A Swedish Emigrant’s Journey: 1880 Cunard Line Steerage Passage from Gothenburg to Boston

📌 Discover a rare 1880 Cunard Line Steerage Passage Contract from Gothenburg to Boston. This historical document provides insight into Swedish immigration, the cost of passage, and the steerage class experience aboard a Cunard steamship. Essential reading for genealogists, historians, and maritime travel enthusiasts!

Cunard Line Steerage Passage Contract for Passage from Gothenburg to Boston Dated 4 June 1880. GGA Image ID # 12d47c801c

Passage Contract Summary

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 4 June 1880
• Steamship Line: Cunard Line
• Steamship: Unknown
• Route: Gothenburg to Boston
• Ticket Type: Passage Contract
• Voyage Class: Steerage
• Name on Contract: Luders Engström
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): Swedish
• Contract Terms: Limited Translation from Swedish
• Cost of Ticket: $ 30.00 / $783.00 in 2020 USD

Contents of Passage Contract

Agent for Sverige: Charles A. Berglund - Hufvudkontor: Göteborg

Agent i Hull : F. H. Laube - Victoria Chambers Posterngate

Agent i Liverpool: B. & C. Mac Iver - 1 Rumford Street

Agent i Boston: P. H. Du Vernet - 99 State Street

Agent i New York : C. G. Fruneklyn - 4 Bowling Green

Charles A. Berglund, Göteborg, ombud för D. & C. Mac Iver, Liverpool, och befullmäktigad utvandrings-agent, samt nedanstående utvandrare.

I the undersigned, Ch. A. Berglund, hereby engage to forward the herein mentioned emigrants from Gothenburg to Boston Mass. for the sum of $ 30, being payment in full, inclusive landing expenses in America.

The departure from here will take place in Royal Mail Steamer on the 4 of June 1880

From Gothenburg the passengers are forwarded on place to Hull, and further, never later than twelve hours after the customhouse examination to Liverpool, in third class carriages on the railroad. With the first Steamer belonging to the Cunard Line (The Cunard Steamship Company Limited) the departure from Liverpool will take place never later than eight days from the arrival there.

In the above payment is included:

place in the Steamers and third class carriages on the railroads Forwarding of luggage viz: 10 cubic- feet, half for children; also good and sufficient food from Gothenburg to the landing place in Amerika free lodgings in Hull and Liverpool.

Should this contract on my part not be fulfilled or any misinterpretation thereof arise on either side, then I bind and declare myself willing to submit to and abide by the stipulations comprised in the 5:th Sections, 6:th Clause of the Government Emigrant Regulation of 5th February 1869.

Göteborg i Poliskammaren den 4 June 1880

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative values of $30.00 from 1880 ranges from $709.00 to $59,900.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $783.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $30 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1880 to 2020.

This may not be the best answer.

The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project.

If you want to compare the value of a $30.00 Commodity in 1880 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $783.00
• labor value of that commodity is $6,080.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $8,790.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $9,120.00
• economic share of that commodity is $59,900.00

If you want to compare the value of a $30.00 Income or Wealth, in 1880 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $783.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $6,080.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $8,790.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $9,120.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $59,900.00

If you want to compare the value of a $30.00 Project in 1880 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $709.00
• labor cost of that project is $6,080.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $8,790.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $9,120.00
• economy cost of that project is $59,900.00

Source: www.measuringworth.com Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1790 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2022.

🚢 Cunard Line Passage Contract - A Journey from Sweden to America (1880) 🇸🇪➡️🇺🇸

🌍 A Historical Look at Transatlantic Migration

The Cunard Line Steerage Passage Contract from June 4, 1880, documents a critical aspect of 19th-century immigration—prepaid passage for European emigrants seeking a new life in America. This particular contract, issued for Luders Engström, details his journey from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Boston, Massachusetts, via Hull and Liverpool, England. It provides a rare insight into the steerage class experience, including its costs, contractual obligations, and travel conditions.

