Genealogy Chat

Husby tale: The Husby family left Norway and arrived in New York in 1881 with at least 3 children. Peter, about age 1, was not allowed to enter the country because he was ill. The parents didn't understand what was going on (didn't speak English) and didn't realize they were leaving the baby......The next child born (Dec 1882) was named Peter in memory of the lost child........Any suggestions where to look for the lost baby? Thank you.

Hi Veronica. I've tried Ellis Island, no luck (I believe Ellis Island opened after their arrival). Thanks very much for your response though. :~)

Hi, Do you know where in the States they settled? On the 1910 census there is a Peter Husby age 24 born Norway. Living in Wisconsin. Pat

Hi Pat. Thank you very much for looking. They actually settled in Minnesota and I've found them on the 1900 census, with 7 children. I've found a bit about the Husby's after 1900. But my Husby friends have always wondered what happened to the baby, as the family was devastated when it happened and they've always wondered what happened to little Peter.

Do you know what their port of entry was? Pat

Hi Pat. The family said Ellis Island, but the records don't go back that far, at least not online. (PS There is a 'banner' flashing on top of the reply button so it takes me a while to answer responses. Sorry.)

No,If im right, I think Ellis Island opened in 1892. What about Natrualisation? Can you trace that? Pat

Hi Pat. I'm Canadian, so I've done very little American research. I've not tried naturalization. Not quite sure how to do that, but I will check it out. Thank you so much!

Nudged for any other ideas. Not having much luck with naturalization. Thank you, Lisa.

HI...THINKING LOGICALY THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN THINGS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM....YOU SAY HE WAS ILL...HE COULD HAVE DIED SO YOU COULD TRY FINDING OUT WHERE DEATHS WERE RECORDED OF IMMIGRANTS WHO ARRIVED ILL AND WERE NOT ALLOWED IN COUNTRY AND DIED ...ALSO IF HE WAS ILL THEY MUST HAVE PASSED HIM ON TO SOMEONE ELSE TO LOOK AFTER...PROBABLY A HOSPITAL RUN BY NUNS OR SIMILAR...TRY LOOKING UP THESE ...THERE MUST BE SOME HISTORICAL RECORDS ABOUT HOW THEY MANAGED TO PROCCESS IMMIGRANTS AND WHAT THE SET UP WAS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT CATAGORIES AND PROBLEMS THEY ENCOUNTERED.........PETER WAS PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY CHILD THIS HAPPENED TO....THERE WERE SO MANY FAMILIES PASSING THROUGH THIS POCCESS I COULD IMAGINE THAT IF A CHILD WAS SEPERATED THIS WAY FROM THIER FAMILY IT WOULD BE NIGH ON IMPOSSIBLE TO REUNITE THEM WHEN THE CHILD WAS WELL AGAIN....SO HE COULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO AN ORPHANAGE OR ADOPTED IF HE HAD SURVIVED.....THERE WERE LANGUAGE PROBLEMS AS WELL.....BY THE TIME HE COULD HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THERE IS THE CHANCE THEY DIDNT EVEN HAVE HIS REAL NAME.....THE NEW PARENTS MAY NOT HAVE EVEN STAYED IN THE AREA BUT MOVED ON.....SO THIS COULD BE A REALLY INTERESTING THING TO INVESTIGATE AND VERY EDUCATIONAL ...I AM REALLY INTERESTED NOW ON WHAT HAPPENED TO NOT JUST PETER BUT ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN WHO MUST HAVE ARRIVED ILL DURING THEM TIMES....GOOD LUCK..PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT.....LYN

Hi Lyn. Thank you very much for your thoughts. I just checked here for a second before leaving today, and I'm late as usual. But I did want to acknowledge your post. Thank you for all of your suggestions; I'm sure I will be thinking of ways to try and find answers as I go through the day. When I asked the Husby's if they wanted any research done, they immediately asked if I could find out about Peter, so this child apparently meant so much to the family and was never forgotten, even generations later. Thanks Lyn!!