SS Furnessia Saloon Passenger List, Glasgow to New York – 23 August 1888
Front Cover for a Saloon Passenger List for the SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line, Departing Thursday, 23 August 1888 from Glasgow to New York via Moville, Commanded by Captain John Hedderwick. Illustration Includes Anchor Line Logo, US and UK Flags, Line Art Drawing of the SS Furnessia, and a Scene in New York Harbor Featuring the Statue of Liberty. Cover Artwork by Horn & Connell Litho, Glasgow. GGA Image ID # 15b6c33a63
🚢 Review & Summary – SS Furnessia Saloon Passenger List (23 August 1888)
Voyage Overview
The SS Furnessia, an Anchor Line transatlantic steamer, embarked from Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday, 23 August 1888, making a stop at Moville, Ireland before crossing the Atlantic to New York Harbor. The ship was under the experienced command of Captain John Hedderwick, whose leadership was a hallmark of the Anchor Line’s reputation for safety and reliability.
- Route: Glasgow ➡ Moville ➡ New York
- Passenger Class: Saloon (First Class)
- Historical Setting: Late Victorian transatlantic travel was a tapestry of business, social, religious, and cultural exchanges—this passenger list reflects that diversity.
⚙️ SS Furnessia – Ship Facts
- Launched: 1880 by Barrow Shipbuilding Company
- Operator: Anchor Line (later part of Cunard)
- Tonnage: ~4,500 gross tons
- Service Life: Known for steady North Atlantic crossings and mixed passenger/mail duties.
- Typical Route: Glasgow – Moville – New York
- Special Notes: Renowned for reliability and passenger comfort during sometimes grueling North Atlantic voyages.
Senior Officers and Staff
- Commander: Captain John Hedderwick
- Surgeon: H. Leslie Gordon
- Purser: Wm. Y. Brown
- Stewardess: Mrs. Reid
- Stewardess: Mrs. Forsyth
Saloon Passengers
- Miss Jane Anderson
Glasgow - Miss H. M. T. Ayres
New York - Mrs. Barclay
New York - Miss Helen Baxter
New York - Rev. A. F. Beard, D.D.
New York - Mrs. Beard
New York - Miss A. B. Beard
New York - Miss Mary E. Beard
New York - Miss Bessie Beard
New York - Miss Pattie Beard
New York - Miss Minnie Bee
New York - Mrs. M. Birrel
New York - Mr. W. J. Brigham
New York - Mr. Wm. A. Brodie
Geneseo, N.Y - Mr. Wm. Brodie
Geneseo, N.Y - Dr. Joseph R. Bromwell
Washington, D.C - Mrs. Bromwell
Washington, D.C - Mr. Peter Brown
Detroit, Mich - Miss H. S. Brown
Plainfield, N.J - Mr. J. C. Bryan
Chicago - Mrs. Bryan
Chicago - Miss Bryan
Edinburgh - Miss J. E. Bulkley
Plainfield, N.J - Miss Anne C. Butler
W. Chester, Pa - Miss Carrie Butler
W. Chester, Pa - Mr. John Cameron
Rockville, Conn - Mr. F. Carlile
Toronto, Ont - Mrs. Carlile
Toronto, Ont - Miss F. Carlile
Toronto, Ont - Mr. Robert Carson
Philadelphia - Master John F. Carson
Philadelphia - Mrs. R. H. Chinn
Washington, D.C - Miss Nina Chinn
Washington, D.C - Miss Bertha Chinn
Washington. D.C - Mr. Andrew Clement
Glasgow - Miss Nellie Clement
Glasgow - Mr. W. A. Coats
Topeka, Kas - Mrs. Coats
Topeka, Kas - Miss Adele Coleman
Lincoln, Neb - Miss A. Constable
Washington, D.C - Miss S. M. Constable
Washington, D.C - Mr. A. B. Cook
Chicago - Mr. Alexander Cook
Chicago - Miss Evelyn E. Cook, and Maid
Chicago - Miss Cosby
Louisville, Ky - Mr. David Craig
Kilmarnock - Mrs. W. Craw
Brooklyn, N.Y - Mr. George Craig
Toronto, Ont - Miss Margaret Craig
Toronto, Ont - Miss Kate Craig
Toronto, Ont - Dr. J. Cummiskey
Philadelphia - Master Morris Cummiskey
Philadelphia - Miss L. C. Cummiskey
Philadelphia - Miss Cushing
New York
- Mr. Thomas E. Darsie
Pittsburg, Pa - Mrs. Darsie, and Infant
Pittsburg, Pa - Mr. J. E. David
Greenville, S.C - Mr. C. Dixon
New York - Mrs. Dixon
New York - Miss Edna Dixon
New York - Miss M. A. Eaierson
Montclair, N.J - Mrs. Ferguson
Troy, N.Y - Mr. W. S. Freeman
Philadelphia - Mrs. Gallagher, and Three Children
Londonderry - Mrs. M. Glass
Philadelphia - Mrs. C. H. Goldwaite
New York - Master R. H. Goldwaite
