SS Furnessia Passenger List 30 May 1901

Front Cover of a Second Class Passenger List from the SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line, Departing Thursday, 30 May 1901 from Glasgow to New York, Commanded by Captain Hugh Young. Illustration Includes Anchor Line Logo, US and UK Flags, Line Art Drawing of the SS Furnessia, and a Scene in New York Harbor Featuring the Statue of Liberty. GGA Image ID # 15b93a5f89

Senior Officers and Staff

• Commander: Captain Hugh Young
• Surgeon: W. H. Parr
• Purser: David Bruce
• Chief Steward: Samuel Hendry
• Matron: Miss Brodie
• Matron: Mrs. Wright
• Matron: Mrs. Aitken

Second Class Passengers

1. Miss Mary Aitken
2. Miss Sarah Allison
3. Mr. Alex. Anderson
4. Mr. David Anderson
5. Mr. James Angus
6. Mrs. Angus
7. Master N. J. Angus
8. Miss Jane A. Angus
9. Master James A. Angus
10. Mr. Charles Basing
11. Mr. A. Beth
12. Mr. Robert E. Boyd
13. Mr. Wm. G. Bremner
14. Mrs. Margaret Burton
15. Mrs. Mary Cameron
16. Mr. John Cameron
17. Miss Grace Cameron
18. Mr. David Cameron
19. Mr. David Cameron, Jr.
20. Mr. John Campbell
21. Miss C. Carmichael
22. Mrs. Clark
23. Miss Eddie Clark
24. Mr. John Darragh
25. Mr. James Dewar
26. Mrs. Dewar
27. Miss Mary E. Dewar
28. Miss Anna B. Dewar
29. Miss Catherine L. Dewar
30. Miss Helen H. Dewar
31. Master Archibald J. Dewar
32. Miss Mary Doherty
33. Miss Barbara Doig
34. Miss Sarah Dougan
35. Mrs. Eileen Elmore
36. Mr. David Ferguson
37. Miss Agnes Ferguson
38. Miss Tina Ferguson
39. Mr. William Forsyth
40. Miss Maggie Freeborn
41. Mr. Thomas Frew
42. Miss Martha Gauslie
43. Mr. Peter Gillespie
44. Mrs. Sarah H. Gillespie
45. Miss Hannah Gillespie
46. Mr. William Gray
47. Mr. Alex. Hanna
48. Miss Mary A. Hanna
49. Miss Annie Hargadon
50. Miss Martha Harper
51. Miss Gertrude Hawthorne
52. Mr. James S. Hay
53. Mr. J. A. Henderson
54. Mr. Rudolf Herzig
55. Mr. Archd. Houston
56. Miss Agnes Houston
57. Mr. C. Hoyt
58. Mr. William Hunter
59. Master Hunter
60. Miss Margaret Leckie
61. Miss Bessie Leitch
62. Miss Bella Leitch
63. Miss Nellie Leitch
64. Mr. Robert Logue
65. Master Edmund J. Logue

66. Miss Nellie McCann
67. Miss Mary J. McCloskey
68. Mr. F. McDonald
69. Mr. James McElroy
70. Mrs. Hannah McFadden
71. Miss Maggie McFadden
72. Miss Lizzie McFall
73. Mrs. McFarlane
74. Master McFarlane
75. Miss Kate McGarity
76. Miss Sarah McGeachy
77. Miss Sarah McGowan
78. Mr. John McGrettan
79. Miss Helen Mackenzie
80. Miss Mary McKin'ay
81. Miss Margaret McLaughlin
82. Miss Marion McLaughlin
83. Miss A. McLaughlin
84. Mr. John McMeekin
85. Mrs. Margaret McMeekin
86. Mr. Thomas McMeekin
87. Mrs. Isabella McMeekin
88. Master John McMeekin
89. Master James McMeekin
90. Mr. James Mack
91. Miss Rose Maguire
92. Mrs. Main
93. Mr. David Matthews
94. Mr. Alex. Mitchell
95. Mr. Francis Muir
96. Miss Bella Murray
97. Mr. Samuel J. Price
98. Mr. John H. Price
99. Mr. Robert Rae
100. Mrs. A. J. Regan
101. Miss Martha Reid
102. Mrs. Mary Reid
103. Master David Reid
104. Miss Jessie Ross
105. Mr. James Ruddell
106. Mrs. Martha Ruddell
107. Master George H. Ruddell
108. Miss Annie Ruddell
109. Miss Edna Ruddell
110. Miss Edith Ruddell
111. Mrs. Russell
112. Miss Christina Russell
113. Miss Annie Russell
114. Miss Agnes Russell
115. Miss Jeanetta Russell
116. Mrs. Shedden
117. Master James Shedden
118. Master Charles Shedden
119. Master Joshua Shedden
120. Mrs. Sinclair
121. Mr. Ebenezer Sommerville
122. Mr. Robert G. Stevenson
123. Mrs. Stevenson
124. Miss Elizabeth Stewart
125. Mr. John Stewart
126. Mr. Patrick Thompson
127. Miss Sarah Trouten
128. Mr. W. Watson
129. Miss Agnes Wilkinson

Twin Screw Steamer "Columbia," 8300 Tons, 500 Feet Long, 56 Feet Wide - Glasgow and New York Service. On the Back Cover of a Second Class SS Furnessia Passenger List from 30 May 1901. GGA Image ID # 15b93c6622. Back Cover has Significant Staining Issues.

