Although we as Sheldons often refer to our lineage as one of the Colonial Progenitors, there is certainly evidence that there were Sheldons at Ellis Island.
Ellis Island is a federally owned island in the New York Harbor. It was at one time the busiest immigrant inspection station in the United States.
From 1892 to 1954, nearly 12 million immigrants arrived there. Known as the Port of New York and New Jersey, these people were processed there under U.S. federal law. From there, they traveled to their final destination where they would begin their new life in America.
New York and New Jersey both claimed the island was within their respective borders. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled in New Jersey v. New York. The court settled the matter by finding that roughly 83% of Ellis Island was part of New Jersey, rather than in New York.
The island is where the Statue of Liberty National Monument is located. It is accessible to the public only by ferry.
The Ellis Island Museum
The island is administered by the National Park Service. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum opened on September 10, 1990. One of the most famous immigrants to pass through Ellis Island was Bob Hope, and the library was renamed in his honor in 2008.
There are 65 million records of those that passed through the island. And these records are online.
Sheldons at Ellis Island
The online passenger search records show there were 3849 Sheldons that passed through the Island, and an additional 226 Sheldens. You can do a free search by going to this URL: Ellis Island Passenger Search
In addition to searching by name, you can also search by Ship.
We are building a worldwide Sheldon database from scratch. Everything in the database will be documented and sourced. If your ancestors aren’t here, and you would like them to be included, please let us know!
Rev. Henry O. Sheldon
The Rev. Henry O. Sheldon is often considered the grandfather of Sheldon genealogy. While traveling as a preacher he met other Sheldons and wondered how they were all related. Eventually, he began collecting genealogies & piecing the various Sheldon branches together, first published in 1855 as the Sheldon Magazine. First Entry Monday, 4th of May, 1818, age 19, the start of his travels:
“Snowed some last night – roads wet and splashy – At half-past eleven A.M. started on a western tour – took an affectionate leave of my parents and brother and sister after receiving their advice & prayer for my preservation, — rode 25 miles – The day was wet & cold & stormy – Winds N.W.”