Law Land, his wife, Elizabeth and their young son, Clarence moved to Toronto, Canada sometime after the census in Batley in 1881 and before the birth of Edith in 1883.

Bud Land always said that Law had brothers in Toronto. There were several Lands in the records in Toronto, but I have not been able to establish any relationship to Law.

On the other hand, Elizabeth Sykes had two brothers, Samuel and Robert, in Toronto. The known addresses for the Law Land and his family in Toronto were close to those of Elizabeth's brothers.

Elizabeth also had two uncles and an aunt in Canada: Samuel born 1821, James born 1829 and Mary Sykes Wright born 1832. Samuel went to New York circa 1843. He eventually settled in New Market Ontario. James also first went to the United Sates. He eventually settled in Toronto. Mary Sykes married William Wright in England in 1853. They had several children born in England between 1854 and 1856. They were in Toronto by 1866. See Sykes in Canada.

Elizabeth's brother Samuel immigrated to Toronto in August 1882. According to Helen Land's notes, Elizabeth's brother, Robert, immigrated circa 1885. Elizabeth's brothers, Samuel and Robert Sykes, were listed in the 1891 census in Toronto.

It would appear that Samuel Sykes and his family and Elizabeth and Law immigrated about the same time.

Immigration information from England to Canada that cover the period of time of Law's immigration is very limited.

LDS microfilms 0889451 through 0889453 contain passenger lists to Quebec from 1880 to 1881. Unfortunately, much of the ink is faded and the lists are impossible to read. I was able to find only one immigration records for the Land/Sykes (Samuel in 1882).

Law and Elizabeth were listed in the 1891 census in Toronto. The only other Land family I could find in Toronto was the family of Charles H. Land, who according to the 1901 census was born on June 27, 1849 in Ontario. He was listed in the 1891 and 1901 censuses in Toronto. Both times he was living within a few blocks of the siblings of Elizabeth Sykes. Although Bud Land said Law Land had several brothers who went to Canada before him, Charles H Land does not appear to be closely related (if at all) to Law Land. Charles Land lived in Elora, Ontario where several of his children were born. He subsequently moved to Toronto. Elora is about 50 miles south west of Toronto.

Postmarked 1906

Law and Elizabeth and family moved to Detroit, Michigan. The Lands appear to have entered the United States in late February or early March 1892. Unfortunately, no records were kept for crossings beween Canada and the United States at that time.

Detroit is about 250 miles south/west of Toronto.

Law and family moved to Detroit to be part of a religious commune called the House of Israel located on Hamlin Ave., Detroit. The Lands listed their religion in the 1891 census in Toronto as "House of Israel".

On March 8, 1892 "L. Land of Dupont street, with his wife and family of small children" were listed among the Toronto families who moved to Detroit to join the commune run by Michael Mills (AKA Prince Michael) the leader of the New and Latter House of Israel.

The House of Israel was involved in a major scandal in March 1892 and the leader, Michael Mills (AKA Prince Michael) was sentenced to five years in prison in Jackson, Michigan. See House of Israel

The Lands later gave conflicting information regarding the year of their immigration to the US. According to the US census returns in 1900, 1910, and 1920 the date of immigration varies from 1880 to 1896. According to replies to the 1900 census, Mary Edna and Ruth were born in New York State. However, according to: family tradition, the birth record of Ruth, and the replies to the 1910 census, they Mary Edna and Ruth Land were born in Detroit Michigan in March 1892 and March 1894 respectively.

On his Statement of Intention to become a US citizen, dated January 10, 1899 in Hudson County Common Pleas Court, Law Land says he immigrated to the United States on February 17, 1892. I believe that February 1892 is an accurate date. Naturalization information tends to be more accurate than census information for several reasons:

• The naturalization forms were considered more important documents than the census questionnaire.
• The census questions could have been answered someone not familiar with the right information.

Immigrants entering the United States from Canada around this time did not go through the same process as immigrants entering from Europe. No records were kept on immigration from Canada to the United States until 1895. This may have been more pleasant for the Lands, but it means there is no way to confirm their date of immigration.

Elizabeth Sykes Land went to Canada to visit her brother at least twice, once in 1914 and again in 1922. I do not know if she went alone or with Law in 1914. In 1922, Law, Elizabeth, Percy, Meta, Arnold, Helen, Allen and Buddy all went to Toronto. Records were kept for aliens returning form Canada to the United States from 1895 but by the time Elizabeth went to Canada they were US citizens. I checked the border crossing indexes and did not find any listings for Land.

The records that they may have left in Detroit are few:

• Unfortunately, I was not able to obtain the birth record for Mary Edna.
• There was no address listed on the birth certificate of Ruth.
• There were no censuses in Detroit during the period the Lands have lived there.
• I have not found any church records through LDS that list the Lands.

Law was listed three times in the Detroit city directories.

