Immigrant and Passenger Arrivals - Index

Index cards vary in content by Port.  Dates listed are the arrival date at the U.S. Port.  When the index only lists the individual’s initials, their sex is provided if listed on the index card.  Many of these cards are very faded.  There is also some conflicting information on cards for accompanying passengers.

Abbreviations:

Acc. – Accompanied by these individuals.
Dest. – Destination
G.B. – Great Britain
Nat. – Nationality
Occ. - Occupation
Res. – Residence

Description of records from the National Archives and Records Administration web site at www.nara.gov

Note: This page only contains a fraction of all Immigrant and Passenger lists available.

Records of the U.S. Customs Service, 1820-ca. 1891, National Archives
Record Group 36

Description:  Early records relating to immigration originated in regional customhouses. An act of March 2, 1819 (3 Stat. 489) required the captain or master of a vessel arriving at a port in the United States or any of its territories from a foreign country to submit a list of passengers to the collector of customs. The act also required that the collector submit a quarterly report or abstract, consisting of copies of passenger lists, to the Secretary of State, who was required to submit such information at each session of Congress. After 1874, collectors forwarded only statistical reports to the Treasury Department. The lists themselves were retained by the Collector of Customs. Customs records were maintained primarily for statistical purposes.

Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports, Excluding New York City:

Source: A Supplemental Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports (Excluding New York), 1820-1874.  Micropublication M334, Roll 170.  Washington: National Archives.

• Mrs. Taft, Age 45, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Hiberia, 8/21/1847 or 1849
• A. Taft Jr., Age 27, Male, Merchant, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Arabea, 6/26/1862
• A. F. Taft, Age 44, Male, Merchant, Nat. U.S., Port: Key West, FL, 3/31/1857
• Ann Taft, Age 19, Servant, Nat. Irish, Acc. Mary and Bridget, Vessel: Not Listed, 6/1845
• Bridget Taft, Age 10, Servant, Nat. Irish, Acc. Ann and Mary, Vessel: Not Listed, 6/1845
• Edward Taft, Age 32, Mason, Nat. English, Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Sarah Ann, 4/22/1833
• I. Taft, Infant, Male, Nat. Irish, Port: New Orleans, Vessel: City of Lincoln, 12/20/1850
• J. H. Taft, Age 31, Male, Taylor, Nat. Irish, Port: Boston? [faded], Vessel: St. Patrick, 11/15/1865
• ____ [faded] Taft, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Nauset?, Arrived ?? [faded]
• John Taft, Age 21, Cooper, Nat. English, Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Saca, 1/8/1827 or 1877 [faded]
• Joseph Taft, Age 27, Cooper, Nat. English, Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Saca, 1/8/1827 or 1877 [faded]
• Levina Taft, Age 17, Female, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Celeste, 10/11/1859, Acc. Luther
• Mary Taft, Age 17, Servant, Nat. Irish, Port: Not Listed, 6/1845, Acc. Ann and Bridget
• Michael Taft, Age 8, Nat. Irish, Port: Not Listed, Vessel: Not Listed, 6/1845 or 1842, Acc. Richard
• R. Taft, Age 30, Male, Port: Philadelphia, PA, Manifest 1000, P166, 9/30/1825
• R. Taft, Age 32, Male, Carpenter, Born in U.S., Port: New Orleans, LA, Vessel: Not Listed, 4/23/1827
• R. A. Taft, Age 19, Male, Physician, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Niagara, 6/15/1860
• Richard Taft, Age 51, Laborer, Nat. Irish, Port: Not Listed, Vessel: Not Listed, 6/1842 or 1845, Acc. Michael
• Robert Taft, Age 48, Machinist, Nat. U.S., Port: Philadelphia, PA, Vessel: Eliza Ellen, 4/22/1843
• Sarah Taft, Age 24, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Como, 8/31/1861
• Sarah Taft, Age 28, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Celeste, 10/11/1859, Acc. Luther
• Thomas F. Taft, Age 34, Engineer, Nat. U.S., Port: Providence, RI, Vessel: Casket, 7/1/1842
• William Taft, Age 36, Nat. U.S., Port: Boston, MA, Vessel: Alphonso, 5/6/1830

Baltimore, MD:

Source: Index (Soundex) to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Baltimore, MD (Federal Passenger Lists), 1820-1897. Micropublication M327, Roll 159.  Washington: National Archives.

