGESS, FELTON, CHAFFEE, CLARK, MACK, METCALF, SLAYTON, TENNEY, WATKINS,
WHITNEY; HUGHES, MCMAHON, MORRIS, O'BOLGER, TROY;
And, Peter R. Nudo of the Mohawk Valley; his Italian ancestry and posterity
NUDO, ANTIONETTA, STANGA and more.
Gerald Eberwein
PO Box 605
Naco AZ 85620-0605
(520) 432-1231


-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
On Behalf Of Sandra J Hawley
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 12:50
To:
Subject: [NY-IRISH] Hudson River to Lake Erie

Hello,

I have been reading a book called "Going to America" by Terry Coleman,
published by Genealogical Publishing Company in 1972. It is not solely
about the Irish and includes English paupers and others as well. But
it says that before the railways came to the area in 1852, almost all
emigrants traveling inland, would take a steamboat up the Hudson River
out of NY to Albany and then the Erie Canal to Buffalo, where, I
presume, they would get other transportation to reach their final
destination. In my ancestors case, it was Wisconsin.

My question is, are there any records of Irish emigrants taking this
route? If, so, where? Or is there any other source of information
about this route inland?

My Irish stayed in NY for some years - family story is that it was to
earn enough money to travel further west. I have not found exactly
where in NY they stayed to earn this money - whether in NYC or
elsewere. Within 5 years of when they emigrated, they were settled in
Central Wisconsin. The family emigrated over a period of several years,
most in 1851, there may have been a few as early as 1848. If, however,
no one emigrated until 1851, it is too late for the 1850 census and they
were in Wisconsin by 1855.

The first census records I have found for this family are in 1860. I
have copies of naturalization papers, declaration of intent and
baptismal records for 11 children born in Ireland between 1816 and
1834. I can find nothing of them in NY even though two of the daughters
had children born there in 1851 - I have been unable to obtain their
death records that may give an indication of their birthplace. But this
is an area where I haven't given up.
My real question relates to records of the Hudson River - Erie Canal
emigration route inland.

Thank you.

Sandra r
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