Two part question re passenger lists .....

[Ted]

Hi Everyone

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to find details of passengers leaving the US to go to the UK?

I have a relative who went back and forth across the pond at least 3 times between 1906 and 1909. I know he was in the US in 1911 and that he had returned to his native Scotland by August 1914. He went back to the US in 1921 and lived there for the rest of his days.

If passenger lists are available anywhere for ships leaving Philadelphia for the UK in 1913/14 it would give me some vital info - can anyone suggest a source for such info.

The second part of my question is this - if a child was born on board a ship leaving the US bound for the UK and the parents were not US citizens what nationality would the child be? (American, Scottish or whatever nation owned the ship etc)

Thanks lots

Ted

[Tracey]

Hi Ted

www.nara.gov
What the they have: The National Archives has inbound Federal ship passenger arrival records dating back to 1820 for most east coast and gulf coast ports and a few lists dating back to 1800 for Philadelphia. Ship passenger losts in our custody are not complete. Fire, dampness, or other causes destroyed many records in the 19th century before the creating agencies transfered them to the National Archives. During the 19th century, no law required passenger arrival records to be kept for persons entering the United States by land from Canada or Mexico. No law required the keeping of outbound passengers list.

I have requested a search for passport applications and they are very efficient

or
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue for more info on whats available

Hope these help

Tracey

[Ted]

Hi Tracey

Thanks V much for your help - I'll follow that up - I have found a reference box now on the National Archives site with passenger lists into the UK for the relevant period - I'll have a go trying to access the info - but I do not think I can do it on line.

Anyone got any suggestions about the second part of my question re births on board a ship?

Thanks

Ted

[BobG]

Morning Ted…at least it is here in overcast Boston, Massachusetts area,

Tracey is correct. There were no laws requiring the keeping of "outbound" passenger lists here in the US, so no help there. The shipping company may have kept records but they probably contain minimal information such as passenger name, fare class and where berthed on the ship. I would say finding these records would be a monumental task.

You may want to try the National Archives in London. To be specific go to…
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... fletID=106

Scroll down to section 2 and 3. This may help you out.

As for the child's nationality when born at sea. He/she would be the nationality of it's parents. In a similar situation in my family, the child born at sea was a citizen of the parent's country. Before 1920 in the US, if a father applied for and was granted citizenship in the US, his wife and foreign born children under eighteen automatically became US citizens under the father's name. This all changed when women attained the right to vote in 1920. Everyone had to apply for citizenship under there own name except children under eighteen who still became citizens on there father's coattails, so to speak. Now, I suppose if the child was born within a countries twelve mile sea coast limit there may be cause for a legal determination but that's beyond my knowledge.
Take care out there.
BobG

[Ted]

Hi BobG

Thanks for your reply - that is really helpful - without knowing it you have also answered a queerie of mine about citizenship in the US - two birds with one stone - brilliant.

Mid- afternoon here on a lovely bright day with clear blue skies here in the South of Scotland - bit cold - but when is it not in Scotland !

Thanks again for you help

Ted