In a message dated 3/1/2006 7:21:12 AM Eastern Standard Time, evc1369@comcast.net writes: > I > have never found him on EI records even though I know the name of the ship > Elizabeth and Anne, you both are probably hampered in finding them on E.I. due to the spellings. Did you try using the first few letters of their surnames with a wild card asterisk (*)? Your remarks triggered a memory. I came across a 2004 obituary I had saved for someone whom I didn't know. I saved it for it's content. It was about a woman from Germany who died in Winter Haven, Florida at the age of 99. Her obituary read the following; I'm doing some paraphrasing: She came from Frankfurt, Germany to NYC in 1923, escaping Germany's post-World War 1 economy. After the war, the inflation was so high in Germany they had nothing, said her son. She worked for the captain of her ship traveling to the U.S. and was immediately switched to first class, she never waited in line with the other passengers on Ellis Island. People think all immigrants went to Ellis Island. The truth is, if you had money, you didn't go, her son said. She was spared that indignity, he further said. She was a member of the German-American Friendship Club and also a member of the Hungarian Club. The son also gave pertinent, interesting bio information regarding his mother's accomplishments. The son's remark "People think all immigrants went to Ellis Island." Did the son mean to say "through Ellis Island"? Did all ships disembarking there discharge passengers only to have some go through the rigors of questioning, and medical exams while others with money by-passed this, as he phrased it -" were spared the indignity", or did they disembark at another location in the port? Marika

Dear Marika You have no idea of the length and breadth of my search for my grandfather on the EI records. I know the name of the ship or at least the one he said he came on (naturalization petition) but most of that record is not available. I have always thought he worked his passage. In this particular case further searching will not tell me anything I do not already know. With the help of a cousin living in Hungary we have been able to trace his lineage back to the 1700's and we are working on linking all of the Tegyi family together. I have learned that not all records have been micro filmed and there are many in existence today than believed to be there. I have truly been blessed with this cousin finding me through internet queries. Now if I could only find a Grund, Lenart or Schoenig living relative in Europe. Elizabeth V. Cardinal evc1369@comcast.net