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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: kevs005 on Sunday 01 July 12 17:55 BST (UK)

Title: Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877
Post by: kevs005 on Sunday 01 July 12 17:55 BST (UK)

I am looking for any information regarding Thomas Rudduck (my Gt Gt Grandfather) and his wife Lucy who emigrated to Michigan from Mells, Somerset in about 1872 but had returned to England by 1877. Whilst in Wayne, Michigan their sons George William (1873) and Harry Cecil (1874) were born.  If anyone has any information regarding their stay in the USA, the birth of their sons or can find any evidence of their emigration to/from the USA on passenger lists etc. I would be most grateful.

Title: Re: Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877
Post by: Miss Kate on Sunday 01 July 12 19:48 BST (UK)

Hi kevs005,

If your ancestor had a New York arrival you can check for his name at

Castle Garden (a free website):
http://www.castlegarden.org/

Be sure to use the wild card of an asterisk if you're not finding his full name, such as ...
Rud*
... in case the surname was misspelled.

Regards,
Kate

Title: Re: Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 01 July 12 21:30 BST (UK)

Hi Kevs005,

UK Inbound passenger lists cover 1878 - 1960  :(

Sandra

Title: Re: Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877
Post by: kevs005 on Wednesday 04 July 12 13:55 BST (UK)

No luck there I'm afraid.

Thanks,
Kevin.

Title: Re: Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877
Post by: jorose on Friday 06 July 12 17:19 BST (UK)

Birth of Harry is found under "Ruduck":
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQNB-8XP
(image doesn't say much more other than that his father was a wagonmaker).

You might want to look at Canadian records - the area of Michigan where they lived is fairly close to the border with Ontario.

Title: Re: Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877
Post by: kevs005 on Wednesday 11 July 12 13:16 BST (UK)

Thanks jorose.  That's a useful piece of information.  Shame George's birth doesn't seem to be recorded as well!

If they emigrated via Canada which port would they have likely arrived at?

Regards,
Kevin.

Title: Re: Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877
Post by: jorose on Thursday 12 July 12 11:34 BST (UK)

The most likely, if their original intent was to get the train down to Michigan, would be Montreal (except during winter, when ice used to block up the channel from Quebec City).  However, other ports, like Halifax, are also a possiblity.

An alternate US port that they might have come through was Portland - ships going to Halifax often also stopped there. If you look at this 1885 map of the Grand Trunk railway, you can see the main lines that go from Portland, through Montreal, and down to Port Huron (they could also have come across the border at Detroit).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/1885_GT.jpg