Since Ellis Island opened in 1892, what was the primary port of entry for north Europeans prior to that??

Question

A huge amount of our family arrived here in the late 1700's and I haven't been able to determine what there port of entry was.

Most all are North Eropeans Irish, Dutch, German, & English.

Answer 1

To build on what others said, Ellis Island was the nation entry point for people landing at the port of New York. People who landed in Boston were processed there.

Also, there might be different ports for different nationalities. You'll find that a lot of Irish and English actually arrived in Boston after the Revolutionary war. I''m guessing that the Dutch would have arrived in New York while the Germans could have also entered through Philadelphia as well.

Answer 2

Both the first two answers are valid. My grandfather came through "Ellis" early in the 20th century.

Certainly as far back as your dates indicate, I'd suggest "Anywhere" they could port.

You might better try tracing backwards from the most recent, and may NOT find recorded history dating from the 18th century with regard to ship manifests, etc. In fact it was only in the most organized, affluent societies of the day, that any records were kept, especially as regarded census, births, deaths, nomadic wanderings to secure a better life, etc.

Without knowing your family history at all, millions of people have come to the USA, barely able to afford passage, and there is so much research material avaliable regarding this, I suspect you might be at the task for a lifetime.

Also without question in the time frame you suggest, Boston and New York City were well established ports, and lesser entry points traced down the East coast as the need to "expand" happened. In that era as well there was likely huge armadas of ships in the "lanes" also coming from Africa, bringing slaves to the new world, and those may have entered through Southern Ports to disperse their "cargo"

It may not have been until some intrepid explorers navigated the Great Lakes, that other ports opened, IE: What is now Chicago.

A good lesson in history however, even if very personal.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

Castle Garden was the national immigration center from 1855-1892. This is the old military fort located in Battery Park, lower Manhattan. Prior to that, they landed wherever they landed.