Ship and passenger lists FROM America TO Norway?
joallanbIn a difficult case trying to trace an ancestor from Norway where all searches in U.S. and Canada have given no result, I want to try to find something from passenger lists "the wrong way". I know the person made a journey from America and back to Norway ca. 1899, and want to try the possibility to see if maybe an adress or something was listed when leaving US/Canada. But this is the "wrong" way it seems; most focus are(naturally enough) on passenger lists TO America as most people went that way.... My questions are: Was there some kind of registration on passengers travelling out of America? Central register over passport applications? Did the ships register and make lists of passengers both ways? Is there any searchable places showing ships leaving America? Passenger manifests to Norway? Many questions, but none of my other "traditional" searches has given me any result. As beeing all new to this forum; excuse me for asking stupidly if this has been discussed and informed about earlier.
BorgeThis has been discussed here before, and as to now the only official source we have found is The British Board of Trade, BT26 - Passenger Lists, Inwards, 1878-1888 and 1890-1960. They could be a good source if he traveled via Britain, as many did, but will not be much good if he came directly on a Thingvalla steamer or came via Germany. The Passenger Lists, Inwards are deposited at the Public Record Office in Kew, England, they remain unfilmed and unindexed, but available to the public for searching.
joallanbThanks Børge; much as expected; seems like there is no easy way to solve this. (Better start saving for a trip to Britain....)
Jo Anne SadlerRegarding passport applications: [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1295&SearchTerms=,passports"]click here[/url]
joallanbThank you for replying Jo Anne. Have been to NARA, but did not read rules and regulations for passports closely enough until now. As no other sign of the person, I find there is a small possibility for him applying for a passport those days (allthough he most likely was naturalized after 30 years in America).
BriningDid this person just go back for a visit or to stay? If they just visited they could be listed in the emigrant registars leaving Norway and maybe in Ellis Island. If so there should be a destination listed. Carla
joallanbHi Carla. Well, he went back to Norway just for a visit after spending 30 years in america (ca. 1872-1900), to see his old parents and family. But, (age 55) he met this young woman at home, and ended up having 8 children, and his wife (naturally enough!) never let him travel back to America, even if he claimed to have both money and property there. We are talking about my great grandfather. He never told details from his life in america, and left nothing behind here. (The house and farm where they lived here in Norway were burned down during WW2.) Only me being cuorius; try to find some traces from that period of time. (I assume that if he was able to setlle, marry and have kids aged 55, why not while in america as well?) He never gave even his close family details from his past. I think I have tried most of whats searchable on the internet already, maybe I later (on another topic or on one of the other forums in here) will try by his name. I have traced his uncles family in Minnesota(where I know he has been) (and even spoken to today living persons on phone), but they do not have any information eighter. Only have small pieces of information in our family today, and difficult to know what may be facts and what is "made up" during time. Strange case.....
BriningThere is one database that might help but unfortunatly it is down until they can make it secure. It Is the BLM which has records of people who claimed homestead land (free land). If they ever get it back up you might find him there. Here is the link [url="http://www.blm.gov/offline/"]click here[/url] I don't know how long it will take but at least now they are showing some of the sites up. The link will probably say something about land patent's You might also think about posting his name. There are a lot of people on this site that are pretty good at locating information or someone searching might come across it. Good Luck Carla
joallanbThanks Carla. I'll probably follow your advice on posting his name and the information I have. (I have all cencus and vital records info from his time here in Norway; I just miss the adventures from 30 years in america) People on this board seems to be very helpfull and skilled, so I'll give it a try! Probably post a new topic during christmas. Have been searching more or less active since 1999, and have visited BLM several times while the site was online. Have found some names that possibly could be him, but all following up have lead to dead ends. (he has a common and changeable name.....) These days I am doing research in British Columbia as he probably spent the last 10-15 years there fishing on Fraser River, I am trying to locate tax-lists, payrolls from canneries, fishing licences, boatowners, union lists etc. from that area. But anyway; I'll bring what I have to this board. Until then: Merry Christmas to all users!