John
Blackham, Sr.
1827-1900
John Blackham, Sr., the first child of
Samuel and Martha Robinson Blackham, was born in the town of Heaton
Norris , Lancashire ,
England Manchester
Brother John Taylor and Cyrus Wheelock
were among the missionaries that came to England
John married Susannah Lees April 20,
1851, John was 23 and Susannah was 20.
At this time neither one could read or write because they signed their
wedding certificate with an "X" mark.
Both families were living on George
Street
They made their home at 47 Victoria Street Lancashire ,
England Elizabeth
John and Susannah decided to emigrate
to Zion Liverpool the 22nd of April 1855. Susannah's two brother's Joseph (26), and
John (22), and John's wife, Martha Needham, were also on the ship with them.
They were very poor and came with the
help of the Perpetual Emigration Fund.
The P.E.F., as it was known, was set up by the Church to fund the
emigration of the poor. Everyone was
expected to pay back the money they had borrowed so others could also come to Zion
In a meeting at Liverpool
before they left, Brother D. Spencer and Franklin D. Richards both prophesied
that if the Saints would do right on board the “S. Curling” they would have a
good voyage and not a soul would die, but if we would not do right it would
prove the unhappy reverse to them.
There were 581 members of the Church on
board, with Elder Israel Barlow (the half-brother of Julia Ann Lockwood) a
returning missionary was their leader.
The Saints were divided into seven Wards. During the voyage there were several storms,
with one that was quite severe. Elder
Barlow afterwards told some of the Saints that while the storm was raging he
saw the ship surrounded by scores of angels, who stood in a circle around it
with joined hands. This was a testimony
to the Saints that the Lord was watching over the ship, and that there was no
danger. There were no deaths on this
journey.
They arrived in New York Pittsburgh , then by steamboat on the Missouri River to Atchison , Kansas Mormon Grove , Kansas
John and Susannah joined the 8th and
last wagon train company of the year 1855, with Captain Milo Andrus. There were 461 people with this company, and
this was a Perpetual Emigration Fund Train.
As they traveled westward from Mormon Grove, the sound of the bugler
aroused the Saints at six o'clock.
Families would then attend prayers, prepare breakfast and make everything
ready to start the day's journey by eight o'clock. En route, each teamster walked by the side of
his wagon. All able-bodied immigrants
walked most of the way, and according to Captain Andrus they "rejoiced to
be on their way to Zion
They were late in the season and while
crossing the South Pass ran into some snow for
several days and lost some cattle. Many
men, women and children were almost barefoot and very destitute of
clothing. Thankfully it warmed up in a
few days and they did not have any more snow.
By the time Milo's company reached Green River ,
they were so depleted of animals that they were unable "to
roll." From there, the Captain
dispatched two men to Fort
Bridger
Word reached President Brigham Young of
the destitute condition of Captain Andrus' train and supplies and oxen were
sent to help. Despite their problems the
companuy arrived in the valley on 24 October 1855.
John and Susannah settled in Salt Lake City West Street Salt Lake
At the October Conference of 1856,
President Brigham Young asked for volunteers to go and relieve the ill-fated
Martin Handcart Company. John Blackham
was the first man to respond, because he knew that in the company were his
mother, sister Sarah, and brothers Samuel and Thomas. President Brigham Young then dismissed the
conference, and promised protection to them by the U. S. England
The men placed their quilts, clothing,
corn and food in the old government wagon and started on their errand of
mercy. The snow was 18 inches deep. Brother Wheelock rode a horse. When they reached the summit of “Big Little
Mountain”, they saw smoke issuing from a distant grove of trees. At first sight they thought it was Indians,
but upon going nearer they saw it was the ill-fated Martin Handcart
Company. Brother Wheelock on his horse
reached there first and heard Thomas cry out, “Here comes our Jack.” Never had there been a more happy
reunion. Tears would flow from his eyes,
as he would relate the story. He said,
“Never have I received a more welcome greeting.
When this help came they had no food except four pounds of flour for each
person left in camp. They had cooked
rawhide to obtain some nourishment. At
one time they had buried 17 persons in a snow bank. The survivors were so thin they almost looked
like skeletons. Little Billy Wareworth
lost his father and mother. But John’s
mother, Martha, took him to her heart.