The Role of Matrons on a 1901 Transatlantic Steamship

In 1901, matrons on transatlantic steamships played a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and safety of passengers, particularly women and children. Their presence was especially significant due to the challenging conditions of long ocean voyages and the diverse mix of passengers onboard. Their duties and importance included the following:

1. Supervising Female Passengers

• Steerage Class: Matrons primarily ensured the safety and proper conduct of unaccompanied women and girls, protecting them from potential harassment or inappropriate behavior.
• Second and First Class: Matrons in higher classes often assisted single female travelers or those requiring additional care, such as elderly or infirm women.

2. Caring for Children

• Matrons often acted as caregivers for children traveling alone or with overwhelmed parents. They supervised group activities, ensured proper feeding, and provided comfort during the voyage.

3. Assisting with Health and Hygiene

• Working closely with the ship's surgeon, matrons helped care for ill passengers, administered basic first aid, and distributed medicines when needed.
• In steerage, where conditions were often crowded and unsanitary, matrons played a key role in promoting hygiene and preventing the spread of disease.

4. Distributing Meals and Maintaining Order

• In lower classes, matrons helped manage the distribution of meals to ensure that women and children received adequate food.
• They maintained order during mealtimes, assisting passengers unfamiliar with the ship's routines.

5. Emotional Support and Guidance

• For many passengers, especially immigrants, the journey across the Atlantic was their first experience of long-distance travel. Matrons offered emotional support, easing fears, homesickness, and anxieties about the journey and arrival.

6. Supporting Immigration Procedures

• Matrons often assisted passengers in preparing for immigration inspections at the destination port. This included organizing documentation, ensuring that women and children had their belongings ready, and providing advice about the immigration process.

7. Ensuring Decorum

• Matrons acted as moral authorities, promoting proper behavior among passengers, especially in steerage, where cultural differences and language barriers often posed challenges.

8. Emergency Assistance

• In the event of emergencies, matrons helped calm and organize passengers, particularly women and children, and ensured they followed safety protocols.

Significance of Matrons

• The presence of matrons reflected the steamship companies' efforts to create a safer and more organized travel experience, especially as competition among liners increased during the height of transatlantic migration.
• They served as a reassuring figure for passengers and demonstrated the shipping line's commitment to passenger care and well-being.

Matrons were indispensable to maintaining the smooth operation of these voyages, particularly for passengers in steerage and second class, and their work contributed significantly to the success and reputation of transatlantic steamship services.

Passenger List Information

 

Item Description

A Second Class Passenger List from the SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line, detailing the voyage departing on Thursday, 30 May 1901, from Glasgow to New York. Under the command of Captain Hugh Young, this document provides a detailed record of passengers, officers, and onboard staff, accompanied by decorative illustrations emphasizing the maritime theme.

 

Key Features

• Authentic Second Class Passenger List from 30 May 1901.
• Comprehensive listing of passengers, officers, and matrons.
• Illustrative front cover featuring nautical imagery, including the SS Furnessia and the Statue of Liberty.
• Back cover showcasing details of Anchor Line services and the Twin Screw Steamer "Columbia."

 

Historical and Design Highlights

• Elegant front cover with the Anchor Line logo, US and UK flags, and line art of the SS Furnessia.
• Back cover includes specifications for the Twin Screw Steamer "Columbia," a major vessel in the Anchor Line fleet.
• Reflects the early 20th-century transatlantic travel experience, showcasing passenger demographics and maritime technology.

 

Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers)

• Captain Hugh Young: Commander of the voyage, reflecting the high standards of the Anchor Line.
• Mrs. Mary Cameron: Representing a respected family traveling transatlantic.
• Miss Agnes Wilkinson: Symbolizing the significant role of women in shaping migration history.

 

Historical Significance

This passenger list captures a snapshot of transatlantic travel during the early 20th century, a period marked by mass migration and the rise of ocean liner commerce. The SS Furnessia, a staple of the Anchor Line fleet, was instrumental in facilitating the movement of people, ideas, and cultures across the Atlantic. This document not only serves as a historical artifact but also provides invaluable genealogical insights into the lives of its passengers.