The "history" of a people always has its exceptions. I have seen many passenger lists, while researching my ancestry. I have noticed that ships arriving in New York from the Port of Marseille frequently had many Russian passengers in the time period you mention. I would imagine that if their destination was South America, a port in southern Europe would make the most sense. It is very likely that they took a train from Volhynia to Vienna, from which it would be very easy to get a train to Marseille.
I am acquainted with a family whose Volhynian ancesters emigrated to Brazil in the 1890's. They DID return to Germany, but it was after they had been in Brazil, just before World War I, and they went to East Prussia at that time. After World War I, the family emigrated to Canada. I do not know the port from which that family sailed for Brazil in the 1890's.
So there are many instances where the "history" may be only partly true. Your task is to substantiate what actual route your family took by locating their passenger ship records, either from France or arriving in Brazil. Immigration and naturalization papers often mention the date of arrival and name of the ship, as well as the port of arrival, so if you can learn that information, you have a good starting point to find the route.
Karla Walters

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 00:17:04 -0300
From: "Eduardo Kommers" <chiquinhok@terra.com.br>
Subject: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia]  QUESTIONS TO EVERYBODY
To: ger-poland-volhynia@eclipse.sggee.org

Hello everybody!

Some time ago I made a question here about "how our ancestors left Volhynia 
and came to Americas (including South America)".
I'm a little confused because my ancestors embarked in Marseille, France, in 
1897, and came to Brazil. It's not logical for me. See the world maps.

The history of the germans from Volhynia says a grand part of them went back 
to Germany before going to USA, Canada, Brazil, etc.
I suposed in this way the german families just had to go down to the south 
... 'cause Marseille is not too far away from Germany. Is it a possiblity?
Is there anybody on the same situation or with the same history?

A question to everybody who lives in Canada or USA: Do you know in what port 
did your relatives embark? How did you get this information?
And a question to everybody: are there records about germans who went back 
to Germany from Volhynia in 1880' and 1890'?

Best regards

Eduardo Kommers








  

