Ships of Our Ancestors

The John Bertram, Oct 1857

Black-and-white scan, of an oil painting of the JOHN BERTRAM by Clement Drew, now in the possession of the Peabody Essex Museum, Source: Octavius T. Howe and Frederick C. Matthews, _American Clipper Ships, 1833-1858, pp. 320 and 321. Ship history provided below. Courtesy of Michael Palmer, an authority on German emigration and the vessels used by the immigrants.

For those who are interested in ships and the sea, here is some  historical and technical data for the vessels our ancestors traveled on. Almost all of this information is paraphrased or extracted verbatim from various sources without permission of the authors.  This section has three parts:

In addition to the information below, you can find lots more information on immigrant ships at the bottom of this page. Only a couple of the ships we've researched were 100 percent sail. Transatlantic passenger travel did not really begin in earnest until the advent of the steamship. References on sailing vessels and steamships are provided at the bottom of this page. Much of this information was provided by Michael Palmer, German Immigration authority, and from other published and public domain resources.

1) A Short History of Transatlantic Travel - the early days. The distinction between Explorer and Immigrant became increasingly blurred as Europeans began regular trips to the New World. Because trade was the earliest driving force for transatlantic travel, early sailing ships carried passengers as secondary cargo. As a result, early travelers experienced hazardous and very uncomfortable conditions. Although most Germans departed from Bremen, our ancestors used Hamburg as the point of departure. Some transatlantic ships stopped in Southampton, England and/or La Havre France before making the crossing. Many Germans sailed first to England and then took English vessels to America because of the cheaper fares offered by the Liverpool cotton merchants. This was often a mistake, especially in the days of sail, since not only were English regulations on the shipment of emigrants much less stringent than German regulations, but even these lax regulations were seldom enforced. Consequently, British vessels, which were larger than contemporary German and American vessels, were overcrowded and fertile breeding grounds for disease. The problem of disease among emigrants was particularly severe in 1847, when large numbers of Germans migrating to the United States were routed through Quebec, and in 1853, when the mortality on ships arriving at New York from Liverpool climbed to between 6 and 10 percent (by comparison, there was very little sickness on board ships arriving from Bremen and Hamburg during this same period).

2) Advent of the steam ship. Some of the early sailing ships were very small and did not accommodate many passengers. However, the later steam ships were larger, capable of carrying over 1,000 passengers in three or more classes.  Many immigrants who could afford it did travel in style; however, our ancestors were mostly former tenant farmers and day laborers so it was common to book steerage, the cheapest accommodations available.

The first steamship to cross the Atlantic was the SAVANNAH, 320 tons, 98.5 x 25.8 feet (length x breadth), built by Samuel Fickett and William Crockett, New York, and launched on 22 August 1818 as a 3-masted, square-rigged sailing ship; an engine (40 3/8 inch cylinder, 5 ft stoke), 2 copper boilers, and 2 side-paddle wheels were added in February 1819. She sailed from Tybee Light, off Savannah, under the command of Moses Rogers, on 22 May 1819, and dropped anchor at Liverpool on 20 June 1819, after a voyage of 29 days 4 hours. Of this period of 700 hours, the ship's log indicates that the paddles were in operation for a total of approximately 100 hours, spread over parts of 12 days. The latter part of the voyage was marked by a chase by the British revenue cutter KITE, which mistook the SAVANNAH for a ship on fire. The Savannah then proceeded to Helsingor (Elsinore), Stockholm, and St. Petersburg; thence, under sail alone, to Copenhagen, Arendal, and Savannah, which she reached on 30 November 1819.

The first regular steamship service across the North Atlantic was begun by the British & American Steam Navigation Company, and followed almost immediately by the Great Western Steam Ship Company, both in 1838 [Bonsor, _op. cit._, pp. 54-66]. Both ventures were short-lived, as it was impossible at that time to maintain a steamship service across the North Atlantic without a government subsidy.

The first successful steamship service across the North Atlantic was instituted in 1840 by the British North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., popularly known from its earliest days (although not officially until 1878) as the Cunard Line, which in May 1839 had obtained the first British government mail subsidy of 55,000 pounds sterling per annum, the contract to run for 7 years.

The early steamships were unreliable--their boilers had a tendency to explode, and their machinery was too heavy for hulls designed for sailing vessels--and notoriously uncomfortable, and at first the slower, but more reliable and luxurious sailing vessels were able to hold their own. However, as the reliability of steamships improved, speed took precedence over comfort, as it does even today (witness the victory of the airplane over the ocean liner in the late 1960's and early 1970's), and by the late 1840's the steamships had wrested the cabin-class passenger and fine-cargo traffic from the sailing vessels, which were left with only the emigrant and bulk-cargo traffic.

The American Civil War only hastened the ascendance of steam over sail in the passenger trade. By 1870, of all the great sailing packet lines, only two--the Liverpool Black Ball Line and the London Red Swallaowtail Line--survived; however, they had long since ceased to carry passengers and went into liquidation in 1878 and 1880, respectively. Several German and Scandinavian shippers continued to send an occasional sailing vessel filled with emigrant passengers to North America until the mid-1870's, but by 1875 there was no regularly scheduled transport of passengers by sail. From the mid 1800's to World War I, a large number of steam ships were dedicated to the transatlantic passenger trade.

