Elusive Immigrants:The Search for

Irish & Alsatian Ancestors

Looking for Leprechauns

• Find everything possible in America first. • Tombstones very valuable.• Newspaper queries for families.• Ask for family stories and copies of letters.• Study history of Ireland and U.S. Cities

where they lived here.• For New Orleans, check Charity Hospital

records.

• Cyndi’s list is constantly updated.• Search Mormon Library catalog online at

familysearch.org.• Google search, type by replacing your Irish

surname in parentheses: “surname (your surname)” and hit “go”.

• Roots-L mailing lists are amazing.• Learn Irish history on the web (URL in handout).

The United Kingdom

• Britain has many Irish resources for records.• Many Irish left from England for U.S. or to Canada.• Remember, some Louisiana records were sold to Texas.• England has Egyptian mummies, imagine what they

have of nations even closer.

Ancestors from Alsace

• Chronology of Alsace vital.

• 75% of Population died in Thirty Years’ War.

• Many Swiss moved in after 1648.

• Large immigration of Austrians just before 1700 due to newly reigning family.

• Many Germanic named towns near Rhine River.

(Reichshoffen means “Empire’s hope” in German)

Best Resources for Alsace

• ALSACE-LORRAINE Mailing List best.• Know the town? Visit your local Family History

Center or go to Salt Lake City for main library.• 1836 Census of Alsace by C. Geyer (Districts of

Wissembourg & Strasbourg are available so far).• Find cousins on the RootsWeb Message Boards.• Robert Behra’s site is back up and building.• Join Alsatian Genealogical Societies.

Example of Records

• Marriage document in 1836.

Cemetery Survey at the Historic New Orleans Collection

Reading the Documents

• Need to be familiar with German, French & Latin.• Additional 4 language profession list included in handouts.• LDS has wonderful “helpers” to keep on hand.• Documents from 1792 to 1808 are difficult to decipher.• Become familiar with “ss” and “fs” writing.• 1809 and later are on printed forms, much easier to read.• Indexes (10 year sometimes) are available in many films.• Indexes are not 100% correct, check the records to be sure.• Many of the earlier records are easier to read, even 1600’s.• Check surrounding towns, they got tired of marrying cousins.