Ship Ahoy

The United States has always been a nation of immigrants. Millions upon millions of people risked long ocean voyages through the years to get here. Many of those people sailed here on British ships. Now you can research the passenger lists of ships that departed from British ports between the years of 1820 and 1960. Until November 30th, the information is available for free on a UK genealogy site.

Passenger lists from thousands of ships that left Britain and Ireland packed with migrants between 1820 and 1960 were published on a genealogy Internet site on Thursday.

The ancestors of many famous Americans, including Hollywood actors Cruise and Berry, were among those who risked everything to make the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

New arrivals helped swell the U.S. population from 9.6 million in 1820 to 76 million by 1900.

Migrants left Britain and Ireland for many reasons — to escape poverty and persecution, to join their families or to try to make their fortune.

Simon Harper, managing director of the Web site, www.ancestry.co.uk, said it celebrates the "brave and colourful individuals who played a significant role in shaping what has become modern America".

IT won't help me search for ancestors, because mine didn't come on British ships, but if you're interested in checking it out, here's the website. You can search for free until the end of the month here.