Rudducks in Michigan 1872 - 1877

[kevs005]

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.

[Miss Kate]

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

[*Sandra*]

Hi Kevs005,

UK Inbound passenger lists cover 1878 - 1960 

Sandra

[kevs005]

No luck there I'm afraid.

Thanks,
Kevin.

[jorose]

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.

[kevs005]

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.

[jorose]

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