California Ship¹

• (Child) Birth*: California Ship was born in 1872; CALIFORNIA 1872
  This was a 3,287 gross ton ship, length 361.5ft x beam 40.5ft, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 13 knots. There was accommodation for 150-1st, 80-2nd and 700-3rd class passengers. 3rd class was later increased to 1,200. Built by A. Stephen & Sons, Glasgow (engines by Finnieston Steamship Works, Glasgow), she was launched for the Anchor Line on 12th Mar.1872. On 15th Jun.1872 she left Glasgow on her maiden voyage to Moville, Ireland and New York and started her last voyage on this route on 21st Jun.1878. She transferred to London - New York sailings on 25th Jul.1878 and in 1881 was fitted with new compound engines. Her last London - New York sailing commenced 5th Apr.1882, and between 1882 - 1887 she sailed between Glasgow - Liverpool - Calcutta or Bombay. In July 1887 she started a single round voyage between Glasgow, Liverpool, Calcutta, Marseilles, New York and Glasgow and in Jan.1888 sailed from Glasgow for Trieste, Naples, New York, Gibraltar, Port Said and Bombay. In Aug.1888 she sailed from Glasgow for Mediterranean ports, New York and Glasgow and between 1888-1904 was used on the Mediterranean - New York service (58 Round voyages). Her last voyage started on 16th Feb.1904 when she left Marseilles for Genoa, Naples, Palermo and New York. She was scrapped at Genoa in Dec.1904. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.457]²
• (Child) Birth: California Ship was born in 1882; CALIFORNIA / IRLAND / WINELAND 1882
  This was Hamburg America Line's CALIFORNIA. She was a 2,690 gross ton ship, length 300.5ft x beam 38.7ft, one funnel, two masts, iron hull, single screw, speed 10 knots. Accommodation for 1,250-3rd class passengers. Built by Sir W.G.Armstrong, Mitchell & Co, Walker-on-Tyne (engines by Wallsend Slipway Co), she was launched for the Carr Line, Hamburg on 27th Dec.1882. Her maiden voyage from Hamburg to New York started 15th Mar.1883 and her last for these owners started 24th May 1888. Taken over by Hamburg America Line in May 1888, she resumed Hamburg - New York sailings on 13th July 1888 and continued this service until commencing her last sailing on 18th Oct.1897. Sold to German owners the same year, she was renamed IRLAND and in 1898 was sold to Forenede Dampskibs, Copenhagen and renamed WINELAND. She was scrapped in 1904.[North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.395] [Merchant Fleets by D.Haws, vol.4, Hamburg America Line]²
• (Deceased) Death: California Ship died in 1904.²
• (Deceased) Death*: California Ship died on 16 February 1904.²
• (Child) Birth: California Ship was born in 1907; CALIFORNIA 1907
  The CALIFORNIA was built for the Anchor Line in 1907 by D&W.Henderson Ltd, Glasgow. 8,662 gross tons, length 470ft x beam 58.3ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 16 knots. There was passenger accommodation for 232-1st, 248-2nd and 734-3rd class. Launched on 9th Jul.1907, she started her maiden voyage on 10th Oct.1907 when she left Glasgow for Moville (Ireland) and New York. On 28th Jun.1914 she stranded on Tory Island, N.Ireland; was refloated on 20th Aug, and repaired in Glasgow. She resumed Glasgow - Liverpool - New York sailings for the Cunard - Anchor joint service in Oct.1915 and commenced her last Glasgow - New York voyage on 12th Jan.1917. On 7th Feb.1917 when homeward bound, she was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine while 38 miles W by S of Fastnet Island, Ireland with the loss of 43 lives. (North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.466.)²
• (Deceased) Death: California Ship died on 7 February 1917.²
• (Child) Birth: California Ship was born in 1923; CALIFORNIA 1923
  The CALIFORNIA was built by A.Stephen & Sons, Glasgow for the Anchor Line of Glasgow. This was a 16,792 gross ton ship, length 553ft x beam 70.4ft, one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 16 knots. There was accommodation for 251-1st, 465-2nd and 1,044-3rd class passengers. Her keel was laid in Oct 1919 but she wasn't launched until 17/4/1923 and commenced her maiden voyage from Glasgow to Moville (Ireland) and New York on 26/8/1923. Between 1924 and 1937 she made approx.20 Autumn / Winter voyages between Liverpool and Bombay as well as Atlantic crossings. In May 1929 her accommodation was altered to carry 206-cabin, 440-tourist and 485-3rd class passengers. Between Nov 1937 and Feb 1938 she made three trooping voyages and in Feb 1939 re-entered service with remodelled 3rd class accommodation, new propellers and a speed of 17 knots. Her last N.Atlantic voyage commenced 4/8/1939 when she left Glasgow for New York, Boston, Moville and Glasgow and in August was converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser. In April 1942 she became a troopship and on 11/7/1943 was damaged by air attack 320 miles west of Oporto and set on fire with the loss of 46 lives. She was later torpedoed and sunk by an escorting destroyer.[North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.469]²
• (Deceased) Death: California Ship died on 11 July 1943.²

• (Ship) Passenger List*: California Ship passenger list included Jessie Milne Miller when she sailed on 22 September 1930 at California, New York, New York, USA, . Jessie Preston, arrival date 22 Sep 1930, est birth abt 1888, age 42, gender female, port of departure Glasgow, ethnicity / Race Scottish, ship name California, port of arrival New York New York, Nativity Scotland.¹
• (Ship) Passenger List: California Ship passenger list included Jessie Milne Miller and Lizzie Conway Miller when she sailed on 25 September 1933 at Caledonia, New York, New York, USA, . Jessie Preston, arrival date 25 Sep 1933, est birth abt 1891, age 42, gender female, port of departure Glasgow, ethnicity / Race Scottish, ship name California, port of arrival New York New York, nativity Scotland, birth location Scotland, Dundee, height 5'7", complexion fresh, hair grey, eyes brown; Marion Preston, arrival date 25 Sep 1933, est birth abt 1920, age 13, gender female, port of departure Glasgow, ethnicity / Race Scottish, ship name California, port of arrival New York New York, nativity Scotland, birth location Scotland, Dundee, height 5' 7", complexion fair, hair brown, eyes blue; both residing at 60 w.190th Street, New york City; visiting sister/aunt Mrs Elizabeth Thomson, 39 Dock Street, Dundee.³