SS Circassia Second Class Passenger List – 1 September 1887 | Anchor Line
Front Cover of a Second Class Passenger List from the SS Circassia of the Anchor Line, Departing 1 September 1887 from Glasgow to New York via Moville, Commanded by Captain A. Campbell. GGA Image ID # 15f92b82a2
🚢 Review & Summary – SS Circassia Second Class Passenger List, 1 September 1887
Voyage Overview
On 1 September 1887, the SS Circassia of the Anchor Line set sail from Glasgow, Scotland, bound for New York, with a scheduled stop at Moville, Ireland to embark additional passengers. The voyage was under the command of Captain A. Campbell, assisted by Surgeon W. J. Black, Purser Wm. Barboub, Chief Steward Sam. Hendry, and Matron Mrs. Liston.
This sailing reflects the transatlantic migration era, when thousands of Europeans traveled to North America seeking economic opportunity, family reunification, or adventure. The fact that this is a Second Class Passenger List provides a valuable middle-tier view of travel — above steerage in comfort and cost, but below the grandeur of saloon (first-class) accommodations.
⚓ Ship Profile – SS Circassia
- Launched: 1872 by Alexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow.
- Operator: Anchor Line.
- Type: Passenger and cargo steamship.
- Typical Route: Glasgow ↔ New York via Moville, Ireland.
- Capacity: Offered saloon, second class, and steerage accommodations.
- Notable Features: Designed to balance emigrant transport with cargo and limited higher-class passenger service; sturdy build for North Atlantic conditions.
- Voyage Date: 1 September 1887.
Senior Officers and Staff
- Commander: Captain A. Campbell
- Surgeon: W. J. Black
- Purser: Wm. Barboub
- Chief Steward: Sam. Hendry
- Matron: Mrs. Liston
Second Class Passengers
- Mrs. A. J. Ahlquist
- Master David Ahlquist
- Master Axel Ahlquist
- Master Abel Ahlquist
- Master Elias Ahlquist
- Mr. James Allan
- Mrs. Allan
- Miss Bessie Anderson
- Miss Anna Anderson
- Mrs. Mary Arnold
- Mr. Thomas Arnold
- Mr. James Auld
- Mr. W. J. Backhouse
- Mr. Robt. Ballingall
- Mr. Duncan C. Bardon
- Mrs. Rachel Baxter
- Mr. John Blake
- Miss Mary R. Blake
- Miss Kathleen M. Blake
- Miss Lizzie Blake
- Mr. H. Mowle
- Miss Mary Breslin
- Miss Mary A. Brown
- Mr. Duncan Brown
- Mr. Duncan Brown
- Mrs. Brown
- Miss Barbara Brown
- Miss Selina Brown
- Master Duncan Brown
- Miss G. Brown
- Mrs. Campbell
- Miss Annie Campbell
- Mr. Thos. Carnochas
- Miss Bella Care
- Miss B. Carter
- Miss M. Carter
- Mrs. Jane Clay
- Mrs. Chisholm and Infant
- Master Donald Chisholm
- Mrs. Clark
- Miss Isabella Clark
- Miss Maggie Clark
- Master John Clark
- Mr. James Clark
- Miss Kate Cosgrave
- Mrs. A. Crinerford
- Mr. G. Crosslen
- Mr. J. E. Currie
- Mrs. M. Davidson
- Master James Davidson
- Master Robert Davidson
- Master Matthew Davidson
- Mr. James Edwards
- Mr. J. S. Elder
- Mr. Wm. Ewing
- Mrs. J. E. Fairlie
- Miss Nellie Fairlie
- Miss Agnes Fairlie
- Mrs. E. Fletcher
- Miss Harriet Fletcher
- Miss Caroline Fletcher
- Miss Phoeby Fletcher
- Mrs. S. Flynn
- Miss Mary Flynn
- Miss Agnes Galbraith
- Mr. Bernard Galligan
- Mr. F. W. Garver
- Mr. Herman Gennerich
- Mr. Wm. M. Gilbert
- Mr. Gillespie
- Mrs. Gilmour
- Mr. Charles Glen
- Mr. Thos. W. Graham
- Mr. James Graham
- Mrs. Graham
- Miss Mabel Graham
- Miss Mary A. Gray
- Mr. P. E. G. Halgren
- Miss Hilda Halgren
- Mrs. Hamilton
- Mr. W. Hamilton
- Mr. Thomas Hartness
- Miss Heally
- Miss Maria Henry
- Mrs. Rachel Hoag
- Miss F. Holenius
- Mrs. Agnes Howie
- Master Robert Howie
- Master Alex. Howie
- Master John Howie
- Miss Eliz. Huntly
- Mrs. Joiner
- Master John Joiner
- Master Chas. Joiner
- Master Alex. Joiner
- Miss Nellie Joiner
- Mrs. J. Kennedy
- Mrs. Kelly
- Mrs. Kinnonmont and Infant
- Miss Mary Kinnonmont
- Miss Martha Kirkpatrick
- Mr. Alex Krell
- Miss Cath. Littlejohn
- Mr. Alex Littlejohn
- Mr. Robt. Littlejohn
- Mr. James Laudon
- Miss Mary Martin
- Miss Eliz. Milne
- Miss Isabella Miller
- Miss Martha Miller
- Miss Christina Moffat
- Mr., Hugh Moran
- Miss Lizzie Munroe
- Miss Bessie Munro
- Mrs. J. MacIntosh
- Mr. Robert McDonald
- Mrs. J. McDonald and Infant
- Miss Agnes McDonald
- Master John McDonald
- Master John McGavan
- Mr. John McGuire
- Mrs. McIntyre
- Miss Maggie McIntyre
- Mrs. A. McKenzie
- Miss Jessie McKenzie
- Master Frank McKenzie
