Across the Atlantic in 1910: Second Cabin Passengers of the SS Furnessia, Glasgow to New York
Elegant Front Cover for a Second Cabin Passenger List for the SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line, Departing Saturday, 18 June 1910 from Glasgow to New York via Moville (Londonderry), Commanded by Captain John Black. | GGA Image ID # 15b8edb50c
🚢 Review & Summary — SS Furnessia Passenger List, 18 June 1910
The Ship & Voyage
The SS Furnessia, operated by the Anchor Line, embarked on her transatlantic voyage from Glasgow, Scotland, on Saturday, 18 June 1910, with a stop at Moville (Londonderry), Ireland, before heading west across the Atlantic to New York. Commanded by Captain John Black, this sailing reflected the busy summer migration season, when many passengers — from professionals to families — crossed the ocean for business, study, tourism, or emigration.
By this date, the Furnessia was still configured for multi-class service, but within a year she would be refitted into a single-class cabin ship to meet changing passenger demands. Wireless telegraphy via the Marconi system was fitted aboard, underscoring the modernity of the vessel for the time.
Key Facts about the SS Furnessia
- Launched: 1880 by Barrow Shipbuilding Company.
- Operator: Anchor Line (later part of Cunard).
- Tonnage: ~5,500 gross tons.
- Length: 445 ft (approx.).
- Typical Route: Glasgow – Moville – New York.
- Notable Features: Refitted in 1911 as a one-class vessel; fitted with Marconi wireless.
- Service Period: Active in passenger service until scrapped in 1912.
Senior Officers and Staff
- Commander: John Black
- Chief Officer: Alex. Colle
- Second Officer: George Kelly
- Third Officer: R. F. Williams
- Fourth Officer: Alex. Buchanan
- Chief Engineer: Wm. Grass, R.N.R
- Surgeon: Edgar Milwyn Jenkins
- Purser: Wm. Towns
- Chief Steward: W. Squires
- Stewardess: Mrs. Ewing
- Stewardess: Mrs. Scott
- Stewardess: Miss Scott
Second Cabin Passengers
- Miss Sarah E. Anderson
- Mr. W. Archer
- Miss Mary Alexander
- Miss Minnie Anderson and Child
- Mrs. Annie Boyd
- Miss Blair
- Mrs. A. Barr
- Mr. Thos. J. Brennan
- Miss E. Brennan
- Mr. Edmund Brickett
- Miss H. A. Baldwin
- Mrs. Robert Brodie
- Mrs. James Brevis
- Miss Harriet Brevis
- Mrs. John Blockhall
- Miss Jane Blockhall
- Master John Blockhall
- Miss Blanch Baker
- Miss Mary L. Banick
- Mr. Albert Bruckman
- Mr. David S. Barron
- Mrs. Elizabeth Bell
- Miss Alice Bell
- Mrs. R. Baillie
- Mrs. Brown
- Miss Alice Brown
- Master Arthur Brown
- Miss Gwendoline Bell
- Miss Maggie Bevis
- Mr. William Brown
- Mrs. Ellen Barr
- Mr. Edward Burns
- Mrs. William Borland
- Master John Borland
- Miss Bennie
- Mr. Bennie
- Master Robert Bryan
- Mr. Daniel Black
- Mr. Lawrence Bottomley
- Miss Clarke
- Sister Columborus, O. S. D
- Mr. G. D. Clark
- Rev. W. Catherwood
- Miss Catherine Connolly
- Mrs. M. Cash
- Master Sydney Cash
- Miss Cecile Clark
- Mr. Dennis Crombie
- Miss A. E. Colly
- George W. Cameron
- Mr. Charles Campbell
- Mr. John Carracker
- Mrs. John Carracker
- Mr. John Conway
- Miss Annie Crane
- Mrs. H. H. Christie
- Miss Agnes Christie
- Mr. Alex. Chisholm
- Master Mathew Craig
- Mr. William Craig
- Mr. P. J. Conroy
- Mr. H. Cochrane
- Mrs. Charles Campbell
- Miss Lizzie Cruickshank
- Miss Mabel Cunningham
- Mr. D. O. Christenberry
- Mrs. Walker Crockett and Infant
- Miss Alice Dove
- Miss Adelaide Dennis
- Mr. Alex. Davidson
- Mrs. Alex. Davidson
- Miss Isabella Davidson
- Miss Christie Daniel
- Miss Jennie Daniel
- Miss Dolan
- Mrs. Mary Daniel
- Mr. Doctor
- Miss Eva M. Earle
- Mr. Alex. Eason
- Miss Annie Eason
- Mrs. S. Ewing
- Miss Annie Edwards
- Miss Mary Easton
- Miss Lizzie Finly
- Miss Elizabeth Foucke
- Miss Betsy Fairweather
- Mr. L. Frantz
- Mr. T. J. Food
- Mrs. T. J. Food
- Mr. Thos. Farrell
- Miss Jennie Flynn
- Miss Sarah Goodwin
- Mr. G. P. Gray
- Miss Blanche H. Gunn
- Mr. Lurton Gerdine
- Mr. Robert S. Grant
- Mrs. Robert S. Grant
- Miss Mary Grant
- Mr. Robert Graham
- Miss Marion Goodyear
- Mr. R. S. Grant
- Mrs. R. S. Grant
- Mrs. Henry Hamilton
- Master Henry Hamilton
- Master James Hamilton
- Master Irvine Hamilton
- Miss Susan Hamilton
