Dear Listers I have only recently come across this source of records for Irish immigrants in New York. I'm sure it's well known to many researchers, but it's new to me, and maybe to other listers.. The Bank was set up in 1850 to help the Irish arriving in New York at that time. Each customer was required to give personal information as proof of identity. The records contain name, address, year of birth, place (usually just county, but occasionally more) year of entry and ship's name. For single people, the names of parents, including mother's maiden name. When they marry, the wife or husband's name.Widows gave their late husband's name and their maiden name.Sometimes children are named. I found this site on ancestry.com, but I believe it originated at webexchange.org These records cover only a short period, about 1850-1878, but such a critical period for Irish records. Even if you don't have any New York relatives, do try and take a look, it's such a wonderfully poignant resource. I can only admire the work that has gone into collating these records, but particularly Monica Bennett, who I believe had the idea in the first place! Who would have thought of bank records for genealogy? I wonder what happened in other cities. Are there similar records waiting to be discovered elsewhere? Cathy