The Process

• When a family or an individual decided to emigrate, there were several steps they usually followed, some to comply with the law, some to prepare for their journey, and some from local custom or tradition. Some of these steps generated records.
• Often a country required that the emigrant receive permission to leave. If the emigrant obeyed this law (it is estimated that 30 to 50% left without permission), an application to leave and/or a passport may exist for your ancestor.
• If the family owned property, they may have sold it. If they abandoned their property, it may show up on tax lists after the taxes became delinquent.
• Young males may have had to be released from military obligations (or fulfill them before leaving).
• Members of some religious denominations may have requested a letter of recommendation to take to their new parish.
• Eventually emigrants would have to purchase tickets for the trip.

These steps should have generated some record that will document your ancestors' passage. Some are rare, and difficult to find. Many (such as military releases, land deeds or church letters) are not true emigration records. Often, the most useful documents that you'll find are those that were created along the voyage—passenger lists (discussed in the last lesson) and permissions to emigrate.