Here are a few miscellaneous interesting facts that we ran across while doing the transcription of passenger names from the Diario de la Marina:
Old Time Ads
Here you will find a collection of interesting and humorous advertisements from days gone by.
Snow and Ice to Havana
In the mid-1800s there were many shipments of snow and ice (moslty from Boston) to Havana. According to Wikipedia, Frederic Tudor (1783-1864) was known as Boston's "Ice King" and made a fortune shipping ice to the Caribbean, Europe and even as far away as India. His Tudor Ice Company harvested ice in a number of New England ponds for distribution throughout the Caribbean, Europe and India from 1826 to 1892.
Here are some of the shipments of snow and ice to Havana that we have found while transcribing passengers lists:
date |
ship type |
ship name |
from |
travel time (days) |
cargo |
13 Feb 1833 |
american brigantine |
Tuscar |
Boston |
15 |
snow |
17 Feb 1834 |
american frigate |
Tiber |
Boston |
12 |
snow |
07 Mar 1834 |
american frigate |
Dromo |
Boston |
19 |
snow |
19 Mar 1834 |
american frigate |
Burmah |
Boston |
20 |
snow |
19 Mar 1834 |
spanish schooner |
Prueba |
New Orleans |
10 |
snow |
03 Dec 1848 |
american frigate |
Vespasian |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
22 Feb 1849 |
american frigate |
Russian |
New York |
14 |
ice |
24 Feb 1849 |
american frigate |
Nary Varney |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
25 Feb 1849 |
american frigate |
Medora |
Boston |
13 |
ice |
07 Mar 1849 |
american frigate |
Lucinda Maria |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
25 Nov 1849 |
american frigate |
Prompt |
Boston |
15 |
ice |
03 Feb 1850 |
american frigate |
Helen Francis |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
24 Feb 1850 |
american frigate |
Abeona |
Boston |
25 |
ice |
26 Feb 1850 |
american frigate |
Hebron |
Boston |
22 |
ice |
08 Mar 1850 |
american frigate |
Ovando |
Boston |
30 |
ice |
21 Mar 1850 |
american frigate |
Aquila |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
09 Apr 1850 |
swedish brigantine |
Siri |
Boston |
33 |
ice |
20 Apr 1850 |
american frigate |
Carolina C. Dow |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
24 Apr 1850 |
american frigate |
Lucinda Maria |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
17 May 1850 |
american frigate |
Harrisbury |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
26 May 1850 |
american frigate |
John Carver |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
16 Jul 1852 |
american frigate |
John W. White |
Boston |
29 |
ice |
10 Mar 1853 |
american frigate |
Attica |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
20 Mar 1853 |
american frigate |
Scott Dyer |
Boston |
23 |
ice |
11 Apr 1853 |
american frigate |
Lady Knight |
Boston |
15 |
ice |
13 Apr 1853 |
american frigate |
Nautilus |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
15 Apr 1853 |
american frigate |
Southerner |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
02 May 1853 |
american brigantine |
Amigo-suck (?) |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
05 May 1853 |
american frigate |
Marion |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
08 Jun 1853 |
french brigantine |
Julia Laura |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
07 Jan 1854 |
american brigantine |
Fere Fowler |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
19 Jan 1854 |
american frigate |
Carniola |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
03 Mar 1854 |
american frigate |
Mangola |
Boston |
13 |
ice |
09 Mar 1854 |
american frigate |
Mary A. Vose |
Boston |
14 |
ice |
12 Apr 1854 |
english frigate |
Ariadne |
Boston |
23 |
ice |
20 Apr 1864 |
english frigate |
Windward |
Boston & Nassau |
24 |
ice |
02 May 1864 |
american frigate |
Gostarelli |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
05 May 1864 |
american frigate |
J.P. Chaplin |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
26 Jun 1864 |
american brigantine |
Lorana |
Boston |
28 |
ice |
26 Jun 1864 |
american brigantine |
Hancock |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
20 Jul 1864 |
american frigate |
Mont Blanc |
Boston |
28 |
ice |
13 Aug 1864 |
english corvette |
Windward |
Boston |
25 |
ice |
18 Jan 1865 |
english corvette |
Parana |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