A review of the passenger records in the National Archives indicates these ships were in kept in constant motion almost all year, even during the rough winter months where Atlantic travel was uncomfortable and often hazardous. These ships carried sail, but usually were under steam power most of the time. Traveling at about 12 knots, the voyage took two weeks.  Today, the same trip on the Queen Elizabeth II at about 39 knots, takes about 5 days. Of course, by air, the voyage from Heathrow England to JFK is about 6 hours.

3). The ships our ancestors traveled on were:

Allemannia:  Date of Arrival: 28.10.1867/ 17.06.1868/ 04.05.1872 (Built 1865)
The "Allemania" was a 2,695 gross ton ship built in 1865 by C.A.Day & Co, Southampton for the Hamburg America Line. Her details were - length 315ft x beam 41ft, one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 12 knots. There was accommodation for 60-1st, 100-2nd and 600-3rd class passengers. Launched on 11/5/1865, she sailed from Hamburg on her maiden voyage to Southampton and New York on 17/9/1865. In 1872 she was fitted with compound engines and commenced her last voyage to New York on 5/10/1872. She was then transferred to the Hamburg - West Indies service until 11/4/1880, when she resumed the Hamburg - New York run. On 5/9/1880 she commenced her last voyage (3 round voyages) and was then sold to the British company, Hunter & Co. who renamed her "Oxenholme" In 1894 she was sold to A.Chapman and on 6/6/1894 was abandoned with no loss of life after striking rocks near Santa Catharina, Brazil. Be careful if ordering a photograph that you specify the date of the vessel as this company had another "Allemania" built in 1881 and an "Allemannia" bought in 1905. [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 18 October 1997]
Picture of the Allemannia
Bohemia:  Date of Arrival: 16.11.1881
Built in `1881. The "Bohemia" was built by A&J.Inglis & Co, Glasgow as the "Bengore Head" for the Ulster Steamship Co. She was a 3,410 gross ton ship, length 350.5ft x beam 40.2ft, one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 12 knots. Accommodation for 100-1st and 1,200-2nd class passengers. Launched on 25/8/1881, she was sold to Hamburg America Line on 30/9/1881 and left Hamburg on her maiden voyage to New York on 30/10/1881. On 16/3/1892 she commenced a single round voyage from Hamburg to New York and Baltimore, and on 17/5/1893 commenced her first voyage between Stettin, Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Christiansand and New York. She started her last voyage between Hamburg and New York on 2/4/1897 and on 11/6/1897 commenced sailings between Hamburg, Philadelphia and Baltimore. In 1898 she was sold to the Sloman Line of Hamburg, renamed "Pompeii" and made three Hamburg - New York voyages before being sold to an Italian company in 1900 and being renamed "Pompei". She was scrapped in 1905 at Spezia, Italy. [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 18 October 1997]
Borussia  Dates of Arrival: 27.11.1868
The "Borussia" was a 2,131 gross ton ship, built by Caird & Co, Greenock in 1855 for the Hamburg America Line. Her details were - length 280ft x beam 38.5ft, clipper stem, one funnel, three masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots. There was accommodation for 54-1st, 146-2nd and 310-3rd class passengers. Launched on 3/7/1855, she was immediately chartered by the British government as a Crimean War transport. On 1/6/1856 she started her first Hamburg - New York voyage and on 30/4/1870 sailed from Hamburg on her last run on this service. In 1871 she was fitted with compound engines and was then transferred to the Hamburg - West Indies service. In 1876 she went to the Dominion Line and on 2/9/1876 started sailings between Liverpool and New Orleans. On 20/11/1879 she left Liverpool for the last time for New Orleans but was abandoned at sea on 2nd December with the loss of 169 lives. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.387] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 22 October 1997]
Cimbria   Dates of Arrival:14.11.1870
Built 1867  for the Hamburg-American Line. Built by Caird & Col, Greenock, Scotland, Tonnage: 3,037.  Dimensions: 329' x 40'. Single-screw, 12 knots.  Inverted engines. Two masts (rigged for sail) and one funnel. Iron hull. Later re-engined with compound engines. Speed increased to 14 knots. There was accommodation for 58-1st, 120-2nd and 500-3rd class passengers. Launched on 21/1/1867, she left Hamburg on her maiden voyage to Southampton and New York on 13/4/1867 . Sunk in collision with the British steamship Sultan off the Dutch coast, January 19, 1883 with the loss of 389 lives. On 17/1/1883 she sailed from Hamburg for New York but on 19th Jan. was in collision in dense fog near Borkum Island, Germany with the British vessel "Sultan" of the Hull & Hamburg Line. The Cimbria's hull had a large gash abreast of the foremast and the Sultan also had a large hole foreword and drifted off into the fog. The Cimbria rapidly sank with the loss of 389 lives and although seven lifeboats got away, only 133 people were saved. Among the saved were the second, third and fourth officers and the second engineer. Nearly all of the 72 women and 87 children on board were lost.

