On 2 Jul 2006 at 20:46, wm.karr@insightbb.com wrote: > > I have, over the last year, meticulously combed the ships > arriving to the US during the latter part of 1881 and > beginning of 1882 for Michael and Mary McDermott. >Okay, where do I go from here? As you said, they may have arrived via Canada. Here's what you can do: First, for USA arrivals, you can search microfilms. Most states are indexed, so this will make your job slightly easier. You can order films in to a nearby Family History Centre, or have NARA do the job (once you have precise details) Once you know your state, you can get a list of film numbers (NARA & FHC) at http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/nara_indexbyport.shtml Scroll down to the state you want and click on the link, then find the film # you need The staff of the National Archives will undertake a search of the original records for a fee . To obtain a search request form, write to: General Reference Branch (NNRG), National Archives and Records Administration, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408 and request NATF Form 81, Order for Copies of Ship Passenger Arrival Records. To find your nearest FHC you can go to http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp For ships to Canada The National Archives of Canada (NAC) holds immigration records from 1865 to 1935. Unfortunately the records before 1925 are not indexed. To find a passenger you will need to know an exact date of arrival. There is no easy way to search Canadian arrival records for the unindexed period other than reading microfilm. Ships are on the reel, in order of arrival. You can find the details at this URL http://www.archives.ca/02/020202_e.html If you want to order filmed passenger lists (remember they aren't indexed!), a list of NAC microfilm numbers for passenger lists to Canada 1865-1922 can be found at http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/filmnos_can1865.shtml If you are patient, you will soon (?) be able to search these unindexed years! Library and Archives Canada plans to digitize passenger lists for 1865 to 1935 as part of their new Moving Here, Staying Here online exhibition at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/immigrants/index-e.html ********************** There are search engines to search online free databases on multiple websites for ships to Canada at http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/search_shipscanada.shtml The Ontario Archives has an index to the assisted immigration registers created by the Toronto Emigrant Office between 1865 and 1883. Over 29,000 entries have been transcribed from the registers. http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/db/hawke.htm ********************** Miscellaneous Websites with Immigration Information on Ships to Canada after 1865 The Ships List http://www.theshipslist.com/ Ships Passenger Lists Online http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/ships/ Finding Ships Passenger Lists to Canada http://shipslists-online.rootschat.net/canada/ Ships Passenger Lists to Canada 1865-1930 http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/tocan1865-now.shtml -- Lorine McGinnis Schulze * Olive Tree Genealogy (Ships Passenger Lists) http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ * Naturalization Records http://naturalizationrecords.com/ * Images of Ships Lists http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/ships/ otg@csolve.net or olivetreegenealogy@gmail.com