The Southamptonshire reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Southamptonshire

The modern English county of Hampshire was until 1st April 1959 called the County of Southampton or Southamptonshire.

The old name appears as the place of embarkation of many of the immigrants into Ellis Island. It is recorded in the 'Commonwealth Instrument of Government, 1653[1]', which was adopted by Oliver Cromwell when he assumed the office of 'Lord Protector' in 1654.

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