01 Feb 1865 |
french frigate |
Vellore |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
13 Mar 1865 |
english frigate |
Norn |
Boston |
14 |
ice |
05 Abr 1865 |
english frigate |
Cabot |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
16 Abr 1865 |
american corvette |
Talavera |
Boston |
15 |
ice |
26 Abr 1865 |
english frigate |
Norweigen |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
04 May 1865 |
english corvette |
Mitley |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
08 Jun 1865 |
english brigantine |
Alice |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
11 Jun 1865 |
american brigantine |
R.B. Grove |
Boston |
25 |
ice |
02 Jul 1865 |
argentine frigate |
Enrique |
Boston |
22 |
ice |
07 Jul 1865 |
spanish frigate |
Elizabeth |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
28 Oct 1865 |
english brigantine |
John Givan |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
20 Oct 1865 |
american frigate |
Gertrude |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
07 Nov 1865 |
american brigantine |
J.D. Lincoln |
Boston |
25 |
ice |
04 Dec 1865 |
american barque |
Avola |
Boston |
24 |
ice |
07 Dec 1865 |
american brignantine |
Samuel Lindsey |
Boston |
23 |
ice |
18 Feb 1866 |
american barque |
Com. Dupont |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
27 Feb 1866 |
english brigantine |
Roseway |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
18 Mar 1866 |
american schooner |
B.F. Folsom |
Boston |
14 |
ice |
18 Mar 1866 |
american brigantine |
Hattie |
Boston |
13 |
ice |
05 Apr 1866 |
american barque |
Sagadahoe |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
04 May 1866 |
englsh barque |
Mira |
Boston |
24 |
ice |
26 May 1866 |
american brigantine |
Glandale |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
03 Jun 1866 |
american barque |
Monitor |
Boston |
24 |
ice |
13 Jun 1866 |
american barque |
Chatanooga |
Boston |
23 |
ice |
26 Jun 1866 |
american frigate |
Ada Carter |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
12 Feb 1867 |
english corvette |
Flying Scud |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
10 Mar 1867 |
american frigate |
Egeria |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
19 Mar 1867 |
american brigantine |
Edwing H. Kennedy |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
21 Mar 1867 |
american brigantine |
Alice Starret |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
25 Mar 1867 |
american barque |
Eureka |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
28 Mar 1867 |
american brigantine |
Josie A. Devereux |
Boston |
12 |
ice |
31 Mar 1867 |
american barque |
Almoner |
Boston |
15 |
ice |
05 Apr 1867 |
english brigantine |
Dunkeld |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
07 May 1867 |
american schooner |
May |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
07 May 1867 |
american frigate |
Florence Pelers |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
26 May 1867 |
american schooner brigantine |
Sally Brown |
Boston |
29 |
ice |
08 Sep 1867 |
american brigantine |
Poinsett |
Boston |
30 |
ice |
13 Sep 1867 |
american brigantine |
Fannie Lincoln |
Boston |
25 |
ice |
27 Oct 1867 |
american brigantine |
Hancock |
Boston |
14 |
ice |
31 Oct 1867 |
argentine frigate |
Enrique |
Camden |
17 |
ice |
24 Nov 1867 |
american schooner brigantine |
Alice Lea |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
18 Jan 1868 |
amercan brigantine |
M.L. Miller |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
19 Jan 1868 |
american brigantine |
Fannie Lincoln |
Boston |
28 |
ice |
22 Jan 1868 |
norwegian frigate |
Alpha |
Krageroa (Norway) & Jamaica |
10 (from Jamaica) |
ice |
25 Jan 1868 |
american schooner |
Davis Collins |
Boston |
14 |
ice |
08 Feb 1868 |
american schooner |
L. Batchelder |
Boston |
13 |
ice |
09 Feb 1868 |
american brigantine |
T.G. Maguire |
Boston |
15 |
ice |
13 Feb 1868 |
english brigantine |
Stremness |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
21 Feb 1868 |
amerrican schooner |
F.R. Baird |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
26 Feb 1868 |
american schooner |
Nellie Bowers |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
06 Nov 1868 |
american schooner |
C.S. Bushnell |
Boston |
11 |
ice |
15 Nov 1868 |
american barque |