 [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.389] [Merchant Fleets in Profile by Duncan Haws, vol.4, Hamburg America Line] [ Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 17 November 1997] Sister ship: Hammonia.
Picture of Cimbria
Eugenie   Date of Arrival: 2 Nov 1867
"EUGENIE" and "EUGENIA" are commonly mixed. The Full Rigged iron ship EUGE'NIE was built in 1864/65 by the Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik in 1864/65 for Robert M. Sloman (Bielbrief [certificate of registry] 2 June 1865).  369 Commerzlasten / 697 net register tons;  48,7 x 8,8 x 4,9 meters (length x beam x depth of hold).F2/69F CRT/WRT.4/W/D = 48, 70/8,  80M/4, 90M.  The "Eugenie" was in the New York trade 1865/67 and afterwards for several years in Australia and New Zealand. At the end of the 19th century, she served as a Tramp. On 30 Dec 1896 the EUGE'NIE was sold to Norwegian owner Andreas Nielsen, of Sandefjordin Faudefjord. There are no pictures of the "Eugenie" known to survive in the Hamburg Museum or any other archive.

Lloyd's List reports movements under Capt Cohabley: Hamburg from New York, 9 Aug 1867. Arrived 8 Oct: in 50N 27W (Hamburg for New York) 1 Nov: arrived New York. 25 Dec. 1867 arrived Antwerp from New York.

     Masters:
          1865-1869 - C. J. H. Cahnbley
          1869-1873 - L. W. H. Voss
          1874-1878 - G. Koch
          1878-1879 - H. C. J"orgensen
          1881,1882 - E. Friedrichs
          1884      - R. Rambusch
          1887,1889 - F. Sieverts

     Voyages:
          1865-1866 - New York
          1866/67   - New York/Antwerp
          1867      - New York
          1867/68   - New York/Antwerp
          1868      - New York/Antwerp
          1868/69   - New York
          1869      - New York
          1869/70   - New York/Hartlepool
          1870/71   - New York/Philadelphia
          1871      - New York
          1871/73   - Dona Franzisca/Hobart/intermediate ports/Nieuwediep
          1873/75   - Queensland/intermediate ports/Iquique
          1876      - Newcastle upon Tyne/intermediate ports/Greenock
          1877/79   - Semarang/intermediate ports/Batavia
          1879/81   - Singapore/intermediate ports/London (1881)/Taltal
          1881/82   - Valparaiso/Taltal
          1882/84   - Newcastle upon Tyne/Iquique/intermediate ports/
                      Iquique
          1885/87   - Melbourne/intermediate ports/Dunkirk
          1887/.... - Wellington/intermediate ports/...

Sources:  Walter Kresse, ed., _Seeschiffs-Verzeichnis der Hamburger
Reedereien, 1824-1888_, Mitteilungen aus dem Museum f"ur Hamburgische
Geschichte, N. F., Bd. 5. (Hamburg: Museum f"ur Hamburgische Geschichte,
1969), vol. 2, p. 214;  Ernst Hieke, _Rob. M. Sloman jr., errichtet 1793_,
Ver"offentlichungen der Wirtschaftsgeschichtlichen Forschungsstelle e.V.,
Hamburg, 30 (Hamburg:  Verlag Hanseatischer Merkur, 1968), pp. 377 and
381. Posted on the Ships list by Michael Palmer Michael Palmer Claremont, California
mpalmer[at_sign]panix.com and David AspreyDavid.Asprey[at_sign]british-shipping.org (Asprey, David)

Frisia: Dates of Arrival: 29.10.1872 & 5.11.1883
The "Frisia" was built by Caird & Co, Greenock in 1872 for Hamburg America Line. She was a 3,256 gross ton ship, length 349.5ft x beam 40.2ft, straight stem, one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 13 knots. There was accommodation for 90-1st, 130-2nd and 600-3rd class passengers. Laid down as the "Alsatia" but was launched on 20th Mar.1872 as the "Frisia". She started her maiden voyage on 21st Aug.1872 when she left Hamburg for Havre and New York and stayed on this service until starting her last voyage on 13th Sep.1885. In 1888 she was sold to R.L.Gillcrest of London and resold to Italian owners in 1889 and renamed "Temerario". In 1890 she went to Banco di Genova, Genoa and was renamed "Arno" and in 1892 came under the ownership of Navigazione Generale Italiana. She commenced a single round voyage between Genoa - Catania - Naples and New York on 6th May 1892 and in 1898 was converted to a coal carrier. In 1901 she became a coal hulk at Genoa and was scrapped in Italy in 1902. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.1, p.390-1] [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.4, Hamburg America line] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 7 October 1998]
Gellert: (Built 1874)  Adler (Eagle) Line. Date of Arrival:19.04.1882
Built by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd., Linthouse, Glasgow, for the Deutsche Transatlantische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft (Adler Line). 3,533 tons; 114,41 meters (375.4 feet) long x 12,20 meters (40 feet) broad; straight bow, 1 funnel, 2 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 13 knots; passenger accommodation: 90 1st-, 100 2nd-, and 800 3rd-class passengers.  The Hamburg-American Line purchased the fleet of the Adler Line 1875.Transferred to the Hamburg-American Line upon completion. Sister ships Goethe, Herder, Klopstock, Lessing, Schiller and Wieland. 25 November 1874, launched. 10 February 1875, certificate. 2 voyages, Hamburg-New York. 13 May 1875, taken over by the Hamburg American Line. 26 May 1875, first voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York. 1881 rebuilt (2 funnels). 22 October 1893, caught fire in mid-Atlantic; fire subdued. November 1893, first voyage, Naples-New York. 11 March 1894, last voyage, Hamburg-New York. 18 August 1894, last voyage, Naples-New York (4 return voyages). 9 May 1895. The Gellert made her final voyage to New York in 1894.  Scrapped in 1895. Sold to Lieder, for Hamburg-Shanghai service. March 1897, sold; scrapped [Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, _North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New_ (2nd. ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications, 1975-1980), vol. 1, p. 391]. Pictured, in its original (pre-1881) configuration, in Michael J. Anuta, _Ships of Our Ancestors_ (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 108, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970 [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 13 August 1997]
Germania: Date of Arrival: 02.11.1863
There were at least four vessels named GERMANIA and this vessel is mentioned frequently in Hamburg and New York port files.