He rode with his little feet hanging over the side of the wagon and they
froze, causing his death after they reached Salt Lake City
John and his family settled in Salt Lake Salt
Lake
The seven Blackham families moved to
Nephi, but not long after that, they were called by Brigham Young to settle Moroni Sanpitch River
A son, John Blackham, Jr., was born to
John and Susannah on August 8, 1859. He
was the first child born in the new settlement of Moroni Moroni
The land was divided up into five-acre
lots and he kept that land until his death.
In his later years, he planted potatoes in part of it; then gathered his
grandchildren to help him harvest them.
It was a happy day for the children.
His grandchildren can well remember his voice calling to them, “Shift
up, shift up,” when they became slack in their work. Almost every day he would call, in his buggy
and old gray horse, and take them riding often through the fields and in the
hills to gather wild flowers. He was a
great lover of children.
He, with his three sons, were among the
first to work on the Manti
Temple
He went on a mission to Michigan
John Blackham, Sr. married a second
time to Elizabeth Catrine Nielsen in July of 1863, after more than 20 years
they were divorced. They had two
children, John W. and Annie.
John died May 14, 1900 at the age of 78
in Moroni , Sanpete
County , Utah
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the 1870 and 1880
U.S. Utah census John appears twice, once with his wife Susannah and once with
his other wife Elizabeth.
BLACKHAM, John <1828> S.Curling 1855
Gender: M Age: 27 Origin: Asthon Under Lyne Occ: Cotton Spinner
Note: BMR,
p.169; "Ordered from Great
Salt Lake City
BLACKHAM, Susannah <1831> S.Curling 1855
Gender: F Age: 24 Origin: Asthon Under Lyne
BLACKHAM, Elizabeth <1853> S.Curling 1855
Gender: F Age: 2 Origin: Asthon Under Lyne
BLACKHAM, Martha <1854> S.Curling 1855
Gender: F Age: 1 Origin: Asthon Under Lyne
Ship: S.Curling
Date of Departure: 22 Apr 1855
LDS Immigrants: 581 Church Leader: Israel
Date of Arrival: 22 May 1855 Port of Arrival : New York , New
York
Source(s): BMR, Book #1040, pp. 169-191 (FHL #025,690); Customs #376 (FHL
#419,652)
Notes: "DEPARTURE
OF THE S. CURLING. -- The ship S. Curling cleared on the 21st ultimo, and put
to sea on the 22nd, with 581 souls of the Saints on board, of whom 385 were P.
[Perpetual] E. [Emgration] Fund emigrants, all under the presidency of Elder
Israel Barlow, formerly pastor of the Birmingham Zion Utah
"EMIGRATION. .
. . The ship S. Curling, S. Curling, master, arrived at this port on the 22nd
ultimo; Elder Israel Barlow, president.
She had when she left Liverpool 581
passengers on board, and had an increase of three on the passage, and no
deaths; thus she had a net increase of three.
Most of the passengers left on the 24th by way of Philadelphia, en route
for the Valley; the remainder of those who were going forward, went on the
25th. All in good health and
spirits."
"EIGHTY-SEVENTH
COMPANY. -- Samuel Curling, 581 souls.
On the twenty-second of April, 1855, the ship, Samuel Curling, sailed
from Liverpool with five hundred and eighty-one Saints on board, of whom three
hundred and eighty-five were P. [Perpetual] E. [Emigration] Fund emigrants, all
under the presidency of Elder Israel Barlow, who had acted as pastor of the Birmingham India ,
and other prominent elders embarked on the Samuel Curling, which, after a safe
and pleasant passage, arrived in New
York America as a passenger in the Samuel Curling, in
1855, and who now resides in the Sixteenth Ward, Salt Lake
City , told the writer some time ago that the ship encountered
several storms in her passage across the Atlantic ,
but that she passed safely through them all.
