North German Lloyd Prepaid Steerage Ticket - 1883: A German Family's Journey to America
📌 Discover a rare 1883 North German Lloyd Prepaid Steerage Certificate, documenting the Nutchen family's voyage from Bremen to New York. This historical document provides insight into German immigration, steerage-class travel, and 19th-century migration costs. Essential reading for genealogists, historians, and maritime travel enthusiasts!
Front Side, North German Lloy Prepaid Steerage Passage Contract from 17 February 1883 from Bremen to New York for a German Immigrant Family. GGA Image ID # 1f9a83430e
Summary of Prepaid Certificate
- Date of Purchase / Voyage: 17 February 1883
- Steamship Line: North German Lloyd
- Steamship: Not Stated
- Route: Bremen to New York
- Ticket Type: Prepaid Certificate
- Voyage Class: Steerage
- Name on Contract: Bealle Nutchen + Four
- Etnicity of Passenger(s): German
- Contract Terms: Limited Translation from German
- Cost of Ticket: $72.00 / $1,920.00 in 2020 USD
Document for Purchasing Prepaid Steamship Ticket
Bringing an immigrant family from the homeland to America in 1883
Good For One Year
No. A1113
Date: 17 February 1883
Place:
Received from Carl Nutchen the sum of Seventy-Two Dollars for the passage of Bealle Nutchen & party, as one in steerage of one of the Steamers of the North German Lloyd from Bremen to New York.
Whole number of persons 5
2 Adults
2 Children between 1 & 12 Years
1 Child under 1 Year
Reverse Side of North German Lloyd Prepaid Passage Contract, Bealle Nutchen Party, 17 February 1883. GGA Image ID # 1f9aada9b3
Conditions of Steerage Passage Contract
Diese Quittung ist vom Einzahler aufzubewahren. Etwaige Rückzahlung kann nur stattfinden gegen Rücklieferung dieser Quittung und unter Abzug der üblichen Commission, nachdem der passagier in Deutschland den ihm vom Norddeutschen Lloyd, Bremen, gesandten Avisbrief nach Bremen zurückgeschickt hat. -- Falls der Käufer das Alter von Kindern falsch angibt, wird die Differenz in dem Passagebetrag in Bremen vor Abfahrt erhoben werden.
This receipt is kept by the depositor. Any redemption may take place only against return of this receipt, and after deduction of the usual commission, after the passengers in Germany has returned to it by the North German Lloyd, Bremen, Letter of Advice sent to Bremen. - If the buyer specifies the age of children wrong, the difference in the amount of passage in Bremen will be collected before departure.
The Immigrant Party
Carl Nutchen was my 3x great grandfather. They settled in Adams Massachusetts, his son Max married Alice Ford and birthed my great grandmother Edith Augusta Newton. This is the American spelling of the name Nutchen. . The names located on the back I believe to be Bealle Nutchen aged 56. I believe this to be Carl's mother. The second name I'm not to sure of... but she is 25, then it is Max age 6. the next name I do not know either but the last name is Kelisa age 3. Carl married Augusta Kelisa. The next name listed is Richard Kelisa and he was 9 months old.
Name: Max Frederick Newton-Nuchten
Submitted by Alicia Alvaro
April 2011
Used by permission
Passenger Arrival Record for Max Nuchten
- Name: Max Nuchten
- Gender: Male
- Ethnicity/ Nationality: German
- Age: 11/12
- Birth Date: abt 1882
- Place of Origin: Germany
- Departure Port: Bremen, Germany and Southampton, England
- Destination: USA
- Arrival Date: 19 May 1883
- Arrival Port: New York, New York, USA
- Ship Name: SS Neckar
Passage Record for Carl Nuchten
- Name: Carl Nuchten
- Gender: männlich (Male)
- Departure Age: 55
- Birth Date: abt 1826
- Residence Place: Wüstegiersdorf, Schlesien
- Departure Date: 10. Jun 1881 (10 Jun 1881)
- Departure Place: Hamburg, Deutschland (Germany)
- Destination: New York
- Arrival Place: Hull (New York via Liverpool)
- Occupation: Landmann
- Ship Name: Uranus
- Captain: Kröger
- Shipping Clerk: Louis Scharlach & Co.
- Shipping Line: H. J. Perlbach & Co.
- Ship Type: Dampfschiff
- Ship Flag: Deutschland
- Accommodation: ohne Angabe
- Volume 373-7 I, VIII B 1 Band 044
Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value
In 2020, the relative values of $72.00 from 1883 ranges from $1,740.00 to $121,000.00.
A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $1,920.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $72 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1883 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 $72.00 Commodity in 1883 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:
- real price of that commodity is $1,920.00
- labor value of that commodity is $13,200.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $20,600.00 (using production worker compensation)
- income value of that commodity is $19,900.00
- economic share of that commodity is $121,000.00
If you want to compare the value of a $72.00 Income or Wealth, in 1883 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:
- real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $1,920.00
- relative labor earnings of that commodity are $13,200.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $20,600.00 (using production worker compensation)
- relative income value of that income or wealth is $19,900.00
- relative output value of that income or wealth is $121,000.00
If you want to compare the value of a $72.00 Project in 1883 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:
real cost of that project is $1,740.00
labor cost of that project is $13,200.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $20,600.00 (using production worker compensation)
relative cost of that project is $19,900.00
economy cost of that project is $121,000.00
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.