1. 1892-93 - Law Land - 226 Milwaukee Ave, Detroit 226 E Milwaukee street is one block south of the Grand Boulevard and a few houses in from John R. Street. It is a few blocks from 49 and 107 Hamlin street.

2. 1893 - Law Land 1893 h 107 Hamlin Ave., Detroit Hamil Avenue ran east from Woodward for 3 plus blocks to Oakland Avenue. It was three blocks north of the Grand Boulevard.

   Hamlin Ave was listed in Ward 5 in 1890. In 1891 when Hamilin Ave was paved it was described as between Woodward and Oakland.

   Hamlin Avenue is now called E Bethune Avenue. The 1 to 200 block of Hamlin was between Woodward and John R Street - so the first block off Woodward. There is nothing in the block today.

3. 1894-95 carpt, h 34 Guilloz, Detroit Guilloz St. was a one block street that runs north south between Whitaker Ave and Pallister Ave east of Russell street. It is a few blocks from 49 and 107 Hamlin street. Highway 75 now runs where Guilloz street once was.

RECORDS CHECKED IN DETROIT

LDS microfilm #0955794 contains records for the Memorial Presbyterian Church (Detroit, Michigan). There were no records for Law and Elizabeth Land.

LDS microfilm 0959144 contains records for the First Presbyterian Church (Detroit, Michigan) Although the listing said the records were from 1825 to 1899, the records only went to the 1840s. There were no Lands listed in the parish.

LDS film #1311752 contains the records of several congregational churches in Detroit from 1866 to 1900s there were two listings for Land, relationship unknown:

1. Scott E Land and Mrs Scott E Land, were listed as non-members, dropped by vote of Church March 16, 1888, "have joined church in the West"
2. Dr C H Land, May 4, 1873 received by letter November 25, 1886, "by vote of the church C H Land's name dropped from roll at his request"

	Cadillac Square looking West Detroit, Mich. No postmark
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Law and Elizabeth in Hoboken, New Jersey Sometime after the birth of Ruth in March 1894 and before the birth of Joseph in January 1897, the Lands moved to Hoboken, New Jersey. I have no idea why they made this move. They were living on 14th Street when Joseph was born in January 1897. I can't read the address on Joseph's birth certificate because the ink is faded in places. I can't be sure how long the Land family was in New Jersey. It could be as long as 6 years, if they moved there right after the birth of Ruth, and as little as two years, if the did not move there until just before the birth of Joseph. Most people moved west of their point of entry into the US. The Lands moved east. Hoboken in the late 1890's had a very big German population. Why did they move to Hoboken? Bud Land always said they moved to Hoboken to rebuild the piers which burned. However, the piers did not burn until June 1900. There was a big fire in Hoboken on May 29th, 1897 on the east side of Washington Street, between 12th and 13th streets, which wrecked 19 buildings. Hoboken is only twelve short blocks wide at this point. If the Lands were still living on 14th Street in Hoboken they would have been only a few blocks from the fire.

	St Michael's Monastary West Hoboken, N.J. No year on postmark.
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Law and Elizabeth in Jersey City, New Jersey Sometime between the birth of Joseph in January 1896 and the death of Fredrick in February 1898 the family moved to 12 Floyd Street, Jersey City, New Jersey. The move to Jersey City is not as unusual as the move from Detroit to Hoboken. Hoboken and Jersey City are next to one another and there was a pretty high mobility between the two cities. The Lands were at two different addresses in Jersey City. They were living at 12 Floyd Street in Jersey City when Fred Land died on February 21, 1898, age 8 years and 1 month, of Malignant Scarlet Fever. The Lands were living at 72 Griffiths Street in Jersey City when Norman was born on January 13, 1899. Record for Land in Hoboken and Jersey City There were no Lands listed in the 1894-95 Directory for Hoboken and Jersey City. There were no Lands listed in the 1895-96 Directory for Hoboken and Jersey City. There were no Lands listed in the 1896-97 Directory for Hoboken and Jersey City. In the 1897-98 Directory there were four Lands listed: George, cook, 822 Garden Street, Hoboken James, butcher, 258 R R Ave., Jersey City Law, carp, 205 14th Street, Hoboken Thomas, steamfitter, 610 Garden, Hoboken Note: Joseph Land was born on 14th Street Hoboken in 1896 In 1898-99 there were two Lands listed in the directory: Law, carp, 100 Clinton, Hoboken Thomas F, steamfitter, h. 167 7th, Hoboken Notes: "h" means "house" This listing for Law Land in Hoboken in 1898-99 may be due to: A delay from the time the informations was taken to the time the directory was printed. The Lands were not living in Hoboken from at least February 1898 to January 1899. Fred Land died in Jersey City in February 1898 and Norman Land was born in Jersey City in January 1899 100 Clinton could have been a business address while the family was living in Jersey City There were two Lands listed in the 1899-1900 Directory: Joseph H, driver, 23 Oak, Jersey City Thomas, steamfitter, 106 7th, Hoboken There were two Lands listed in the 1900-1901 Directory: Joseph H, driver, 23 Oak, Jersey City Thomas, steamfitter, 106 7th, Hoboken There were two Lands listed in the 1901-1902 Directory: John, driver, 36 Ege Ave., Jersey City Thomas, steamfitter, 106 7th, Hoboken There was one Land listed in the 1902-1903 Directory: Henry, driver, 36 Ege Ave., Jersey City There were no Lands listed in 1903-04 There was one Land listed in the 1904-1905 Directory: Frank, saloon, 637 Henderson, Jersey City There were no Lands listed from 1905-1908. Law Land filed his Statement of Intention to become a US citizen in Jersey City in 1899. The Lands moved to Hauppauge where they were listed in the 1900 US ensus. Law applied for citizenship in Jersey City in 1901 and gave his address as 213 14th Street, Hoboken Law became a citizen in Jersey City in 1902. The Jersey City Room of the Jersey City Library has a lot of old school records. Unfortunately, the records for the school closest to where the Lands lived in Jersey City do not go back far enough.

