Connecticut Emigration and Immigration

United States   Connecticut    Emigration and Immigration

People
Colonial settlers of Connecticut generally came from Great Britain and neighboring New England states. Descendants of these early settlers later scattered throughout northern New England, upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas. Many Irish and German immigrants began coming in the late 1840s. French-Canadian immigration began after the Civil War and continued through the rest of the nineteenth century. Late in the century most immigrants came from the southern and eastern countries of Europe, including Italy, Hungary, Poland, and Russia.

Indexes

 * United States, Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874 - included in FamilySearch’s Historical Records Collection. This indexes arrivals to 70 ports but not New York City. Learn more.
 * United States, Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956 – included in FamilySearch’s Historical Records Collection. Learn more. Records of Canadian border entries from 1895 to 1954 are on.
 * P. William Filby, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 15 Volumes. (Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 1981- ). ). Indexes of names of colonial immigrants listed in published sources. The first three volumes are a combined alphabetical index published in 1981. Supplemental volumes and cumulative indexes have been published.
 * Mystic Seaport has an index which can be searched by vessel or people for the period 1789-1939.

The Records
The major port of entry to New England is Boston. The Family History Library and the National Archives have passenger lists for Boston for 1820 to March 1874 and 1883 to 1935. The following indexes are available:


 * 1820-1874. See United States, Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874 mentioned above.
 * 1848-1891, 1902-1906, 1906-1920, and book indexes 1899-1940 These years are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under MASSACHUSETTS, SUFFOLK, BOSTON - EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION.

The Massachusetts State Archives also has Boston passenger lists for 1848 to 1874 and 1883 to 1891. This includes records for the nine years missing from the National Archives records. The 1848 to 1891 index (above) is an index to the state lists but can also be used for the National Archives records.

Incomplete 19th century passenger lists are available for:


 * Bridgeport, 1870
 * Fairfield, 1820 to 1821
 * Hartford, 1837
 * New Haven, 1820 to 1873
 * New London, 1820 to 1847
 * Saybrook, 1820

These are indexed in United States, Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874 mentioned above.

Also consult passenger lists of other New England ports and for ports in Canada.

Information on ethnic groups, such as African-Americans, French-Canadians, Jews, and Swedes, can be found in Connecticut Ethnic Groups.

Also see United States Emigration and Immigration.