• Basil Taft, Age 40, Female, Widow, Nat: Russian, Last Res.: Wilne, Dest: Maryland, Vessel: Stuttgart, 6/15/1892
• Benjamin Taft, Age 12, Nat: Russian, Last Res.: Wilne, Dest: Maryland, Vessel: Stuttgart, 6/15/1892
• Chaje Taft, Age 8, Female, Nat: Russian, Last Res.: Wilne, Dest: Maryland, Vessel: Stuttgart, 6/15/1892
• Jadse Taft, Age 13, Female, Nat: Russian, Last Res.: Wilne, Dest: Maryland, Vessel: Stuttgart, 6/15/1892
• Jedel Taft, Age 14, Male, Nat: Russian, Last Res.: Wilne, Dest: Maryland, Vessel: Stuttgart, 6/15/1892
• Johannes Taft/Toft, Age 17, Nat: German, Dest: Maryland, Vessel: Hermann, 10/4/1889

Boston, MA:

Source: Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, MA, 1848-1891.  Micropublication M265, Roll 257.  Washington: National Archives.

• Mr. Taft, Age --, 8/27/1870, Vessel: New York, Last Res. U.S., Acc: Mrs. Taft
• Mrs. Taft, Age 28, 9/13/1878, Vessel: New York
• A. Taft, Age 2, Female, 9/10/1887, Vessel: Yarmouth, In U.S. before
• A. W. Taft, Age 32, Male, 7/20/1891, Vessel: Carroll, Born in U.S., Tourist, Acc: Mrs. Taft, Age 26
• Mrs. F. Taft, Age 28, 7/28/1868, Citizen of Nova Scotia, Vessel: Linda
• Edward Taft, Age 58, 8/23/1884, Vessel: Soythia, Occ. Gentleman, Born in U.S.
• Ellen B. Taft, Age 30, 8/27/1887, Vessel: Catalonia, Occ. Lady, Born in U.S.
• Miss Emma Taft, Age 49, 9/23/1888, Vessel: Pavonia, Occ. Spinster, Born in U.S.
• G. R. Taft, Age 48, Male, 10/2/1888, Vessel: Cumberland, Tourist, In U.S. before
• Henry Taft, Age 20, 7/15/1889, Vessel: Catalonia, Weaver, Born in England
• J. B. Taft, Age 20, 8/19/1849, Vessel: Hibernia, Merchant, Born in G.B.
• Jans H. Taft, Age 31, 11/13/1865, Vessel: St. Patrick, Taylor, Born in Germany
• John Taft, Age 45, 6/12/1869, Vessel: Siberia, Laborer, Born in England
• John Taft, 24, 9/10/1890, Vessel: Roman, Laborer, Born in Worstershire, English Citizen
• M. Taft, Age 39, 7/12/1859, Vessel: Admiral, Occ. Gentleman, Born in St. John
• O. A. Taft Jr., Age 27, 6/26/1862, Vessel: Str. Arabia, Born in U.S.
• R. A. Taft, Age 19, Male, 6/15/1860, Vessel: Niagra, Doctor, Born in U.S.
• S. S. Taft, Age 30, Male, 9/15/1888, Vessel: Cumberland, Clerk, Born in U.S.
• Sarah Taft, Age 24, 8/30/1861, Vessel: Sohr. Como
• W. Taft, Age 40, Male, 8/26/1886, Vessel: Cumberland, Merchant, Born in U.S.
• William Taft, Age 28, 12/24/1881, Vessel: Falmouth, Farmer

New Orleans, LA:

Source: Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, LA, before 1900.  Micropublication T527, Roll 29.  Washington: National Archives.

Description:

This index covers the period 1853-1899. The original records were transferred to the Immigration and Naturalization Service and are part of Record Group 85. The publication is described with the records of the U.S. Customs Service for the convenience of the researcher.

• Heinrich Taft, Age 34, Born: Mutzengrade, Farmer, Nat: German, Embarked at Bremen, Dest. St. Louis, 5/17/1861, Vessel: Georg
• Wilhelm Taft, Age 19, Born: Mutzengrade, Farmer, Nat: German, Embarked at Bremen, Dest. St. Louis, 5/17/1861, Vessel: Georg

New York City, NY:

Source: Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, NY, 1820--1846. Micropublication M261, Roll 93.  Washington: National Archives.

