I too would like to know why my ancestors from Pfalz and Rhennish Hessen chose to embark at LeHavre. The FEIGELs from Bellheim traveled there by way of Paris. (Some of them went to N.York - Others to N.Oleans and up river to St.Louis and Indiana. This was in the 1850 decade) I assume the ELZERs & ROTHs may have used the same route. I am not sure how the GRIESS family from Kircheimbolanden or the nearby DECKER cousins came - Havre is the only port with which I can connect. It looks so much simpler just to go up the Rhine - Why didnt they? Barb Rice