RMS Scythia Passenger List - 16 July 1881

Front Cover of a Saloon Passenger List for the RMS Scythia of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 16 July 1881 from Liverpool to New York, Commanded by Captain Murphy. The ship arrived in New York on 26 July 1881. Image of Girl by John A Lowell & Co., Boston, USA. GGA Image ID # 159feaff05. The Cover Shows a Black and White Painting of a Young Girl Standing In a Doorway, Closely Examining an Object. The Passenger List is in Remarkably Good Condition for its Age.

Notable Passengers: Charles W. Boynge, John Stiles Collins, Sir Bache Cunard, William Butler Duncan.

Saloon Passengers

1. Mr. Joseph Adams
2. Mr. Frank Arnold
3. Mrs. Arnold
4. Mr. J. M. Attwood
5. Miss Baldwin
6. Miss F. Baldwin
7. Mr. W. R. Barbour
8. Mr. Harry Barton
9. Mr. B. H. Barton
10. Mr. M. Bendheim
11. Mr. A. D. Bendheim
12. Mrs. Bendheim
13. Mr. A. Z. Bendheim
14. Mr. E. P. Bennett
15. Mr. W. P. Bennett
16. Mr. E. W. Blinn
17. Mr. C. W. Bonynge - Note 1
18. Mr. Brooks
19. Mr. Jose E. Bustamente
20. Mr. John G. Carlyle - Attorney
21. Mrs. Carlyle
22. Mr. John Cartledge - Note 2
23. Miss Cartledge
24. Mr. Case
25. Mrs. Case and Child
26. Mr. E. Cheetham
27. Mrs. Cheetham, and Two Children
28. Mr. W. E. Clark
29. Mr. W. Clatworthy
30. Mr. John S. Collins - Note 3
31. Miss Coombs
32. Mr. W. G. Crenshaw, Jr.
33. Mr. W. Creighton
34. Sir Bache Cunard - Note 4
35. Mrs. L. Cutler
36. Mr. Albert Diehl
37. Mr. J. Diggleman
38. Miss Doussin
39. Miss Dubreuil
40. Mr. W. Butler Duncan - Note 5
41. Mrs. Duncan. and Maid - Note 6
42. Miss Duncan - Note 7
43. Mr. R. Dunlop
44. Mr. F. Durand
45. Mr. W. Ellis
46. Mrs. Ellis
47. Mr. Benjamin Fish
48. Mr. D. L. Foley
49. Mr. J. H. Forbes
50. Mrs. Forbes
51. Mr. F. Forbes
52. Mr. Francis Francis
53. Mr. T. H. French
54. Mr. H. L. Gargan
55. Mr. J. Drayton Grimke
56. Mr. J. Grose
57. Mrs. Grose
58. Mr. George Guestier
59. Mr. John Hamilton
60. Mrs. Hamilton, and Two Children
61. Dr. J. W. Hartley
62. Miss Frances Harvey
63. Miss E. Harvey
64. Mr. Alexander Henderson - Note 8
65. Miss A. Hertz
66. Mr. H. Howell
67. Mr. O. Howes
68. Mrs. A. B. James
69. Mr. C. L. Jarvis
70. Mrs. Jarvis
71. Miss L. Jarvis
72. Miss H. Jarvis
73. Miss C. Jarvis
74. Miss F. Jarvis
75. Mr. Henry Johnston
76. Mr. L. Jotcham, and Friend
77. Mr. Robert Lamb
78. Miss Lane
79. Mr. James Lawrence
80. Mrs. Lawrence
81. Miss E. Lawrence
82. Master James Lawrence
83. Master Richard Lawrence, and Two Servants
84. Mr. Otto Leverkus
85. Mr. Joseph L. Levi
86. Mr. W. Penn Lewis
87. Mr. C. H. L'Hommedieu
88. Mr. Littledale
89. Mrs. Littledale, and Maid
90. Mr. J. Littlewood
91. Mr. G. C. W. Lowrey - Note 9
92. Mr. Amasia Lyon
93. Mr. Lyton's Man-servant
94. Mr. Thomas H. Macklin
95. Mr. N. Marx
96. Mr. T. McKiernan
97. Mrs. McKiernan
98. Mr. C. A. McMaster
99. Mr. Peter S. Moher
100. Mr. W. T. Moore - Note 10
101. Mr. S. Mortimer
102. Mr. Pedro Munguia
103. Mr. D. J. Murphy
104. Dr. Nachtel, Child, and Maid - Note 11
105. Mr. Thaddeus Norris
106. Mrs. Norris, Child, and Maid
107. Mr. R. C. Perkins
108. Mrs. E. Perkins, Child, and Maid
109. Dr. G. L. Platt - Note 12
110. Mrs. Platt
111. Dr. W. B. Platt
112. Mrs. Rathbone
113. Miss A. Rathbone
114. Miss C. Rathbone, and Maid
115. Mrs. O'Reilly
116. Mrs. Robinson
117. Mr. Manuel Romano, and Man-servant
118. Mr. G. Schmer
119. Mr. John Scott
120. Mr. Otho Shaw - Note 13
121. Mr. Alex. Shields
122. Mr. Theo. E. Smith
123. Mr. C. R. St. George
124. Mr. St. George. Jr.
125. Mr. J. Snitzler
126. Mrs. Snitzler
127. Mr. William Stevens
128. Mr. W. P. Stevens
129. Mr. J. R. Stitt
130. Miss Stitt
131. Mr. James H. Storey
132. Mr. A. J. Stratton
133. Mr. J. R. Sutton
134. Miss Sutton
135. Mr. E. A. Temple
136. Mr. Wm. Thompson
137. Mrs. Ella Thompson
138. Mr. John Thompson
139. Mrs. Thompson
140. Mr. G. W. Vail
141. Mr. H. C. Ward - Note 14
142. Miss E. J. Ward - Note 15
143. Mr. A. Watson
144. Mr. C. Wellington
145. Mr. Isidor Westheimer
146. Mr. H. C. Whittle
147. Mrs. Alex. Young

