Before Ellis Island, it was called Castle Garden. For some reason, I think a majority of Portuguese came through New Bedford, Providence, or Boston. I think I got that info from Paul Cyr, librarian in the genealogy department at the New Bedford Public Library.
Either way, immigration to America has to be checked at 2 ports: NY (Ellis Island or Castle Garden) and the final port. It was either in John P. Colletta's "They Came In Ships" or in Michael Tepper's "American Passenger Arrival Records." An immigrant coming to America may have sailed into NY. They may or may not be counted there depending on their final east coast destination. If they weren't counted in NY, then they may be counted in their final port. So you have to check both. Both of my immigrants (1901 and 1903) had final destinations of New Bedford. One was counted in NY (Ellis Island) and the other was counted in Boston. A couple of years later they married and then they came by train to California. Covered wagons weren't in use in 1910. So until Lorinda provides more information, it's going to be hard to guess how her immigrants made it to California. If they left the Azores with a destination of America, they came to the east coast. If they left the Azores with a destination of the Sandwich Isles, they did not go to America, they went to Hawaii (I don't remember off the top of my head the dates for it being a Kingdom and the dates it became a territory. It became a state in 1959). So it's going to depend on the time period. Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
