Passenger List of the SS Circassia – Saloon Class, 12 July 1890 – New York to Glasgow

Front Cover of a Saloon Passenger List for the SS Circassia of the Anchor Line, Departing Saturday, 12 July 1890 from New York to Glasgow via Moville, Commanded by Captain John Hedderwick. The Front Cover Has a Magnificent, Intricate Illustration Composed of an Anchor Line Logo Inset With a Steamship at Sea and a Small Anchor Line Flag Below the Central Part of the Logo. Two Flags Are Draped Behind the Logo (British Ensign and US Flag) With a Center Strip Featuring a Floral Rose and Leaf Design That Spans From the Left Edge to the Right Edge. A Stunning Anchor Line Emblem Featuring a Steamship at Sea, the British Ensign and U.S. Flag Draped Behind It, and a Floral Rose Motif—a Visual Celebration of the Cultural and Political Ties Between Britain and America in 1890. | GGA Image ID # 15b7ab87ff

🛳 Review and Summary – SS Circassia Saloon Passenger List (12 July 1890)

Overview of the Voyage

On Saturday, 12 July 1890, the SS Circassia of the Anchor Line departed New York bound for Glasgow, Scotland, with a scheduled stop at Moville, Ireland. Commanded by the experienced Captain John Hedderwick, the voyage catered to Saloon Class passengers—the elite of transatlantic travel during the late Victorian era.

This passenger list provides not only the names of travelers but also insight into social connections, academic circles, religious leadership, and business networks bridging the United States and the United Kingdom at the close of the 19th century.

⚙ About the SS Circassia

Launched: 1878 by Alexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow.

Operator: Anchor Line, Glasgow.

Route: New York – Moville – Glasgow.

Class: Saloon & Second Cabin accommodations.

Notable Features: Designed for both luxury and efficiency, the Circassia served as a vital link for business, political, and family travel between Scotland, Ireland, and America during the peak of the transatlantic steamship era.

Senior Officers and Staff

• Commander: Captain John Hedderwick
• Chief Officer: William Ralston
• Second Officer: James Adams
• Third Officer: William Laird
• Fourth Officer: Hohn Hall
• Surgeon: J. A. Scott, M.B
• Purser: William Barbour
• Chief Steward: Fred W. Powell
• Stewardess: Miss. McLean
• Stewardess: Mrs. Leckie

Saloon Passengers

1. Mrs. Elizabeth Albright
2. Mr. A. Andrus
3. Mr. J. W. Brumby
4. Mr. W. W. Bannister
5. Professor A. G. Benedict
6. Mrs. Benedict
7. Rev. George C. Betts
8. Mr. William Blaikie
9. Miss Nellie Blaikie
10. Miss Mary E. Boorom
11. Miss Maud Boyce
12. Mr. Barney Cavanaugh
13. Mr. Owen Cummiskey
14. Rev. Robert Christie
15. Mr. O. E. Crouch
16. Mrs. Crouch
17. Mr. G. G.. Clarkson
18. Mrs. Clarkson
19. Mr. Daniel Devitt
20. Rev. S. P. Davis
21. Mr. R. L. Dibrell
22. Mr. Andrew Bobbie
23. Mr. Hubert Druce
24. Mrs. Druce And Infant
25. Mr. Mitchell Davico
26. Captain W. Dunlop
27. Mr. W. H. Finch
28. Mr. Charles E. Froelich
29. Mr. John Gerdine
30. Miss M S. Gourlay
31. Miss Garth
32. Mr. John Gair
33. Mr. Graham
34. Miss Rosina G. Hartman
35. Mr. E. S. Hall
36. Mr. Alfred Hodge
37. Mr. F. S. Halstead
38. Miss Lucy Hampton
39. Miss Daisy Hampton
40. Miss Malvina A. Howe
41. Mr. George Henshaw
42. Mrs. Henshaw
43. Mr. George A. Hamilton
44. Mr. Alexander Hamilton
45. Mr. William Hamilton
46. Mrs. Hamilton
47. Miss Mary Hamilton
48. Mr. Edward Iverson
49. Mrs. Iverson
50. Mr. Edward A. Iverson
51. Mrs. E. M. Keogh
52. Mr. Louis La Bar
53. Mrs. La Bar
54. Mr. Richards Lyon
55. Mr. Marcus Lyon
56. Miss Mary Lyon
57. Mr. W. Lipscomb
58. Mr. Richard Lewis
59. Mr. James McGlinchy
60. Mrs. McGlinchy
61. Mrs. Christina McKenzie
62. Master John F. McKenzie
63. Professor J. P. McCallum
64. Mrs. McCallum
65. Mr. Samuel McComb
66. Mr. Alexander McGregor
67. Mrs. Eliza McNulty
68. Miss Eliza McNulty
69. Mr. D. Mitchell
70. Master Robert Mitchell
71. Master Donald J. Mitchell
72. Mr. W. M. Murray
73. Mrs. Jane Murray
74. Miss Anne Martin
75. Mr. J. C. Mercer
76. Mr. John Mercer
77. Mr. John J. Mathieson
78. Mr. A. T. Pattison
79. Mr. A. B. Pollock
80. Mr. C. E. Paris
81. Mr. F. W. Rutherford
82. Miss Nellie Rutherford
83. Mr. Arthur W. Robson
84. Mrs. Robson
85. Mr. George Rochester
86. Miss Clarissa E. Smith
87. Mr. Robert Smith
88. Mr. Robert Smith, Jr.
89. Mr. W. H. Smith
90. Mrs. Smith
91. Master Franklin H. Smith
92. Miss S. F. Smiley
93. Mrs. J. Stanbery
94. Mr. George O. Starr
95. Mrs. Starr
96. Dr. Harold Slade, M. D.
97. Miss E. Simpson
98. Mr. Chas. W. Thomas
99. Mrs. Thomas
100. Mr. James Tweed
101. Mrs. Tweed
102. Master Willie Tweed
103. Mrs. Frederick Turnbull
104. Master F. Dale Turnbull
105. Mr. P. C. Venable
106. Mrs. Venable
107. Mr. Charles S. Venable
108. Mrs. Venable
109. Master Venable
110. Mr. Franklin Walden
111. Mr. James Wilson
112. Miss Agnes K. Wilson
113. Miss Anna F. Webb
114. Mr. Thomas B. Whitney
115. Mr. Nathan N. Withington

