SS Westernland Passenger List – 11 May 1901: Cabin-Class Voyage from Liverpool to Philadelphia

Front Cover of a Cabin Passenger List for the SS Westernland of the American Line, Departing Saturday, 11 May 1901 from Liverpool to Philadelphia via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain C. R. Ehoff. GGA Image ID # 158e4e968e

🚢 Ship & Voyage Overview

Ship Name: SS Westernland

Line: American Line (International Navigation Company)

Departure Date: Saturday, 11 May 1901

Departure Port: Liverpool, England

Intermediate Stop: Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland

Arrival Port: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Captain: C. R. Ehoff

Ship Type: Passenger Steamship

Built By: Laird Brothers, Birkenhead (1879)

Previous Operators: Red Star Line (original), transferred to American Line in 1895

Capacity: Originally built for ~1,200 passengers (First, Second, and Third Class)

The Westernland served during a transitional period in transatlantic immigration. By 1901, it was primarily used for cabin-class (first/second) passengers and a large steerage capacity—though this specific list reflects only the cabin class.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain C. R. Ehoff
2. Surgeon: W. S Irwin. M.D
3. Purser: J Pengelly
4. Stewardess: Mrs. M. A. Pierce
5. Stewardess: Mrs. E. Sweeny

Cabin Passengers

1. Mr. Denis Ahern
2. Mr. James P. Armitage
3. Mr. Josiah W. Axford
4. Miss Carrie Burgum
5. Mrs. Ann Birkin
6. Mr. Frederick Beck
7. Mrs. Beck
8. Mr. Sidney Berry
9. Mrs. Berry
10. Miss Wilhelmina Brumond
11. Mr. Francis Byrne
12. Mr. George Bolland
13. Mr. James Bullock
14. Mr. F. E. Bradley
15. Mr. William Barker
16. Rev. J. Calvert
17. Mr. Charles Cox
18. Mr. A. Crompton
19. Miss Agnes Demont
20. Miss Nellie Denman
21. Mr. Dan Daly
22. Mr. D. Edge
23. Madamoiselle Emmy
24. Mr. Daniel Flynn
25. Miss Maggie Gillis
26. Mr. Edward Gill
27. Mrs. Gill and Infant
28. Master Harold Gill
29. Miss Mabel Gill
30. Mr. A. M. Githens
31. Miss Bridget Harkin
32. Mrs. Elizabeth Hall
33. Miss Holly Hall
34. Miss Edith Haley
35. Mr. Albert H. Highton
36. Mr. J. W. Henderson
37. Mr. John Jacques
38. Mr. John Johnston
39. Mr. Vincent O. C. Jiminiez
40. Mr. G. Jones
41. Mr. Mordche Knitter
42. Mrs. Basche Knitter and Infant
43. Master Jossel Knitter
44. Miss Violet Long
45. Miss B. A. Lee
46. Mrs. Chane Liscrinsky
47. Master Calel Liscrinsky
48. Master Jidel Liscrinsky
49. Master Berl Liscrinsky
50. Master Abram L. Liscrinsky
51. Mr. E. I. Lewis
52. Miss M. H. Martin
53. Miss S. McMeekan
54. Mrs. A. W Mallinson and Infant
55. Master Ernest Mallinson
56. Mr. George D. Muirhead
57. Mrs. Muirhead
58. Miss Mary A. Meath
59. Mr. Jacob Miller
60. Mr. Thomas McGough
61. Mr. Frank L. Mueller
62. Mr. Isaac N. Newton
63. Mr. M. Rooney
64. Mr. Gilbert Ryde
65. Miss Emily Smith
66. Miss Sara Somerville
67. Mr. John Henry Thornton
68. Mrs. Thornton
69. Mr. J. Alfred Van Wart
70. Mrs. Van Wart
71. Master Donald Van Wart
72. Mr. Joseph Wood
73. Mrs. Wood
74. Master Ernest R. Wood
75. Miss Laura V. Wood
76. Miss Mary Walsh
77. Mr. John Williamson
78. Mr. Rene Wohlfarth
79. Mr. Albert Zibelin

👤 Notable Passengers: Highlights by Profession & Context

🎓 Academia & Professional Class

Mr. Josiah W. Axford – An American educator or intellectual, his presence indicates professional middle-class transatlantic travel during a time when many Americans were studying or networking in Europe.

