Many genealogists under-utilize passports as a research tool. For those that are aware of their
importance, many are only interested in locating information for ancestors that returned to the old
county immediately upon obtaining U.S. citizenship. The intent for most was to begin the process of
bringing other family members or friends to America. There are other historical circumstances where
early historical passports were issued which may play a role in research. These options fall into three
categories briefly discussed below.
Spain issued passports from the 1770s through the early 1800s to foreigners, mostly American colonists, and others, who were passing through the Louisiana Territory or staying a brief time to trade. The right of free navigation down the Mississippi River was important to the U.S., but in 1784 the Spanish governor declared that neither the Americans nor the British had right to free navigation on the Mississippi. The Spanish governor initiated heavy taxation rates on cargo shipped down the river and charged port duty fees. This severely restricted the number of American flatboats arriving at New Orleans for several years. Despite this turn of events, trade on the Mississippi continued as many Americans took their goods to Natchez.
After the American Revolution, both the War Department and Department of State issued passports to regulate the movement and oversee the conduct of U.S. citizens entering and traveling through Indian Territory. The Secretary of War was the arbiter of relations with Indians until 1824, when this responsibility was transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Those persons requesting passports into Indian Territory had to give assurance of good behavior; then they could enter to trade, to collect debts, to recover stolen horses or slaves, to remove property left by white intruders, or to just pass through. Authorities exercised every caution to keep out potential troublemakers who would disturb the peace and upset relations with the Indians. The objective for the Department of State was to oversee activities in the territories of the United States. This was prior to their being subdivided to become actual states. These records were maintained in volumes called “Territorial Papers.” Passports from the Southwest Territory (later part of Tennessee) and from the Mississippi Territory were issued during this time. Many of the Mississippi Territory passports involved naming and describing any slaves who were traveling with the passport holder.
The third classification of passports were issued by individual states. These passports were intended primarily to give permission for a traveler to pass through Indian nations located beyond a state. The majority of these passports were issued by Georgia from 1785 through 1820. Georgia was the last stop on the western frontier for those traveling further west. Individuals from the state of Georgia or traveling through Georgia from other states were required to obtain a passport from the Governor of Georgia. Passports were issued to individuals, families, and their slaves. In 1809 and 1810 many passports were issued to citizens of North and South Carolina, who were passing through Georgia in large groups with their families, their household goods, pack horses and slaves. Passports were necessary even for those whose goal was to migrate to he area with the ultimate intention of settlement.
Around 1809-1810, this practice impacted many settlers then residing in North and South Carolina. Documents included with these records primarily impacted the Mississippi Valley region and include all known travel documents for the period of 1770-1823. Each entry gives the names of the passport recipients, the official granting the passport, the date the passport was executed and other identifying particulars. In addition, the history of the passport process as it affected the various jurisdictions under consideration is explained in detail.
Travelers wanting to journey to Indian tribes in the southwest, or to visit British and Spanish settlements beyond Georgia, had to get a passport to travel through the Creek Indian Nation. These passports were issued to ensure good relations between the U.S. and the Creek Nation, and had to be issued by the governor of Georgia or an Indian Agent from the federal government. The state of Tennessee also issued passports for a similar reason – to give a traveler permission to pass through the Cherokee Nation. The majority of the existing Tennessee passports were issued by the Tennessee Secretary of State.
There are several options for access to the information. Many libraries nationwide have printed copies in their genealogy collections. The state archives in states such as Georgia, Tennessee and North/South Carolina have information on available on this topic in their collections. The National Archives has the complete set of passports in their collections. Internet sites such as Ancestry and FamilySearch are additional options for research. For more information on this topic, please consider the following options.
Bryan, Mary G. Passports Issued by Governors of Georgia 1810-1820. 1964 Not currently available in Lee County Library System but available on FamilySearch.
Robertson, Craig. The Passport in America: The History of a Document. 2010 Not currently available in the Lee County Library System but available through inter-library loan. https://www.leegov.com/library/services/interlibrary-loan