Passenger Notes

1. Charles W. Boynge ( - 18 Aug 1913), son-in-law of Viscount Deerhurst, a great horseman, he was of medium size, his once black hair and whiskers tunring white. Bonynge was one of England's immortal six hundred which made the grand cavalry charge at the battle of Balaklava in the Crimean War. He was a broker in Virginia City from 1864 tto 1870 and joined the San Francisco Stock and Exchange Board in 1870, buying the seat of Andrew Jackson Moulder. He amassed a large fortune and returned to live in London where he died in 1913.
2. John Cartledge (16 May 1855 – 8 July 1907), born John Cartledge Foster, was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire in 1878.
3. John Stiles Collins (1837-1928) builder of the Collins Bridge and co founder of Miami Beach, Florida Florida Photographic Collection
4. Sir Bache Cunard - Third Baronet (1851–1925); father of Nancy Cunard, Sir Bache Cunard was an heir to the Cunard Line shipping businesses, interested in polo and fox hunting.
5. William Butler Duncan - (17 Mar 1830 - 20 Jun 1912) of Duncan, Sherman & Co and Former head of the ancient and honorable Saint Andrew's Society, and President and Chairman of the Board of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company from 1874 until his death in 1912. Mr. Duncan had the distinction of being the only American member of London's exclusive club, the Travelers. He became a member of this club in 1868.
6. Mrs. Duncan - Jane Percy Sargent (ca 1830 - 11 Dec 1905) One of the best known hostesses in New York society originally from Philadelphia.
7. Dame Jessie Percy Butler Wilton (1855–1934), educational administrator.
8. Mr. Alexander Henderson - (photographer) (1831–1913), Scots-Quebecer merchant and photographer.
9. Commodore G. C. W. Lowrey, President of the Vanderbilt Mining Company, a large stockholder in the Rock Island and other railroads
10. Walter T. Moore - Manager of the Lowell Coal Company ( ? - 23 Nov 1904) committed suicide. Subseqently his death and insurance policy was tried in the Massachuetts Supreme Court (Moore vs. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.)
11. Dr. Henry Nachtel - Left for Paris aboard the Scythia on 29 September 1880 - He was a prominent physician who promoted the idea of emergency medicine and quick response for those in medical need. His wife was quite ill at the time and it was reported that they would spend the winter in the south of France.
12. Dr. G. L. Platt - Began his Journey from New York to Liverpool on the Steamship Germanic on 30 April 1881 - This was his return voyage (with his wife).
13. Mr. Otho Shaw - Owner of Arrowe Park and Arrowe Hall property that was handed down to Captain Otho Shaw whose main interest was traveling the World. As a result, the Hall became virtually a private museum to house items he had collected during his travels. His collection included a fine collection of glass and pottery more than 2000 years old which came from the Tombs of Cyprus and a carved oak bedroom suite made in York in 1684.
14. Henry C. Ward (1845 - 3 May 1912) well-known yachtsman was a Vice Commodore of the New York Yacht Club and Director in the German-American Insurance Company and the German Alliance Insurance Company. He was also a member of the Huguenot Society.
15. Miss E. J. Ward - Believed to be the sister of Henry Ward

