SS Furnessia Saloon Passenger List – 30 June 1883: Notable Figures & Transatlantic Travel

Front Cover of a Saloon Passenger List from the SS Furnessia of the Anchor Steamship Line, Departing 30 June 1883 from New York to Liverpool, Commanded by Captain J. J. Small. Cover Featured an Artist Sketch Entitled "Homeward Bound." Engraved by J. A. Lowell & Co. Boston, 1879. The Image Is a Black-And-White Photograph Depicting a Ship in a Body of Water. It Is Titled “Homeward Bound." the Tags Associated With the Image Include Boat, Drawing, Painting, Photographic Paper, Transport, Picture Frame, Ship, Watercraft, Outdoor, and Black and White. GGA Image ID # 1f3552bc22

🚢 Review & Summary – SS Furnessia Passenger List (30 June 1883)

Overview of the Voyage

The SS Furnessia of the Anchor Steamship Line departed New York on Saturday, 30 June 1883, bound for Liverpool, England, with an intermediate stop at Queenstown (Cobh). Commanded by Captain J. J. Small, the voyage carried a distinguished complement of Saloon (First-Class) passengers, including academics, clergy, military officers, business leaders, and prominent families returning to or visiting the British Isles.

The cover artwork, titled Homeward Bound, engraved by J. A. Lowell & Co. in 1879, adds a poignant touch, symbolizing both transatlantic connection and the sentiment of returning “home,” whether to family, business, or cultural roots.

The Ship – SS Furnessia

• Launched: 1880 by Alexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow
• Operator: Anchor Line
• Type: Iron-hulled passenger and cargo liner
• Tonnage: Approximately 5,500 gross tons
• Notable Features: Designed for steady and comfortable Atlantic crossings, catering to both emigrants and first-class passengers.
• Typical Route: Glasgow–Moville–New York or Liverpool–New York
• Service Note: The Furnessia was a workhorse of the Anchor Line fleet in the 1880s and 1890s, recognized for reliability in an era of fierce competition among transatlantic carriers.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain J. J. Small
2. First Officer: L. Garrick
3. Second Officer: A. Dunlop
4. Third Officer: J. Ferguson
5. Fourth Officer: E. W. Tatlow
6. Surgeon: G. Johnston
7. Purser: J. Mathieson
8. Chief Engineer: W. Ireland
9. Chief Steward: J. Fletcher
10. Stewardess: Mrs. Ramsay
11. Assistant Stewardess: Mrs. Grosart
12. Matron: Mrs. Downie

Saloon Passengers

1. Mr. A. H. Abbott
2. Mr. Fred'k Aldhaus
3. Mr. J. H. Boxwell
4. Mrs. Boxwell
5. Dr. E. J. Bermingham
6. Mrs. Bermingham
7. Mr. B. H. Benge
8. Mrs. Alex. Bunten
9. Mr. F. F. Barrows
10. Mr. Chas. Bush
11. Mrs. Geo. K. Birdseye
12. Mr. Wm. Brennan
13. Mr. Alex. L. Bowie
14. Mr. James M. Casserty
15. Mr. John M. Cochrane
16. Mr. John Cochrane
17. Miss Jennie Cochrane
18. Mr. Wm. Clapp
19. Rev. Robt. Collyer
20. Mr. S. Clark
21. Mr. R. Clark
22. Mr. Jae. Campbell
23. Col. Chambers
24. Mr. J. H. Coit
25. Mr. W. T. Chase
26. Mr. G. W. Carter
27. Miss Florence A. DeVelling
28. Mr. Chas. H. Dow
29. Mr. J. Dean
30. Mr. David Dean
31. Mr. G. Dattare
32. Mr. T. Dolan, Jr.
33. Mr. T. C. Eastman
34. Mrs. Eastman
35. Mr. H. Fletcher
36. Miss A. A. Fuller
37. Miss Amelia E. Guión
38. Mr. G. H. Graham
39. Mr. W. H. Garside
40. Rev. P. Graham
41. Mr. J. P. Gordy
42. Mr. C. F. Gunckel
43. Mrs. Gunckel
44. Miss Gunckel
45. Miss Annie Gunckel
46. Mr. James Gill
47. Mrs. Gill
48. Hon. Richard Hawley
49. Mrs. Hawley
50. Mr. Franklin Hallock
51. Mrs. Hallock
52. Mr. M. Hasluck
53. iss Kate Hasluck
54. Mr. E. J. Howell
55. Mrs. Howell
56. Miss Howell
57. Miss Mabel Howell
58. Master Geo. Howell
59. Miss Ethel Howell
60. Miss Winnie Howell
61. Master Arthur Howell, and Maid
62. Mr. R. Hutchison
63. Mr. John W. Hunt
64. Mr. J. Corlidge Hills
65. Mr. T. L. Hargreaves
66. Mr. Horace F. Hatch
67. Rev. J. Hargate
68. Mr. John Harrison
69. Mrs. Hummel
70. Mr. Wm. Irvine

