Massachusetts, Gloucester Passenger and Crew Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This is a collection of passenger and crew lists arriving at Gloucester, Massachusetts. Passenger lists date from 1906 - 1942. Crew Lists date from 1918 - 1943. This collection corresponds with NARA Publication M3121 and T941.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Crew list
 * Name
 * Age
 * Birth date and place
 * Race
 * Nationality
 * Physical description
 * Vessel name
 * Daparting and arriving date and place
 * Length of srvice at sea
 * Position
 * When and where engaged in service

Passenger list
 * Name of ship and port of departure
 * Ship's arrival date and port of entry
 * Names of immigrants
 * Immigrants' age, gender, marital status and occupation
 * Country where immigrant has citizenship
 * Last place of residence in that country
 * Name of relative or friend living at last residence
 * Name of relative or friend to be visited in this country
 * Destination
 * Physical description
 * Birthplace

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age listed to calculate a birth date
 * Use the last residence or port of departure to find records in his or her country of origin such as emigrations, port records, or ship’s manifests
 * Use the occupation to search for employment and guild records
 * Use the intended destination to search for church, census, and land records
 * Search the passenger lists to identify siblings, parents, and other relatives in the same or other generations who may have immigrated at the same time
 * If your ancestor had a common name, be sure to look at all the entries for that date before you decide which is correct
 * If your ancestor has an uncommon surname, you may want to obtain the passenger list of every person who shares your ancestor’s surname if they lived in the same county or nearby. You may not know how or if they are related, but the information could lead you to more information about your own ancestors

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for an index. Records are often indexed by local historical and genealogical societies. There may also be another collection which is an index to the records
 * Search the indexes of other port cities

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
 * Massachusetts Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.