Immigrants at Grosse-Île Online Help

• Background 
• The Records 
• Search Screen 
• How to Interpret the Search Results 
• How to Consult the Document or Obtain a Copy

Background

In the nineteenth century, an increasing stream of people was leaving Europe to rebuild their lives in North America. Around 1830, an average of 30,000 immigrants arrived annually in Quebec City, the main port of entry to Canada. Approximately two-thirds of these newcomers were from Ireland. This unprecedented immigration on the St. Lawrence River took place at a time when major cholera and small pox epidemics were sweeping through Europe. In order to help control the spread of the diseases, the quarantine station at Grosse-Île, located in the St. Lawrence River downstream from Quebec City, was established in 1832 and was in operation until it closed in 1937.

In 1974, the old quarantine station became a national historic site under the jurisdiction of Parks Canada.

More information on Grosse-Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site [www2.parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/grosseile/index_e.asp] of Canada is available on the Parks Canada Web site.

The Records

Data on immigrants was compiled by Parks Canada from a number of different records held in various archives. Under an agreement between Parks Canada's Quebec Office and the Canadian Genealogy Centre, this database regarding immigrants who passed through Grosse-Île is now available on this Web site.

One of the interesting aspects of this Grosse-Île database is the fact that it is possible to trace certain immigrants and members of their family, from their departure from Europe, during their voyage across the Atlantic, their stay at the Grosse-Île Quarantine Station, and then on their way to a destination within the continent. This database is an additional asset to help Canadians retrace their family roots.

This database contains information from the following sources:

List of Major Denis Mahon's Sharecroppers

Information on 1,431 tenants evicted in 1847 by Major Mahon, landlord of County Roscommon in Ireland.

Births at Sea

Information on 135 people born on ships during the Atlantic crossing between 1837 and 1913.

Deaths at Sea

Information on 4,936 people who died on ships at sea, on the St. Lawrence River or on quarantined ships at Grosse-Île, from 1832 to 1922.

Hospital Registers

Information on 12,196 people who were treated in the Grosse-Île hospitals between 1832 and 1921.

Baptisms at Grosse-Île

Information on 554 people baptized at Grosse-Île between 1832 and 1937.

Marriages at Grosse-Île

Information on 46 marriages that were celebrated at Grosse-Île from 1832 to 1937.

Burials at Grosse-Île

Information about 4,871 people who were buried at Grosse-Île between 1832 and 1937.

Memorial

The Grosse-Île and the Irish Memorial was erected in 1997 to commemorate the massive arrival of Irish immigrants who were victims of the Great Famine. It provides the names of 8,339 people of various nationalities who were buried in the Grosse-Île cemeteries from 1832 to 1937.

Inventory of the Personal Belongings of Deceased Immigrants

Information on 528 inventories of personal belongings of deceased immigrants from Grosse-Île or Quebec City in 1834-1835, 1837, 1841, 1847, 1849 and 1851.

Search Screen

The search screen allows you to explore the database using four fields:

Name (surname and/or given name)
Year (year of birth, death, marriage, hospitalization)
Ship (name of the ship)
Origin (city, country or place)

To search the database, enter one or more of the above items in the appropriate field.

Enter a surname and/or given name in any order. Expect spelling variations. Use the wildcard character $, for example, Sm$th for Smith/Smyth, Fred$ for Fred/Frederick/Fredrick. Remember that certain references only contain the first initial and not the entire given name.

You can narrow the search by including additional search terms but keep in mind that if your request is too specific you may rule out possibilities of which you are unaware.

If you are certain of the year of arrival, enter that year in the search field. If it is a range of years, for example the 1890s, write 189$ to search the entire decade.

If you know the name of the ship on which your ancestor arrived, enter the ship's name in the search field. But try also to search without the ship's name.

When you have entered your search terms, click on "Submit query." The number of hits found will be shown at the top of the results screen.

How to Interpret the Search Results

Your search results will be posted as a summary list from which you will be able to obtain more detailed descriptions.

Results Summary List

The results summary list, sorted by column, contains identification elements that will allow you to rapidly assess how relevant the documents are that you found. The identification elements are: name, year, age, ship, origin and database title.

Click on the icons on the left for more detailed descriptions of items of interest to you.

Detailed Description

The content of the database entries reflect the original language used in the documents. This information was not translated.

Important note: Given that some of the original documents are very difficult to read, some information in the database may be incorrect and/or incomplete.

The archival reference to the original document appears at the end of each description. The documents are held in various archives, mainly at Library and Archives Canada, Archives nationales du Québec, Quebec City Office, or at Parks Canada's Quebec Office.

How to Consult the Document or Obtain a Copy

All information contained in the actual documents was transcribed and entered in the database with the exception of sensitive information such as cause of death. If you still want to view the original record or obtain a copy, note the reference at the bottom of the page and consult the relevant section below.

• Library and Archives Canada
  Most documents held at Library and Archives Canada (formerly National Archives of Canada/Archives nationales du Canada) are available on microfilm.

How to Access Library and
Archives Canada Records

• Newspapers
  Newspapers are available on microfilm and can be consulted in a number of public libraries or through interlibrary loan. We suggest that you consult the List of Canadian Newspapers on Microfilm Held by the National Library of Canada.
  
  
• Archives nationales du Québec
  For documents held at the Archives nationales du Québec [www.anq.gouv.qc.ca/] in Quebec City (ANQQ), please contact:
  
  Archives nationales du Québec
  Centre d'archives de Québec
  Pavillon Louis-Jacques-Casault
  Cité universitaire, PO Box 10450
  Sainte-Foy, QC
  G1V 4N1
  Tel.: (418) 643-8904
  Fax: (418) 646-0868
  anq.quebec@mcc.gouv.qc.ca
  
  
• Parks Canada
  It is not possible to obtain copies of documents in the custody of Parks Canada's Quebec Office because the information is contained in fragile oversize registers, which would be damaged by photocopying.
  
  
• Bishop's University
  For documents held at Bishop's University please contact:
  
  Library, Bishop's University
  Quebec Diocesan Archives
  Anglican Church of Canada
  Lennoxville, QC
  J1M 1Z7
  Tel.: (819) 822-9600, ext. 2567
  jsweeny@ubishops.ca