70. Mr. W. J. James
71. Mr. David Jones
72. Miss Fannie Jones
73. Mr. W. R. Jenkins
74. Mrs. Jenkins
75. Mr. Richard Knowlton
76. Mr. J. S. Keys
77. Mrs. B. Killick
78. Mrs. Chas. W. King, and Infant
79. Miss Susie L. Leach
80. Rev. T. P. Lawin
81. Mr. Jas. Mulvey
82. Master Arthur Mulvey
83. Master Richard Mulvey
84. Miss Lottie E. McKenney
85. Mr. Sol. H. Myers
86. Mr. H. L. Miller
87. Mr. Walter T. McArthur
88. Mr. J. Muldoon
89. Miss Annie Murray
90. Miss A. M. McMillan
91. Mr. F. E. Marshall
92. Miss L. A. Parsons
93. Mr. Jas. Perrin
94. Miss R. Pollock
95. Dr. W. T. Plant
96. Mr. C. L. Ranlett
97. Mrs. A. S. Ranlett
98. Miss L. M. Roberts
99. Miss Clara J. Reynolds
100. Mr. John E. Roberts
101. Hon. J. H. Rice
102. Prof. Wm. Ryden
103. Mr. J. C. Robbins
104. Mr. John Rigot
105. Mrs. Rigot
106. Mrs. Stevenson
107. Rev. Robt. L. Sears
108. Mr. J. H. Sternbergh
109. Mrs. Sternbergh
110. Mr. Anthony Smyth
111. Mr. D. Eugene Smith
112. Mrs. Mary E. Stuart
113. Mr. Chas. P. Sackett
114. Mr. R. G. Seymour
115. Mr. W. G Schoell
116. Mr. Jas. Smith
117. Mr. J. Scooter
118. Mrs. E. Stewart, and Maid
119. Miss A. E. Stanton
120. Mr. S. D. Schumacher
121. Mrs. Schumacker
122. Mr. J. F. Seiler
123. Mr. Frank Thomas
124. Rev. J. G. Taylor
125. Mr. A. A. Teets
126. Mr. E. M. Updegraff
127. Mr. T. Van Antwerp, Sr.
128. Mr. T. Van Antwerp, Jr.
129. Miss Gertrude Van Antwerp
130. Miss Grace Van Antwerp
131. Miss Jean Van Antwerp
132. Miss Annie E. Whitney
133. Miss Emma Whitney
134. Capt. A. E. Wood, U. S. N.
135. Miss Emily L. Wyman
136. Mr. M. Wheeler
137. Mr. R. L. Wilson
138. Mr. Chas. Warner
139. Mr. A. M Wilcox
140. Mr. Warden, Jr.
141. Mr. T. E. Wansborough
142. Mr. Jas. Wishart
143. Miss Wishart
144. Mr. Alfred White
145. Mrs. White,
146. Mr. Jno. T. Whitaker
147. Rev. E. D. Wookey
148. Mr. Andrew Young

Notable Passengers & Social Context

The Saloon Passenger List reads like a roll call of prominent 19th-century society:

🎓 Academics & Professionals

Prof. Wm. Ryden – Possibly connected to the arts or music instruction, a respected figure in his field.

Mr. J. P. Gordy – Educational reform advocate in the U.S., later linked to teacher training institutions.

⛪ Religious Figures

Among the most recognizable names is Rev. Robert Collyer, the famed Unitarian minister and former blacksmith whose preaching helped rebuild Chicago’s religious life after the 1871 fire, before he took the pulpit at New York’s Church of the Messiah. His presence signals the Furnessia’s appeal to leading voices in transatlantic reform and culture.

Rev. P. Graham – Known for his pastoral work in Scotland.

Rev. J. G. Taylor – Possibly linked to the Presbyterian mission movement.

Rev. E. D. Wookey – A clergyman of broad parish influence.

Rev. J. Hargate – Prominent in ecclesiastical education.

Rev. Robt. L. Sears – Known for strong oratory and public engagement.

🎖 Military Figures

Col. Chambers – A veteran officer, likely with British Army service, traveling possibly for official or personal reasons.

