Memorandum of Draft (Prepaid) - Queenstown (Cobh) to New York - 29 May 1880

White Star Line Memorandum of Prepaid Steerage Passage Ticket Dated 29 May 1880. GGA Image ID # 12d3d427de

 

A Memorandum of a Draft like the one shown below from 1880 was used as a receipt - often for funds sent to immigrants still in the Old Country waiting to come to America.

Keep This Memorandum

No. 50683 White Star Line

United States and Royal Mail Steamers

Sailing Every Week From New York, Queenstown and Liverpool.

Unsurpassed for Safety, Speed and Comfort.

New York, May 29th 1880

Memorandum of a Draft favor of Mrs. Frank McGuire

For £3-0-0 $ --- Paid by Ellen McGuire

IF NOT PAID WITHIN SIX MONTHS A NEW DRAFT WILL BE ISSUED.

/s/ A. L. Stevens, Agent.

Meriden, Connecticut

PARTIES DESIRING to send for their friends from the OLD COUNTRY, can obtain Ticket, etc. by the WHITE STAR LINE on application at the Company's Offices, or any of the Company's Agents throughout the United States and Canada

Side Bar Text

WHITE STAR LINE

• BRITANNIC: 5004 Tons
• GERMANIC: 5004 Tons
• BALTIC: 3707 Tons
• ADRIATIC: 3888 Tons
• CELTIC: 3888 Tons
• REPUBLIC: 3707 Tons

The Steerage on the Steamers of the White Star Line are unusually spacious, well lighted, ventilated and in Winter heated by steam.

Tickets or Drafts payable on demand everywhere in the Old Country for sale at lowest rates.

Information about Document

• Date: 29 May 1880
• Value at Issue: 3 pounds 0 shillings 0 pence (£3 0s 0d or £3:0:0)
• Dimensions: 24.3 x 11.6 cm
• Reverse Side: Blank

Passenger Record

• Name: Ellen Mcguire
• Gender: Female
• Ethnicity/ Nationality: Irish
• Age: 32 Birth
• Date: abt 1848
• Place of Origin: Ireland
• Departure Port: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland
• Destination: USA
• Arrival Date: 31 May 1880
• Arrival Port: New York, New York, USA
• Ship Name: Britannic
• Manifest Line Number : 25

Source Citation

Year: 1880; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 25; List Number: 638

Original data:

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls. NAI: 6256867. Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls. NAI: 300346. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Supplemental Manifests of Alien Passengers and Crew Members Who Arrived on Vessels at New York, New York, Who Were Inspected for Admission, and Related Index, compiled 1887-1952. Microfilm Publication A3461, 21 rolls. NAI: 3887372. RG 85, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Index to Alien Crewmen Who Were Discharged or Who Deserted at New York, New York, May 1917-Nov. 1957. Microfilm Publication A3417. NAI: 4497925. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Passenger Lists, 1962-1972, and Crew Lists, 1943-1972, of Vessels Arriving at Oswego, New York. Microfilm Publication A3426. NAI: 4441521. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative value of £3   0s   0d from 1880 ranges from £305.30 to £5,126.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is £305.30. This answer is obtained by multiplying £3.00 by the percentage increase in the RPI from 1880 to 2020.

This may not be the best answer.

The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project . For more discussion on how to pick the best measure, consult the Tutorials.

If you want to compare the value of a £3 0s 0d Commodity in 1880 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is £305.30
• labour value of that commodity is £1,530.00
• income value of that commodity is £2,349.00
• economic share of that commodity is £5,126.00

If you want to compare the value of a £3 0s 0d Income or Wealth, in 1880 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is £305.30
• labour earnings of that income or wealth is £1,530.00
• relative income value of that income or wealth is £2,349.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is £5,126.00

If you want to compare the value of a £3 0s 0d Project in 1880 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:

real cost of that project is £347.80

labour cost of that project is £1,530.00

economic cost of that project is £5,126.00

Source: www.measuringworth.com