Questions and Answers

I have ancestors from Ireland that first migrated to Canada, Why would they have done that?

Both English and Irish immigrates very often migrated to Canada first, then settled in with jobs and later entered the United States.
They were coming from areas that were owned by the British Empire, and the Canadain entry had less obstacles than the United States. Other factors were

1. Less Expensive
2. Canada's restrictions were not as stringent
3. Some time frames had periods of restriction on the number of immigrants that could enter from certain countries
4. Since many families immigrated in large units, they had a better chance of entry into Canada coming from a British Empire country
5. In researching, please refer to "Canadian Border" entries of 1895 to 1952 through the St Albans District. This can be found at Ancestry.com. This listing is all the English and Irish immigrants that would be traveling into the United States. Film copies of St Albans also can be ordered from our National archives NARA from Washington.
   
6. Keep in mind, once an immigrant became a United States Citizen and traveled back and forth to Canada, they would not be recorded as crossing the border.

I would like to start researching my husband's family but do not know where to start. Can you help? All I have is my husband's Date/year and location of birth Dee 22 1896 in Norwalk CT and the family name BEDELL


Great start ! Go the the Federal 1900 census for CT and use the family name BEDELL In locating the family of your husband's father, you will find that his father( your husband's grandfather) should be listed about 4 years of age. You will have his father's first name, and possible middle initial, his mother's name and hopefully names and ages of other siblings. These folks would be your husband's grandparents. In addition to that you will be able to find the country of family origin, as well as year of immigration into this country. If the grandfather was born in this country, go further back in the census and track where he may have been with his parents (your husband's great grandparents) .. the answers are there for you. Good Luck and have FUN!