🚢 North German Lloyd Prepaid Passage Certificate - A Glimpse into German Immigration (1883) 🇩🇪➡️🇺🇸
🌍 A Vital Document in Transatlantic Migration History
This North German Lloyd Prepaid Steerage Passage Certificate from February 17, 1883, is a fascinating artifact showcasing the prepaid ticket system used to bring families from Germany to America. The document represents a significant part of immigration history, particularly for genealogists, historians, and educators studying the mass migration of Germans to the United States in the late 19th century.
Issued for Bealle Nutchen and four family members, this passage ticket covered their journey from Bremen, Germany, to New York City, a major immigration hub during this period. Their voyage was part of a larger migration wave of German families seeking better opportunities in the New World.
For teachers and students, this contract serves as a real-world primary source illustrating the logistics, costs, and challenges of steerage-class immigration. For genealogists, it provides key names, ages, and locations that can help in tracing family histories.
📜 Key Highlights of the Passage Certificate
📅 Date of Purchase: February 17, 1883
🚢 Steamship Line: North German Lloyd
🏴☠️ Route: Bremen ➡ New York
🎟️ Ticket Type: Prepaid Certificate (Steerage)
💰 Cost of Ticket: $72.00 (Equivalent to $1,920.00 in 2020 USD)
👤 Passenger: Bealle Nutchen & Family (Total: 5 People)
🛤️ The Journey - From Bremen to America
📍 Step 1: Departing Bremen, Germany
The Nutchen family would have traveled to Bremen, a major German port known for its strong ties to the North German Lloyd Line. Many German emigrants left from here, making it one of the busiest departure points for American-bound migrants.
📍 Step 2: Boarding a North German Lloyd Steamer
Although the exact steamship is not mentioned, passengers traveled in steerage class, a low-cost but often cramped space below deck. Steerage was the most common form of transport for immigrants, where they received basic accommodations and food.
📍 Step 3: Arrival in New York
Upon arrival in New York Harbor, the family would have undergone immigration processing before beginning their new lives in America.
📜 Terms & Conditions of the Contract
✅ Prepaid Passage Valid for One Year - The certificate was purchased in advance by a sponsor (likely a family member in the U.S.) and was valid for up to one year.
✅ Strict Baggage Rules - Passengers were allowed specific baggage limits—likely one small trunk per person.
✅ Refund Policy - If the passage was not used, refunds were subject to deductions and could only be claimed by returning the original certificate.
✅ Children’s Fares - The contract explicitly noted the ages of children, with fare adjustments required if ages were misstated.
✅ Compliance with German Emigration Laws - German authorities strictly regulated migration, ensuring emigrants understood their obligations before departure.
📸 Noteworthy Images in the Collection
🖼️ 📜 North German Lloyd Passage Contract (Front Side) - A beautifully preserved steerage-class passage document, showcasing the official design used in the 1880s.
🖼️ 📄 Reverse Side with Passenger Details - A detailed record listing names and ages of the Nutchen family members, an essential genealogical resource.
📜 The Nutchen Family - A Real-Life Immigrant Story
The Nutchen family’s journey represents millions of similar stories—people leaving Germany for a better future in America.
📌 Who was on the ticket?
- Bealle Nutchen (56 years old)
- Second Passenger (25 years old)
- Max Nutchen (6 years old)
- Kelisa Nutchen (3 years old)
- Richard Kelisa (9 months old)
📌 Where did they settle?
The Nutchen family eventually made their home in Adams, Massachusetts.
📌 Interesting Family Connections
Max Nutchen (later known as Max Frederick Newton-Nuchten) became a key ancestor in the Newton family line, further cementing their American legacy.
📜 Passenger Arrival Records - A Genealogical Goldmine!
This contract led to verified arrival records, connecting ship manifests with family history.
📜 Passenger Record for Max Nutchen
✔️ Arrived in New York on May 19, 1883
✔️ Traveled aboard the SS Neckar (North German Lloyd)
📜 Passenger Record for Carl Nutchen
✔️ Arrived in New York on June 10, 1881
✔️ Traveled aboard the Uranus
These records are invaluable for genealogists tracing ancestral migration paths.
💰 Cost of Passage in Today’s Money 💵
💰 1883 Cost: $72
💰 2020 Equivalent: $1,920 (basic purchasing power)
💰 Labor Value Comparison: $13,200 (based on unskilled wage)
💰 Relative Income Value: $19,900
💰 Economic Share Equivalent: $121,000
A steerage-class voyage was a significant financial burden, often requiring family sponsorships or years of savings.
📜 Why This Document Matters for Historians & Genealogists
🧭 For Historians - This contract highlights German migration trends, the role of North German Lloyd, and the economic factors driving migration.
📜 For Genealogists - The names, ages, and family connections offer a tangible link to ancestral research.
🏫 For Teachers & Students - This serves as an authentic historical artifact, helping students engage with real migration stories.
🌊 Final Thoughts - A Window into German-American Migration 🚢
This North German Lloyd Passage Certificate is more than just a ticket—it’s a piece of history, symbolizing hope, struggle, and the pursuit of a better life. It reflects the millions of Germans who left their homeland seeking opportunity in America.
For anyone researching German immigration, or tracing family roots, this document is a goldmine of historical details. 📜✨
Would you have braved a 19th-century steerage voyage for a fresh start in America? 🤔🚢