- Mr. Robert Hood
- Miss Mary Hood
- Miss Janet Hunter
- Miss Julia Harger
- Mrs. W. H. Hudson
- Miss Ruth E. Hughes
- Mr. William Hughes
- Mr. Horace Hoyle
- Mrs. James Hutton
- Mr. Hibbard
- Mrs. Hibbard
- Miss Laura Hibbard
- Miss Jean Hoag
- Mrs. Edward B. Hall and Infant
- Mr. Edward B. Hall
- Miss F. C. Hoagland
- Miss Katherine Hoagland
- Mr. H. H. Howard
- Mrs. Ed. Jenning
- Miss J. L. Jameson
- Miss Agnes Jameson
- Master Robert Jameson
- Master Clyde Jameson
- Mrs. J. Jager
- Sister Josephine, O. S. D
- Mr. Charles Johnson
- Miss Jeanie Johnston
- Miss Mary C. Jones
- Mr. Carl G. Janssen
- Mrs. Archie Kenny
- Mr. Peter J. Keagney
- Master John Keagney
- Master Thos. Keagney
- Mrs. K. K. Klingender
- Mr. Garo Keshishian
- Mr. William Kane
- Miss Lilly Leason
- Miss Elizabeth Lynch
- Mr. William Lyon
- Mr. Alex. Lemon
- Miss Sarah Lafferty
- Mrs. W. B. Little
- Mrs. W. B. Lockhart
- Mrs. Amanda A. Lehman
- Mrs. Isabella Lucey
- Mr. W. S. Lindsay
- Mr. Thos. Little
- Mrs. J. Martin
- Master Charles Martin
- Mr. John Morrow
- Mrs. John Morrow
- Miss Agnes Mehaffey
- Miss Barbara Miller
- Miss Olive Macdonald
- Master Arthur Matsuzama
- Mr. J. Macfarlane
- Mrs. Allan Meda
- Mrs. Alexander Milne
- Miss Margaret Montgomery
- Miss Kate Morrison
- Miss Mary Martin
- Miss Irene Motte
- Miss Nina Murdock
- Mrs. Harriet Mines
- Miss Florence Mines
- Miss Margaret Murphy
- Mr. E. F. Merrill
- Miss Bessie McDearman
- Mrs. Grace McVeigh
- Master Charles Maddoch
- Miss Coons Maddoch
- Master John McCarney
- Mr. Robert McCall
- Mrs. J. H. McArthur
- Mr. J. N. McCunn
- Mr. James McBride
- Miss Cassie McGinley
- Mr. Cassie McGinley
- Mr. Nathan McKilben
- Miss T. McKilben
- Miss Johanna McCleavey
- Miss A. P. MacVay
- Miss Lillian McDonald
- Rev. Samuel McComb
- Miss Christiana McLeod
- Miss Annie McIntyre
- Mrs. P. McNichol
- Mrs. Nellie McGilland and Infant
- Miss Rachel McCulloch
- Mr. David McGrath
- Mr. John McLaughlan
- Miss Mary McFadden
- Miss Kate McFadden
- Mr. James McCleavey
- Mr. John McLaughlin
- Miss Margaret McManus
- Mr. Peter McManus
- Miss Mary Napier
- Miss E. M. Norrie
- Mrs. Natangarva
- Mrs. Francis O'Neil
- Master F. O'Neil Miss
- Mary A. O'Neil
- Miss Gertrude M. O'Neil
- Miss Corday Ruth Olive
- Mrs. James Orr
- Miss Edna E. Provost
- Mrs. S. Parker
- Mr. John Parker
- Mr. James Phillip
- Mrs. Janet Proudfoot
- Master Clarence Proudfoot
- Miss L. Pittson
- Mrs. F. J. Parran
- Miss Elizabeth Porker
- Miss Elizabeth Paage
- Miss Lucy H. Robertson
- Miss Sadie Royster
- Miss Margaret Roarty
- Mrs. Elizabeth Rathbun
- Rev. Peter Rice
- Miss Margaret Renot
- Mrs. Fred C. Russell
- Mr. J. W. Rixey
- Mr. James M. Roberts
- Mrs. Michael Rice
- Mrs. Patrick Rice and Infant
- Mrs. Robertnolle
- Miss Jennie Robinson
- Miss Emily Richardson
- Mrs. B. Russel and Infant
- Master R. Russel
- Mr. Henry L. Robinson
- Mr. Alex. D. Simpson
- Miss Fannie A. Strauss
- Mr. John Scott
- Mrs. Eleanor Scott
- Miss Martha Scott
- Master Walter Scott
- Mr. Alfred Samuelsohn
- Mrs. Rachel Sheaner
- Mrs. Isabella Shearer and Infant
- Dr. W. H. Stack
- Mrs. R G. Scherer
- Miss Catherine Scherer
- Prof. J. W. Scudder
- Miss Gertrude Snowdon
- Miss Nellie Snowden
- Miss Louise Spilman
- Mrs. Henry Spilman
- Sister Seraphecca, O. S. D
- Mrs. Maggie Sterling
- Miss Agnes E. Sterling
- Mrs. Samson and Infant
- Miss Jennie Taggert
- Miss Edith Taggert
- Miss Martha Taggert
- Mr. H. A. Talcott
- Mrs. G. W. Van Slyke
- Mr. W. C. Virash
- Mrs. W. C. Virash
- Miss Eileen Virash
- Miss Lucy Virash
- Mr. Edward White
- Mrs. Catherine Waldron
- Miss Nora Waldron
- Miss Stella E. Whittaker
- Mrs. Agnes Will
- Mrs. Mary C. Wakefield
- Mr. E. E. Washburn
- Mrs. D. White
- Miss Mary E. Wiley
- Miss Mary Wilson
- Miss Esther Wilson
- Mr. William Weir
- Mrs. John Wilson
- Mr. Sidney Whilman
- Mr. William Watson
- Mrs. John Wyllie
- Master David Wyllie
- Master C. B. Wyllie
- Miss Mary H. Yerkes
Notable Individuals & Social Context
Religious Figures
Rev. W. Catherwood – Likely a Presbyterian or Methodist minister traveling to serve a congregation or attend conferences in North America. Clergy often acted as community leaders for immigrant groups.