In the midst of one of these storms the captain got somewhat
disheartened, and declared to Brother Barlow, the president of the company of
emigrants, that he, in his long experience as a seafaring man, had never encountered
a worse one; he then added that the tempest had not reached its highest point
yet, but that the next half hour would be worse still. Brother Barlow, in reply, told the captain
that the storm was nearly over, and would not increase in violence. This bold remark of Brother Barlow made the
captain angry, as he thought he knew more about the weather and the sea than
anyone else on board; but on going into his cabin to examine his barometer and
other nautical instruments, he found that Brother Barlow was right; the storm
abated almost immediately. Elder Barlow
afterwards told some of the Saints that while the storm was raging he saw the
ship surrounded by scores of angels, who stood in a circle around it with joined
hands. This was a testimony to the
Saints that the Lord was watching over the ship, and that there was no
danger. Most of the passengers left New York en route for the Valley on the twenty-fourth,
going by steamboat via Amboy to Philadelphia ,
where the emigrants were placed on the railway train, and left Philadelphia
on Friday the 25th, about noon, arriving in Pittsburgh St. Louis ,
whence they proceeded to Atchison ,
Kansas New York for the purpose of
earning means to continue the journey to Utah
Name: John Blackham
Arrival Date: 23 May 1855 Age: 84(error) Gender: Male Port of Departure: Liverpool , England Salt Lake Place
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Journals of Matthew
Rowan (Came on the Samuel Culing Ship also)
. . . Tuesday, 17th. Went to the office at 36 Islington and got my
emigration ticket paying the balance for the same for Sister Smith and
ourselves to New York
Wednesday, 18th. This evening we went to the Adelphis Theater
and saw three good plays.
Thursday, 19th. We got our luggage aboard the ship and slept
on her for the first night. I got a
berth about midship, very good for air and light but much confused and thronged
on account of the staircase being so near it.
Between Sister Smith and ourselves we had 9 Cwt, 11 pounds of luggage. I
made her a present of the 6/4 ½ I paid for her railway fare from Sheffield to Liverpool .
Friday 20th of April 1855. We left the dock about 12 noon and went up
the river Mersey to "Rock Ferry" to lie until the vessel was laden
which was done by means of small boats coming alongside of her. I did not see a tear [p.153] shed by anyone
on board, all seemed very cheerful. I
should have recorded under date of yesterday that all pastors and presidents
going out with the Samuel Curling met with F. [Franklin] D. Richards at 15
Wilton St. where we had some instructions given unto us by Brother D. Spencer
and F. [Franklin] D. Richards and both prophesied that if we would do right on
board we would have a good voyage and not a soul of us would die, but if we
would not do right it would prove the unhappy reverse to us. Elder [Isreal] Barlow, late president of the
Birmingham and Warwickshire Conferences, was appointed the president of the
ship and Elder [Joseph] Perry late president of the Wiltshire Conference and
Elder Robinson, late president of the London Conference were appointed to act
as counselors in fact we were all appointed to act as his counselors. After partaking of some refreshment with
Elder Richards we separated about 11 p.m. and I went and slept on the
ship. The Samuel Curling is the finest
ship that has sailed from Liverpool with Saints.
[p.154] There are [-] souls aboard about
500 of whom are bound for G. S. [Great Salt] Lake
Saturday 21st. We lay all day in the river. We passed the doctor on board about 2
p.m. One family had to go back on
account of their child having the measles or smallpox. The surveyor surveyed the ship and pronounced
it in good order. F. [Franklin
Sunday 22nd. The ship left the river today with a fair wind
at a few minutes past ten a.m. The
weather was very fine and has been ever since Monday last. A meeting was held in each ward at 8 p.m. or
near to that time. I chose 2 counselors
[p.155] to act with me in my ward. They
were James Jardine & George Burridge.
The president of wards met with President Barlow in the capacity of a
council meeting, and counseled with each other on matters. We sailed near to Holyhead by the evening.
Monday 23rd. This morning we were nearly at a stand still
the weather was so fair and calm. We did
not sail more than about 14 miles last night.
