If your ancestor immigrated to the US as a seaman you might be able to find a
record in Bremen. I am quoting extensively here from "GERMAN PORTS: GATEWAYS
TO AMERICA" - Part 2 of 2 BY RAYMOND S. WRIGHT III, Ph.D., A.G. because
there are also other things mentioned that someone may be interested in:
"If ancestors were born or died on board an emigrant ship, the Bremen
Seemannsamt maintained records which may be helpful-they recorded births and
deaths aboard Bremen ships. These manuscripts are preserved in the Bremen
State Archives; entries often list the place of origin of children's parents
or of deceased persons: Archives' Register Number 4,24-D.5 contains births
for the years 1868-1883 and 1903-1911; Register Number 4,24-D.6 covers
certificates of birth and death received from 1875-1935 and 1936-1941 (but
only for names beginning with H, K, and V); Register Number 4,24-D.7 contains
deaths for 1845-1875; Register Number 4,24-D.8 has deaths for 1834-1937;
after 1850 these volumes are the index to the death protocols found in
4,24-D.9 (1850-1937) and death entries from ships' logs found in 4,24-D.12
(1876-1941). If ancestors worked their way to America as crew members, the
Seemannsamt should be checked as well-they also maintained copies of crew
lists for Bremen ships that often include a person's place of birth.
Researchers writing to the city archives for information about births,
deaths, or service as crew members should provide the names of persons sought
and the dates of birth or death or service, if they are known."
The Bremen State Archives-Staatsarchiv der freien Hansestadt Bremen (Am
Staatsarchiv 1, 28203 Bremen, Germany)
Nancy Pundsack