Passenger List of the SS Furnessia – Anchor Line Voyage from Glasgow to New York, 30 May 1901

Front Cover of a Second Class Passenger List from the SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line, Departing Thursday, 30 May 1901 from Glasgow to New York, Commanded by Captain Hugh Young. 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. | GGA Image ID # 15b93a5f89

🚢 Review & Summary – SS Furnessia Passenger List (30 May 1901)

Voyage Overview

On Thursday, 30 May 1901, the SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line embarked from Glasgow bound for New York, carrying Second Class passengers. The voyage came at the height of spring transatlantic travel, just before the summer rush. This was a period when many traveled for family reunification, employment opportunities, or seasonal visits to relatives in North America.

Voyage Type: Westbound transatlantic crossing

Service Class Featured: Second Class

Captain: Hugh Young – An experienced master with a reputation for punctual and efficient crossings on the Anchor Line’s Glasgow–New York route.

The Ship – SS Furnessia

• Launched: 1880 by Alexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow
• Tonnage: ~5,500 gross tons
• Length: Approx. 445 feet
• Operator: Anchor Line (later associated with Cunard Line)
• Typical Route: Glasgow – Moville – New York

Notable Features:

Single funnel, two masts; built during the transitional steam-and-sail era.

Known for comfortable Second Class accommodations, appealing to professionals, skilled workers, and modestly affluent families.

Senior Officers and Staff

• Commander: Captain Hugh Young
• Surgeon: W. H. Parr
• Purser: David Bruce
• Chief Steward: Samuel Hendry
• Matron: Miss Brodie
• Matron: Mrs. Wright
• Matron: Mrs. Aitken

Senior Officers & Staff

Commander: Captain Hugh Young

Surgeon: Dr. W. H. Parr – Managed medical needs on board, a crucial role before modern antibiotics.

Purser: David Bruce – Handled passenger accounts and documentation.

Chief Steward: Samuel Hendry – Oversaw dining and cabin service.

Matrons: Miss Brodie, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Aitken – Provided care for unaccompanied women and children, ensuring passenger comfort and propriety.

Second Class Passengers

1. Miss Mary Aitken
2. Miss Sarah Allison
3. Mr. Alex. Anderson
4. Mr. David Anderson
5. Mr. James Angus
6. Mrs. Angus
7. Master N. J. Angus
8. Miss Jane A. Angus
9. Master James A. Angus
10. Mr. Charles Basing
11. Mr. A. Beth
12. Mr. Robert E. Boyd
13. Mr. Wm. G. Bremner
14. Mrs. Margaret Burton
15. Mrs. Mary Cameron
16. Mr. John Cameron
17. Miss Grace Cameron
18. Mr. David Cameron
19. Mr. David Cameron, Jr.
20. Mr. John Campbell
21. Miss C. Carmichael
22. Mrs. Clark
23. Miss Eddie Clark
24. Mr. John Darragh
25. Mr. James Dewar
26. Mrs. Dewar
27. Miss Mary E. Dewar
28. Miss Anna B. Dewar
29. Miss Catherine L. Dewar
30. Miss Helen H. Dewar
31. Master Archibald J. Dewar
32. Miss Mary Doherty
33. Miss Barbara Doig
34. Miss Sarah Dougan
35. Mrs. Eileen Elmore
36. Mr. David Ferguson
37. Miss Agnes Ferguson
38. Miss Tina Ferguson
39. Mr. William Forsyth
40. Miss Maggie Freeborn
41. Mr. Thomas Frew
42. Miss Martha Gauslie
43. Mr. Peter Gillespie
44. Mrs. Sarah H. Gillespie
45. Miss Hannah Gillespie
46. Mr. William Gray
47. Mr. Alex. Hanna
48. Miss Mary A. Hanna
49. Miss Annie Hargadon
50. Miss Martha Harper
51. Miss Gertrude Hawthorne
52. Mr. James S. Hay
53. Mr. J. A. Henderson
54. Mr. Rudolf Herzig
55. Mr. Archd. Houston
56. Miss Agnes Houston
57. Mr. C. Hoyt
58. Mr. William Hunter
59. Master Hunter
60. Miss Margaret Leckie
61. Miss Bessie Leitch
62. Miss Bella Leitch
63. Miss Nellie Leitch
64. Mr. Robert Logue
65. Master Edmund J. Logue