I got up by half past 5 a.m. and got my ward watered and breakfasted,
then had prayer therein by 10 o'clock a.m. The strictest discipline is kept up
relative to going to bed at night and rising in the morning. Up by half past 5 a.m. and to bed by 9 p.m.
prayers being over by 9 p.m. It is the
business of the presidents of wards to see that all in his ward are in bed by
that time. None to go up on deck after
that except by the special permission of the president of the ward the one may
be in. [p.156] There is a guard at each hatchway relieved every 4 hours, and
there are 2 men appointed in each ward to wash and scrape the berths. The ward’s cook in turns under the
supervision of their respective presidents.
A good feeling prevails. All goes
first-rate along. We prayed for a little
wind this morning. In the forepart of
the day the wind blew a gentle breeze and we got along first rate. We held a council meeting in the stern part of
the ship in evening when several little matters were attended to. After meeting our ward meetings were attended
to. There was a little seasickness on
board.
Tuesday 24th. We made good progress
last night. I attended to my ward.
We held a general meeting of all the Saints on deck at 11 o'clock a.m.,
when the authorities on the ship were [p.157] presented and unanimously
sustained and several little duties were explained and matters to be observed
were pointed out to the Saints. Elder
[William] Willes [Willis] was appointed to gather the children together once a
day and teach them that which will be for their good. The captain scorns our system but loves some
of our doctrines, at least he says so.
The wind fell today & in the evening it was contrary. The captain jeeringly wanted us to pray and
have the wind changed, then, he would believe in Mormonism.
We held a council meeting at 6
p.m. We were told while sitting that
some sister was in the cabin with the captain and the cabin door shut. Elder Barlow went slyly to see into the
case. Sickness was getting pretty
prevalent. [ON THE SIDE OF THE PAGE IS
WRITTEN: "I called Elders Robert Micklejohn [Meiklejohn] and David Moffett
as teachers in the No. 5 Ward."]
Wednesday 25th. The wind is still rather contrary. A good deal of seasickness prevails. Very few
but what were somewhat affected. [p.158]
My wife was a little sick, so was the child. I was rather squeamish. We are still in the Irish Channel. We had a council meeting at 11 a.m. I attended to my ward duties commencing at 5
a.m. I felt very heavy at my stomach
when going to bed tonight.
Thursday 26th. I was rather sick this morning and vomited a
little water. I did not attend my ward
meeting this morning neither did I attend the council meeting which was held
about mid-day, but my counselors did. It
was decided that no washing nor drying of clothes be done between decks. David Moffett was appointed marshal of the
ship. Sailors out of a vessel which bore
down upon us about 6 a.m. came aboard our vessel for news. The vessel had not been home for 4
years. She was coming at this time from
the Sandwich Isles for Germany
Friday 27th. We were in a calm all day. The captain says we are only one day’s good
sailing from Liverpool and it is always so with him when he has a lot of
praying persons and other hab-gabblings from Jerusalem Israel
1st:
Three notes for general silence.
2nd:
"Weep not for me Zion
3rd:
"God Save the Queen," for lights to be put out at night.
4th:
"Soldier's tear," for those engaged at night, such as the
guards, to take to their posts and for all passengers are to get to bed.
5th:
"Rosa May," to prepare to get
water in the morning.
There are 12 men
appointed to be on the deck to spy out what is going on between the passengers
and the crew and to report anything that they may see wrong. Our child, we observed today had got another
two teeth in the upper jaw making six he has all together. We are all well. [p.161]
Saturday 28th. We are still in a calm this morning and of
course, making little or no progress. I
had a testimony meeting in my ward this morning at ten o'clock. The brethren were
spirited in bearing their testimonies and a happy feeling prevailed. All seem quite satisfied with their
conditions &c. There was a little
confusion in the cooking of breakfast this morning but when my ward was going
on with it, I got order restored. There
are in my ward 45 berths, 19 men, 35 women, 24 boys, and 31 girls, all
together, 109 souls. There are on board
as passengers 578 souls about 500 of whom are going direct to the Valley of Great Salt Lake Scotland
Sunday 29th. This morning I held my ward meeting at 9
a.m. There was a public or general
meeting held on deck. And agreeable to
appointment we fasted until our first meeting was over which was between
[p.162] 12 and 1 p.m. Elders Barlow,
Robinson, his counselor, and Willes [Willis], the secretary addressed the
meeting. The day was fine and calm, but
in the evening the air freshened up and away we went at a good rate. I had a meeting of my ward at 7 p.m. and
administered the sacrament. There was a
good spirit in our meeting. Several of
the brethren spoke in the meeting. All
is union & concord! There is very
little sickness on board.
