SS Furnessia Passenger Lists 1883-1910

The SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line. GGA Image ID # 21e272841b

All Digitized Passenger Lists For the SS Furnessia Available at the GG Archives. Listing Includes Date Voyage Began, Steamship Line, Vessel, Passenger Class and Route.

View our SS Furnessia Archival Collection, Including Furnessia (1880) Anchor Line (British) Ship's History (Brief), Passenger Lists, Brochures, Sailing Schedules, Passage Rates, Services, Postcards, Excerpts from Information for Passengers, and More.

Passenger Lists contained in the GG Archives collection represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection contains a sampling of what was originally produced and printed by the steamship lines.

Recap and Summary of the SS Furnessia Passenger Lists (1883-1910)

Introduction

The SS Furnessia of the Anchor Steamship Line was a key player in transatlantic travel from the 1880s to the early 20th century, particularly for immigrants, business travelers, religious leaders, and intellectuals. Operating primarily on the Glasgow to New York route via Moville, the Furnessia was an affordable yet comfortable vessel for passengers from across social and professional backgrounds.

The passenger lists from 1883 to 1910 provide valuable insight into the changing dynamics of transatlantic migration and elite travel, with prominent clergy, educators, doctors, and reformers frequently appearing on board. Many of these voyages coincided with waves of European immigration and reflect the increasing accessibility of second-class and cabin accommodations.

 

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Key Highlights & Notable Voyages

1. The Early Years of Elite and Intellectual Travel (1883-1889)

• 1883-06-30 (New York to Liverpool, Saloon Class) – Featured Rev. Robert Collyer (noted Unitarian minister), Dr. E. J. Bermingham (physician), and Prof. William Ryden, showing that Furnessia was used not only for business travel but also by intellectuals and medical professionals.
• 1888-07-19 (Glasgow to New York, Saloon Class) – This voyage is particularly notable for carrying Jane Addams (future Nobel Peace Prize laureate and social reformer), alongside Rev. Alexander Yule and Dr. J. Leslie Gordon, reflecting the growing importance of reformist and intellectual figures in transatlantic discussions.
• 1888-08-23 (Glasgow to New York, Saloon Class) – Included Rev. A. F. Beard, D.D. (church leader), Dr. William Goodell (physician), and Professor G. W. Wallace, reinforcing the trend of religious, medical, and academic professionals using ocean liners for transatlantic engagement.

Why It’s Interesting: These voyages demonstrate that Furnessia was a preferred choice for social reformers, clergy, and intellectuals, particularly those involved in religious missions, academia, and social work.

 

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2. Expansion of Religious and Professional Travel (1889-1901)

• 1889-07-09 (New York to Glasgow, Cabin Class) – Carried Rev. Robert Anderson, D.D., Dr. E. L. Bissell, and Miss Helen G. Lufkin, highlighting the importance of Furnessia in transporting religious leaders and their families.
• 1893-03-16 (Glasgow to New York, Second Class) – Featured Mrs. Margaret Abercromby and Rev. Robert Anderson, showcasing how Furnessia provided affordable but comfortable accommodations for religious leaders and middle-class travelers.
• 1895-06-08 (New York to Glasgow, Second Cabin) – With Rev. S. T. Cochen and Miss Mary Kerr, this voyage once again highlights the ship’s role in supporting migration and religious missions.
• 1900-07-12 (Glasgow to New York, Second Class) – Noteworthy for including Mrs. William A. Beattie and Miss Christina Armour, indicating a growing number of female travelers aboard the Furnessia.

Why It’s Interesting: These voyages indicate a shift in passenger demographics, with an increasing number of women, families, and middle-class professionals opting for second-class and cabin accommodations.

 

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3. The Transition to Second-Class Dominance & Decline of Saloon Class (1904-1910)

• 1904-07-02 (New York to Glasgow, Saloon Class) – Carried Judge Gage, Dr. Colin Smith Carter, Rev. S. L. Morris, and Prof. John Morris, emphasizing that academic and judicial professionals continued to rely on Furnessia for transatlantic travel.
• 1904-08-25 (Glasgow to New York, Saloon Class) – This voyage is notable for carrying W. O’Doherty, M.P. (a political figure), and Dr. James J. Baxter, reflecting the ship’s role in the movement of both European and American political and medical professionals.
• 1910-06-18 (Glasgow to New York, Second Cabin) – Featured Rev. W. Catherwood, Sister Columborus, Dr. Edgar Milwyn Jenkins, and Miss Sarah E. Anderson, showing a strong presence of Catholic clergy and medical professionals, likely traveling for missionary work and medical training.

Why It’s Interesting: By the early 1900s, saloon-class travel was decreasing in importance, while second-class accommodations became more prominent, marking a shift in how ocean liners catered to the professional and middle-class travelers.

 

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Key Takeaways from the SS Furnessia Passenger Lists (1883-1910)

1. A Ship for Religious and Academic Figures: Furnessia was a preferred vessel for clergy, missionaries, social reformers, and educators, making it a significant ship for intellectual transatlantic exchange.
2. Increasing Female Travel & Migration: As the 19th century ended, more women and family members of missionaries and scholars were traveling on board, reflecting broader social changes in women’s mobility.
3. Shift to Second-Class Travel: By the early 1900s, Furnessia had transitioned from primarily saloon-class to second-class accommodations, reflecting the changing nature of ocean travel and a growing middle-class migration movement.
4. Decline of Elite Travel: While Furnessia originally carried high-ranking religious figures, political leaders, and business professionals, by 1910, the ship primarily catered to second-class passengers, signaling the decline of its prominence among elite travelers.

 

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Conclusion

The SS Furnessia was a vital link between Scotland, Ireland, and the United States, serving intellectuals, religious figures, and middle-class professionals. Its passenger lists provide a fascinating glimpse into a world where social reformers, educators, and clergy crossed the Atlantic to engage in charity, education, and missionary work.

By 1910, the ship’s transition to second-class dominance reflected broader economic and social changes in transatlantic travel, as ocean liners became more accessible to professionals and middle-class travelers rather than just aristocrats and elites.

The SS Furnessia’s history is a testament to the evolving nature of ocean travel, where education, religion, and migration shaped the identity of passengers crossing the Atlantic.