Josie Mildred |
Boston |
12 |
ice |
03 Feb 1869 |
american brigantine |
Mary E. Pennell |
Boston |
29 |
ice |
07 Feb 1869 |
american barque |
R.A. Allen |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
17 Feb 1869 |
american schooner brigantine |
E.H. Kennedy |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
07 Mar 1869 |
american schooner |
G.J.I. Smith |
Boston |
23 |
ice |
10 Mar 1869 |
american schooner |
Nellie Bowers |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
10 Mar 1869 |
american schooner |
Jonas Shmith |
Boston |
22 |
ice |
27 Mar 1869 |
french barque |
Hoogly |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
27 Mar 1869 |
american pailebot |
John Johnson |
Boston & Newport |
22 |
ice |
27 Mar 1869 |
american schooner |
Mary A. Danna |
Bath |
16 |
ice |
21 Oct 1869 |
ameerican brigantine |
Navarino |
Boston |
15 |
ice |
16 Nov 1869 |
american schooner |
Nellie Sowers |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
25 Dec 1869 |
american barque |
Comodoro Dupont |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
04 Jan 1870 |
american brigantine |
Norfiti |
Boston |
15 |
ice |
09 Jan 1870 |
american barque |
Carrie Wyman |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
19 Jan 1870 |
american schooner |
Georgetta Lawrence |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
05 Apr 1870 |
english brigantine |
Fidelia |
Boston |
24 |
ice |
09 Apr 1870 |
american frigate |
Mogunticook |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
10 Apr 1870 |
american barque |
Harvest Home |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
14 Apr 1870 |
american barque |
Mary Edson |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
25 Apr 1870 |
american schooner |
Kate Carleton |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
19 May 1870 |
american frigate |
Orihilla |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
05 Mar 1871 |
english barque |
Bessie Simpson |
Boston |
18 |
ice* |
10 Mar 1871 |
american barque |
Talavera |
Boston |
19 |
ice |
14 Mar 1871 |
american brigantine |
Alberti |
Boston |
23 |
ice |
31 Mar 1871 |
american pailebot |
E.H. Wheeler |
Boston |
22 |
ice |
05 Apr 1871 |
english barque |
Constance |
Boston |
18 |
ice |
19 Apr 1871 |
americna barque |
Emma F. Herryman |
Boston |
22 |
ice |
24 Apr 1871 |
american schooner brigantine |
J.H. Lane |
Boston |
15 |
ice* |
25 Apr 1871 |
american barque |
American Lloyd |
Boston |
21 |
ice |
26 Apr 1871 |
american barque |
Shawmut |
Boston |
20 |
ice* |
09 Aug 1871 |
american barque |
Neptuno |
Boston |
23 |
ice |
17 Nov 1871 |
american brigantine |
Wm. Mason |
Boston |
20 |
ice* |
03 Jan 1872 |
american brigantine |
H.B. Emery |
Boston |
17 |
ice |
30 Jan 1872 |
american schooner |
Emily Curtis |
Boston |
18 |
ice* |
06 Feb 1872 |
american barque |
Martin W. Brett |
Boston |
19 |
ice* |
15 Feb 1872 |
american barque |
Almira Coombs |
Boston |
20 |
ice |
13 Apr 1872 |
american brigantine |
Samuel Lindsey |
Boston |
16 |
ice |
* destined for the Tudor Ice Company in Havana.
Performers
Ocassionally, the arrival of Stage performers and entertainers to Habana was recorded on the passenger lists. Here are some we have found:
date |
ship |
origin |
performer |
27 Oct 1847 |
Guadalquivir |
New York |
63 members of an Italian Opera company |
12 Jan 1848 |
Adams Gray |
New Orleans |
"Captain Tom Thumb" (age 10), with his parents and 7 servants. |
17 Dec 1848 |
Isabel |
Charleston, Savannah & Cayo Hueso |
43 girl ballerinas from the Vienna company, accompanied by directors H. Rekte & J. Weis. |
04 Nov 1849 |
Isabel |
Charleston, Savannah & Cayo Hueso |
The Count of S. James with 10 members of a dance company |
22 Jan 1850 |
Ohio |
New York & Savannah |
Enrique Bennet with the giant Roberto Hale and the dwarf Ezra Mole |
30 Mar 1850 |
Imogene |
Kingston |
Guillermo Archer & 22 members of an equestrian company |
31 Dec 1851 |
Empire City |
New Orleans |
Juan Roosset & 16 members of a dance company |
02 Dec 1852 |
Black Warrior |
New York |
Bernardo Gallol & 45 members of the company "Los Raveles" |
11 Jan 1867 |
Paris |
Veracruz |
P. Rotger & Biachi Opera Company |
09 Jan 1868 |
Cuba |
New Orleans |
42 members of the Black Crock company. |
22 Jan 1868 |
Canarias |
Cadiz |
62 members of a zarzuela company. |
19 Feb 1869 |
Juniata |
departure to Philadelphia |