The "Germania" of the Hamburg America Line was built for Hamburg America Line in 1863 by Caird & Co, Greenock and was a 2,123 gross ton ship, length 298.6ft x beam 39.4ft, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots. There was accommodation for 80-1st, 120-2nd and 525-3rd class passengers. Launched on 6/4/1863, she sailed on her maiden voyage from Hamburg to Southampton and New York on 22/8/1863. She continued on this service until her last voyage commenced on 14/7/1869 and on 7/8/1869 she was wrecked near Cape Race with no loss of life. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.389] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 18 November 1997] Picture of the Germania

Hammonia: Dates of Arrival: 25.08.1868 /14.11.1873
Built 1866. Hamburg-America Line. Wrecked in 1882 as the MOSKVA (Russian Volunteer Fleet). The "Hammonia" was the second of five ships of that name owned by the Hamburg America Line. She was built by Caird & Co, Greenock in 1866 and was a 3,035 gross ton vessel, length 339.9ft x beam 40ft, one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 12 knots. There was accommodation for 58-1st, 120-2nd and 500-3rd class passengers. Launched on 8/12/1866, she sailed from Hamburg on her maiden voyage to New York on 2/3/1867. Her last voyage from Hamburg to Havre and New York commenced on 25/7/1877 and in 1878 she went to the Russian Volunteer Fleet and was renamed "Moskva". On 6/6/1882 she was wrecked, with no loss of life, near Cape Guardafui, Gulf of Aden. [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 8 November 1997]
Picture of the Hammonia 
Captain:

     1867-1868 - H. Ehlers

     1868-1870 - E. Meier

     1870-1872 - H. Meyer

     1872      - C. Hebich

     1872      - C. Ludwig

     1872-1877 - B. Voss

     1878      - R. Carlowa



Voyages:

     1867 - Southampton, New York (7 x)

     1868 - New York (7 x), Bremerhaven

     1869 - New York (9 x)

     1870 - New York (5 x)

     1871 - New York (2 x), Havana

     1872 - New York (7 x)

     1873 - New York (6 x), Le Havre

     1874 - New York (4 x)

     1875 - New York

     1876 - Philadelphia, New York (3 x)

     1877 - New York (4 x)
Herschel: Date of Arrival:20.08.1853
The Hamburg ship HERSCHEL, [J. E.] Meier, master, arrived at New York on18 August 1853, 60 days from Hamburg, with merchandise and 250 passengers, to Schmidt & Balchen. The HERSCHEL was a 3-masted, square-rigged ship, built by Christian
Bergh, New York, in 1833, as the ORLEANS, for the Holmes Line of coastal packets between New York and New Orleans. 599 tons; 127' 3" x 32' 6" x 16' 3" (length x beam x depth of hold). She sailed in the Holmes line from 1833 to 1847, during which time her passage from New York to New Orleans averaged 17.1 days, her short passage being 11 days, her longest 25 days.

On 30 October 1847, the OCEAN was purchased from Barrett & Sears, of New York, for $15,000, by the Hamburg ship owner Robert Miles Sloman, who renamed her HERSCHEL, and placed her in the North Atlantic trade, carrying emigrants to New York or New Orleans and returning to Europe with a cargo of tobacco or cotton. The HERSCHEL ex ORLEANS was sold in Surabaja, on Java, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), in 1859, for 20,000 fl. Her later history and ultimate fate are not known.

Master:

1847-1852 - J. C. Wienholtz
1852-1853 - J. H. Jacobs
1853-1855 - J. E. Meier
1855-1856 - O. P. Nielsen
1856 - P. Foppes
1856-1859 - C. Hauschild

 Voyages:
1847/48 - from New York/New Orleans
1848/49 - New York/intermediate ports/New York
1850 - New York
1850/51 - New York
1851 - New York (2 x)
1852 - New York
1852 - Quebec
1852/53 - New York
1853 - New York
1853/54 - New York/Charleston
1854 - New York
1854/55 - New York
1855 - New York
1855/56 - New Orleans
1856 - Quebec/London
1856/59 - New York/intermediate ports

Holsatia: Date of Arrival:  27.10.1868
The Hamburg American Line steamship HOLSATIA, captain Ehlers, arrived at New York on 27 October 1868, from Hamburg 14 October, via Southampton 16 October, with merchandise and 850 passengers. According to the contemporary New York newspapers, the HOLSATIA "had strong westerly gales up to Cape Race; from thence fine weather. Arrived off Sandy Hook 26th, at midnight".

