SS Laurentian (1907): An Irish-American’s Transatlantic Voyage – A Rare Passage Contract

📌 Discover a 1907 steerage passage contract for Mary McGovern, traveling from Boston to Londonderry aboard Allan Line’s SS Laurentian. This historical document provides insight into transatlantic migration, ticketing practices, and life in third-class travel. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and maritime enthusiasts! 🚢

Allan Line SS Laurentian Eastward Passage Ticket, 20 July 1907, Boston to Londonderry. GGA Image ID # 2722abb501

Agent's Record Summary

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 20 July 1907
• Steamship Line: Allan Line
• Steamship: SS Laurentian
• Route: Boston to Londonderry
• Ticket Type: Agent's Record
• Voyage Class: Third Class
• Name on Contract: Mary McGovern
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): American?
• Contract Terms: Limited
• Cost of Ticket: $26.50 / $753.00 USD in 2020

Agent's Record Description

Passenger Ticket for a 23-year-old woman booked on the Allan Line Steamship Laurentian in 3rd Class (Steerage) from Boston to Londonderry, England leaving on 20 July 1907.

This would represent the Agent's record of the transaction as it states the amount of commission earned on this ticket.

ALLAN LINE

Room. ___

No. 5035

Berth No. ___

Eastward Passage Ticket

Dated at Prov. July 20, 1907

Ship: Laurentian

To Sail From: Boston

On The 26 Day Of July 1907

For 3rd Class Passage

Through to Lderry (Londonderry)

Name of Passenger: Mary McGovern

Age: 23

Amount: 26.50

Address: 111 Althea Street, Boston, MA

Gross Amount: $26.50

Agent's Commission: $2.00

Net Amount to Allan Line: $24.50

Document Information

• Date: 20 July 1907
• Ticket Number: 5035
• Dimensions: 9.5 x 18.2 cm

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative values of $26.50 from 1907 ranges from $552.00 to $16,200.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $753.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $26.50 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1907 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 $26.50 Commodity in 1907 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $753.00
• real value in consumption of that commodity is $1,670.00
• labor value of that commodity is $3,620.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $4,980.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $4,270.00
• economic share of that commodity is $16,200.00

If you want to compare the value of a $26.50 Income or Wealth , in 1907 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $753.00
• household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $1,670.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $3,620.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $4,980.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $4,270.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $16,200.00

If you want to compare the value of a $26.50 Project in 1907 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $552.00
• household cost of that project is $1,670.00
• labor cost of that project is $3,620.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $4,980.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $4,270.00
• economy cost of that project is $16,200.00

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.

🚢 SS Laurentian (1907): A Voyage from Boston to Londonderry

📜 Overview: A One-Way Ticket Across the Atlantic

This third-class passage contract, dated 20 July 1907, documents Mary McGovern's eastward journey from Boston to Londonderry, Ireland, aboard the SS Laurentian of the Allan Line. This ticket represents an agent’s record of the sale, detailing the cost of passage, agent commissions, and financial transactions between the ticketing agency and the Allan Line.

This primary source is invaluable for studying:

✔️ Transatlantic migration patterns in the early 20th century.

✔️ Economic conditions affecting travel costs and migration decisions.

✔️ Passenger demographics and their reasons for travel.

✔️ Shipping industry practices, including ticket pricing and agent commissions.

📌 Why is this important? This document reveals the intricate business of ocean travel, providing details not just about passengers, but also ticketing practices, pricing structures, and agent involvement in migration logistics.

🌍 Who Would Find This Document Valuable?

📖 Teachers & Students – Offers insight into early 20th-century transatlantic migration, helping students understand the financial and logistical aspects of steamship travel.

🧬 Genealogists – Confirms passenger identity, departure location, and intended destination, serving as an essential ancestral record.

📜 Historians – Highlights transatlantic migration trends, economic factors influencing travel, and the role of shipping companies like the Allan Line.

🛳 Maritime Enthusiasts – Provides details about the SS Laurentian, a lesser-known yet significant vessel in the Allan Line fleet.