Sister Columborus, O.S.D., Sister Josephine, O.S.D., and Sister Seraphecca, O.S.D. – Dominican Sisters whose presence indicates transatlantic religious service work, possibly traveling to educational or hospital assignments in the U.S. These voyages were part of the Catholic Church’s broader mission expansion in the early 20th century.
Rev. Samuel McComb – A significant theological figure of the early 1900s, later known for his involvement in the Emmanuel Movement in Boston, blending religion and psychology in pastoral care.
Rev. Peter Rice – Minister whose work likely bridged both pastoral duties and social advocacy, serving emigrant communities adapting to life in the U.S.
Academic Figures
Prof. J. W. Scudder – Potentially linked to theological or medical academia. The Scudder family was notable for missionary and educational work in India and the United States.
The passenger list’s large number of well-educated travelers suggests a mix of lecturers, researchers, and students returning from extended study in Europe.
Medical Professionals
Dr. W. H. Stack– Physician who may have been engaged in transatlantic medical conferences or emigrating to practice in the U.S.
The early 20th century saw medical knowledge rapidly expanding, and physicians often traveled internationally to exchange knowledge.
Other Notable Names
Mr. H. A. Talcott – Could be connected to the Talcott family of Hartford, Connecticut, prominent in business and philanthropy.
SS Furnessia. One class cabin only. The entire accommodation, consisting of Promenade Deck, Dining Room, Music Room, Library, Smoking Room, and all Staterooms on the main and upper decks are Exclusively for the Use of Second-Cabin Passengers.
Note: The SS Furnessia of the Anchor Line was refitted as a one-class cabin ocean liner in 1911. This transformation aimed to adapt to changing passenger demands and enhance the ship's marketability in the competitive transatlantic travel industry. By converting it into a one-class vessel, the ship was better suited to cater to middle-class travelers, including immigrants and tourists, while maintaining a standard of comfort reflective of its earlier operations.
These Steamships are Fitted with MARCONI WIRELESS TELEGRAPH.
Most Engaging Content
What makes this list fascinating is its diverse passenger mix:
- Missionary and religious figures crossing alongside politicians and academics.
- Families traveling together, suggesting seasonal tourism or long-term relocation.
- Names indicating Scottish, Irish, English, and Continental European backgrounds — reflecting the transatlantic cultural blend of the Edwardian era.
The three Dominican Sisters are especially notable for genealogists, as such religious travelers often left detailed archival records in parish and convent archives.
Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians & Genealogists
Teachers can use this document to illustrate transatlantic travel patterns before WWI, particularly the middle-class “Second Cabin” market.
Students can research how wireless telegraphy transformed passenger safety and communication.
Genealogists gain valuable data points for tracking ancestors’ migration timelines and identifying traveling companions or sponsors.
Historians can connect individual passenger stories to broader social movements, such as missionary expansion, medical exchange, and the Irish/Scottish diaspora.
Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters
The 18 June 1910 SS Furnessia passenger list is a snapshot of the transatlantic experience at the twilight of the Edwardian age — just before the Titanic era and the seismic changes brought by World War I. It blends migration, tourism, academic travel, religious missions, and political journeys into one sailing. For researchers, it’s a primary source that illuminates human stories across class, profession, and nationality.
Anchor Line Route Map and Abstract of Log (Unused). SS Furnessia Passenger List, 18 June 1910. | GGA Image ID # 1f36435a45. Click to View a Larger Image.
📜 Research note: Some names and captions were typed from originals and may reflect period spellings or minor typographical variations. When searching, try alternate spellings and cross-check with related records. ⚓
Curator’s Note
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