The HOLSATIA was built by Caird & Co, Greenock, for the Hamburg American Line, and was launched on 9 March 1868. 3,134 tons; 103,60 x 12,20 meters (339.9 x 40 feet, length x beam); straight bow, 1 funnel, 2 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 12 knots; passenger accommodation for 90 in 1st class, 130 in 2nd class, and 520 in steerage. Captains: N. Trautmann, 1868; H. Ehlers, 1868-1870; J. E. Meier, 1870-1872; B. H. A. Barends, 1872-1875; H. F. Schwensen, 1878; C.L. Brandt, 1878. 10 June 1868, maiden voyage, Hamburg-Southampton-New York. 14 April 1875, last voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York; laid up. 1877, compound engines. 30 January 1878, resumed Hamburg-Havre-New York service. 20 March 1878, last voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York (2 roundtrip voyages). 1878, acquired by the Russian Volunteer Fleet and renamed ROSSIJA. 1894, DNESTR (Russian navy). 1910, BLOKSHIF No 5 (hulk). October 1916, scuttled at Trebizond, in the Black Sea [Kresse, _op. cit._, vol. 1, p. 191; Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, _North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New_ (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 1 (1975), p. 389]. Pictured in Michael J. Anuta, _Ships of Our Ancestors_ (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 127, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970, http://www.pem.org, from whom you can obtain a high-quality reproduction.

For additional information on the HOLSATIA, see Arnold Kludas and Herbert Bischoff, _Die Schiffe der Hamburg-Amerika-Linie_, Bd. 1. 1847-1906 (Herford: Koehler, 1979). [Posted to the Emigration-ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 13 December 1997]
Picture of the Holstatia

Howard: Dates of Arrival:  04.09.1857 / 22.02.58
The HOWARD (II) was a square-rigged, 3-masted sailing ship built in Lubeck by Meyer in 1846. 227 Commerzlasten (approximately 600 tons). Purchased new from the builder on 2 February 1846. Employed almost exclusively in the Hamburg-New York trade. Captains: Paul Nickels Paulsen, 1846-1849; J. H. Jacobs, 1849-1852; J. H. Niemann, 1852-1856; F. W. E. Wolter, 1857-1858; and F. C. L. Br"usch, 1858-1860. 1860-1861, laid up 13 months in Hamburg; "sold foreign" early in 1861 (Hamburg pass surrendered on 20 April 1861), and renamed the CAESAR.

It may be possible to trace the further history of this ship, which, judging from the name of the captain, appears to have been sold, like the HOWARD (I), to a Norwegian owner, through either the Register Veritas (the Continental equivalent to Lloyd's Register) or the Norwegian registry of shipping, which begins in the late 1860's. The Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Dr., Newport News, VA 23606-3798, holds the most complete collection of the Register Veritas and foreign shipping registers in the United States. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 13 September 1997]
Picture of the Howard

India: Date of Arrival: Dates of Arrival 09.10.1882
Anchor Line (British) Built in 1868 by W. Simon & Co., Renfrew, Scotland. Tonnage: 2,477. Dimensions: 311' x 36'. Single-screw, 12 knots. Inverted engines. Three masts and one funnel.  Iron hull. Maiden voyage:  Glasgow-New York, February 5, 1869.  Transferred to Glasgow-Bombay service. later in Mediterranean-New York trade.  Scrapped in 1894.
John Bertram: Date of Arrival: 26.10.1857
The Hamburg ship JOHN BERTRAM, Knudsen, master, arrived at New York on 24 October 1857, 34 days from Hamburg, with merchandise and 328 passengers. According to the contemporary New York newspapers, she "had heavy weather; split sails & damage".

The JOHN BERTRAM was a 3-masted, square-rigged ship, built along the lines of an "extreme clipper" by Ewell & Jackson, East Boston, in the short time of 61 days, and launched on 9 December 1850. She was built under the supervision of Capt. Glidden for the Glidden & Williams Line of Boston-San Francisco packets, and was owned jointly by Glidden & Williams, of Boston, and Flint, Peabody & Co, of San Francisco. She was named after the well-known Salem sea captain and merchant, John Bertram.

1,080/778 tons (old/new measurement); 173/180/190 x 37 x 20 feet (keel/deck/overall length x beam x depth of hold); her figurehead was a representation of an eagle on the wing, and on her stern was a medallion bust of her namesake.

The JOHN BERTRAM made 3 voyages from Boston to San Francisco, and 1 voyage from Boston to Asia, all under the command of Capt. Frederick Lendholm.

On 30 April 1855, the JOHN BERTRAM was purchased from William F. Schmidt & Frederick C. Schmidt, of New York, for $36,000, by the Hamburg ship owner Robert Miles Sloman, who in 1856 placed her in service on the North Atlantic, carrying emigrants to New York and returning to Europe with a cargo of either tobacco or cotton.