Mr. Francis Byrne – Likely an Irish-American returnee or professional, as Byrne was a common name among the Irish diaspora.

⛪ Clergy

Rev. J. Calvert – A Christian minister (possibly Methodist or Anglican), whose travel between Europe and the United States might reflect missionary work, conference attendance, or immigrant support. Religious figures on these voyages were often instrumental in immigrant spiritual guidance and onboard chapel services.

🎭 Entertainment and Society

Madamoiselle Emmy – Her title suggests she was a performer, governess, or cultural elite. The "Mlle" prefix, common for French entertainers or aristocratic companions, points to a woman of refined background possibly connected with theatrical or salon circles.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Large Families & Multigenerational Travelers

The Gill Family – Includes Mr. Edward Gill, Mrs. Gill, Master Harold Gill, Miss Mabel Gill, and an infant. This family group typifies the turn-of-the-century migration of skilled or middle-class families heading to the U.S. as settlers or returning residents.

The Knitter and Liscrinsky Families – Jewish surnames and multigenerational listings (including Master Jossel Knitter, Mrs. Basche Knitter, and 5 Liscrinsky children) suggest Eastern European Jewish immigrants escaping pogroms or seeking opportunity in the U.S.

🌐 Passenger Composition

The list includes over 80 individuals—ranging from solo male travelers and professionals to extended families with infants. Notable ethnic diversity is apparent in surnames such as:

• Jiminiez (Hispanic)
• Knitter / Liscrinsky (Eastern European Jewish)
• Gillis, Gill, Daly, Flynn, Meath (Irish)
• Zibelin, Wohlfarth (Germanic)

This underscores the SS Westernland's role in supporting both middle-class migration and the movement of families escaping geopolitical unrest in Eastern Europe.

Information for Passengers

• Breakfast at 8:00 am
• Lunch at 12:30 pm
• Dinner at 6 p.m
• Supper at 9 p.m

The Bar closes at 11:00 pm

Lights are extinguished in the Saloon at 11:00 pm, and in the Smoking Room at 11:30 pm

Please apply to the Second Steward for Seats at Table.

Inquiries regarding Baggage will be attended to by the Second Steward, to whom all Baggage which Passengers wish to leave in the Company's care should be handed, properly labelled, and with full instructions as to disposal.

Steamer Chairs can be obtained for the on the voyage, at a charge of 4s. each, upon application to the Second Steward.

The Company will not be responsible for valuables or money unless given in charge of the Purser, and a receipt for same obtained from him.

Persons holding Return Certificates should give as early notice as possible of the date upon which they desire to sail from Philadelphia, to the International Navigation Company, 305, Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

Letters may be addressed to the care of any of the Offices named below, and the) will be retained until called for, or forwarded according to instructions.

🎓 Educational & Historical Relevance

For Teachers & Students:

Illustrates social history, immigration, and class structures during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.

Offers real-life context for research on Jewish immigration, Irish diaspora, and transatlantic family networks.

Demonstrates how ships like the Westernland served as conduits for cultural and religious exchange.

For Historians:

Useful in exploring U.S.–Europe relations in a pre-WWI context.

May aid in passenger mapping for immigration ports like Philadelphia, a lesser-studied counterpart to Ellis Island.

For Genealogists:

Offers critical names and family groupings for researchers tracing ancestry through Liverpool and Queenstown ports.

Shows naming conventions, traveling companions, and children—often missed in immigration summaries.

🔚 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The 11 May 1901 voyage of the SS Westernland captures a transformative period of global movement. It reflects not only the tide of immigration but also how cabin-class travel connected professionals, clergy, and middle-class families to new beginnings in America.

Its utility spans academic disciplines, genealogical inquiry, and public history education. The ship itself—originally launched for elite travel—had by 1901 become a democratized vessel of migration and hope.

Title Page and Listing of Passengers, Part 1, SS Westernland Cabin Passenger List, 11 May 1901. | GGA Image ID # 22958518aa

Listing of Passengers, Part 2, SS Westernland Cabin Passenger List, 11 May 1901. | GGA Image ID # 229597e4e4

Information for Passengers and Listing of International Navigation Company Offices and Agencies, SS Westernland Cabin Passenger List, 11 May 1901. | GGA Image ID # 2295b6c7d6