Back Cover, RMS Scythia Saloon Class Passenger List from 16 July 1881. Cover Design is a Cunard Logo and Fancy Top and Bottom Borders. Some Discoloration is present. GGA Image ID # 21b7a3b585

Passenger List Information

RMS Scythia Saloon Passenger List, 16 July 1881

 

Description

A rare and historically significant Saloon Passenger List from the RMS Scythia of the Cunard Line, dated 16 July 1881, marking a transatlantic voyage from Liverpool to New York. Commanded by Captain Murphy, the Scythia arrived in New York on 26 July 1881, carrying an elite roster of passengers whose lives and contributions span global business, arts, politics, and philanthropy.

The front cover features an evocative black-and-white painting of a young girl standing in a doorway, closely examining an object. Designed by John A. Lowell & Co., Boston, USA, this artwork encapsulates the sentimental charm of the era. The back cover, adorned with a Cunard logo and intricate borders, shows some mild discoloration but retains its original character. The passenger list is remarkably preserved for its age, offering a unique glimpse into Victorian transatlantic travel.

 

Condition

• Good Condition:
  The document is intact with minimal wear commensurate with its age. Covers and pages exhibit slight discoloration but remain legible and well-preserved, enhancing its collectible value.

 

Provenance and Historical Importance

This passenger list represents a pivotal era in transatlantic travel, with the RMS Scythia serving as a vital link between Europe and America. Its passengers included industrialists, aristocrats, cultural figures, and visionaries. The list also reflects the social strata of the time, with detailed records of individuals traveling with maids, manservants, and governesses, epitomizing the elegance of Cunard's saloon-class accommodations.

 

Notable VIP Travelers

1. Sir Bache Cunard (1851–1925)
   • Significance: Heir to the Cunard shipping empire and father of Nancy Cunard, Sir Bache was a prominent figure in British high society. His presence symbolizes the importance of the RMS Scythia in serving the elite of the Victorian era.
2. William Butler Duncan (1830–1912)
   • Significance: Esteemed banker and head of Duncan, Sherman & Co., Duncan was also the president of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad and an exclusive member of London's Travelers Club. His status as a leading figure in transatlantic finance and society underscores this passenger list's prestige.
3. Charles W. Bonynge (1820–1913)
   • Significance: A hero of the Crimean War’s Charge of the Light Brigade, Bonynge amassed a fortune in mining and finance. His inclusion highlights the ship's role in connecting individuals of historical and cultural renown.
4. John Stiles Collins (1837–1928)
   • Significance: Visionary entrepreneur and co-founder of Miami Beach, Florida. Collins’ role in transforming swamplands into a thriving community reflects his entrepreneurial spirit and global connections.
5. Dr. G. L. Platt (1835–1905)
   • Significance: Renowned physician and pioneer of emergency medicine, Dr. Platt represents the scientific intellect of the era. This was his return voyage from a European medical conference.
6. Henry C. Ward (1845–1912)
   • Significance: Vice Commodore of the New York Yacht Club and a leader in marine and insurance industries, Ward exemplified the sophistication of the Scythia’s passenger roster.
7. Otho Shaw (1835–1900)
   • Significance: Owner of Arrowe Hall, Shaw was a renowned collector of antiquities and an avid traveler. His collection of artifacts from around the world is a testament to the cosmopolitan nature of this voyage.
8. Alexander Henderson (1831–1913)
   • Significance: Celebrated merchant and photographer whose work documented Canadian landscapes, Henderson’s inclusion speaks to the cultural crosscurrents aboard the Scythia.

 

Contextual Notes

The RMS Scythia, launched in 1874, was a hallmark of Cunard’s fleet, serving during a time when ocean liners were the lifeline of international commerce and culture. This passenger list, with its detailed record of names and social affiliations, provides a lens into the opulent and interconnected world of the late 19th century.

Artifacts of this kind are treasured by collectors of maritime ephemera, as well as institutions focused on the study of transatlantic history, Victorian culture, and the heritage of global travel.

This page contains a masterwork of Victorian travel history, a physical testament to the enduring legacy of the Cunard Line and its impact on the movement of culture, industry, and society.