Hi there - My grandfather passed away last month and we found a large amount of photographs in his house of our ancestors... things we didn't even know existed. None of us know much about our heritage, so I've been piecing it together. I came across a letter a woman had written to my grandfather several years back... I got in touch with her and she had information I haven't been able to find anywhere. I was hoping to view the information myself to add to a family photo album I'm creating. Here is what she said: My great great grand father Joseph Heelein left his family in Germany for five years to work in the United States (around 1876) The family lived in Eiersdorf, Germany.  In 1881, he returned to Germany to bring Katharina (Catherine, his wife), Clara, Anna, Rosalina and Joseph to the United States. The ship they traveled on was ODER.  It came from Bremen, Germany and Southampton, England.  It arrived in New York on January 17, 1881. 

I've googled but haven't been able to find the ships logs for that date, but maybe I'm not looking in the right spot. The last name is Heelein. Any help anybody can give me, would be greatly appreciated!

Jesse Adams

Hope you can view the link...

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=ny...

New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 about Rosalia Heerlein
Name: Rosalia Heerlein
Arrival Date: 17 Jan 1881
Birth Date: abt 1874
Age: 7
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/ Nationality: German
Place of Origin: Germany
Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany and Southampton, England
Destination: United States of America
Port of Arrival: New York
Port Arrival State: New York
Port Arrival Country: United States
Ship Name: Oder

Source Citation: Year: 1881; Arrival: New York, United States; Microfilm Serial: M237; Microfilm Roll: 433; Line: 17; List Number: 56.


There could be a better image elsewhere... back later...

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Can't tell you how helpful this is. I wonder how I can get a better print of the microfilm. Who would have it?

Thanks again!

Here's the better image...

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16948-12701-12?cc...

Ship's first page info

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16948-12294-34?cc...

Surname is slightly different than what you posted...

But the given names match...

Husband/Father is not on board??

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This is all so great... Thanks for your help. I think the alternate version of the name might be how they spelled it in Germany? The names do match up. It's interesting that he isn't listed on board. I was Joseph Sr came to the USA around 1876... That he left the family in Germany and was perhaps sponsored here in the US by a family. Maybe he didnt return to get them, maybe they followed him after? That is definitely them though, the dates match the citizenship paperwork I found in my grandfathers house for Joseph Jr.