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Archiver > TheShipsList > 1999-02 > 0919275421


From: Marj Kohli <>
Subject: Re: [TSL] Port of Arrival
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 13:17:01 -0500


Mary,

At 11:27 AM 99/02/17 -0500, Mary Weidman wrote:
>Hello all -
>
>If I remember correctly, people with physical deformities (perhaps a hand
>that was deformed) who arrived in NYC were either detained or sent back
>home. Is this correct and would that be the case in 1865?
>
>My real question is, would the same procedure have been true for a Canadian
>port, i.e. Quebec? Or, would someone with a deformity have had a better
>chance of being allowed to stay if they came in through Quebec?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Mary
>

In 1838 the rule was:

"New York Law for Alien Passengers
An Act relative to Alien Passengers arriving in this State, passed 10th
February 1838.
New York Law for Alien Passengers
An Act relative to Alien Passengers arriving in this State, passed 10th
February 1838.

Section 3. Provides that no passenger shall be landed unless permitted from
the city or township authorities, under fifty dollars penalty for each
passenger so landing without permission.

Section 4. Enacts that the town so giving permission shall support any
passenger who is or shall become sick, infirm, or otherwise incapable of
providing for his or her maintenance, so long as the inability continues."

This is why many towns sent the people back - because they were financially
responsible. From what I have read, it appears that if a disabled person
was with a family, and the family agreed to take on the support of the
person, it was not a great problem.

The same was true in Canada. They did, however, send back adults who
arrived and were considered incapable of looking after themselves.

Regards..

Marj Kohli
Site License Coordinator
Information Systems and Technology
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON Canada N2L 3G1
(519)888-4567, x2014 Fax: (519)884-4398 http://www.ist.uwaterloo.ca/~mar

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