	Pennslyvania Ferry and Depot, Jersey City, N.J Post marked 1905
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

The Move to Long Island Sometime after the birth of Norman in January 1899 and before the 1900 Federal census, which is dated June 11, 1900, the Lands moved to Hauppague, Long Island. They were listed in Hauppague in the 1900 census. I am sure the Lands moved to Long Island because Law's mother, Lydia, bought property there in September of 1899. According to the 1900 census the Lands were renting a 50-acre farm in Smithtown. I believe that Law and his family lived on the property owned by Lydia. Law bought the property from her in July 1902. The move to Long Island must have been a very different one for the Lands. Batley, Toronto, Detroit, Hoboken and Jersey City were all urban locations. Hauppague in 1900 was very rural. There are a number of indications that the Lands (at least Law and his son, Percy) travelled back and forth between Hoboken and Hauppague. The Lands were listed in Hauppague in the 1900 census Law Land was naturalized in Jersey City on January 17, 1902. When Law Land bought the property in Hauppauge (Smithtown) from his mother, Lydia Land, in July 1902 he was listed on the deed as living in Hauppague. Law listed Hoboken, New Jersey as his residence when he bought additional land in Hauppague in September of 1903. Percy was living in Hoboken in 1906 when his mother sent him a postcard. Percy met his wife, Meta Petermann in Hoboken. They were married in 1908. There were ferries that ran from Hoboken to Brooklyn. From Brooklyn the trains ran out to Long Island. The Lands probably went back and forth from Hoboken to Smithtown (Hauppague) on the Ronkonkoma line. The Central Islip train station is just a few miles from their known address in 1900.

	The Old Mill Smithtown, Long Island, N. Y. No postmark
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

The Land's Migration Route The migration route for Law and family from their point of entry in Canada was not unusual. Most immigrants from Europe came through a major port city on the east coast (New York, Philadelphia, or Baltimore), a major port cities of the south (New Orleans or Galveston) or in the case of many people from the British Isles through the major port cities in Canada (Halifax or Quebec). Those who did not settle near their port of entry moved westward or in some cases north or south of their port of entry. In keeping with this pattern, the family of Law Land entered the American continent through Canada. The port of entry is not known. The Lands most likely entered the United States through Detroit. The next move from Detroit to Hoboken was outside the normal migration patterns. While most immigrants were moving westward, they moved eastward. Bud Land always said that Law moved where there were big building jobs. There was certainly a lot of construction going on in the New York area. However, there was a lot of construction going on in a lot of other places. The story that Bud Land always told was that Law moved to Hoboken to work on the rebuilding of the piers after a huge fire destroyed them. The problem is that the piers did not burn until June 1900. By the time the piers burned on June 30 1900 the Lands were living in Hauppauge. There must have been some other impetus behind the move to Hoboken. The next move for Law and family is even more unusual in some respects. They moved even further east to Long Island. Law and his family had lived until this point in cities. Moving to Hauppauge was a radical change. Bud Land says Law moved to Long Island to be a construction supervisor when the Central Islip Mental Hospital was built. There is, however, the other wrinkle in the move to Long Island, the property that Lydia owned in Smithtown. Lydia's purchase is obviously part of the property Bud Land always referred to as Law Land's farm.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes Land Lydia Law Land in Philadelphia Samuel Land in Philadelphia The House of Israel Sykes in Upstate New York and Canada Images of Batley England Images of Toronto Images of Detroit Images of Hoboken Images of Hauppauge Images of Central Islip Images of Smithtown

If you wish to use any of the images or information on this page please feel free to do so provided that you give proper acknowledgement to this web site and include the same acknowledgments that I have made to the provenience of the image or information. Thanks, Maggie

©Maggie Land Blanck - Page created 2004 - Latest update, September 2016