Monday 30th. The breeze is still up and we are going at
the rate of I should say 9 knots an hour. My wife is unwell today; very much
pained inwardly. The nankeen for the
tent and wagon covers was given out today and those who could of the company
gave in their names as makers of them. I
paid for my 70 yards of nankeen £7.19.7. of which Sister [Ann] Brewerton pays the one half. The weather is fine. I preached in my ward this morning at ten
o'clock. Had prayers in the evening.
[p.163] The ship ran at the rate of 14 ½
miles per hour in the morning and in the course of the day at the rate of 12
per hour. I met with my ward in the
morning. All the beds were brought up on
deck to be aired after breakfast. The
weather was fair. All, with but very few
exceptions, are in good health & spirits.
My wife is well today. We lack
not for music on board we have both violins, saxehorns, cornopians &
accordions, playing merrily. We indulged
in but very little dancing, however. The
captain and crew are not so well pleased with us for preventing our sisters
from associating with them. The sailors
say they shall have some of them at New
York Israel
Wednesday 2nd. Last night we sailed at the rate of [p.165]
between 14 and 15 knots an hour, this morning about ten knots an hour. My wife fainted away after getting out of bed
this morning and continued to be very ill until after midday. It seemed to be spasms and severe gripping in
the bowels. I had a testimony meeting in
my ward at half past 1 p.m. Elder Barlow
came among us and gave us some good instructions. The tentmakers are as busy as bees, and as
merry as crickets. It is delightsome to
see and hear them: the love of God and
each other, and the sweet melody of heaven swells each saintly bosom. We had a few showers of rain today. We are now (in the afternoon) in what in
nautical parlance, is termed a "lull" in consequence of which the
ship lurches and has caused some of the
too incautious to tumble downstairs &c. getting sprained feet and other
mishaps. Our captain has been practicing
fortune telling today. He is a droll
Duke (our captain). [p.166] I met with
my ward in the evening. I sang to my
ward "O heard ye what news from the valley has come," with which I
was well helped in the chorus. During
our meeting the ship rocked very much and the boxes and tins rattled about
alarmingly. I order my ward to make fast
all their boxes, tins &c. Some in
other wards did not take this precaution and they had to get up on the night to
do so and dry up the slops and such like
that had been spilt on the deck out of their vessels. "A life on the ocean wave a home on the
rolling deep." &c.
Thursday 3rd. This morning the weather was calmed very
much, but the vessel rocked considerably.
Many lost their breakfast, some as they were carrying it from the galley
to their berths and some when it was set before them on what they had for a
table. John Memmott’s breakfast was a
total wreck. [p.167] One man let his
oatmeal porridge fall down the stairs.
It was a mercy he did not follow their example. We were instructed to pray for the wind to
became more propitious. We did so, God
heard, and the wind blew pleasingly. We
commenced to make our tent cover today.
I am well, my wife is pretty well
and the child is first rate. I wish to
have it recorded (and lest no one should do it I shall take this opportunity of
doing so myself) that I can eat with pleasure the double more than what I could
do with great pressing &c on land.
It is the same with others on board.
I wrote out a scale of rations for my ward to be distributed tomorrow,
and on the following week. I met with my
ward this morning. There is but little
sickness or any other disease among us at present. I attended my ward meeting
at ½ past 8. [p.168]
Friday 4th. I grew sickly this morning. My wife was taken ill, and fainted in bed,
but was soon restored. I got little rest
all night, and I had a little breakfast in bed then lay down a bit. Then it was I grew sick. I got up and vomited repeatedly, I lay down
on deck for awhile, and my sickness left me.
I attended to the giving of the rations to my ward, and soon after grew
sick again. I went to bed. My wife was poorly today. The sea was very heavy and rough. We ran 17 knots per hour.
