1830 Immigration Documents for Robert Nelson

I found two immigration documents for Robert Nelson and his family.  The first one was a passenger list, and the second was a National Archives index card.  The information is essentially the same but I like the passenger list because it more information about the ship, and names those who travelled with the Nelson family.

The first is the passenger list found at FamilySearch and made available by the National Archives.  You can view it here with a free FamilySearch account.  It is part of their  Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Passenger Lists, 1800-1882 collection.

The Transcription

C. S.    Printed for J. H. Barnes, Ship and Insurance Broker, opposite the Customs House, Philadelphia---by Russell & Mart???
C. 3.   
REPORT OR MANIFEST of all the Passengers taken on board the  Brig Panama  
whereof  Nathaniel Thomas  is Master, from  Newcastle   burthen
  253  Tons and owned by  George Loving, Nathaniel Thomas and John Binner 
of  Duxbury   and bound for  Philadelphia & Boston  

Name / Age / Sex / Occupation / To what Country belonging / Country of which it is their intention to become inhabitants.... [Robert and family are at the bottom of the page.]    
Robert Nelson, 30 years, male, Miner, from Great Britain and Ireland, to United States of America 
Jane Nelson, 23 years, female, [blank], from Great Britain and Ireland, to United States of America
James Nelson, 4 years, male, [blank], from Great Britain and Ireland, to United States of America 
Margaret Nelson, 2 years, female, [blank] from Great Britain and Ireland, to United States of America
George Bell, 44 [or 46] years, male, Miner, from Great Britain and Ireland, to United States of America

o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o

Below is the National Archives card which can be found here at FamilySearch (viewable with a free FamilySearch account).  It is in the FamilySearch Collection, United States. Emigration Records 1820-1874, Immigration Records 1820-1874.  It is image 3135 of 6024.

Transcription

    Family Name                            NELSON
    Given Name                              Robert
    Accompanied by                       Jane, James, Margaret
    Age:                                         30
    Sex                                           M
    Occupation                               Miner
    Nationality                               Gr. Br.
    Last Permanent Residence 
    (Town, Country, Etc.)                Gr. Br.
    Destination                               U.S.
    Port of entry                             Phila
    Name of vessel                         Panama
    Date                                         9-23-1830
    PC532

Notes and Comments

• There is a discrepancy in Robert's son's name between census records and these immigration records.  Here his name is James; on census records it is Daniel.  Could one of those names have been a middle name and Robert and Jane were indecisive about what to call their son?  The estimated birth year is the same in census and immigration records.
• The Nelsons travelled on the brig "Panama."  I searched for an image but didn't find one.  I didn't realize that a brig is a specific kind of ship, one with large, square-topped, billowy sails.  It must have been magnificent to be on deck under those grand sails.  (And probably not so grand below-deck.)
• I was surprised that the passenger list had only one page of passengers, a total of 16.  The ship probably also carried cargo.  They would have had to make that long distance of travel worthwhile.
• On the passenger list, Robert is listed with his wife Jane, and their two children James and Margaret.  It looks to me like George Bell is also listed with their family.  I had hoped a second page of passengers might shed some light on George's relationship to the family but without a second page, there's no help.

—Nancy.

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