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Showing 50 of 800 matches — scanned Natal, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad + Sri Lanka registers
Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
No 486 met f 504 Paramaribo 1902 19 April. Ik heb de eer UHoogEdelGestrenge beleefd te verzoeken mij voor het equivalent in Ponden Sterling van bijgaand bedrag van f 504 (vijf honderd en vier gulden) te willen doen toekomen een order op onzen Emigratie Agent te Calcutta, zijnde dit bedrag remises van de navolgende Br. Ind. immigranten: f 50 van Moti 686/V a/z. schoonmoeder Parowti f 29 “ Lalji 435/Ee a/z. broer Nanku f 15 “ Sakatu 1037/U a/z. oom Jaggu f 20 “ Rameshur 348/VR a/z. broer Jawahir f 200 “ Buldeo Rai 1177/R a/z. broer Ramdorus f 50 “ Lachmun 437/Y a/z. zoons Hanumandutt en RamdarKhan f 50 “ Ramharack 1037/VR a/z. broer Sewnath f 50 “ Bindessuri Panday 1038/VR a/z. broer Ramnath f 40 “ Moosun 1701/R a/z. broer Seetaram. De agent generaal, Administrateur v. financiën Beheerder v/h Immigratiefonds met potlood in de marge: f 50 29 15 20 200 50 50 50 f 464 40 f 504
District Beneden-Commewijne.Immigratie20-11-1902No. 2334Station Frederiksdorp, 25 November 1902No. 1423,Somun 748/W en Sahatu 1037/U vervoegden zich bij mij met het verzoek voor hen inlichtingen in te winnen omtrent hunne remises door mijne tusschenkomst verzonden respectievelijk bij schrijven aan UHoogedelgestrenge geddo. 26 November 1901 No. 1154 en 28 Maart 1902 No. 327.Ik heb daarom de eer UHoogedelgestrenge beleefd te verzoeken mij daaromtrent te willen inlichten.De Districts-Commissaris,HandtekeningDen Heer Agent-Generaal.Met potlood:-Heer Mayfolio 305folio 341aantekeningbij DC Ben Comm 29-11-1902 N 1813
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Listed in the CHDH_SURINAME archive.
Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
District beneden Commewijne Stn . frederiksdorp, den 20 febr 1905 No279 Bijlagen: Imm depart Dd 21 febr1905 No466 Ik heb de eer UEDG hiernevens te doen toekomen een remise groot f 50 en 4 koeliebrieven bestemd ter verzending naar Br Indie ten mijne bureele bezorgd door: Reoti no 1045/U voor zijne schoonzuster Deoki; van Chinku no 671/Ee aan zijnen broeder Tahal, van Nasrang no 814/Ee aan zijnen broeder Asraf, van Ramlochan no 90/bb aan zijnen broeder Rampergash en van Mahamed Hussain no 169/Ff aan zijne gehuwd oom Gulamobas. De DC (handtek) Den heer AG z.oz.
Suriname Imm depart Volgnummer Bedrag f 50 datum den 20 febr 1905 Van: Naam Reoti Nummer 1045 Letter U Scheepsnummer 359 Br Beer Sekse mannelijk Kaste Brahmin Woonplaats Alkmaar Betrekking tot de remise overgemaakt zwager Aan: Naam Deoki Vadersnaam onbekend Kaste Brahmin beroep----------- zillah Agra pargannah admaidpore thanah admaidpore gawn kathi aanmerkingen bij afwezigheid van Deoki wenscht Reoti no 1045/U het bedrag terug te ontvangen
Param 6 mrt 1905 No303 Met f 75 Ikheb de eer UEDG te verzoeken mij voor het equivalent in ponden sterling van bijgaand bedrag van f 75 (vijf en zeventig gulden0 te willen doen toekomen een order op onze EA te Calcutta, zijnde de remises van: Reoti no 1045/U aan zijn jongere zuster Deoki f 50 Nangu no 174/ee aan zijn moeder Bhoudee f 25 Dewd AG A v F Beh v/h IF
(opm.: hele brief met potlood geschreven) Paramo 8 Juni 1907 No 620/9 met f 671 f 50 = £ 4-3-4 20 = 1-13-4 25 = 2-1-8 100 = 8-6-8 100 = 8-6-8 30 = 2-10-0 50 = 4-3-4 80 = 6-13-4 16 = 1-6-8 --- -------- f 471 = £ 39-5-0- 200 = 16-13-4 ------- ------------ 671 £ 55-18-4 Ik heb de eer UHEG te verzoeken mij voor het equivalent in Ponden Sterling van bijgaand bedrag van Zes honderd een en zeventig gulden, te willen doen toekomen een order op onzen Emigratie agent te Calcutta, zijnde de remises van Reoti No 1045/U, aan zijne schoonzuster Devki f 50.- Neipal No 45/Hh “ “ vrouw Sookdea 20.- Lachman N 24/Hh “ “ broeder Behari 25 Ganpat N 345/Ff “ “ “ Durga 100- Janno N 344/Ff “ “ vader Adday 100.- Gungadin N 364/Ff “ “ “ Ramcharun 30 Sagram No 138/Ff “ “ “ Mohabir 50 Jaitu N 1261/Ee “ “ broeder Taju 80 Gajadhar N 71/Hh “ “ vader Daswat 16 Alam sing N 993/VR “ “ broeders Amar Sing en Kharagjit Sing 200- ---------------- f 671 Den Heer Administrateur van Financien Beheerder v/h Imm fonds
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Source: Centrale Historische Database van Hindostanen (CHDH) / Sarnámihuis (opens in new tab) — Used with permission (digitised by S. Hira & M. Hassankhan, 1998; Calcutta letters S. Hira & T. Sitaram, 2021)
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Or add a village, ship, or year filter to narrow further
Tamil indenture records are historical documents from 1834-1920 that tracked Indian laborers who migrated to British, French, and Dutch colonies under contract (indenture) labor systems. After the abolition of slavery in 1833, colonial plantations needed workers — over 1.5 million Indians, including approximately 500,000 Tamils, migrated as indentured laborers to sugar estates, tea plantations, and infrastructure projects across the world.
