In a message dated 5/12/2006 10:57:03 AM Mountain Standard Time, Becky.Champion@equifax.com writes: Have you ever heard of such things as mugs or utensils being given to the passengers? Steerage or third class passengers had to bring their own food if they wanted more than a ration of soup once a day. And they had to have their own utensils to cook and eat. The mug was probably something brought from Europe, not provided on board the ship. It could have been a family heirloom taken along by someone who departed much later than the year on the mug. I don't know how cabin passengers were treated regarding food and what they had to bring with them on board ship. There are probably a lot of good websites about ships travel in the 19th century that will tell you more. I once found a very good book about a Jewish family"s crossing on a steam-assisted sailing ship in the Juvenilge section of our library -- it was a diary of events in third class. Search your local library for books about immigration, immigrants. Karen