I have a question! I was using the Ellis Island Site to see if I could find some information about my family's arrival to the US. I have found quite a few people! But I found something really interesting that I am not sure what it is telling me. My Grandfather was born in Georgetown, Ky in 1903. His father died in 1911. My Great Grandmother took my grandfather and his 2 siblings back to Italy shortly there after. Now I thought I had found the manifests of their return to Italy, but then when I started to really look at them, the dates were all wrong. It was 1909 that the manifests were showing. However, there is no mistake that these are my Grandfather and his family. But I am wondering, do manifest only discuss the arrival of immegrants or do they also tell us about leaving the US as well. If they are just arrivals, I have to assume that my grandfather's family went back to Italy for a visit and this is their return. Thanks!! -- Karen http://www.crochetlegacy.com Researching: Ratto, Paoletti, Parducci, Perata

The manifests are records of arrivals not returns. I was also surprised to find that my grandfather arrived in America in 1906, 1910 and 1916. I was aware of the 1906 and 1910 but not the 1916. I knew that my grandmother returned to Italy after my father and my aunt were born in America. I assumed that my grandfather cared for the children, in America, while she was in Italy caring for her parents. She returned a few years later with my uncle who was born in Italy and was 2 years old. I later found that she had returned with my father, my aunt and my 2 year old uncle in 1916. A further search of the records found that my grandfather returned to America a month or two prior to my grandmothers return in 1916. The latter records were found on-line with the Ellis Island records site.