• A. Taft, Age 18, Laborer, Nat: U.S., Dest. G.B., Vessel: Actress, 10/1840
• Alice Taft, Acc: George, James, Age 20, Nat: G.B., Vessel: John Taylor, 6/1836
• George Taft, Acc: Alice, James, Age 7, Nat: G.B., Vessel: John Taylor, 6/1836
• George Taft, Acc: John, Age 20, Nat: G.B., Vessel: John Taylor, 6/1836
• James Taft, Acc: Alice, George, Age 40, Nat: G.B., Vessel: John Taylor, 6/1836
• John Taft, Acc: George, Age 26, Carpenter, Nat: G.B., Vessel: John Taylor, 6/1836
• Margaret Taft, Age --, Nat: G.B., Vessel: Plutus, 1/10/1844
• R. Taft, Age 32, Male, Carpenter, Manifest 2000, P26, 6-30427
• Robert Taft, Age 34, Grocer, Nat: English, Vessel: Hercules, Manifest 1896, 8/19/1821 or 1831

Philadelphia, PA:

Source: Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Philadelphia, PA, 1800-1906. Micropublication M360, Roll 137.  Washington: National Archives.

• Mrs. Taft, Vessel: Trinidad, 3/3/1890
• Robert Taft, Age 48, Machinist, Nat: U.S., Vessel: SCH Eliza Ellen, 4/22/1843
• P. Tafte, Age 23, Farmer, Nat: English, Vessel: Illinois, 10/9/1882

Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1891-1957, National Archives
Record Group 85

Description: In 1882, Congress passed the first Federal law regulating immigration; between 1882 and 1891 the Secretary of the Treasury had general supervision over immigration. The Office of Superintendent of Immigration of the Department of the Treasury was established under an act of March 3, 1891, and was designated a bureau in 1895 with responsibility for administering the alien contract-labor laws. In 1900, administration of the Chinese- exclusion laws was added. In 1903, the Bureau became part of the Department of Commerce and Labor. Functions relating to naturalization were assigned to the Bureau in 1906, and its name was changed to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. It was transferred in 1940 to the Department of Justice.

The records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service listed in this catalog were transferred to the National Archives on microfilm. The original records were destroyed by the INS. In some instances, there are indexes for which the National Archives has no list. Some of the records were microfilmed as they appeared in volumes and the date spans may overlap. Errors in arrangement or omission cannot be corrected. Not all passenger lists are indexed. Many of the indexes are difficult to read. This catalog describes contents of individual rolls of microfilm.
 

Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina:

Source: Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Ports in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, 1890-1924.  Micropublication T517, Roll 23.  Washington: National Archives.

• Frederico Taft, Age 49, Citizen of Cuba, 1/25/1899, Port: Key West, FL, Vessel: Mascotte
• Shadrack E. Taft, Age 25, Citizen of Britain, 8/13/1920, Port: Key West, FL, Vessel: Miami

San Francisco, CA:

Source: Indexes to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Francisco, CA, 1893-1934.  Micropublication M1389, Roll 18.  Washington: National Archives.

Description:

This microfilm publication reproduces three alphabetical card indexes to passenger arrival records for the port of San Francisco, May 1, 1893--May 9, 1934. The first 21 rolls reproduce the general index to passengers. The second alphabetical index on rolls 22--27, relates to individuals arriving from the Philippines, from Honolulu (September 30, 1902--June 12, 1907), and from Insular Possessions (May 28, 1907--October 28, 1911).

The records, which are arranged alphabetically by name of passenger, were extracted from the San Francisco passenger lists. Each entry provides the date of arrival and the vessel name. In the upper right hand corner of each index card there is a reference to the manifest number, the page number, and the line number on which the passenger's name appears. For example, 10383/15/23 refers to manifest number 10383, page 15, line 23.

These records were transferred to the National Archives on microfilm. Errors in arrangement and omissions cannot be corrected. Defective images, which were identified when the records were filmed, were microfilmed again, and the corrections were spliced on the beginning of each roll as retakes.

• Beatrice Taft, Age ? [faded], Born in England, Domestic, Last Res. Kingaroy, Australia, 4/20/1921, Vessel: Ventura
• Peter Taft, Age 24, Born Norway, Seaman, Passage paid by Union Oil, Relative of Hans Taft of San Francisco, 4/8/1917, Vessel: Newport
• Winifred Taft, Age 21, Shop Assistant, Born in Maryborough, Australia, Last Res. Kingaroy, Australia, 4/20/1921, Vessel: Ventura

Other Sources for Passenger and Immigration Records:

Search for your Ancestors who arrived at Ellis Island at the American Family Immigration History Center.  As of August 2002, there were 524 Ellis Island arriving passengers with the Surname Taft.

Learn more about Immigration and Passenger Lists on Cyndi's List.