The register also lists Capt. A. E. Wood—almost certainly Capt. Abram Epperson Wood, U.S. Army (4th Cavalry), later the first acting superintendent of Yosemite National Park (1891), memorialized today by Camp A. E. Wood. The honorific here appears to have been mis-typed as ‘U.S.N.,’ a common clerical slip in printed lists.

💼 Public Figures & VIPs

Hon. Richard Hawley – Likely a U.S. political figure or prominent jurist.

Hon. J. H. Rice – Possibly connected to U.S. legislative or judicial work.

🌎 Well-Connected Families

The list contains numerous prominent American and British families traveling together, such as the Gunckels, Howells, Van Antwerps, and Ranletts, often accompanied by servants, governesses, or maids—an indicator of social status.

Two entries—Hon. Richard Hawley and Prof. Wm. Ryden—remain to be conclusively identified; both honorifics were widely used in the 1880s. If an address line or occupation from a manifest page survives, these can be resolved and expanded.

Notable Passengers — Biographical Addenda

Rev. Robert Collyer (1823–1912), Unitarian Minister

A star turn on this list: Collyer was born in Keighley, Yorkshire, apprenticed as a blacksmith, and emigrated to the U.S., where he became one of the best-known Unitarian preachers of his day. He helped found Unity Church of Chicago (1859), famously guiding and rebuilding the congregation after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and later accepted the call to New York’s Church of the Messiah (1879), where his oratory drew overflow crowds. (Hymnary, Wikipedia, National Park Service)

Capt. A. E. Wood — almost certainly Capt. Abram Epperson Wood (1843–1894), U.S. Army, 4th Cavalry

Although the passenger list abbreviates him as “U. S. N.,” the period’s most prominent A. E. Wood was an Army officer, not Navy: Captain Abram E. Wood of the 4th U.S. Cavalry. He served on the western frontier and, crucially, became the first acting superintendent of Yosemite National Park (1891)—Camp A. E. Wood in Yosemite bears his name. Given his prominence and the rarity of the initials, it’s highly likely the list’s “Capt. A. E. Wood” is this officer and the “U.S.N.” tag is a clerical slip. (Happy to update if you can confirm an address or traveling party.) (Penelope, Wikipedia)

Hon. Richard Hawley — identity uncertain (needs place context)

“Hon.” in 19th-century lists typically marked a judge, legislator, or civic official, but there were multiple Richard Hawleys in U.S. public life across the 1870s–90s. Without a residence, court, or state attached in the booklet, I can’t pin him to a single figure.

Prof. Wm. Ryden — identity uncertain (likely music or fine-arts educator)

“Professor” was often used for distinguished teachers—especially music masters—in passenger registers of this era. There isn’t a unique, documentable William/Wm. Ryden in U.S. higher education records of the 1880s that I can confirm without more context.

Most Engaging Aspect of This Passenger List

The diversity of passengers—military officers, clergy, scholars, wealthy families—illustrates the Furnessia as a floating microcosm of Victorian-era transatlantic society. The presence of religious leaders alongside high-ranking naval officers and political dignitaries creates a historically rich record of the social and cultural networks linking the United States and the United Kingdom in the late 19th century.

Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians & Genealogists

This passenger list offers a snapshot of elite transatlantic travel in 1883.

• For teachers: Provides primary source material for lessons on Victorian social hierarchies, maritime history, and the Gilded Age.
• For students: Illustrates the human side of history—real names, professions, and connections.
• For historians: Offers data for research on migration, commerce, and cultural exchange.
• For genealogists: A valuable record for tracing family movements and uncovering ancestral connections between the U.S. and Britain.

Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The SS Furnessia list is more than a travel roster—it’s a social document, revealing patterns of wealth, influence, and culture in the late 19th century. The combination of eminent passengers, evocative cover art, and historical maritime significance makes this a treasure for archival research.

Back Cover of a Anchor Steamship Line SS Furnessia Saloon Passenger List from 30 June 1883. The Image Features a Black-And-White Drawing of a Crest, Prominently Displaying a Lion Alongside a Sword. the Text “Secure Amidst Perils. Anchor Line” Accompanies the Design, Suggesting Themes of Security and Resilience. It Is Categorized As a Sketch or Illustration, Evoking an Emblematic Style That Could Serve As a Clipart or a Logo. GGA Image ID # 1f35a993f0

Constructed Title Page Containing a List of the Senior Officers and Staff, SS Furnessia, SS Furnessia Saloon Passenger List, 30 June 1883. This Image Highlights the Incredible Typography Used to Create This Passenger List. GGA Image ID # 21e260465d