Master:

1855 - H. Visser
1855-1862 - T. J. Knudtsen
1863 - A. J. Dierks
1863-1864 - H. C. Johannsen
1864-1865 - F. G. Herting
1865-1866 - H. O. Edye
1866-1867 - G. H"opfner
1868-1871 - Heinrich Petersen
1871 - Hans Petersen
1871-1872 - J. H. Fendt

Voyages:
1855 - from New York to Hamburg
1855/56 - Newcastle/intermediate ports/London
1856-1867 - New York
1867/68 - New York/Antwerp
1868 - New York (2 x)
1869 - New York
1869/70 - New York/Antwerp
1870/71 - New York
1871 - New York
1871/72 - Brisbane/intermediate ports/Rangoon

She was sold in 1872 to the firm of R"od & S"onner, of T"onsberg, Norway, who ran her primarily in the timber trade between Quebec and London. On 22 February 1883, she sailed from New York for Rotterdam, but was abandoned at sea on 17 March, her crew being taken aboard the Norwegian bark OXO, Dahl, master, which landed at London on 29 March 1883, with 10 crewmen, the remainder having transferred to another vessel.
Picture of the John Bertram

Lessing Date of Arrival: 16.11.1882
The steamship LESSING was built by A. Stephen & Sons, Glasgow, for the Adler (Eagle) Line, and launched on 29 February 1874. 3,496 tons; 114,32 x 12,20 meters (375.1 x 40 feet, length x beam); straight bow, 1 funnel, 2 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 13 knots; passenger accommodation: 90 1st-, 100 2nd-, and 800 steerage-class. 28 May 1874, maiden voyage, Hamburg-New York. 4 May 1875, last voyage, Hamburg-Plymouth-Cherbourg-Hamburg (last voyage of the Adler Line). 1875, purchased by Hamburg American Line. 1 March 1876, first voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York. 1882, rebuilt; 2 funnels. 22 April 1888, last voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York. 1888, became NERTHE (Messageries Maritimes). 1897, scrapped at Marseilles [Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, _North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New_ (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 1 (1975), p. 392. Pictured in Michael J. Anuta, _Ships of Our Ancestors_ (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 174, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970.

The steamship LESSING, Captain Voss, made its regular call at Havre, from which it sailed for New York on 19 November 1881. The North Atlantic was pounded by a series of hurricanes in November 1881, which severely damaged many vessels. In one of these hurricanes, on 23 November, the LESSING suffered severe damage, breaking her rudder head in two places. The crew used steel cables to steady the rudder, and set a course for Plymouth, Cornwall, where she arrived, under tow, on 29 November; one of her quartermasters was seriously injured and expected to die. The cargo and steerage passengers remained in Plymouth until transferred to the steamship RHENANIA, Captain Barends, which sailed from Hamburg on 5 December, and made a special call at Plymouth on 11 December. The RHENANIA, carrying the steerage passengers from the LESSING, reached New York on {Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 14 November 1997]
Picture of the Lessing

Nord America: Dates of Arrival:1.12.1853

"Nordamerika" of the Hamburg America Line was a three masted barque rigged vessel of 419 gross tons built in 1848. Wooden construction, cargo 200 tons and passenger accommodation for 20-1st class and 200 steerage and a crew of 17. Laid down in 1848 as the "Amerika" but renamed to avoid confusion with another German ship of that name, she was used on the Hamburg - New York service until 1858 when she was sold to Norwegian owners. Broken up in 1868. [Merchant Fleets in Profile by Duncan Haws, vol.4, Hamburg America Line] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 23 November 1997]
Picture of the Nordamerika

Palmerston: Dates of Arrival:18.09.1869
According to the contemporary New York newspapers, the North German ship PALMERSTON, Koln [K"olln], master, arrived at New York on 17 April 1869, 42 days from Hamburg, with merchandise and 198 passengers; had 1 birth on the passage.
The PALMERSTON was built by John Laird, Birkenhead, as an iron screw steamer (engines by George Forrester & Co, Liverpool), and launched on 23 May 1853, as the CHARITY, for the African Steam Ship Company, who never took delivery; she was registered to the builder at Liverpool on 16 January 1854, and was later purchased by the Canadian Steam Navigation Co. 1,240 tons gross; 244.2 x 28.5 x 22.6 feet (length x beam x depth of hold); clipper bow, 1 funnel, 3 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion (120 horsepower), service speed 9 knots; accommodation for 100 in 1st and 2nd classes, steerage accommodation. 16 January 1854, maiden voyage, for the Canadian Steam Navigation Co, Liverpool-Clyde (departed 29 January)-Portland. 15 September 1854, last voyage, Liverpool-Quebec- Montreal (4 roundtrip voyages). 1854-1855, Crimean War transport. On 26 March 1859, she was purchased from the Canadian Steamship Co, [registered owner: Cropper & Co.] for 15,000 pounds sterling, by the Hamburg ship owner Robert Miles Sloman and his associates (ownership: Sloman, 3/5; Carl August Heeren, of the firm Fr. Heeren & Co, 1/5, for which he paid 40 000 marks banco; and captain Ferdinand Gottfried Herting, 1/5). Almost immediately afterwards, Sloman and his associates sold the vessel to G. Gessler, of Santander, Spain, who renamed her LA CUBANA, and placed her in the service of the Hamburg-Havana Line. On 23 March 1865, Sloman repurchased her, at auction, in Hamburg. Her engines were removed and she was converted into a 4-masted sailing bark, and renamed PALMERSTON. 556 Commerzlasten; 258' 5" x 30' 9" x 24' 2" (length x beam x depth of hold).

