In 1838 Nicol and Robert Handyside established themselves in Glasgow as shipbrokers and merchants.3 Towards the end of 1852, having decided to branch out as shipbrokers, the Handyside brothers founded the firm of Handyside & Company and took into partnership Thomas Henderson. The first public mention of the Anchor Line, whose house flag² was a red anchor with cable on a white burgee, was in 1856.

By 1866 north Atlantic service had commenced with the sailing of a route from Glasgow to New York via Moville (Londonderry).

The steam ship "ANGLIA" was launched on October 23, 1869 at Glasgow from the yard of her builder, A. Stephen & Son. She had an iron hull, a clipper bow, 3 masts, and 1 funnel. Her gross tonnage was 2,253 and the ship had a length (LBP) of 325' and a beam of 35'. The 2 cylander engine was built by the Finnieston Steamship Works in Glasgow and, when underway, her designed speed was 12 knots.

There were accommodations for 100 first class passengers, for 80 in intermediate class, and for 700 in the steerage class. Those in steerage class were required to provide their own mattresses, bedding, and mess kits (plate, mug, knife fork, spoon, and water-can.)

The "ANGLIA", having been commissioned on January 29, 1870, made her maiden voyage in the Glasgow-Moville-New York service. The "ANGLIA" sank on September 6, 1880 following a collision with the barque "Trongate" during her homeward voyage of the London-Halifax-Boston route.

According to the terms of the contract^1,4 for passage, Heinrich Wesling (The surname was spelled with a single 's'.) was to travel to Boston from Rotterdam. Leaving Rotterdam on November 7, 1871 he took a steamer to Leith. A train would then take him to Glasgow. Departing from Perth on November 11, 1871 he would the sail to New York via Moville. A reference in the contract was made to Handyside & Hendersons's office in Glasgow.

The "ANGLIA" arrived at its port of destination on December 4, 1871 and Henry's name was listed in the passenger manifest.⁵ Both the contract for passage and ship's the manifest stated that his occupation was that of a brushmaker and his age was given as being 21. The contract for passage gave his place of birth as Lingen while the manifest only showed Germany as the country to which he had belonged.

Based on the statements which Henry had made in his application to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, he arrived in New York on December 5, 1871.⁶

1. See Exhibit I for the English version of the contract for passage.

2. Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies; Philadelphia, Pa.

3. North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor; 1975
Douglas, David & Charles Limited; West Vancouver, B.C., Canada;
drawings by J.H. Isherwood

4. Contract for passage provided by Suzanne Wessling Wortham

5. U.S. National Archives Microfilm Reel #237/351, #List 1191

6. U.S. Circuit Court at Boston, Massachusetts; Volume 127, page 175
(A copy of the naturalization document is located in this file.