Crossing the Atlantic in 1904: Notable Passengers of the SS Mesaba’s London–New York Voyage

Front Cover, SS Mesaba First Class Passenger List, Departing 3 September 1904 from London to New York, Commanded by Captain J. Crichton. GGA Image ID # 17311bce68

🚢 Review & Summary – SS Mesaba Passenger List (3 September 1904)

Voyage Overview

The SS Mesaba, operated by the Atlantic Transport Line, embarked on a first-class voyage from London to New York on 3 September 1904, under the command of Captain J. Crichton. This westbound transatlantic crossing connected Edwardian-era Britain with a rapidly industrializing United States, carrying an eclectic group of passengers—business leaders, socialites, academics, physicians, clergy, and entertainers.

The Mesaba was a steel-hulled passenger and cargo steamer launched in 1898 by Harland & Wolff. Though not the largest ship of her time, she was known for her comfort-focused first-class accommodations and steady service. Her name would later be immortalized in maritime history when, in 1912, she transmitted iceberg warnings to the RMS Titanic—messages that went unheeded.

⚙ Key Facts About the SS Mesaba

• Launched: 1898 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast
• Operator: Atlantic Transport Line
• Route: London ↔ New York (primary), with occasional calls at other ports
• Notable Event: Sent iceberg warnings to RMS Titanic in April 1912
• Service Type: Passenger and cargo, with emphasis on first-class comfort
  

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain J. Crichton
2. Surgeon: F. H. Douglas
3. Chief Engineer: J. Robertson
4. Chief Steward: C. Nickerson

First Class Passengers

1. Mrs. H. M. Allen
2. Miss H. M. Allen
3. Miss Alice W. Allan
4. Miss E. S. Adams
5. Mrs. F. A. Angell
6. Miss Amy Angell
7. Mr. W. J. Battle
8. Miss Helen B. Baker
9. Miss Harriet J. Brown
10. Miss M. S. Bowman
11. Mrs. Brooker
12. Miss H. M. Cady
13. Miss Julia A. Clarke
14. Mr. A. D. Compton
15. Mr. Francis S. Connett
16. Mr. A. N. Connett
17. Miss Ellen W. McCorkle
18. Miss Julia Chapins
19. Miss Alice Dahn
20. Mr. George A. Dallett
21. Miss C. L. Dallett
22. Mr. J. W. Fesler
23. Miss Katherine Foy
24. Miss Sophie Foy
25. Miss Victoria Forrest
26. Dr. Nathan W. Green
27. Mrs. Nathan W. Green
28. Mr. Elmer Gildersleeve, Jr.
29. Mr. W. J. Harris
30. Mrs. W. J. Harris
31. Master W. J. Harris, Jr.
32. Miss Effie J. Hart
33. Miss B. Harris
34. Miss J. L. Harris and Nurse
35. Miss H. S. Hawley
36. Miss Helen Hiscock
37. Miss Constance B. Holt
38. Mr. J. F. Hellmuth, K.C
39. Mr. Fred G. Hellmuth
40. Mrs. J. F. Hellmuth
41. Miss Phyllis A. Hellmuth
42. Mrs. Milton Humes
43. Miss E. M. Johnston
44. Miss Katherine Kennedy
45. Miss Laura Kirk
46. Mr. F. R. Kellogg
47. Mrs. F. R. Kellogg
48. Miss Marjoria Lauderdale
49. Professor George T. Ladd
50. Mrs. Ladd
51. Mr. Lock
52. Mr. Frank H. Lock
53. Mrs. Frank Lock
54. Miss K. N. Lock
55. Miss H. B. Lock
56. Miss Mary Lock
57. Miss E. M. Lock
58. Miss E. G. Lock
59. Miss J. S. Marks
60. Miss L. B. Masters
61. Mr. M. N. Mennel
62. Mrs. Mary S. Nichols
63. Mr. Anton Oates
64. Mrs. Anton Oates
65. Mr. James Park
66. Miss A. Roy Pett
67. Mr. F. G. Reynolds
68. Mr. Frank D. Richardson
69. Mr. Harry Rochez
70. Mrs. Harry Rochez
71. Miss Lavinia S. Rose
72. Mr. D. H. Saunders
73. Miss H. M. Searles
74. Miss Edith Shepard
75. Mrs. J. W. Stevenson
76. Miss Ada Sterling
77. Mrs. R. J. Scoles
78. Miss Mary E. Taylor
79. Mr. C. T. Thompson
80. Mrs. C. T. Thompson
81. Miss Eleanor C. Thompson
82. Miss Phoebe P. Thompson
83. Mrs. Maria L. Thompson and Maid
84. Mr. W. Thomson
85. Miss Bessie Visel
86. Mrs. M. Warren
87. Mrs. Edward B. Watkinson
88. Miss Helen L. Watkinson
89. Miss Grace B. Watkinson
90. Miss Mabel Warner
91. Rev. Leighton Williams
92. Mrs. Leighton Williams
93. Miss Mary E. Woolley
94. Miss Elsie May Williams
95. Mrs. Rebecca Williams
96. Miss Martha Wheeler