For teachers, students, historians, and genealogists, this document is a valuable artifact—an authentic link to the millions of immigrants who crossed the Atlantic in search of opportunity. It is an especially compelling piece for those researching Swedish emigration and the Cunard Line’s role in transatlantic travel.

📜 Key Highlights of the Passage Contract

📅 Date of Purchase: June 4, 1880

🚢 Steamship Line: Cunard Line

🏴‍☠️ Route: Gothenburg ➡ Hull ➡ Liverpool ➡ Boston

🎟️ Ticket Type: Passage Contract (Steerage)

💰 Cost of Ticket: $30.00 (Equivalent to $783.00 in 2020 USD)

👤 Passenger: Luders Engström

🛳️ Travel Class: Steerage

🛤️ The Journey - From Sweden to America

📍 Step 1: Departing Gothenburg, Sweden

Engström and other emigrants boarded a Royal Mail Steamer on June 4, 1880, embarking on the first leg of their journey—a relatively short voyage from Gothenburg to Hull, England.

📍 Step 2: Transfer in Hull

Upon arrival in Hull, passengers underwent customs inspections before being transported via third-class train carriages to Liverpool, where they awaited their transatlantic departure.

📍 Step 3: Liverpool to Boston via Cunard Line

Within eight days of arrival in Liverpool, passengers were placed on a Cunard Line steamship bound for Boston. This contract guaranteed each traveler a spot in steerage class, along with:

✔️ 10 cubic feet of luggage space

✔️ Adequate food for the journey

✔️ Lodging in Hull & Liverpool

📜 Terms & Conditions of the Contract

This legally binding contract outlined strict terms to protect both the passenger and the shipping company:

✅ Guaranteed Transit - The agent, Charles A. Berglund, assured that Luders Engström would be transported without delay.

✅ No Unjust Fees - The ticket included all costs for food, lodging, and baggage allowances.

✅ Swedish Emigrant Law Compliance - The agreement adhered to the 1869 Swedish Government Emigrant Regulations, ensuring fair treatment.

✅ Refund Policy - In case of non-fulfillment, passengers could seek redress under Swedish emigrant law.

📸 Noteworthy Images in the Collection

🖼️ 📜 Cunard Line Steerage Passage Contract - A fascinating, official historical document showcasing the prepaid ticket system for Swedish emigrants.

🖼️ 👤 Close-up of Immigrant Engström - A rare and personalized look at an individual Swedish emigrant's journey.

💰 Cost of Passage in Today’s Money 💵

In 2020 USD, the $30 passage cost in 1880 equates to a range from $783 to $59,900, depending on economic context:

💰 Basic purchasing power: $783

💰 Labor value: $6,080 (based on unskilled wage)

💰 Income comparison: $9,120

💰 Economic share equivalent: $59,900

This cost was a significant investment for immigrants, representing a life-changing journey that required family support, savings, or sponsorships.

📜 Why This Contract is Important for Historians & Genealogists

For genealogists, this primary source document provides vital details about 19th-century immigration routes, costs, and legal frameworks.

For historians, it illustrates Swedish migration patterns and the role of Cunard Line in bringing thousands of immigrants to North America.

For teachers & students, it serves as an authentic classroom artifact to discuss global migration, economic conditions, and travel hardships of the 1800s.

🌊 Final Thoughts - A Window into 19th Century Migration 🚢

This Cunard Line Passage Contract offers a remarkable glimpse into the transatlantic migration experience of the 19th century. The contract’s details showcase the realities of steerage travel, from financial costs to logistical arrangements, making it an invaluable resource for those exploring maritime history and ancestral migration.

For Swedish-Americans tracing their lineage, or anyone interested in the Great Wave of Immigration, this document tells the story of courage, hope, and a journey across the Atlantic. 🌍✨

Would you have braved steerage class for a new life in America in 1880? 🤔