Olive Tree Genealogy <otg@csolve.net> wrote: <The problem with the Boston arrivals is there is an 8 1/2 year gap on M277 (which is titled Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston MA 1820-1891) The gap is from a April 1874 to 31 Dec 1882. -That is because there are no Federal records of any kind prior to 1883 (due to fire) and State Department copies were used in their place.> 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. They were married on 25 April 1881 in Haslingden, Lancashire, England and had their first born, John, on 25 May 1882 in Chicago, IL. I am assuming they started from Liverpool. I have checked high and low, but cannot find them together on any ship. I know they could have come through Canada, but the question is where? I have checked PEI and Quebec to no avail. I can find Michael and Mary separately, but not together. However, when I do find them, the ages don't match (I know that they can lie, but all the ones I find are younger not older. According to the records I have, Michael would have been around 26 and Mary around 23. They were 25 and 22 respectively when they married. As you are aware, the Ellis Island site would do me no good. The Castle Garden site gives me them younger and not necessarily together. The years for their arrival are also off in Castle Garden. You say that the Boston arrival would be a bust for this time period. The Philadelphia site is difficult to navigate and I doubt they came through New Orleans to go to Chicago. Okay, where do I go from here? Bill Karr in Peoria, IL., USA