Part of the Maya artistic company. |
24 Mar 1869 |
Tamar |
departure to Veracruz |
Don Joaquin Gastambide and 32 members of his zarzuela company. |
21 Feb 1871 |
City of Merida |
Veracruz & Sisal |
S. Anexi & 14 members of a drama company |
07 Feb 1872 |
Guadeloupe |
departure to Veracruz |
George Hanlon Lee & 7 members of an acrobat company |
03 Mar 1874 |
City of New York |
New York |
C.A. Chizzola & 49 members of the French Comic Opera Company |
14 Jan 1875 |
City of Havana |
departure to Veracruz & stopovers |
Emilio Schuman & 26 members of his company |
04 Aug 1891 |
Reina Maria Cristina |
Santander & Le Havre |
Luisa Martinez Casado (famous stage actress) |
09 Jan 1900 |
Yucatan |
Veracruz & Progreso |
Napoleon Sleny & 46 members of the opera |
18 Feb 1900 |
Olivette |
Tampa & Cayo Hueso |
Mr. Herman & 21 members of his company. |
José Martí
The great Cuban patriot and revolutionary philosopher, Jose Marti, was born in 28 Jan 1853. On 21 Oct 1869, at the age of 16, he was arrested by the spanish authorities, accused of disloyalty for having written a letter to a companion of studies where he refered to the individual as an apostate for having joined the spanish army to combat the pro-independence cubans. On 4 Mar 1870 he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, but this was later commuted to exile in the Isle of Pines on 5 Sep 1870. On 15 Jan 1871, in response to family solicitations, the place of exile was changed to Spain so he could continue his studies. We have an entry on the data base dated 17 Jan 1871 recording his leaving for Cadiz on the ship Guipuzcoa.
We found another entry for Jose Marti arriving in Habana from Cadiz on the ship Puerto Rico on 20 Jan 1874. It is conceivable that this one might have been a return to Cuba unrecorded in the history books.
From 2 Jan to 24 Feb 1877 history books state that he returned incognito to Habana, using his middle name and maternal surname, Julian Perez1.
In our data base, we found two entries for a Julian Perez, one from Cadiz & Puerto Rico on 5 May 1868 and the other from La Coruña on 27 May 1852. Both these dates precede the date of his exile to Spain so they probably correspond to someone else with the same name.
Of course some of these may be simple name coincidences, since we have also found an entry of a Spanish Captain Jose Marti on 8 Dec 1852 from Cadiz and another entry of Jose Marti on 23 Dec 1852 from Mallorca. Both dates precede the birth date of our apostol.
1. Diccionario Enciclopedico de Historia Militar de Cuba, Tomo I, Biografias, Centro de Estudios Militares, Ediciones Verde Olivo, Habana, 2001. ISBN: 959-224-130-9.
Famous or Important Personages
Among the important personages visiting Cuba were the following:
date |
ship type |
ship name |
origin |
person |
10 Feb 1854 |
br. steamship |
Teviot |
Tampico & Veracruz |
His Highness Prince NIcolas of Nassau |
19 Jun 1866 |
american steamship |
Morro Castle |
New York |
Dr. & Mrs. C. Finlay (discovered method of transmission of yellow fever). |
12 Aug 1866 |
spanish steamship |
Paris |
Veracruz |
Prince Felix of Salm-Salm |
9 Dec 1869 |
american steamship |
Columbia |
New York |
Prince Luis of Borbon & family. |
10 Nov 1870 |
american steamship |
Columbia |
New York |
H. Upmann (noted cigar industrialist) |
22 Feb 1871 |
american steamship |
Liberty |
Baltimore & Key West |
General Sherman, his wife and son. |
05 Jan 1872 |
british navy corvette |
Niobe |
sea |
Captain Lamblin (Lampton) Loraine - saved many cuban patriots during the Virginius incident |
27 Feb 1872 |
russian squadron of 3 ships |
Swetlana |
Panzacola |
His Imperial Highness Prince Alexis Alexandrovich of Russia |
23 Jan 1880 |
american steamship |
Admiral |
Key West |
General and former US President Ulises S. Grant, his wife and staff. |
15 Feb 1880 |
american steamship |
City of Alexandria |
to Veracruz |
General and former US President Ulises S. Grant, his wife and staff, leaving Cuba. |
Unusual names
Meaning no disrespect, we sometimes run across an unusual or amusing surname. Some of the ones we have found are:
- Jose Belaustegurgostia (probably longest surname)
- J. Butter Griffin
- G. Patitruco
- Desester Whitemore
- Moises Perogordo
- Human Binder
- L.H Dum & A. Dum
- Tomas Greasi
- Canuto Palavieja
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