In some families relatives may have remained in contact decades after they last lived in close proximity to each other. I’m researching a family where some individuals immigrated from England to the United States in the 1820s, settling eventually in Philadelphia. Fortysome years later, a niece and her family immigrated from England as well and likely settled near (or with little logistical assistance from) the family who was already in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Some families kept in touch over the years and some did not—just like today. In some ways it was more difficult, but it was not impossible.<\/p>\n