Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 5:46 pm
Post subject: Passenger List markings- what they mean!
Hello:
I wanted to be a blessing to someone. I was looking around yesterday on the internet, as I do often, trying to find information that could be helpful to me with my genealogical research in Poland. Well, I came across this site that explains that the different markings, numbers, check marks and so on mean something that could help find more information about our ancestors journey to America and other places.
I shout, "No way!" Yes... its true! I quickly got my files and pull out my grandparents emigration lists. As I was scanning them over with a fine tooth comb(looking deeply on the page), I noticed a blurry word, Admitted, in the left column of Helena's name! I looked through the part that says left hand margin and it lead me to further info. I could not believe it after all these years!
What I found out was that after about 1906(dont quote me on the exact year) anyone who was detained or held for special inquiry, this list was added to the back of the passenger lists.
So, I went on Ellisislandrecords.org but it wasn't loading the image so then I went to ancestry.com and pulled up my Helena Makuch' passenger info. I looked to the few last pages. As I was scanning, I found her name on the last page!!!!!! It said Makuch, Mary and sister! Oh no, It couldn't be, not Helena. You see, she came to America at 9 years old with her sister, Mary, who was 18. I had watched a piece on the history channel about the Ellis Island immigrants a while ago and how the people had a very scary, hard journey to America if they were held before being allowed entrance in to USA.
I took a gulp and was fearful for little Helena! She must have been scared.I could not sleep all night, worried about my grandmother and her journey.
This allows me to look deeper into her journey and deeper into the person she became. She later went back to Poland in 1926 and returned to New York again! I still have to look at that record.
OF IMPORTANCE...
On these Detained lists, there is an initial with a number. It is the initials of the person who held her there at Ellis Island and the page number where the secretary took notes of the conversation etc. This is helpful to us all because it can let us know why they were held and any info . We can get these secretary notes, hopefully !
So everyone go back and look at the last few pages and see if it is possible that your ancestor was held at Ellis Island. If not, still look and see what marks, if any, are on the passengers list. It can give you clues that you never knew were there.
 Here is the site:
http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/Manifests/
 Also, re look at the towns names again. Ancestry had in text form that the name of her town was Levia. I asked Zenon a while ago when he helped me find her town and he stated Levia is not a Polish name. Well, after looking at the Polish records(LDS FILMS) and learning a little more about the old handwriting, the name is Leka, just like Zenon told me it was! The V and I was mistaken, it was a K!!!!! I could have had the village a long time ago!
Knowledge is power! I love learning!
I hope this helps everyone
Brandy
Last edited by violin75 on Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
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