Finding records on A Hugo(t) from Lorraine France?

Question

I am trying to find records on Amand Hugo(t) who was the son of Francois Hugo(t) and Catherine Bergeonoi(r)s. According to his biography he was a cousin of the poet Victor Hugo and came to the US in 1849 with his mother, brothers and sisters. He was born in 1837 in the French province of Lorraine.

I have all sorts of records on him in the US and doubt I have left a stone unturned here. But I need to find the town that he came from in France so that i can find the records on the rest of his family. I can't figure out GeneaNet--wierdest site i've ever tried to search--so if anyone can access any databases in France and help me find the family I would really appreciate any help.

I have his passenger records. He came through New York long before Ellis Island opened. He and his family arrived on 16 oct 1849. But the passenger list only tells us that they came from France. I pulled visa records from France but there aren't any for this family. The info I need isn't in the U.S. and isn't in the common websites cuz I've been thru them all every month for over 2 years. I need to find the records in France but haven't figured out how to find them and hope someone can tell me where to look. All I can find is GeneaNet and it's really hard to use.

btw--francoise is a woman's name and i need francois which is a man's name.

Answer 1

I went through GeneaNet and can't find anything on this man or his parents. I did find his passenger record but can't find him in any of the Lothringen records online. Am wondering if you've tried any of the departemental archives? I know they're not online but they do answer correspondence in English if you ask nicely.

The only other place I can suggest you look through is GenWiki. I know it's really for German immigration, but the number of records from Lorraine that might be in German archives might give you a break in finding your family.

Answer 2

Hey Hunting Man,

The first web site describes a lot of ways to get records and specifically in Lorraine. The Family Search site has a number of entries for France on the Hugo surname.

154. Francoise HUGO - Ancestral File
Gender: F Birth/Christening: 3 Nov 1646 , Vaudemont, Mthe-Et-Melle, France
155. Francoise HUGO - Ancestral File
Gender: F Birth/Christening: 29 Sep 1741 , Mirecourt, Vosges, France

If you knew how he came to the US, his passage, the Ship Manifest would give information about where from, and whom traveling with.

I see a lot of Hugo entries at Ellis Island, but no Amand in 1849. Perhaps one of the other ships passage sites will have this information.