Coffin Ships to Steam Ships: An Irish Immigrant’s Epic Journey

Céad Míle Fáilte, welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week!

Today is a big day for us – you see, we board a ship from Southampton to New York, tracing the same journey that so many of our ancestors made for a new life in a new world from the 1700s and beyond. The weather’s calm at the moment so fingers crossed for a smooth voyage!

Unlike many of our ancestors who endured the “coffin ships” of the past, we will be travelling in comfort by transatlantic liner and will complete the journey in seven days. This leg of our journey is part of the grand project we are completing this year to celebrate 10 years of the Green Room (Green Room members can follow us along and see the full itinerary here).

So, today’s Letter from Ireland is all about life on board the immigrant ships as experienced by our Irish ancestors. Let’s use this enquiry from Maureen to get started:

“Dear Mike, My great-great-grandparents emigrated from County Cork to Boston in 1852. I have often wondered about their journey at that time. I know it was following the Famine years, and I’m not sure if they would have travelled on one of the “coffin ships” I’ve heard so much about. Can you shed some light on what immigrant ships were like in those days? How long did the journey take, and what sort of conditions did passengers face? Any insights you could share would be greatly appreciated – it would mean so much to understand what my ancestors went through to give our family a new start in America. Slán, Maureen Holland, Ohio, USA.”

Thanks for that Maureen – let’s have a chat about life aboard the different types of immigrant ships that travelled to North America in the 1800s.

Sail Boats – Pre-Famine and During the Great Hunger.

Before and during the devastating Famine years of the mid-1800s, people crossed the oceans on sailing ships. Voyages to North America were long and treacherous, lasting anywhere from six to twelve weeks, depending on the winds and weather.

Life aboard these ships depended on whether you were on one of the few well-run vessels or whether you were on what became known as “coffin ships”. Take, for example, a boat called the “Jeanie Johnston” – a shining example of how things could be done right. This ship made 16 transatlantic voyages between 1848 and 1855 and never lost a single passenger during these crossings, thanks to its captain’s commitment to cleanliness and passenger welfare. The ship provided passengers with proper berths, adequate food rations, and even a ship’s doctor.

Compare that to the experience that most of our ancestors endured. A particularly tragic example is the coffin ship called the “Hannah,” which set sail from Newry to Quebec in April 1849 – the very same year the Jeanie Johnston was also making crossings. Out of 180 passengers, the Hannah lost 72 people to disease and malnutrition during a single voyage. This devastating loss was due to severe overcrowding, inadequate provisions, and a typhus outbreak that spread rapidly through the cramped quarters.

Hundreds of passengers were crammed into dark, damp holds with little ventilation. They slept on bare wooden bunks, often sharing the small space with several others. The diet on most ships was meagre at best. Passengers were expected to bring their own food for the journey, typically consisting of salted meat, fish, oatmeal, and potatoes. However, as the voyage dragged on, these provisions often spoiled or ran out. Many coffin ships provided only the barest minimum – a weekly ration of biscuits and water.

Disease was rampant on these “coffin ships”. Typhus, cholera, and dysentery spread like wildfire in the unsanitary conditions. The lack of proper medical care meant that many who fell ill never recovered. It wasn’t uncommon for coffin ships to lose a quarter or even a third of their passengers during the crossing.

In 1847, the British Parliament passed a Passenger Act to regulate emigrant ships, but its effectiveness was limited. The Hannah’s tragic voyage two years later demonstrates the insufficiency of these initial regulations. 

Subsequent laws, particularly the more comprehensive Passenger Act of 1849 and further regulations in the 1850s, eventually began to improve conditions. These laws demanded improved sanitation, space per passenger, and required ships to carry doctors on voyages. However, it took years of stricter enforcement before conditions significantly improved for most emigrants.

The Relative Comfort of the Steamship Era – From the 1860s Onwards.

The advent of steamships in the 1860s marked a significant improvement in the emigrant experience. These vessels could make the crossing in just 7 to 10 days (just like our own experience today), dramatically reducing the time passengers had to endure difficult conditions.

Life aboard these steamships was generally more comfortable. Passengers were divided into different classes, with those in steerage (the cheapest accommodation) still facing challenging conditions. However, even steerage was an improvement over the coffin ships of those earlier decades.

Living quarters were still cramped, with passengers sleeping in bunks in large, shared rooms. However, steamships often had separate areas for men, women, and families, providing a bit more privacy. Some ships even had basic amenities like electric lighting and ventilation systems.

The diet on steamships was also of better quality. Passengers were usually provided with three meals a day,  including bread, meat, potatoes, and even the occasional fresh fruit or vegetable. While far from luxurious, it was a vast improvement over the era of the sailing ship and “coffin ships”.

Disease remained a concern, but improved sanitation and shorter journey times significantly reduced outbreaks. Many steamships had proper medical facilities and trained doctors on board, which greatly improved passengers’ chances of surviving any illnesses that did occur.

However, seasickness was common, and the noise and vibration from the engines could make sleep difficult. The contrast between classes was stark, with first-class passengers enjoying luxuries that steerage passengers could only dream about.

So, I hope that answers your question, Maureen. The story of our ancestors’ voyage to a new life was one of hardship but endured through hope. It certainly makes me appreciate the comfort and ease of modern travel!

How about the rest of our readers – do you have any family stories of ancestors who made this journey? I’d love to hear them – do feel free to share in the comments below.

That’s it for this week. 

Slán for now,

Mike.

P.S. Green Room members, don’t forget you can follow our entire journey (see itinerary here)! Not a member yet? Join the Green Room today and come aboard for this adventure and many more as we explore our shared Irish heritage together.