They Came in Ships - 3rd Edition by John P Colletta & John P Coletta & John Philip Colletta (Paperback)

About the Book

Chances are excellent that your ancestors came to America from somewhere-England, Spain, Germany, China, Africa. Can you imagine how they felt as they left their homes, what they left behind? Do you want to know? Would you know where to even start looking for the details? Author and genealogist John P. Colletta prepares you to undertake the search. He tells you not only what fundamental facts you need to know about your immigrant ancestor before beginning, but suggests where you may find that information as well.

Book Synopsis

Chances are excellent that your ancestors came to America from somewhere-England, Spain, Germany, China, Africa. Can you imagine how they felt as they left their homes, what they left behind? Do you want to know? Would you know where to even start looking for the details? Author and genealogist John P. Colletta prepares you to undertake the search. He tells you not only what fundamental facts you need to know about your immigrant ancestor before beginning, but suggests where you may find that information as well.

Review Quotes

From Library Journal Irvine, a teacher in British Columbia, has teamed up with one of the leading genealogy publishers to give us a fine handbook for English genealogy research. Irvine focuses on how to use the many unpublished resources available in North America at the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City, many FHL branch libraries, and FH Centers located in local Latter Day Saints churches and other larger libraries. In addition, Irvine outlines research in English repositories. Her nuts-and-bolts approach to relatively accessible material sets this book apart from other handbooks. Essential for the institutional as well as the home market. Colletta's work, revised since it was first published in 1989, provides a helpful discussion of biographical and genealogical information and other migration details that may be found in passenger lists. Four information-filled chapters provide help on acquiring the information needed to search for passenger lists. The annotated bibliography is excellent, though the book still lacks an index. Researchers in the ship passenger list and immigration field should read this book, along with Michael H. Tepper's American Passenger Arrival Records (Genealogical Pubs., 1988). Essential.
"- Judith P. Reid, Lib. of Congress"
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. "--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title."


"If you are, as I was, baffled by the maze of microfilm and sources involved in trying to track down your ancestors' ships lists, you need this book!! I read this book cover to cover twice, then tackled the library, and finally accomplished something! I recommend it VERY highly."