Master:
1866-1874 - P. K"olln
1874-? - E. H. Sutor
1878-1884 - A. B. L. Bohmann
[1888] - A. Cordes

Voyages:
1866 - New York
1866/67 - New York/Hartlepool
1867 - New York/Philadelphia
1867/68 - New York/Antwerp
1868 - New York
1868/69 - New York/Bremen
1869 - New York
1870 - New York
1870/71 - Philadelphia
1871 - New York
1871/72 - New York/Charleston
1872/74 - Otago, New Zealand/intermediate ports/Bremerhaven
1874/84 - Philadelphia/intermediate ports/London (1881)/ intermediate ports/Valparaiso/Tocopillo, Chile
1884/88 - Drammen, Norway/intermediate ports/Pisagua

The Sloman firm's records of her later history, in particular after 1878,are incomplete; on 9 January 1894, she was sold to Pinceti, of Genoa, and renamed FREDERICO. Her ultimate fate is not known [Return of Registered Steam Vessels of the U.K., January 1855, Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons, 1854-55 (473) XLVI.293; January 1857, _Ibid._, 1857 Session 2(87) XXXIX.61; January 1858, _Ibid._, 1857-58 (488) LII.83; January 1859, _Ibid._, 1859 Session 2 (26) XXVII.493; Hieke, _op. cit._, pp. 375 and 377; Kresse, _op. cit._, vol. 2, p. 214; Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, _North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New_ (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 1 (1975), pp 265-266]. Hieke, _op. cit._, opposite p. 135, contains a photograph of a half-model of the PALMERSTON.

Rhaetia: Date of Arrival:11 Jun 1884 

The steamship RHAETIA was built by Reiherstiegwerft, Hamburg, for the Hamburg American Line, and launched on 23 November 1882. 3,553 tons; 107,11 x 13,07 x 8,86 meters (length x breadth x depth of hold); straight bow, 1 funnel, 3 masts; steel construction, screw propulsion, service speed 12 knots; accommodation for 96 passengers in 1st class and 1,100 in steerage. 4 April 1883, maiden voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York. 4 November 1894, last voyage, Hamburg-Havre-New York. 1895, taken by Harland & Wolff in part payment for the PENNSYLVANIA; sold to J. H. B"ogel, Hamburg. 24 May 1898, sold to the U.S. Navy and renamed CASSIUS. 1900, SUMNER (U.S. Army transport). 11 December 1916, wrecked on Barnegat Shoals, New Jersey [Walter Kresse, ed., Seeschiffs-Verzeichnis der Hamburger Reedereien, 1824-1888, Mitteilungen aus dem Museum fur Hamburgische Geschichte, N. F., Bd. 5. (Hamburg: Museum fur Hamburgische Geschichte, 1969), vol. 1, p. 198; Arnold Kludas and Herbert Bischoff, Die Schiffe der Hamburg- Amerika-Linie, Bd. 1: 1847-1906 (Herford: Koehler, 1979), p. 40; Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New_(2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 1 (1975), p. 393. Pictured in Michael J. Anuta, Ships of Our Ancestors (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 280, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer]
Picture of the Rhaetia

Links where this vessel is mentioned:
http://www.geocities.com/mppraetorius/com-rh.htm
http://pages.prodigy.net/berryman2/_wsn/page5.html
http://www.nrc.ca/imd/ice/bergs2_01e.html#R

Saxonia: Dates of Arrival: 04.12.1863 /25.09.1871
Built 1857. The "Saxonia" was built by Caird & Co, Greenock in 1857 and was the first of three ships of this name owned by the Hamburg America Line. She was rigged for sail. She was one of six sister ships, the others being "Hammonia", "Borussia", "Austria", "Bavaria" and "Teutonia". The SAXONIA was built by Caird & Co, Greenock, Scotland, for the Hamburg American Line, and launched on 21 August 1857. 2,684 tons; 95 x 13 meters (311.7 x 42.6 feet, length x beam); clipper bow, 1 funnel, 3 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 10 knots; passenger accommodation: 60 1st-, 120 2nd-, and 450 steerage-class. 1857, chartered by the British government as an Indian Mutiny transport. 1 April 1858, first voyage, Hamburg-Southampton-New York. 1871, compound engines by Reiherstieg, Hamburg. 5 October 1873, last voyage, Hamburg-New York (subsequently ran Hamburg-West Indies). Sold to the Russian Volunteer Fleet in 1871. Renamed: Nijni Novgorod (1878) (Russian Volunteer Fleet). Scrapped in 1895.  [Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, _North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New_ (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 1 (1975), p. 388 Pictured in Michael J. Anuta, _Ships of Our Ancestors_ (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 300, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970. For additional information on the SAXONIA, including pictures, see Arnold Kludas and Herbert Bischoff, _Die Schiffe der Hamburg-Amerika- Linie_, Bd. 1: 1847-1916 (Herford: Koehler, 1979). [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 17 November 1997] . [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 18 November 1997]
Trave: Date of Arrival: 21.09.1888
The "Trave" was built by Fairfield & Co, Glasgow in 1886 for Norddeutscher Lloyd [ North German Lloyd]. She was a 4969 gross ton vessel, length 438ft x beam 48.1ft, two funnels, four masts, single screw and a speed of 17 knots. There was accommodation for 150-1st, 90-2nd and 1,000-3rd class passengers. Launched on 18/2/1886, she sailed from Bremen on her maiden voyage to New York on 5/6/1886. In 1896/7 she was refitted and two of her masts removed and on 29/1/1901. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Ted Finch - 12 September 1997]
The steamship TRAVE was built by Fairfield Co Ltd, Glasgow, for Norddeutscher Lloyd, and launched on 18 February 1886. 4,969 tons; 133,50 x 14,66 meters (438 x 48.1 feet, length x beam); straight bow, 2 funnels, 4 masts; steel construction, screw propulsion, service speed 17 knots; passenger accommodation: 150 1st-, 90 2nd-, and 1,000 steerage- class. 5 June 1886, maiden voyage, Bremen-Southampton-New York. 1896-97, refitted; masts reduced to 2. 29 January 1901, last voyage, Bremen-Southampton-New York. 20 March 1901, first voyage, Genoa-Naples-New York. 23 April 1903, last voyage, Genoa-Naples-New York. 1903-1906, laid up. 11 March 1906, resumed Bremen-New York service. 26 October 1907, last voyage, Bremen-New York (9 roundtrip voyages). 1908, sold; 1909, scrapped [Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, _North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New_ (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 2 (1978), p. 553]. Pictured in Michael J. Anuta, _Ships of Our Ancestors_ (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 327, courtesy of Mystic Seaport Museum, 50 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 18 November 1997]