66. Miss Nellie McCann
67. Miss Mary J. McCloskey
68. Mr. F. McDonald
69. Mr. James McElroy
70. Mrs. Hannah McFadden
71. Miss Maggie McFadden
72. Miss Lizzie McFall
73. Mrs. McFarlane
74. Master McFarlane
75. Miss Kate McGarity
76. Miss Sarah McGeachy
77. Miss Sarah McGowan
78. Mr. John McGrettan
79. Miss Helen Mackenzie
80. Miss Mary McKin'ay
81. Miss Margaret McLaughlin
82. Miss Marion McLaughlin
83. Miss A. McLaughlin
84. Mr. John McMeekin
85. Mrs. Margaret McMeekin
86. Mr. Thomas McMeekin
87. Mrs. Isabella McMeekin
88. Master John McMeekin
89. Master James McMeekin
90. Mr. James Mack
91. Miss Rose Maguire
92. Mrs. Main
93. Mr. David Matthews
94. Mr. Alex. Mitchell
95. Mr. Francis Muir
96. Miss Bella Murray
97. Mr. Samuel J. Price
98. Mr. John H. Price
99. Mr. Robert Rae
100. Mrs. A. J. Regan
101. Miss Martha Reid
102. Mrs. Mary Reid
103. Master David Reid
104. Miss Jessie Ross
105. Mr. James Ruddell
106. Mrs. Martha Ruddell
107. Master George H. Ruddell
108. Miss Annie Ruddell
109. Miss Edna Ruddell
110. Miss Edith Ruddell
111. Mrs. Russell
112. Miss Christina Russell
113. Miss Annie Russell
114. Miss Agnes Russell
115. Miss Jeanetta Russell
116. Mrs. Shedden
117. Master James Shedden
118. Master Charles Shedden
119. Master Joshua Shedden
120. Mrs. Sinclair
121. Mr. Ebenezer Sommerville
122. Mr. Robert G. Stevenson
123. Mrs. Stevenson
124. Miss Elizabeth Stewart
125. Mr. John Stewart
126. Mr. Patrick Thompson
127. Miss Sarah Trouten
128. Mr. W. Watson
129. Miss Agnes Wilkinson

Notable Passengers & Historical Context

While this is primarily a working- and middle-class passenger list, several names stand out for their likely social, economic, or cultural connections.

🎓 Educational & Professional Travelers

Mr. Rudolf Herzig – A surname of Central European origin, possibly connected to the merchant trade or academic exchange.

Mr. C. Hoyt – Likely from the United States; name suggests possible involvement in transatlantic business ventures.

🕊 Religious & Community Influences

Multiple Dewar Family Members – A large traveling group (Mrs. Dewar and six children) possibly returning to or from a church-supported relocation. Religious and community organizations often sponsored such passages.

🌍 International & Transatlantic Families

The McMeekin Family – Traveling in an extended party (four adults, two children), indicative of familial relocation or return migration.

The Ruddell Family – Another large family group traveling together, common among emigrant families heading to join relatives in the US.

👪 Family Travel Patterns

Several entries reveal multi-generational family crossings, highlighting the role of Second Class as an affordable yet comfortable choice for long journeys:

The Angus Family – Parents with children, perhaps rejoining a breadwinner already in America.

The Shedden Family – Three young masters traveling with a guardian, possibly for educational purposes.

The Most Engaging Aspects of this Passenger List

This voyage is particularly interesting for:

Large multi-generational family groups, which give clues to migration patterns.

Names of non-Scottish origin (Herzig, Hoyt), reflecting an increasingly international passenger base on Glasgow sailings.

The timing — late May 1901 — which places it in the Edwardian prelude, just months before the death of Queen Victoria and significant shifts in British maritime culture.