At 6 p.m. J. [John] Memmott’s hat
was blown over board and went back to Sheffield
for ought I known. Between 11 & 12
p.m. it was very rough and our marshal called up a few of the healthy of the
brethren to assist in furling the "topsail." The captain said he could have done perfectly
well without them and he was seen calling down the ventilation "all
passengers on deck" in order to put us in a game but although he was
[p.169] captain he was not the "good shepherd" hence the sheep heard
not his voice. About 12 p.m. the ship it
is thought ran at the rate of 20 knots an hour.
The boxes and tins rattled well.
Many were sick tonight.
Saturday 5th. I am still sick, sick, sick, and not able to
take anything. My wife happily is able
to be up today. It was very rough today. The galley was set on fire today by a Brother
who was boiling a piece of pork and the pot boiled over and the fat running on
the stove away flame went. The mate of
the vessel threw the pot and all its contents into the sea but he did not throw
the man over who owned the pot.
Curious! I am. sure it was
neither the pot nor pork that was the offense but this is none of my
business. I got up a little in the
afternoon. Many are sick today. [p.170]
Sunday 6th. A fast until after the morning meetings in
the wards was observed by some. The
sacrament was dispensed in the ward meetings at 7 p.m. There was no public or general meeting on
deck today as it was rough weather. I am
still very sick in bed. Brother Barlow
announced today in a council meeting of the presidents of wards and their
counselors that he had been in company with Joseph and Hyrum Smith and Willard
Richards and their instructions were for the presidents of the wards to be
fathers to the Saints and to attend to the health of the all on board. "Let us do right and all will be
well" is the voice of the Spirit unto us through the priesthood.
Monday 7th. I took a little brandy and water in the
afternoon which had the effect of settling my stomach. I then got a little pea soup, and oh! they
were delicious to me and what is better.
They seemed to be just the thing my stomach wanted for there they sat
until properly dismissed. I get up in
[p.171] the afternoon and paced the deck awhile but oh! it was piercingly cold
but fair. Rather out of our course being
north northwest by north. After pacing
the deck awhile I felt as though I was a new man, I was so much better. I went to bed early. My wife and child are well.
Tuesday 8th. I get up this morning about 6 a.m. I attended my ward meeting. I was startled at hearing Elder Perry
declaiming against giving heed to the sayings of the captain as he was trying
to put us in fear by his lies in saying we were in great danger. He rebuked evil spirits who were trying to
annoy and destroy the Saints. The wind
shifted into a more favorable quarter this forenoon blowing us southwest. I got some sago for breakfast, and it
sickened me. I vomited it. Went to bed.
Got some potato soup after which I felt better and [p.172] was able to
write a good bit in my diary. Susan Lant
fell downstairs and sprained her ankle and otherwise hurt herself. Her mother is still very sick, she has been
sick most of the time. I saw an iceberg
today to our left. One was seen
yesterday to our left. It is still very
cold but fair. There is, I am told, a
sailor in this vessel who is making his fourth attempt to get home to New York
Wednesday 9th. I got up free of sickness and kept so all day
for which I was very thankful. Very raw
and foggy in the after part of the day.
We recommenced our tent making. I
attended my ward meeting at ½ past 8 p.m.
Thursday 10th. Last night on going to bed I was attacked by
[p.173] the sick headache. My old land curse
following me on sea as well, despite of sea sickness &c. which have been so
highly spoken of as a cure for
biliousness. In the morning I took a
dose of bilious powder which helped me.
It was raw and foggy all day. Our
course was west by north according to my pocket compass. Sickness is again on the decline. Elder Barlow has been very sick and poorly
for some days past, but is a little better today. The tentmaking is going ahead. All is well, only a few of our young sisters
who will be friends with our gallant captain and some of our brethren say he
(the captain) is not so bad a fellow after all, i.e. when he has just given
them such a glass of brandy. Some would,
I believe, call the Devil a complete gentleman for so small a compliment! as
even an invitation to drink with him.
Friday 11th. I got up at 6 a.m. and attended to [p.174] my
water distributing for ourselves and my ward.
I met with my ward in the morning.
A good feeling there. We were
becalmed from breakfast time till [--].
