The port of Bordeaux had an important role in the management of emigrants to the Americas since it was the place where many overseas companies and emigration agencies had their bases or offices.
In the Department Archives of the French department No. 33 Gironde, where the port is, we can find the M Series which corresponds to the Coast Guards Archives where it is possible to find “traces” of the passports requested by French immigrants (e.g.: certificates of good standing issued by the police which were necessary to obtain the passport).
This database contains records corresponding to the years 1859-1861 and 1865-1887 with some years missing. In these lists we find French emigrants who left for the Americas. In the case of North America, the destinations were New Orleans, San Francisco and New York. It also contains records of French citizens in the French Consulate in NewOrleans.
Applications for passport in Bourdeaux
Regards,