- Mr. James McKenzie
- Miss Jessie McLade
- Mr. Daniel McLaughlin
- Mrs. McLaughlin
- Miss Mary L. McLean
- Mr. J. McPherson
- Mrs. McPherson
- Master Alex McPherson
- Miss Annie McPherson
- Master Jas. McPherson
- Miss Maggie McWhirter
- Mr. John Napier
- Mr. Conrad Olsen
- Mr. James O'Connell
- Mr. John Patterson
- Mrs. Patterson
- Miss Jennie Patterson
- Miss Catherine Patterson
- Master David Patterson
- Miss Elizabeth Patterson
- Master William Patterson
- Mr. James Paul
- Mr. Geo. Philp
- Miss Fanny Quinn
- Mr. Alex. Robertson
- Mr. Allan Robertson
- Miss Maria Rodgers
- Miss Annie Ross
- Mr. Thos. Russell
- Mrs. Russell
- Miss Lizzie Russell
- Miss Maggie Russell
- Miss Mary Scott
- Mr. J. G. Shand
- Mr. James Smith
- Miss Anna Smith
- Miss Lizzie Stanley
- Mr. John Stewart
- Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart
- Mr. Hamilton Stewart
- Miss Eliza Stiles
- Miss Margaret Strong
- Miss Jane Tait
- Miss Catherine Thompson
- Miss Maggie Thompson
- Mr. Robt. Wallace
- Mrs. Wallace
- Master Hugh Wallace
- Miss Susan Wallace
- Miss Jane Wallace
- Mr. Samuel Wallace
- Mrs. Margaret Wallace
- Master William Wallace
- Master Samuel Wallace
- Mr. Benjamin Wallace
- Mrs. L. Wilson
- Mrs. A. Wacoh
Notable Individuals & Social Context
While the majority of passengers appear to be emigrants and returning residents, several names hint at interesting personal stories and social backgrounds:
Mrs. A. J. Ahlquist & Family – Traveling with four young sons (David, Axel, Abel, and Elias), this family reflects the migration of Scandinavian-descended residents from Scotland or Northern Europe to the U.S., likely seeking new opportunities.
Mr. F. W. Garver – A distinctly American-sounding name in a passenger list dominated by Scottish and Irish surnames. Possibly a returning U.S. resident who had been visiting relatives or conducting business in the U.K.
Mr. Herman Gennerich – Suggestive of German origins; part of a wave of late 19th-century German migration to America, which contributed to industry, farming, and skilled trades in the U.S.
Mrs. Rachel Hoag – A surname with strong roots in early colonial America and Quaker history. Her presence could be linked to family visits across the Atlantic.
Mr. P. E. G. Halgren & Miss Hilda Halgren – Likely Scandinavian origin; such travelers often settled in northern U.S. cities or in the Midwest, where farming colonies were established.
Mr. Bernard Galligan – An Irish name that aligns with the stop in Moville, a key embarkation point for Irish emigrants.
Large Extended Families – The Browns, Clarkes, Howies, and Wallaces all appear in multi-generational groups, showing the strong family migration networks of the period.
Life in Second Class, 1887
Second Class aboard the SS Circassia would have offered:
- Cabins with bunks rather than open dormitories.
- Shared dining saloon with fixed meal times.
- Access to deck space for fresh air and mild recreation.
- Better sanitary conditions and privacy than steerage, making it attractive to skilled workers, small merchants, and better-off emigrants.
📚 Historical Significance
This passenger list is invaluable for:
Teachers – Showing the makeup of second-class passengers and the patterns of family migration.
Students – Providing a primary source for projects on 19th-century immigration, Scottish and Irish diaspora, and social mobility.
Genealogists – Offering concrete departure and arrival records with family groupings clearly noted.
Historians – Documenting the role of mid-tier travel accommodations in bridging working-class and affluent travel.
The Anchor Line was known for its reliability and was popular among Scots and Irish heading to America, especially those who wanted a balance between cost and comfort.
📝 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters
The 1887 SS Circassia voyage stands as a snapshot of transatlantic society in transition — where tradesmen, families, and travelers from across the British Isles (and beyond) shared deck space on their way to the United States. Its second-class composition offers researchers a nuanced view of who could afford better accommodations than steerage yet was not part of the elite saloon set. It highlights migration chains, cultural diversity, and the lived experience of transatlantic travel in the late 19th century.
