Huntingdon to Kansas in the 1880s

[Gillg]

andrew
That's a good thought.  There was one remaining son in the next village, so possible accommodation there for the daughter from London, who could have helped with the packing up.  8 of the remaining  children had emigrated to Australia, New Zealand and, of course, to the US, another two having already died in their 30s.  The ship, the SS Berlin, definitely departed from Liverpool and made its way to New York via Queenstown, ireland.  It was reputed to be a fast ship and they travelled steerage, since they were not well off.

[andrewalston]

There was a ship called the SS Berlin sailing to the US in 1885, but from Germany. It may have called at Southampton but not at Liverpool.

It is likely that the ship was the "City of Berlin", which is listed as having eight sailings in 1885.

You can find information for the ship, including pictures and some 1885 timings, at http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=ciber

There's also a copy of a picture on Ancestry in their "New York Port Ship Images" database.

[Gillg]

You're right, it was the SS City of Berlin.  One daughter travelled by it in 1877/8, and was followed by her mother and brother later in 1878, also on the same ship.  I have seen the photo of the ship, which apparently had just one funnel plus plenty of sails.  She was a British ocean liner with a reputation for speed.