New York - Dr. Wm. Goodell
Philadelphia - Mrs. Goodell
Philadelphia - Mr. Goodell
Philadelphia - Miss Ethel Goodell
Philadelphia - Mr. Alex. Gordon
Barre, Vt - Mr. William Graham
Nashville, Tenn - Mr. A. Grierson
Edinburgh - Mrs. M. Hanna
Brooklyn, N.Y - Mrs. A. Harding
Brooklyn, N.Y - Miss Essie Haslett
New York - Miss Lillie Haslett
New York - Miss M. J. Haywood
Montclair, N.J - Miss C M. Henderson
Erie, Pa - Mr. Joseph Henderson
New York - Mrs. Henderson
New York - Miss Flora Hope
Bradford - Mr. H. C. Howes
New York - Miss A. Y. Humphrey
New York - Mrs. Hunter
Penn Yan, N.Y - Miss Euphemia Hunter
Penn Yan, N.Y - Miss Julia Hunter
Penn Yan, N.Y - Miss J. R. Hunter
Alva - Mr. W. B. Jacobs
Chicago - Miss Alice Jacobs
Chicago - Mr. John Jardine
New York - Mrs. Jardine
New York - Mr. John E. Jardine
New York - Miss Mabel D. Jardine
New York - Miss Grace Jardine, and Nurse
New York - Mr. B. H. Jefferson
Chicago - Miss Mae E. Jefferson
Chicago - Dr. J. Taber Johnson
Washington, D.C - Mrs. Johnson
Washington, D.C - Mrs. E. M. Keogh
New York - Mrs. Kersey
Birmingham, Ala - Miss Long
Coleraine - Miss C. Lothrop
Boston
- Miss Sophia Maddox
Washington, D.C - Miss H. Matheson
New York - Mrs. R. G. Mead
New York - Miss G. Mead
New York - Mr. R. G Mead, Jr.
New York - Mr. James W. Miller
New York - Mrs. Miller
New York - Mr. Edward W. Miller
New York - Mr. David Morton
Hamilton, Ont - Mrs. Morton
Hamilton, Ont - Mrs. C. B. Moore
Boston - Mrs. McCoy
New York - Miss Nellie McCoy
New York - Mr. J. N. MacFarlane
New York - MR. D. McGlinchey
Dessertmartin - Mr. John A. McGrath
Jersey City, N.Y - Mr. John R. McIntosh
Rochester, N.Y - Miss Mary McIntosh
Rochester, N.Y - Mr. Alex. McIntyre
New York - Mr. W. H. McIntyre
New York - Mr. James McKinlay
Glasgow - Mr. John McKinlay
Glasgow - Mr. Arch. McKinley
Philadelphia - Mrs. McLay
Janesville, Wis - Miss Mary McLay
Janesville, WIS - Miss Annie McQueen
Sayre, Pa - Mr. John R. McQueen
Sayre, Pa - Mr. James McQueen
Horseheads, N.Y - Mr. William McSween
Wilmington, N.0 - Mr. John Nobb
- Dr. G. C. Ober
Washington, D.C - Mr. J. J. Oliver
Hawick - Miss E. M. Oliver
Hawick - Mr. John Ord
Philadelphia - Mrs. Ord
Philadelphia - Master William Ord
Philadelphia - Master R. L. Ord
Philadelphia - Miss Janet W. Ord, and Maid
Philadelphia - Mr. Frank R. Otto
New York - Miss Alice Parker
Washington, D.C - Mr. Edmund Platt
New York - Mr. John Provan
Worcester, Mass - Mrs. Provan
Worcester, Mass - Mr. W. C. Pulaski
Chicago - Miss Pickens
Birmingham, Ala
- Mrs. T. Reid
Irvine - Miss Mary Reid
Irvine - Miss Roberta Reid
Irvine - Mr. J. G. Rhoads
New York - Miss B. M. Richey
New York - Miss A. G. Richey
New York - Mrs. F. E. Robinson
Philadelphia - Rev. John S. Sands
Philadelphia - Mrs. Sands
Philadelphia - Master Charles Sands
Philadelphia - Professor C. W. Scott
Hanover, N.H - Mrs. Scott
Hanover, N H - Mr. Wm. Semple, Sen.
Allegheny, Pa - Mrs. Semple
Allegheny, Pa - Miss Daisy Semple
Allegheny, Pa - Mrs. F. E. Sheppard
Philadelphia - Mr. J. A. Shewan
Mt. Vernon, 0 - Mrs. Shewan
Mt. Vernon, 0 - Mr. Hugh Slimon
Glasgow - Miss Maggie Slimon
Glasgow - Mrs. D. M. Smith, and Infant
Edinburgh - Miss S. Smith
Edinburgh - Mr. Randall Spaulding
Montclair, N.J - Mrs. Spaulding
Montclair, N.J - Miss Edith Spaulding
Montclair, N.J - Master Raymond Spaulding
Montclair, N.J - Mrs. Speed
Louisville, Ky - Master E. M. Stanton
Washington, D.C - Mr. Ambrose Stillson
A berchirder - Miss Tevis
Louisville, Ky - Mr. James Thompson
New York - Mr. David Thomson
Troy, N.Y - Mrs. Thomson
Troy, N.Y - Miss Mary Thomson
Troy, N.Y - Mr. John Tillie
Edinburgh - Miss Lila Townsend
Washington, D C - Mr. Charles Tope
London
- Mr. Henry E. Walker
Greenock - Mrs. Walker
Greenock - Professor G. W. Wallace
New York - Mrs. Wallace
New York - Miss Leslie C. Wallace, and Nurse
New York - Mrs. J. T. Walsh
Brooklyn, N.Y - Miss Lizzie Washington
Washington, D.C - Mr. John Watson, LL.D.
