Hi Chuck, Remember too, if your ancestors left the Old Country around those years, the Passenger ship was not in use yet...a sailing ship took around 45 days to come across!!! (With 9 kids under 18!! Whew) My Swiss great great grandparents and children came on a sailing ship. Then my other 3 grandparents (as children) came on passenger ships in 1880-1894, and their trips took 13-15 days. Can you just imagine a 6 week trip on a small ship, in bunks, little washing facilities, and never getting to go to the main deck for fresh air?? Unless of course your families didn't come steerage - as thousands of emigrants did. My gr grandmother made all of her husband's white shirts by hand, and so she sewed during her spare time. Also before the regulations in the late 1800s the ship owners were not obligated to give the passengers fruits and veges, or have a doctor or medicine on board. The passengers ate a lot of potatoes and potato soup with bread on their crossing. And we won't even think about someone getting sea sick...:) Regards from Texas, USA Nellie, a 68-yr-old root digger In a message dated 11/23/2005 9:14:27 P.M. Central Standard Time, niggley@comcast.net writes: I have a similiar question about my Swiss ancestors... 1856 from Fideris, Prattageau Valley, GR to LaHavre to New York arriving May 21, 1856. With GreatGreatGrandparents were 9 children from ages 18 down to 10 months plus GGGrandma was 7 months pregnant... Couldn't have been a leasurely trip with a total of 572 passengers on the Ticonderoga.. Thanks Chuck Niggley (Niggli -- Swiss spelling)