Transatlantic steamships began in 1840.  Cunard of Halifax was the owner of the first 4 or 5 vessels.  Some were side wheelers.  Per the article I GOOGLED the travel time was about 3 weeks.  However, one would assume weather would be an issue and perhaps NYC was the final destination with a stop in Canada or Newfoundland or Nova Scotia.

Thanks Mary Ellen! I too have since found that the length of voyage varied greatly, could be as short as 14 days (even for NON steam ships such as Grinnell's ship "Patrick Henry") but as long as a month depending. I know for sure that the ship "Rock Light" did NOT stop anywhere along the way...she went directly from Liverpool to New York City. So it seems that a voyage of around 28 days was fairly 'reasonable' or average -- learn something new every day :-) Regards, Kathy A few of the Surnames of Irish born immgrants on the Sep 1856 voyage of the ship "Rock Light" from Liverpool to New York City: JONES, JAMESON, POWELL, WELLS, MOORE, ROSE, GILL, EDGAR, KELLEY, NICHOLS, VINCHY, FENETHESTON, KIRBY, SHANAHAN, BLACKBURNE. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Ellen Chambers" <maryln61@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Ship "Rock Light" to New York City / Passengers from Limerick / Michael SHANAHAN / John KIRBY family Transatlantic steamships began in 1840. Cunard of Halifax was the owner of the first 4 or 5 vessels. Some were side wheelers. Per the article I GOOGLED the travel time was about 3 weeks. However, one would assume weather would be an issue and perhaps NYC was the final destination with a stop in Canada or Newfoundland or Nova Scotia.