Noteworthy Images 📸

Front Cover – Highly decorative Anchor Line cover art:

• Anchor Line logo with US and UK flags.
• Line-art rendering of the SS Furnessia.
• New York Harbor scene with the Statue of Liberty — symbolizing arrival in America for emigrants and travelers alike.

Back Cover – Advertisement for the Twin Screw Steamer Columbia (8,300 tons, 500 ft long, 56 ft wide), showcasing Anchor Line’s modern fleet. This marketing placement was common practice to inspire repeat travel.

Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians & Genealogists ✍️

Genealogists – This list helps identify family migration clusters and track transatlantic movements between Scotland and the United States.

Historians – Offers a snapshot of passenger demographics during the Edwardian transition.

Students – A useful case study in maritime history, migration economics, and Second Class travel conditions.

Maritime Enthusiasts – Highlights the competitive strategies of Anchor Line at the turn of the 20th century.

Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters ⭐

The 30 May 1901 voyage of the SS Furnessia preserves an invaluable social record. The manifest reveals extended family migration patterns, the influence of community sponsorships, and the continued role of Glasgow as a key departure point for transatlantic travel.

For researchers, it offers both personal genealogical value and a cultural-historical lens into an era of steady migration just before the dramatic immigration restrictions of the 1920s.

Twin Screw Steamer "Columbia," 8300 Tons, 500 Feet Long, 56 Feet Wide - Glasgow and New York Service. On the Back Cover of a Second Class SS Furnessia Passenger List from 30 May 1901. | GGA Image ID # 15b93c6622. Back Cover has Significant Staining Issues.

The Role of Matrons on a 1901 Transatlantic Steamship

In 1901, matrons on transatlantic steamships played a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and safety of passengers, particularly women and children. Their presence was especially significant due to the challenging conditions of long ocean voyages and the diverse mix of passengers onboard. Their duties and importance included the following:

1. Supervising Female Passengers

• Steerage Class: Matrons primarily ensured the safety and proper conduct of unaccompanied women and girls, protecting them from potential harassment or inappropriate behavior.
• Second and First Class: Matrons in higher classes often assisted single female travelers or those requiring additional care, such as elderly or infirm women.

2. Caring for Children

• Matrons often acted as caregivers for children traveling alone or with overwhelmed parents. They supervised group activities, ensured proper feeding, and provided comfort during the voyage.

3. Assisting with Health and Hygiene

• Working closely with the ship's surgeon, matrons helped care for ill passengers, administered basic first aid, and distributed medicines when needed.
• In steerage, where conditions were often crowded and unsanitary, matrons played a key role in promoting hygiene and preventing the spread of disease.

4. Distributing Meals and Maintaining Order

• In lower classes, matrons helped manage the distribution of meals to ensure that women and children received adequate food.
• They maintained order during mealtimes, assisting passengers unfamiliar with the ship's routines.

5. Emotional Support and Guidance

• For many passengers, especially immigrants, the journey across the Atlantic was their first experience of long-distance travel. Matrons offered emotional support, easing fears, homesickness, and anxieties about the journey and arrival.

6. Supporting Immigration Procedures

• Matrons often assisted passengers in preparing for immigration inspections at the destination port. This included organizing documentation, ensuring that women and children had their belongings ready, and providing advice about the immigration process.

7. Ensuring Decorum

• Matrons acted as moral authorities, promoting proper behavior among passengers, especially in steerage, where cultural differences and language barriers often posed challenges.

8. Emergency Assistance

• In the event of emergencies, matrons helped calm and organize passengers, particularly women and children, and ensured they followed safety protocols.

Significance of Matrons

• The presence of matrons reflected the steamship companies' efforts to create a safer and more organized travel experience, especially as competition among liners increased during the height of transatlantic migration.
• They served as a reassuring figure for passengers and demonstrated the shipping line's commitment to passenger care and well-being.

Matrons were indispensable to maintaining the smooth operation of these voyages, particularly for passengers in steerage and second class, and their work contributed significantly to the success and reputation of transatlantic steamship services.