It appears that my great great grandfather John Fay along with his four young children and possibly his wife arrived in New Orleans (alive) in late spring 1847. From oral family history I know that my gg grandfather and his sister were orphans, and raised by separate families, though in close proximity to one another in Illinois.

How do I find out what happened to the rest of the family members that came over here? Where should I start looking?
I do not find the husband, wife or two other children in any death records in Ancestry.com or in IL or LA records. The passenger list does show they made to New Orleans alive.

I would appreciate any suggestions/research ideas that can be provided.

Best Regards,
Susan

Have you checked 1850 mortality census in the county where you know your ancestor ended up in? Have you tried working backwards from known FAY locations, church records,biographies,probate,estate and guardianships,etc? 1850 mortality census for Marshall County,IL lists a John FAY age 40 died of consumption(TB)b. Ireland and married. (I looked at this on mormon pilot website) That entry can be matched to actual 1850 census entry..which I didn't do...there's a column on mortality which gives regualr census page.

It will help a lot if you list family members, birth years, and places.
RC

Thanks for the great ideas. I have not checked probate/estate or guardianships yet, I will check in IL for that, as well as the 1850 mortality census if it is available for Adams and Brown county IL. I don't know what the morman pilot website is, but will look for it.

Thanks again. I am so new at this, that I was just trying the standard routes of church records and ancestry with no luck.

I tried to do that with an original post and I got an error/warning from ancestry that I couldn't post what I had, so I took out a lot of that stuff, since I really was just needing some help on where to start looking for more information. I don't know why it would let me post that stuff but it sure wouldn't let me.

The mormon pilot website
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=home
You should list names and approximate ages,locations years in IL. Would help us help you.
When I started in genealogy over 20years ago, I read several genealogy guide books through my library. Most suggested start with yourself and work backwards through birth certificates,marriage licenses and death certificates, at the same time check census and church records,biographies and civil records(probate,estate and guardianship records in IL start in mid 1830's and precede death records by at least 40 years). Probate/estate and guardianship records in IL are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at county courthouse. There maybe a genealogy or historical society that can help with these. Also check
www.raogk.com
Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness
Kathy