These records include ship manifests, immigration passes, arrival registers, and employment contracts. They typically contain the migrant's name, father's name, age, caste, village of origin (often in Tamil Nadu), physical description, ship name, departure port, arrival date, and destination.
241,000+ recordsvia III (Indentured Immigration Index)
Largest Tamil diaspora destination. Ships departed from Madras and Pondicherry every 2-3 weeks during peak migration (1860-1890). Voyage duration: 6-8 weeks.
12,000+ recordsvia Girmitiya Madras
Tamil migrants from Madras Presidency. "Girmitiya" (from English "agreement") refers to indentured laborers. Voyage: 8-10 weeks via Colombo.
152,000+ recordsvia GLDC (Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre)
Natal sugar estates. The Truro (1860) — the first indentured ship — departed from Madras. Voyage: 10-12 weeks via Cape of Good Hope.
6,000+ recordsvia TNA (The National Archives, Kew)
UK outward passenger lists (Board of Trade BT 26/27) — ships leaving British ports for India and the colonies. Catalogue-level: useful for provenance, not per-person names.
Archives in progress
Dutch Guiana plantations. Tamil migrants via British India. Ships departed Madras and Calcutta. Voyage: 8-10 weeks.
Madras (Chennai) — Primary Departure Port
The vast majority of Tamil migrants departed from Madras Harbor. Recruitment centers (depots) operated in Madras city where migrants underwent medical examination, received travel documents (immigration pass), and boarded ships. Common routes: Madras → Mauritius (6-8 weeks), Madras → Fiji (8-10 weeks via Colombo), Madras → Guyana/Trinidad (10-12 weeks via Cape of Good Hope).
Pondicherry (Puducherry) — French Territory
French colonial port serving migrants to French colonies (Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique) and some British destinations. Smaller volume than Madras but significant for southern Tamil Nadu districts (Tanjore, Tiruchirapalli).
Hundreds of ships transported Tamil migrants between 1834-1920. Major vessels include:
Truro
Madras → Guyana (1860s), Natal
Sheila
Madras → Mauritius (1850s-70s)
Hesperus
Madras → Mauritius & Caribbean
Atlas
Madras → Fiji & Mauritius
British Empire
Madras → Natal, South Africa
Ganges
Multiple routes from Madras
Main
Madras → Trinidad (1870s-90s)
Syria
Madras → Mauritius & Réunion
Fath Al Salem
Early ship to Trinidad (1840s-50s)
Ship manifests list each passenger with detailed information, making them invaluable genealogical sources. Search by ship name above if you know your ancestor's vessel.
Typical fields in Tamil indenture records:
Full name of migrant
Often transliterated from Tamil
Father's name (patronymic)
Critical for Tamil identification
Age at departure
Usually 18-35 years old
Caste / community
E.g., Pariah, Vellala, Naidu
Village of origin
District and taluk when recorded
Physical description
Height, marks, complexion
Ship name
Vessel that transported them
Indenture/pass number
Unique identifier
Departure & arrival dates
Exact dates when recorded
Destination & estate
Colony and employer assignment
Family relationships
If migrating with spouse/children
Note: The level of detail varies by colonial archive, time period, and record type. Earlier records (1840s-1860s) tend to have less information than later ones (1880s-1920).
Document Digitisation
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Ship manifests, birth certificates, indenture passes — we digitise, verify, and structure them in your tree.
Historical Context
Understand why your ancestor migrated — not just when
Explore 30+ key Tamil historical events from 1834 to present — indenture, famines, independence movements, and migration waves. See which events overlapped with your ancestor's lifetime.