📜 Key Details of the Passage Contract

📅 Date of Purchase: 20 July 1907

📅 Departure Date: 26 July 1907

🚢 Steamship Line: Allan Line

🛳 Steamship: SS Laurentian

🌍 Route: Boston → Londonderry, Ireland

🎟 Ticket Type: Agent’s Record of Sale

💰 Cost of Ticket: $26.50 (~$753 in 2020 USD)

🛏 Voyage Class: Third Class (Steerage)

👤 Passenger: Mary McGovern (23 years old, Irish-American?)

📌 Agent’s Commission: $2.00 (Net payment to Allan Line: $24.50)

📌 Did You Know? The Allan Line was one of the leading shipping companies for transatlantic migration, particularly for Irish, Scottish, and Canadian routes.

🛳 The Journey: Transatlantic Travel for Returning Immigrants

Many Irish immigrants who came to America in the late 19th century eventually returned to Ireland for family visits, marriages, or permanent resettlement.

✔️ Was Mary McGovern a returning Irish immigrant?

✔️ Was she visiting family, or planning to permanently stay in Ireland?

✔️ Was this part of a seasonal migration pattern?

Possible Reasons for Eastward Travel:

✔️ Family Reconnection – Many immigrants who settled in Boston, New York, and Chicago maintained ties with relatives in Ireland.

✔️ Temporary Stay – Some traveled seasonally between Ireland and America, especially women working as domestic servants.

✔️ Economic Hardship – If employment opportunities in the U.S. declined, returning home was often a financial necessity.

✔️ Marriage or Life Events – Many single women returned to marry or help with family affairs before deciding whether to return to America.

📌 Did You Know? More than a third of Irish immigrants who came to the U.S. between 1850-1920 eventually returned to Ireland.

🛳 The SS Laurentian: A Reliable but Less Known Liner

✔️ Built in 1900, the SS Laurentian was part of the Allan Line’s transatlantic fleet.

✔️ Designed for immigrant transport, with a focus on third-class accommodations.

✔️ Regularly operated between Canada, the U.S., and Ireland, making it a popular choice for Irish immigrants.

✔️ By 1917, the Allan Line merged with the Canadian Pacific Steamships, integrating into Canada’s growing ocean liner network.

📌 Did You Know? The Allan Line was later absorbed by the Canadian Pacific Railway, shifting focus toward Canadian migration.

🛳 Life in Steerage on the SS Laurentian

⚓ What was it like for third-class passengers like Mary McGovern?

✔️ Crowded quarters – Steerage passengers shared large dormitory-style rooms.

✔️ Basic meals – Provided bread, soup, potatoes, and salted meats.

✔️ Limited fresh air – Deck access was restricted, particularly for single women traveling alone.

✔️ Rough seas – Many steerage passengers experienced extreme seasickness.

✔️ Health inspections – Upon arrival, passengers underwent strict medical checks before being allowed to disembark.

📌 Did You Know? Women traveling alone in steerage were often placed in segregated sections for safety reasons.

📜 Noteworthy Images in the Collection

🖼 📜 The Original Passage Contract – A historical artifact documenting transatlantic migration from Boston to Ireland.

🖼 🚢 The SS Laurentian – A lesser-known Allan Line steamship, crucial for returning Irish immigrants.

🖼 📄 Passenger Lists & Agent Records – Confirms ticketing details, agent commissions, and migration patterns.

💰 Cost of Passage: Then vs. Now

💰 1907 Ticket Price: $26.50 (~$99 in 1907 USD)

💰 2020 Equivalent: $753 to $16,200 USD (depending on the economic comparison method)

📌 Comparison with Today:

✔️ A steerage ticket in 1907 was roughly equivalent to a modern-day budget airline ticket for a transatlantic flight.

✔️ The agent’s commission ($2.00) highlights the business of migration, showing how ticketing agents profited from immigrant travel.

🔹 Conclusion: This ticket represents not just a passenger's journey, but also the economic and business mechanics behind transatlantic migration.

🧬 Genealogical & Historical Value of This Document

📜 For Genealogists:

✅ Confirms departure location, ship name, and final destination.

✅ Provides home address (111 Althea St., Boston, MA), aiding family history research.

✅ May connect to other travel records, censuses, or naturalization documents.

🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✅ Showcases the role of steamships in global migration.

✅ Provides a real-world example of Irish-American travel history.

📖 For Historians:

✅ Demonstrates the financial structures of ocean travel (ticket costs, commissions).

✅ Highlights seasonal migration patterns and return migration of Irish immigrants.