Notable Passengers Onboard & Their Historical Context

🎓 Academics and Intellectuals

Professor A. G. Benedict – Likely associated with higher education in the United States during a period when university-linked travel was becoming a prestige marker for the upper class.

Professor J. P. McCallum – His presence suggests the inclusion of scholars engaged in transatlantic exchange of ideas during an era of rapid industrial and educational growth.

✝️ Clergy of Note

Rev. George C. Betts – A respected minister, possibly connected with missionary work or ecumenical outreach during a time of global expansion of Protestant missions.

Rev. Robert Christie – Potentially linked to Presbyterian movements in Scotland or Canada, reinforcing the religious ties between emigrants and their homelands.

Rev. S. P. Davis – His travels may reflect the increasing importance of religious conferences and fellowship gatherings across the Atlantic.

⚓ Maritime and Military

Captain W. Dunlop – Possibly connected to merchant or naval service, reflecting the era’s blend of civilian and military maritime expertise traveling between continents.

🏛 Business and Social Leaders

Mr. William Blaikie – A well-known New York lawyer, author, and physical culture advocate, whose writings on health and athletics influenced the Gilded Age’s emphasis on vigor and self-improvement.

Mr. Franklin Walden and Mr. George O. Starr – Likely linked to transatlantic business interests during an economic boom in shipping, manufacturing, and trade.

🏥 Medical Professionals

Dr. Harold Slade, M.D. – Represents the growing presence of physicians in luxury travel, perhaps accompanying wealthy families or combining leisure with professional observation of public health conditions at sea.

🏛 Notable Families & Society Figures

Multiple prominent families traveled together—such as the Mitchell, Venable, and Hamilton households—signifying family tours of Europe, a common practice among the affluent for education, culture, and status. The inclusion of women and children in high numbers demonstrates how Saloon Class travel was a family-oriented affair, not merely the domain of businessmen.

Most Engaging Aspect of This Passenger List

What makes this particular list stand out is the rich mix of clergy, academics, and social leaders, creating a snapshot of Victorian-era transatlantic elite society. The passenger manifest reads like a social register—each name potentially tied to well-documented histories in both American and British records. For genealogists, the clustering of entire family groups provides fertile ground for tracing multi-generational travel patterns.

📚 Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians, and Genealogists

This passenger list is a primary source document offering multiple research pathways:

Social History – Understanding the makeup of upper-class travelers in the late 1800s.

Genealogy – Pinpointing transatlantic travel dates for prominent families.

Religious Studies – Tracing clergy travel and transatlantic ministry connections.

Maritime History – Examining the role of Anchor Line in connecting North America and Europe.

💭 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The 12 July 1890 voyage of the SS Circassia encapsulates the intersection of wealth, influence, and transatlantic cultural exchange. It is more than a list of names—it is a preserved moment in time, offering a window into the movement of people who shaped academic thought, religious communities, business enterprises, and social networks across two continents.

For genealogists, this document may be the missing puzzle piece linking family narratives between America and Europe. For maritime historians, it reveals the prestige and reliability of Anchor Line service at the height of the steamship age.

List of Passengers, Part 1, SS Circassia Saloon Class Passenger List, 12 July 1890. | GGA Image ID # 22b3d656af

List of Passengers, Part 2 and List of Senior Officers. SS Circassia Saloon Class Passenger List, 12 July 1890. | GGA Image ID # 22b3da4995

Sailing Schedule, New York-Moville-Glasgow and New York-Queenstown-Liverpool, 19 July 1890 to 13 November 1890. Ships Included the Anchoria, Circassia, City of Rome, Devonia, Ethiopia, and Furnessia. Obscurred Ships from 15 November to 29 November 1890 were the Furnessia, Devonia, and Circassia. SS Circassia Saloon Passenger List, 12 July 1890. Includes Saloon Passage Rates for New York-Glasgow Service of $50, $60, or $65 or $100, $110, or $120 for round trip tickets. Second Cabin Rate simply listed as $30. New York-Liverpool Service Saloon Passage Rates listed as $60, $80, & $100. Round Trip Rates were $120, $144, and $180. Second Cabin Rates were $30 and $35. Details of Anchor Line Services, Including Fares for Saloon and Second Cabin, Provide a Tangible Connection to the Economic Realities of Late 19th-Century Luxury Travel. | GGA Image ID # 15b7db940b