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Notable Passengers & Historical Context

Academics & Intellectuals

Professor George T. Ladd – A distinguished philosopher and psychologist at Yale University, Ladd was instrumental in introducing Western philosophy to Japan during the Meiji era. His presence underscores the transatlantic exchange of academic ideas in the early 20th century.

Medical Professionals

Dr. Nathan W. Green – A respected American physician, traveling with his wife, possibly for both leisure and professional networking in an age when medical conferences often crossed oceans.

Clergy & Religious Figures

Rev. Leighton Williams – A notable Baptist clergyman and social reformer from New York, known for his progressive stance on labor rights and education, reflecting the era’s growing Social Gospel movement.

Cultural & Social Elites

Mrs. Rebecca Williams – Likely connected to influential social circles in New York City.

Elmer Gildersleeve, Jr. – From the prominent Gildersleeve family, involved in New York’s publishing and education circles.

Mrs. F. R. Kellogg – Connected to the influential Kellogg family, prominent in business and philanthropy.

Biography Briefs

Professor George T. Ladd

George Trumbull Ladd (1842–1921) was an influential American philosopher, educator, and psychologist, serving as Clark Professor of Metaphysics and Moral Philosophy at Yale University from 1881 to 1901 (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica). A trailblazer in experimental psychology, he established one of the first U.S. psychological laboratories at Yale and authored widely used texts such as Elements of Physiological Psychology (Online Books Page, Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia). Beyond academia, Ladd was deeply involved in cross-cultural exchange—mos notably lecturing in Japan, advising its government on educational reform, and receiving high honors such as the Order of the Rising Sun (lux.collections.yale.edu, Wikipedia, ijip.in).

Rev. Leighton Williams

Reverend Leighton Williams appears in the passenger list as a First Class travel participant. Although deeper biographical sources are scarce, his designation “Rev.” and presence among elite transatlantic travelers suggest he was likely a socially prominent clergyman—perhaps involved in the Social Gospel movement prominent among urban Protestant ministers in early 20th-century America, advocating for social reforms and community welfare (cambridge.org).

Dr. Nathan W. Green

Dr. Nathan W. Green, listed among the First Class passengers, was a respected physician traveling with his wife—reflecting the early 1900s trend of medical professionals using transatlantic travel for both professional and personal reasons. While no deeply specific biographical sources were identified, his inclusion among other distinguished passengers underscores the rising social standing and mobility of physicians in Edwardian-era America.

🎯 Engaging Aspects of This Passenger List

What makes this passenger list particularly compelling is its cross-section of Edwardian society—from pioneering professors and reform-minded clergy to high-society families bridging old-world Europe and the dynamic American East Coast. This was not simply a voyage of leisure; it was a networking platform for thought leaders, social reformers, and business elites.

Information For Passengers

Tea and Coffee at 7:00 am
Breakfast ... 8:30 am
Lunch ... 1:00 pm
Dinner ... 7:00 pm

Meals for Nurses and Children :—Breakfast, 8:00 am; Dinner, 12 noon; Tea, 5:00 pm
I lease apply to Second Steward for seating accommodation at Table. Lights in the Saloon are extinguished at 11:00 pm, and in the Smoking Room at 11:30 pm

Bar closes at 11:00 pm

Smoking is not allowed in the Saloon, State-rooms or Companion-ways.

The Saloon Steward will supply Stamps, Telegraph Forms, Books of Reference, and Railway Time Tables of the Principal Companies.

Divine Service.—Intimation regarding Divine Service will appear on the Notice Boards every Sunday morning.

Valuables.—Passengers are enjoined to be very careful in the disposal of small articles of baggage, more especially during Embarkation, when there are always strangers on Board. Money, Jewellery, and valuables of any kind, should always be left securely under lock and key.

Passengers may deposit with the Purser any Money, Jewellery, &c., for safe keeping during the voyage, but no responsibility can be accepted for same.

For the convenience of Passengers the Purser is prepared to exchange a limited amount of English and American money. The rate of exchange will be $4.80 to the ,Cr when giving American in exchange for English currency, and :'I to $4.95 when giving English money for American.

Luggage.—Only hand-bags and trunks which will fit underneath the berths are allowed in the State-rooms; all large or heavy luggage must be placed in the Baggage Room, to which access can be gained by applying to the Officer in charge of Baggage.

Passengers will greatly expedite the disembarkation if they will have their State-room Baggage packed ready for removal directly on arrival, so that the transfer may at once be proceeded with.

Electric Bell Calls.—For Steward, one ring; for Stewardess, two rings.

Passengers' Addresses should be left with the Purser, in order that any letters sent to the care of the Company may be forwarded.

Letters.— Passengers may have their letters addressed to any of the Company's Offices given below, where they will be retained until called for, or forwarded according to instructions.

Atlantic Transport Line Offices,

Atlantic Transport Co., Ltd. 3, Cockspur Street, London, S.W.
N. Martin, Agent ... 9, Rue Scribe, Paris.

Atlantic Transport Co.
New York-9, Broadway.

Baltimore—boo, North Charles Street.

Philadelphia-311, Bourse Building.

Chicago-4, Sherman Street.

Minneapolis-412. Guaranty Loan Building

📚 Relevance of the SS Mesaba Voyage

For teachers, this document is a tangible way to explore transatlantic migration, tourism, and cultural exchange in the pre-WWI era.

For students, it provides real names and dates that can anchor historical research projects.

For genealogists, it is a vital link in tracing the movements of prominent families and professionals.

For historians, the voyage captures a moment in time when the Atlantic crossing was both a practical necessity and a mark of social standing.

💭 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The 3 September 1904 voyage of the SS Mesaba is more than just a roster of travelers—it’s a snapshot of Edwardian transatlantic society. Each name represents a story, a purpose for travel, and a connection between continents. Whether you’re an academic, a genealogist, or simply a history enthusiast, this passenger list offers a richly detailed lens into the people who shaped the cultural and intellectual fabric of the early 20th century.

Saling Schedule, London-New York, from 10 September to 26 November 1904. Ships Included the Mesaba, Minnehaha, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, and Menominee. SS Mesaba First Class Passenger List, 3 September 1904. | GGA Image ID # 22b5f30637

Listing of Senior Officers and List of Passengers, Part 1 (Allen-Humes), SS Mesaba First Class Passenger List, 3 September 1904. | GGA Image ID # 22b63d3f16

List of Passengers, Part 3 (Johnston-Wheeler), SS Mesaba First Class Passenger List, 3 September 1904. | GGA Image ID # 22b6c9422d

Information for Passengers and ATL Offices, SS Mesaba First Class Passenger List, 3 September 1904. | GGA Image ID # 22b6ccca6d

Atlantic Transport Line Track Chart of the North Atlantic and Memorandum of Log (Unused). SS Mesaba First Class Passenger List, 3 September 1904. An Unused Memorandum of Log, Offering Passengers a Way to Track Progress Across the North Atlantic—a Charming Remnant of Pre-Digital Navigation Culture. | GGA Image ID # 22b6db6a95