Genealogy Chat

If someone lived in Essex, England in 1857 and sailed to North America, from where would they be mostly likely to sail, please? Would Liverpool be an option?

Hi Lisa, My understanding is it could have been anywhere depending on status at time of travel. The most likely was Liverpool but I have seen mention of leaving from London, Plymouth and others. Other people may know differently, and I would bow to thier knowledge.

Hi Pmaid, Thank you for your information. I haven't found any records of my ancestors coming to North America (except the possibility of one leaving Liverpool and arriving in the States), so I am curious. Thank you.

Searching Ancestry with no name. 1857 to US Liverpool to Baltimore 32 Plymouth nil London nil Bristol nil Southampton to New York 482 Have you a name?

Hi Jim. Odd that you would respond -- the record I mentioned was for James Mumford and his first wife, Susanna (you kindly provided an image for James and his second wife, Emily). James and Susanna must have arrived in North America prior to 1858, as they first child was born in Ontario in 1858. Ancestry has a record for a couple with the same name leaving Liverpool and arriving in New York in April 1857, however his age is off by 7 years, so I'm not positive it is them. (I do have that image.) I was trying to figure out if people from Essex would have travelled to Liverpool, or if they would have gone to a closer port. I've never been able to find any other ancestors' names on ship's lists. Thank you for searching; there were quite a few ports, eh?

Hi again Lisa Using Susan* any year,came up with this Irish? couple. View Record James Mumford 22 Apr 1857 abt 1819 Male Liverpool, England Ireland R Robinson View Record Susan Mumford 22 Apr 1857 abt 1830 Female Liverpool, England Ireland R Robinson

I read it as the ship originated in Ireland. :( Not my couple then, since I've not seen any mention of their families being in Ireland. That's ok, though, as they did settle in Toronto, Ontario, so perhaps they sailed directly to Canada. Thank you very much for checking, and for setting me straight. :)

Hi John. I pictured the ships sailing first from Ireland, thank you for the information. I shall check into the Times; thank you for your help, John.