De Conincq Family — Maldegem to the USA
The De Coninck family of Maldegem forms one of the most coherent emigration chains toward Rochester and Brighton, New York, with an earlier branch toward Rumely, Michigan. Between 1905 and 1924, siblings, parents and cousins followed one another across the Atlantic — often to the same streets in Rochester.
Michigan branch — Carmania, 1913
On 27 April 1913, several De Coninck family members departed aboard the CARMANIA toward Rumely, Michigan.
Among them were: Charles De Coninck (age 9, born 1904), Edward De Coninck (born 1860), and Renée De Coninck. Their destination was uncle Ferdinand Van De Voorde in Rumely. Notes indicate family ties in Maldegem through uncle August De Coninck.
This Michigan branch appears as an extension of the wider De Coninck network, though most later movements concentrate around New York.
Brighton & Rochester, NY — the main corridor
The central migration wave begins with crossings on the FINLAND (19 September 1907).
Adrienne De Coninck (born 9 December 1901), Celesta, Celina, Emma, Ludovicus, Medard, and Urbain all appear travelling toward brother Camiel De Coninck in Brighton, New York.
Parents frequently recorded are August De Coninck and Amelie De Vogelaere of Maldegem. Several notes mention cousin Noe De Vogelaere in Maldegem, confirming strong De Coninck–De Vogelaere interconnections.
Camiel De Coninck — the anchor in Rochester
At the heart of the New York branch stands Camiel De Coninck.
Camiel (born 30 August 1885) departed on 22 March 1905, later appearing again on the ZEELAND (19 March 1914) and in 1924. He is recorded at addresses in Rochester, NY 14626 and worked as carpenter (1918 records).
Another Camiel (born 4 October 1891), son of Eduard De Coninck and Amelia Trenson (Klein Burkel, Maldegem), departed on the ZEELAND in 1914.
Through Camiel, the Rochester connection solidified. Family members travelled explicitly “to brother Camiel”, showing he functioned as a migration anchor.
Marriage connections
Marriage further strengthened the American branch. Amelia De Coninck (De Vogelaere) arrived in 1907 on the FINLAND, travelling to son Camiel. She later died in Rochester (1943).
Marie (Geysens) travelled in 1912 on the LAPLAND, linked to August De Coninck in Gates, NY. Her husband Camiel was already established in the United States.
Rochester consolidation
By 1918–1930, multiple De Coninck family members are recorded in Rochester and Gates, NY — working as carpenters, railway workers (General Railway Signal Co.), and laborers. Addresses cluster around Humboldt Street and Brighton.
What began as individual departures became a structured migration chain: one sibling settled, then parents followed, then younger brothers and sisters.
Migration pattern
- 1905–1907: First Rochester/Brighton anchor established
- 1912–1914: Larger family reunification wave
- 1918–1924: Consolidation and citizenship
- 1913: Separate Michigan branch (Rumely)
The De Coninck migration shows a classic chain pattern: family-first, destination-stable, and heavily interconnected with the De Vogelaere line.
Hans-note
In the De Coninck story, Rochester is not merely a destination — it becomes a second Maldegem, where family ties were rebuilt street by street, crossing by crossing.
Add scans/photos when ready.