Finding Ships Passenger Lists to Virginia before 1756

Vickie asked about immigration

I am very new to your web site, and I'm not sure how to get around. I am looking for James Stedman jr & sr than came from scotland and is residing in va . I know he was born in 1729 and came over before 1756. Can you advise me how to look up his immigration date and the ship that he came over on. Any help would be much appreciated.

ASK OLIVE TREE ANSWER: Hello Vickie. I'm not sure if you are referring to my Olive Tree Genealogy website in your question but I'll assume you are.

To see all ships passenger lists to Virginia you will want to start at Ships to USA then look down the page for the link to ships to Virginia. It is under STEP 2 of the 5-Step Search for Your Immigrant Ancestor in North America


Be forewarned that before 1820 ships passenger lists to America were not required to be archived. That means you may or may not find a surviving manifest for your ancestor.

Looking for Virginia Ancestors

Joan's Question: I am looking for John and Sarah Bennett/ Bennit that had a son named Jehu/ John born in Virginia about 1766.

The 1832 publish date of the family Bible says Jehu was born in 1772, son of John and Sarah. The 1850 census for Baltimore Hundred, Delaware states Jehu was born in 1766 in Virginia. He is in the 1800 census for Baltimore Hundred, Delaware. He got land in 1794 in Baltimore Hundred, Delaware.

Olive Tree Answer: Dear Joan - The Virginia Library and the Maryland Archives should be your favorite websites for the next few months. A wealth of material is available online at both locations.

How to find a Ships Passenger Lists to Virginia 1650s

reese asked

my original ancestor in the u.s (colonies) arrived in virginia in 1652. his name was john smith and was sponsored by henry woodhouse, although the Family Archives calls him Henry Hoodhouse. they were settled in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia. I am trying to find the ship and manifest for his arrival. for some reason, i believe that he had a stop over in Bermuda. any suggestions for my search?

Olive Tree Answer: Reese, Passenger Lists of Ships to the colony of Virginia in that time period are tricky to find.

Have you tried this online Directory of Ships sailing to Virginia 1609-1737 or Online Directory of Links to Ships to New England

You can also consult the books by Coldham, Peter Wilson. I've talked about these books before, just last week in fact, but here is the information again

* The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660: A Comprehensive Listing Compiled from English Public Records of Those Who Took Ship to the Americas for Political, Religious, and Economic Reasons; ....
* English Adventurers and Emigrants Immigration Sixteen Hundred and Sixty-One Thru Seventeen Hundred and Thirty-Three
* The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775
* More Emigrants in Bondage: 1614-1775
* British Emigrants In Bondage, 1614-1788

Here is the complete List of Peter Coldham's Books on Amazon. I think Google Books has some of these online.

Last but not least, you can also sub to Ships Lists to USA
Pre 1820 and ask for help from subscribers. Choose US-SHIPSLISTS-PRE1820 to join