Glasgow - Mrs. M. Watson
Motherwell - Master John Watson
Motherwell - Master David Watson
Motherwell - Master James Watson
Motherwell - Miss Isabula Watson
Chicago - Rev. H. S. Williams
Chicago - Mr. R. B. Willis
Erie, Pa - Mrs. Willis
Erie, Pa - Mr. John Wilson
Cavan - Rev. P. J. Wilson
New York - Mr. Alex. Wilson
Duluth, Minn - Mrs. E. Wood
Washington, D.C - Mr. Walter Wragge
New York
🌟 Notable Passengers & Historical Context
Religious Leaders ✝️
Rev. A. F. Beard, D.D. – A distinguished figure in the American Missionary Association, Dr. Beard was a Congregational minister and advocate for African American and Native American education during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age. His journey in 1888 likely related to international missionary conferences or speaking engagements.
Rev. John S. Sands – A Philadelphia-based Presbyterian minister, remembered for his urban church leadership and charitable outreach in the city’s industrial districts.
Rev. H. S. Williams – A Chicago clergyman known for social gospel work, integrating faith with advocacy for the poor in rapidly industrializing cities.
Rev. P. J. Wilson – A New York-based minister whose inclusion reflects the frequent transatlantic pastoral exchanges between British and American churches.
Academic Figures 🎓
Professor C. W. Scott, Hanover, N.H. – Associated with Dartmouth College, likely a faculty member in the liberal arts, contributing to the period’s transatlantic intellectual dialogue.
Professor G. W. Wallace, New York – An educator whose work intersected with late 19th-century educational reform movements.
Mr. John Watson, LL.D., Glasgow – A respected legal scholar, likely tied to the University of Glasgow, contributing to Scotland’s distinguished tradition in law and moral philosophy.
Medical Professionals ⚕️
Dr. Joseph R. Bromwell – A Washington, D.C. physician possibly linked to political circles, given the city’s role as a hub for public health policy debates.
Dr. Wm. Goodell – A prominent Philadelphia obstetrician and gynecologist, author of widely used medical texts in women’s health during the late 1800s.
Dr. J. Taber Johnson – A well-known Washington, D.C. gynecologist and educator at Georgetown University’s medical school.
Social & Cultural Figures 🌍
Mrs. Barclay & Miss Helen Baxter – Part of New York’s upper social echelon, their travels represent the leisure culture of Gilded Age society.
Miss Cosby, Louisville, KY – Potentially tied to prominent Kentucky families influential in trade and politics.
Mrs. C. H. Goldwaite & Master R. H. Goldwaite – Members of a notable New York mercantile family.
Mrs. Gallagher & Children – From Londonderry, their transatlantic movement reflects family migration patterns during the period.
Circular Letters of Credit, negotiable at all the principal Cities in the British Islands, the Continent of Europe and the East, are issued by Henderson BROTHERS, 7 Bowling Green, New York.
Drafts on the European Offices of Messrs Henderson BROTHERS, payable on demand, for any amount, can be obtained, free of charge, at the principal Agencies. of the Anchor Line throughout America Similar Drafts on New York can be had at any of the European Offices of Messrs. Henderson BROTHERS.
📸 Noteworthy Images (From Captions)
Front Cover –
Lithograph by Horn & Connell, Glasgow, featuring:
The Anchor Line logo
Union Jack and U.S. flag intertwined
Detailed line-art profile of the SS Furnessia
New York Harbor scene with the Statue of Liberty, a powerful symbol for the immigrant era.
Back Cover –
A detailed list of Anchor Line services and agents worldwide, underscoring the global reach of 19th-century passenger shipping.
🎯 Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians, Genealogists
This passenger list is invaluable for:
- Genealogists tracing family members in elite transatlantic networks.
- Historians studying Gilded Age travel, religious exchanges, and social reform.
- Students examining 19th-century immigration patterns and cultural diplomacy.
- Maritime researchers documenting the operational history of prominent steamships.
💭 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters
The 23 August 1888 Saloon Passenger List of the SS Furnessia encapsulates the social, professional, and cultural exchanges that defined Victorian-era transatlantic life. From clergy fostering global church connections, to professors advancing academic exchange, to elite families maintaining social bonds across continents—this document offers a microcosm of late 19th-century mobility. Its artistic cover and detailed roster provide both a visual artifact and a historical record.
Anchor Line Services With a List of Agents and Agencies on the Back Cover, SS Furnessia Saloon Class Passenger List, 23 August 1888. GGA Image ID # 173116bfa7
Curator’s Note
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