The Unions' Emigration to America

On 28th June 1902, William Union left Glasgow on the SS Laurentian, arriving at New York on the 9th July. He stayed initially with his uncle Wilford Howard in Pawtucket, RI..

SS Laurentian

Built by Robert Steele & Company, Greenock, Scotland, 1872. 4,522 gross tons; 400 (bp) feet long; 42 feet wide. Steam triple expansion engine, single screw. Service speed 14 knots. 1,036 passengers (36 first class, 1,000 third class).

Built for Allan State Line, British flag, in 1872 and named Polynesian. Liverpool-Montreal service. Renamed Laurentian in 1893. Glasgow-New York service. Wrecked off Cape Race on September 6, 1909.

In 1902, William's father John Union emigrated to America on the SS Columbia, arriving at Ellis Island, New York from Glasgow on 13.10.1902.

SS Columbia

Built by D. & W. Henderson & Company, Glasgow, Scotland, 1902. 8,292 gross tons; 503 (bp) feet long; 56 feet wide. Steam triple expansion engines, twin screw. Service speed 15 knots. 1,303 passengers (345 first class, 218 second class, 740 third class).

Built for Anchor Line, British flag, in 1902 and named Columbia. Glasgow-New York service. Renamed Columbella in 1914. Used as British armed merchant cruiser service. Returned to Anchor Line, British flag, in 1919 and reverted to Columbia. Further Glasgow-New York service. Laid up 1925-26. Sold to Byron Line, British flag, in 1926 and renamed Moreas. Mediterranean-New York service. Laid up 1927-29. Scrapped in Italy in 1929.

On 5.2.1903, John Union's wife Maggie (aged about 50), and sons Samuel (22), Nimmo (17), Charles (11), and Wilford (10) arrived at Ellis Island on the SS Pomeranian from Glasgow. All went to join John and William in Pawtucket, RI. Her daughter Maggie Bryceland and children also travelled with her.

SS Pomeranian

Built by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Hull, England, 1882. 4,365 gross tons; 400 (bp) feet long; 43 feet wide. Compound engine, single screw. Service speed 12 knots. 1,100 passengers (40 first class, 60 second class, 1,000 third class).

Built for Monarch Line, British flag, in 1882 and named Grecian Monarch. London-Montreal service. Sold to Allan State Line, British flag, in 1887 and renamed Pomeranian. Glasgow-New York service. Torpedoed and sunk on April 15, 1918.

By August 1905 they had moved to Newport News, Va.. In 1904 or 1905 John Union's wife Maggie and son Samuel visited Scotland again, and on 19th August 1905 left Glasgow returning to New York on the SS Astoria, arriving at Ellis Island on 28th August. They were accompanied by Rachel and Mary Union, "Going Home, 213 37th St., Newport News, Va.".

SS Astoria

Built by William Denny & Brothers Limited, Dumbarton, Scotland, 1884. 5,086 gross tons; 439 (bp) feet long; 46 feet wide. Steam triple expansion engine, single screw. Service speed 14 knots. 1,000 passengers (120 first class, 180 second class, 700 third class).

Built for Shaw Savill Line, British flag, in 1884 and named Tainui. England-New Zealand service. Sold to Allan State Line, British flag, in 1884. Sold to Compania Transatlantica Line, Spanish flag, in 1897 and renamed Covadonga. Spain-West Indies service. Transferred to Shaw Savill Line, British flag, in 1899 and renamed Tainui. Transferred to Anchor Line, British flag, in 1899 and renamed Astoria. Glasgow-New York service. Laid up 1908-10; scrapped in 1910.

In 1908, William Union's wife Ellen and her sister Margaret Mackenzie arrived from Greenock, returning to William at 3.38 38th St, Newport News.

SS Caledonia

Built by D. & W. Henderson & Company, Glasgow, Scotland, 1904. 9,223 gross tons; 500 (bp) feet long; 58 feet wide. Steam triple expansion engines, twin screw. Service speed 16 knots. 1,428 passengers (383 first class, 216 second class, 829 third class).

Built for Anchor Line, British flag, in 1904 and named Caledonia. Glasgow-New York service. Used as a British troopship 1914-16. Torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off Malta in 1916.