Recently discovered ship manifests reveal how my maternal grandfather and other troops made their way to Europe and back to the United States while serving in World War I.
The late Rev. Albert Nelson of Brooks, Pointe Coupee, Louisiana served in the U.S. Army in France during World War I . His military service is mentioned in a previous post where I share several resources for researching veterans . He enlisted in the army in April 1918 and completed his basic training at Camp Upton on Long Island , NY. Here is his draft registration card dated June 5, 1917.
The recent hint was for a document that was part of a record collection called the U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939. There are almost thirteen million records in this collection which consist of passenger lists created between 1910 and 1939 and manifests of the WWI War Dead. The document listed Albert Nelson as a passenger on a troop transport ship in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1918.
Albert Nelson’s Ship Manifests
Private Albert Nelson is listed on this ship manifest that lists the port of departure as Hoboken, New Jersey leaving the U.S. and heading to Europe with Supply Company, 350th Field Artillery, 92nd Division on a troop transport ship named “President Grant” on June 30,1918. Note the manifest on which he is listed shows the name, serial number, rank, unit, next of kin , his mother Josephine Nelson( née St. Louis), and his home address.
But wait there’s more! I am happy to report that Private Albert Nelson returned from France, alive and is listed in the following ship manifest for the USS Maui departing Brest, France headed back to Camp Upton on February 16, 1919. Deceased troops are also listed. For more information please see the link for the blog post that provides more detailed information about the collection below.
The U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 can be accessed from Ancestry.com or Fold3.com. For more information on this record collection check out this blog post on Ancestry.com. There is also a collection which includes photographs of the many troop transport ships , U.S., WWI Troop Transport Ships, 1918-1919 .
More World War I Resources
Please see the following links for more information on African American involvement in both World Wars and information on the ships.
Fighting for Respect, African American In WWI
A Brief Look at African American Soldiers in the Great War
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Col. William C. Morrison
How interesting. You should be extraordinarily proud of your maternal Grandfather. Good research. Keep looking, there are so many unusual stories and they should be recorded for others to read and take great solace in. What a man!
Karen Galloway Post author
Did you notice who signed his draft card? Thank you for your service!
Stephanie Woodland
My 3rd great grandfather fought in the civil war but he didn’t fight under the slave owners last name. The slave owners last name was Stanton and Adams he fought under Woods and after the war was over he changed his last name to Woodland. Every year he is on the front page newspaper as grandfather of Stanton Tennessee. His headstone stands about 3 feet tall, it’s not common for a slave to have a headstone. Half of his siblings changed their last name to Woodland and half took Adams as their last name.
Karen Galloway Post author
Stephanie, thanks for sharing this information about your ancestor. That he was part of the USCT and how he chose his surname. I am curious to know why he came to choose the surnames of WOODS and WOODLAND and what Regiment he served in and where he and his family lived during reconstruction.