A Couple of Immigrant Ancestors

 In January, I wrote a post entitled Origins, which talked about my DNA origins and immigrant ancestors in general terms. But who were these immigrant ancestors and when did they arrive? This week's topic for #52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Immigration so here are my two closest immigrant relatives. 

My Grandfather - Anton Martinek/Butzek

My grandfather came to the US, landing in Ellis Island, on 16 November 1909 on the Kaiser Wilhelm II. He is listed in the passenger manifest, along with the following^[1]:

• Kasimir Martinek, aged 17, miner, Nationality: Austria, Bohemia. Last permanent residence: Marklowitz, Silesia. Closest relative: grandfather Andreas Miencial, Marklowitz . Final Destination: Ohio, Dillonvale, Going to: father Anton Martinek, Bradley Ohio. 4’11” fair complexion, brown hair, grey eyes. Born Austria Marklowitz. [THIS IS LIKELY ANTON’S STEP-BROTHER WHICH MEANS THAT ANDREAS MIENCIAL IS NOT A BLOOD RELATION BUT IS MARIA’S FATHER.]
• Maria Martinek, aged 25, married, housewife, can read and write. Last permanent residence: Silesia, Marklowitz. Nearest relative: father Andreas Miencial, Sichen?? Austria. Going to: Ohio, Dillonvale, Going to: husband Anton Martinek, Bradley Ohio, 5’2” fair complexion, brown hair, brown eyes, Born Austria, Marklowitz
• Gustav, aged 4, male. Fair complexion, brown hair, brown eyes
• Anton, aged 2, male. Fair complexion, brown hair, brown eyes
• Milada, aged 10 months, female, fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes

 The Kaiser Wilhelm II was part of the North German Lloyd line. It was a large ship that could hold 775 passengers in 1st class, 343 in 2nd class and 770 in 3rd class.

 

“Passenger Ships and Images, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 13 February 2024); photograph of Kaiser Wilhelm II, renamed Agememnon, 1919.

 2nd Great-Grandfather - Robert Halliday

My second great-grandfather came from County Durham, England sometime before 1890 along with his parents, John and Jane (Hutchinson) Halliday. I believe he sailed from Liverpool, arriving on 19 October 1888 on the City of New York. The record is incredibly hard to read, but it appears to list his parents and some of his siblings with plans to go to Iowa — which is where they ended up. 

The City of New York made it’s maiden voyage in August 1888, so it was a relatively new ship when the Halliday’s boarded it in October.

 

“Passenger Ships and Images, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 13 February 2024); drawing of the Inman Line Twin Screw Steamer City of New York.

 These are my two closest relatives who immigrated to the United States. Both came to the US but likely had different experiences. Robert was older, about 20 years of age when he arrived — and he could speak and understand English. Anton was a two-year-old, accompanied by a family that did not speak or understand English and had to navigate the chaos of Ellis Island in 1907. I did not get a chance to meet either of these relatives - Robert died in 1933 and Anton died in 1943.

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^[1] “New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island,(1820-1957),” digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4005310250:7488 : accessed 17 March 2019), manifest, S.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II. Bremen to New York, arriving 16 November 1909, p.160, Maria Martinek and children; citing National Archives microfilm T715, Roll 1373.