Seeking info. on the steam packet, the New York, which was shipwrecked in the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 7, 1846 during a hurricane. The ship operated as a steam packet primarily along the New Orleans, LA to Galveston, TX route from 1839 until its demise in 1846. The New York was chartered to transport troops to the U. S. Army depot at Brazos St. Iago in south Texas on April 29, 1846 and completed several other military charters until her life ended in a hurricane. Seventeen of her passengers and crew, including 5 children, drowned. I'm trying to locate any info. pertaining to the shipwreck and/or a list of passengers, both victims and survivors. My immigrant ancestor, John Kent, immigrated in 1846 either from Prussia or Germany. He was born about 1827. The story I've always been told is that his ship sank and he was the sole survivor of his family. He was credited as being a hero because he saved the lives of many fellow passengers. His death record indicates that he was a veteran of the U. S. - Mexican War, 1846-1848 so this fits with the fact that the New York was a military charter. I suspect that he arrived via New Orleans, LA and joined the military effort in Mexico. His real name was likely Johan(nes) Knecht/Kneckt. His name was Anglicized to John Kent. He later settled in IL, then moved to WI where he died in 1897. I would like to know if there were any newsaper accounts of the shipwreck (in New Orleans? in Galveston, TX?) which might include a passenger list. Any info. would be fantastic! There is a website http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/archaeological/19th_century.html which contains a short article about the shipwreck and attempts to salvage it. Many thanks! Joni Leffler