Westphalia:  Date of Arrival: 18.04.1872
The "Westphalia" of 1872 was built in 1868 by Caird & Co, Greenock for Hamburg America Line. She was a 3,158 gross ton ship, length 339.9ft x beam 40ft, one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 12 knots. There was accommodation for 90-1st, 130-2nd and 520-3rd class passengers. Launched on 24/6/1868, she sailed from Hamburg on her maiden voyage to Southampton and New York on 16/9/1868. She commenced her last voyage from Hamburg to Havre and New York on 28/4/1875 before being laid up. In 1878 she was rebuilt with two funnels and compound engines, and on 30/7/1879 she resumed the Hamburg - Havre - New York service. She started her last voyage to New York on 19/12/1886 and in 1887 was sold to the British company, H.F. Swan of Newcastle who re-engined her and renamed her "Atlantica". In 1888 she went to Gazzo & Schiafino of Italy and was renamed "Provincia di Sao Paulo". In 1890 she was resold to La Veloce of Italy and was renamed "Mentana" (Haws says "Montana") and was further renamed "Sud America" later in 1890. She was finally scrapped in Genoa in 1901. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.390] [Merchant Fleets in Profile, vol.4 Hamburg America Line, by Duncan Haws.] Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 27 October 1997]

Wieland: Date of Arrival: 04.05.1882
The "Wieland" was built in 1874 by A. Stephen & Sons, Glasgow for the Adler Line of Hamburg but didn't sail for them. She was a 3,507 gross ton vessel, length 375.3ft x beam 39.9ft, one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 13 knots. There was accommodation for 90-1st, 100-2nd and 800-3rd class passengers. Launched on 16/6/1874 for Adler, she was bought in 1875 by Hamburg America Line, and on 7/7/1875 sailed on her maiden voyage from Hamburg to Havre and New York. In 1882, she was rebuilt with two funnels and on 29/8/1894 commenced her last voyage from Hamburg to New York. Running mates: Gellert, Goether, Herder, Lessing, Klopstock and Schiller. On 6/10/1894 she commenced a single round voyage from Hamburg to South America and was then sold to another German company. She was damaged by fire in Shanghai on 15/10/1895 and was scrapped the following year. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.392] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 14 November 1997]
 
Here is a short bibliography on immigrant ships.

Libraries

1. The Library of Michigan has compiled an extensive bibliography on immigration ships. See: http://www.libofmich.lib.mi.us/genealogy/genealogy.html

Sources for Pictures

1. Most large libraries have the book by Michael J. Anuta, _"Ships of Our Ancestors" Menominee, MI, 1983. Many pictures of the ships listed above are available in this excellent reference.

2. Mariners Museum, 100 Museum Dr. Newport News, VA 23606-3798 or look in your library to see if it has that museum's catalog, "Catalog of Marine Photographs." The museum sells reproductions of its photos, and you can write for a price list. http://www.mariner.org/mariner.

3.  Mystic seaport museum, Blunt white Library, 50 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT 06355-0990. Phone 203-572-0711 http://www.mystic.org

4. Museum f"ur Hamburgische Geschichte, Holstenwall 24, D-20355 Hamburg Germany

3.  Steamship Historical Society, 414 Pelton Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10301. Write for information about specific ships,

4.  Passenger Ships of the World Past and Present, by Eugene W. Smith, Published by George H. Dean Co., 645 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

5. Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970. Many pictures available.

6. University of Baltimore Library, 1420 Maryland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201. The Steamship Historical Photo Bank is located there and has more than 30,000 photos. $5.00 cost for picture of each ship.

Internet Links: