SS America
Captain Unknown
From Panama
Passage:
The SS America arrived in Panama City, from San Francisco, on March 30, 1864 with 450 passengers, after experiencing bad coal and a leaky boiler in route to Panama City. The Captain also reported the deaths of Stewart Kennedy, a fireman, and L. Rowell, a passenger. These problems had cause them a delay of several days. Passengers from the SS Illinois, who left New York on March 14, 1864, were among those who boarded the SS America for the voyage North.
Among the 786 passengers on the SS Illinois were a group of 11 women referred to as "Mercer's Maids." One Asa Mercer had invited ladies to go West, specifically Seattle, where jobs and men were abundant. The ladies paid $250 each for the trip. After reaching San Francisco on the America, they sailed for Puget Sound and were welcomed by the residents of Seattle.
Cargo: Not listed.
Passengers:
(Partial List)
Annie May Adams (Mercer Maid: Age 16, from Lowell, Mass.)
Antoinette Josephine Baker (Mercer Maid: Age 25, from Lowell, Mass.)
Sarah Cheney (Mercer Maid: Age 22, from Lowell, Mass.)
Aurelia Coffin (Mercer Maid: Age 20, from Lowell, Mass.)
Sara Jane Gallagher (Mercer Maid: Age 19, from Lowell, Mass.)
Ann Murphy (Mercer Maid: Age 24, from Lowell, Mass.)
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ordway (Mercer Maid: Age 35, from Lowell, Mass.)
Daniel Pearson (Father to Josie and Georgianna, from Lowell, Mass.)
Josephine (Josie) Pearson (Mercer Maid: Age 19, from Lowell, Mass.)
Georgianna (Georgia) Pearson (Mercer Maid: Age 15, from Lowell, Mass.)
Catherine Stickney (Mercer Maid: Age 28, from Pepperell, Massachusetts)
Katherin Stevens (Mercer Maid: Age 21, from Pepperell, Massachusetts)
Rodolphus Stevens (Father to Katherin Stevens)
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