SS City of Chicago Passenger List – 4 June 1887 (Inman Line, New York to Liverpool)

Front Cover, SS City of Chicago Saloon Class Passenger List, Departing 4 June 1887 from New York to Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain Frederick Watkins. Cover Image Features Two Large Graphic Images of a 1 Funnel, 4-Masted Ship and the Other show a Steamer with Sails for More Speed. Beutiful Typography throughout. | GGA Image ID # 21151bd122

🚢 SS City of Chicago Passenger List – 4 June 1887 (Inman Line)

New York → Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh), Capt. Frederick Watkins

Highlights & Context

While this voyage did not carry the aristocracy or famous entertainers of some Cunard and French Line crossings, it is remarkable in its own right for the civic, religious, and family networks it represents:

Hon. A. Fulton – Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA traveled with his wife and daughter. His presence underscores the City of Chicago’s role in transatlantic exchange not just of migrants, but of American political and civic leaders.

Clergy in abundance – including Rev. P. Cronin, Rev. W.R. Richardson, Rev. L. Rabbia, Rev. Peter Tarro, and Rev. W.R. Turner – show the important role of faith leaders in maintaining ties between Britain, Ireland, and America.

Family networks are strongly represented: the Beeson, Fulton, Hearne, Richardson, Strettle, and Weber families all appear with children and even nurses or maids, reflecting how entire households made the crossing together.

Ship & Archival Features

The City of Chicago, launched in 1883, was one of the Inman Line’s premier liners of the 1880s, known for its size and reliability on the North Atlantic.

The back cover preserves a printed track chart and memorandum of log — a rare artifact that maps the actual course of the voyage. Collectors prize these inclusions because they link the passenger list directly to the lived journey across the Atlantic.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain Frederick Watkins
2. Purser: Jno. T. Kavanach
3. Surgeon: Dr. T. T. Reynolds
4. Stewardess: Mrs. McNicoll

Saloon Class Passengers

1. Dr. C. T. Alexander
2. Rev. Juan B. Aguirra
3. Mr. F. Adams
4. Mrs. Beeson
5. Miss Mary L. Beeson
6. Mr. Robert B. Brinkerhoff
7. Mr. Lindsay Bury
8. Mrs. Bury infant and maid
9. Hon. F. B. Brewer
10. Mr. Richd. A. Barlow
11. Mr. George Burges
12. Mrs. Burges
13. Mr. Chas. S. Bottomby
14. Mrs. W. Christy
15. Mr. Howland Croft
16. Miss Annie Croft
17. Miss Regina Calder
18. Mrs. Jane Clark
19. Miss Agnes Clark
20. Mr. C. J. Connell
21. Mrs. Connell
22. Mrs. R. W. Crisfield
23. Rev. P. Cronin
24. Mr. Edwd. Cronin
25. Miss Harriet D. Drury
26. Mr. Robt. F. Doyle
27. Mrs. Dougun and child
28. Miss Dougan
29. Hon. A. Fulton
30. Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pa
31. Mrs. Fulton
32. Miss Corinne Fulton and nurse
33. Mr. Edwin S. Fownes
34. Mrs. S. A. Fownes
35. Miss Alice Fownes
36. Mr. P. Farrell
37. Master Thos. Farrell
38. Mr. G. C. Freeborn
39. Mrs. Freeborn
40. Mr. J. J. Flanigan
41. Mr. James Girdlestone
42. Miss Mary Greenwalt
43. Mr. Albert Goldstein
44. Miss Annie B. Gelston
45. Miss Alary C. Gelston
46. Mr. John G. Gray
47. Mr. Davies Gilbert
48. Mrs. Mortimer Hart
49. Miss Rees Hart
50. Mr. Henry Hearne
51. Mrs. Hearne
52. Mr. George J. Hearne
53. Mr. Walter R. Hearne
54. Mrs. John H. Hewson
55. Mr. E. Kensington
56. Mrs. Mary Lynch
57. Miss Annie Lynch and maid
58. Mrs. T. Livesey
59. Miss Gertude McCurdy
60. Mr. A. C. McKeon
61. Miss Charlotte McKeon
62. Mrs. H. McIntyre
63. Mr. David McCosker
64. Mrs. S. A. Morgan
65. Mr. Alfred Murcatt
66. Rev. J. W. Miller
67. Mrs. H. Mosenthal
68. Miss H. Mosenthal
69. Miss T. Mosenthal
70. Rev. D. O'Meara
71. Miss Orinda N. Pratt
72. Dr. Powell
73. Miss I. G. Russell
74. Mr. W. Ritsert
75. Mrs. Ritsert
76. Mr. A. S. Richardson
77. Mrs. Richardson
78. Miss Dot Richardson
79. Miss Jennie Richardson
80. Rev. W. R. Richardson
81. Mr. S. J. K. Rawling
82. Rev. L. Rabbia
83. Miss Ada Rose
84. Mr. W. R. Robertson
85. Mr. S. M. Swensen
86. Miss Emma St. Clair
87. Mr. J. Galt Smith
88. Mrs. Smith
89. Master Geo. K. Smith
90. Miss Florence K. Smith and maid
91. Mr. R. Barr Smith
92. Mr. S. Strettle
93. Mrs. Strettle
94. Mr. W. S. Strettle
95. Miss Stella Strettle
96. Miss E. Stedeker
97. Rev. W. R. Turner
98. Mrs. Turner
99. Mr. T. Tyrer
100. Capt. Henry Toms
101. Mr. W. W. Thomas, Jr.
102. Rev. Peter Tarro
103. Mrs. E. W. Van-Vorhes
104. Miss Elsie Vercoe
105. Mr. S. A. Weber
106. Mrs. Weber
107. Miss Rosalie Weber
108. Master August Weber
109. Mr. W. J. Williamson
110. Mrs. Watson
111. Mr. Joseph J. Walton
112. Mr. Thomas Wilson

Why It Matters

This passenger list may not glitter with international celebrities, but it is invaluable to genealogists, historians, and collectors:

It ties together local political leadership (Mayor Fulton) with religious leaders and family migration groups, offering a nuanced snapshot of who traveled in saloon class during the summer of 1887.

The presence of track chart memorabilia elevates its archival value, making it more than just a list of names — it’s a tangible record of the crossing itself.

Title Page, Listing of Senior Officers, and List of Passengers Covering Two Pages. SS City of Chicago Saloon Passenger List, 4 June 1887. | GGA Image ID # 232042443b. Click to View a Larger Image.

Back Cover With Track Chart and Memorandum of Log Filed in With Daily Nautical Miles Covered During Journey. SS City of Chicago Saloon Class Passenger List, 4 June 1887. | GGA Image ID # 2116523d81

Distance Traveled (Nautical Miles)

Why It Matters

This passenger list may not glitter with international celebrities, but it is invaluable to genealogists, historians, and collectors:

It ties together local political leadership (Mayor Fulton) with religious leaders and family migration groups, offering a nuanced snapshot of who traveled in saloon class during the summer of 1887.

The presence of track chart memorabilia elevates its archival value, making it more than just a list of names — it’s a tangible record of the crossing itself.