Emily, I hope you will back up a bit and go with what you know, beginning with your own birth certificate, any and all siblings, and the same for each generation back to the immigrants - scouring all US records, in any form, not just on line. Ancestry and Familysearch, huge as they are, are often helpful, but their transcriptions are often incorrect and can be very misleading. Study the original documents wherever possible, look for groups. You need proof, primary source proof, which is documentation, at least two times for each event, which includes death certificates, very often inaccurate. If you are not a member of genealogical society which includes Germanic sources, it will help you to join one, even if just for a year, and send queries, ask questions, especially in the locations where these families settled. It also helps enormously to learn a couple dozen German/Polish words if you haven't already, to read about the history, geography, learn the religions, occupations, culture. Learn the abbreviations and symbols and diacritical markings. Look for German language newspapers in the US up to W W I, fraternal organizations, sexton's records from cemeteries, tombstones, dialects. And with your surnames, multiple spellings, so the sound is more important. There are numerous passenger lists, numerous ports, direct and indirect passages, departure lists and arrival lists, but not often giving the village in Europe which is key to finding your direct family, and that village is what you need to find in US records. It takes time and patience and perseverance - but you have that built-in, with your heritage! Wishing you well! Maureen In a message dated 4/13/2009 9:44:46 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Hi--My Worsechs and Kiecker came over prior to Ellis Island (early 1880s). And I have been using Ancestry--so far with no results for ship records/immigration. Perhaps I need to try to follow up/contact any Worsechs in U.S. to see if they have info that I don't? Or even try to reach some in Germany or Poland? Emily > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:05:44 EDT > From: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] looking for Worsechs and Kiecker > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > If they came into Ellis Island that site is free _www.ellisisland.org_ > (http://www.ellisisland.org) and just run the last name a lot are spelled > wrong, so you might have to try different ways. Their is another site called > Castle Gardens and that has ship records as well. If you can find more on > Ancestry that would be good too. Might want to join for awhile or go to your > local library and use their computer. Kathy in NJ Happy Spring > > > In a message dated 4/11/2009 8:05:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > [email protected] writes: > > Hi--Thank you for your suggestions. I have found my Worsechs' census > records in the U.S. and also some naturalization records (they do not > specify where in Prussia). I have also checked familysearch.org, but a > while back. I will look there again. I have not been able to find ship > records thus far, and I know those might list a specific location. > Thank you for the hints re spelling. > > Kiecker--I am sorry, I don't know if your Otto Kiecker is related. I > have no information about Louise Kiecker/Kitchner's family members or > ancestors. As far as I know, she came over with her husband, and I am > not aware she is related to any of the Kieckers in MN (but there are > quite a lot of them!). > > Emily Phillips > > > > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************The Average US Credit Score is 692. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621489x1201450100/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26h mpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DAprilAvgfooterNO62)