January 1, 1892 - Ellis Island, in New York Harbor, opens as the main east coast immigration center, and would remain the initial debarkation point for European immigrants into the United States until its closure in 1954. More than 12 million immigrants would be processed on the island during those years. Ellis Island replaced Castle Garden, in Manhattan, as the New York immigration center.
The processing station for Federal immigrants on Ellis Island, with its buildings that housed the dreams and goals of those that had endured such hardship to get to the United States, waited. They say that today over one hundred million citizens of the United States can trace their ancestors back to the walls of Ellis Island between the years of its operation from 1892 to 1954.
The Journey to America- Prior to reaching the immigration center, each immigrant had to withstand a one week to one month journey from the port of embarkation on a steamship that packed people into steerage like sardines to a can.
Once at Ellis Island, the immigrant families would pass through the doors into the first floor entry, drop their baggage, and head for the registry room on the second floor (picture above) after a climb up one flight of stairs. Stairs both up and down at Ellis Island were important tests for each man, woman, or child. As they climbed, each immigrant was given a six second medical examination by examiners who stood at its apex, looking for those that may have been sick or unable to provide for themselves in America. Ninety-eight percent of the immigrants would eventually pass this test. At the other end of the registry hall, steps down would segment those who would head to New York or other locations in the states, however, for those that had not passed the various requirement tests, they would head down the center aisle toward deportation back to the country of origin.
Research:
- You had to be 16 to travel alone so even the 15 year old were 16 on paper.
- When the ships would arrive in NYC, the NY Times would print a list so that family waiting for passengers knew if their passenger arrived.
- Now you are able to locate the original ship manifest and see your ancestor's name and whom he was traveling with. people needed a sponsor to come into the States and here's where they would list the person they are coming to live with -- and how much $$ they were bringing into the country.once you have the town name and country, you can then start looking there for church records.
- I found 216 John Peters arriving to Ellis island, of which I have been able to narrow it down to 5 John H Peters, and 118 John Peters.
- My grandfather said his father was only 3 when he arrived, but I have other records that state 7. So I have narrowed it down from 1894-1898.
- Found 2 John Peters with no age listed, and 3 John Peters with ages between 3-7. 0 John H Peters matching the ages.
- And none of these people arrived between1894-1898