The captain caught some codfish and haddocks with the line. The fog cleared away a little about 11
a.m. It was agreed that no provisions be
distributed today as the weather was not favorable to have it done on
deck. In the afternoon the wind
freshened up and away we set northward.
I met with my ward in the evening.
Saturday 12th. We tacked about 4 a.m. and went southward all
day, pushed on by a pretty stiff breeze; in consequence of which the vessel
pitched pretty much, causing a good deal of sickness on board and a good many
to fall down the hatchways and hurt and scald themselves with what [p.175] they
might be carrying from the galley at the time.
Sister Smith of our company fell down the hatchway as she was coming down
with a saucepan of gruel, and scalded herself on the one arm and bruised
herself on other parts of her body. The
provisions were distributed today between decks as it was too rough for the job
above. I met with my ward in the
morning, also in the evening.
Sunday 13th. I met with my ward in the morning. A public meeting was convened at 11 a.m. on
the deck. Elder Barlow, Robinson,
Mayben, Bramwell and Willis addressed the meeting. Elder Willis's remarks were directed in an
indirect manner towards the captain and crew concerning making free with the
the sisters and against the [p.176] [SIC] sisters for their freedom with the
captain and crew which was but ill taken by Brothers Barlow, Robinson and
perhaps some others, they judging that his remarks were uncalled for. The captain broke up the meeting (being
piqued at Willis's remarks) by setting the sailors to shift the sails, and
their yee hoes soon drowned the voice of the speaker. I closed, with prayer, about ½ past 1. We held our fast today until this meeting was
dismissed. We met at 7 p.m. in our
respective wards and administered the sacrament. We had a very good meeting in our ward this
evening Elders Perry and Willis met with us.
The captain informed us that we were 910 miles from New York
Monday 14th. About 2 a.m. I was awoke by [p.177] the noise
and rattling of tins as the ship was rocking very much. Some were bawling out about their beds being
wet by the contents of slop pails, and other vessels which came down from the
berths on the deck above them when they were upset. I had to get up in a hurry twice to fasten
mine , as they had broken away. We were flying at a good speed before a fair
wind at the time. We were about 700
miles from New York
Tuesday 15th. I was awakened this morning about 3 o'clock
when the thunder was rolling and the lightning flashed at a pretty smart
rate. The rain fell in great plenty; and
the sailors were pulling at the ropes and roaring in regular earnest. Now all this has an effect upon the waking
ear down below that is just enough to bear and at such a time it is clever work
to keep one's self from being pitched out of one’s berth upon the deck. Elder Bramwell came to my berth and whispered
that I with the other presidents of wards were to join in prayer privately for
the storm to cease. This was done, and
the storm did cease soon afterwards. I was afflicted of the sick headache and I
went up on deck and vomited then returned to bed. I was troubled with my stomach all day and
vomited several times. We run south all
day. My wife was sick in the morning [p.179] but got better in the
afternoon. It was discovered that a
child of 3 years of age was attacked with the smallpox in No. 6th Ward. The president of the ship convinced the
presidents of wards to take into consideration what was to be done in this
case. It was the belief of the
presidents that it was not the design of God that this malady should spread
amongst us and it was settled that the child and the other members of the
family should be removed to the hospital forthwith, which was done.
Wednesday 16th. I was a little better today. It is a fine day. A steam packet passed us about 11 a.m. bound
for New York New
York Marshall Marshall
Thursday 17th. We run to the northwest all day at a good
rate. We had it foggy for a good part of
the day but it cleared off by the evening.
It was said that we were between 500 and 600 miles from New York
Friday 18th. We are in the right course today. About 8 A.m. Sister Meiklejohn wife [p.181]
of Brother David Meiklejohn from Glasgow
Saturday 19th. We were becalmed this morning during which
time the captain and several of the brethren caught some codfish. The captain
cut up 5 of them that he had caught and gave them away in pieces to some of the
Saints. A Brother [Henry] Clucies sent
me a bit of one he had caught. We had a
council meeting this morning in the stern of the ship. [p.182] The dancing and dancers of last evening were
censured by the president at the meeting this morning. The president expressed that Elder Perry was
asking something of him very importunately and a voice from behind Brother
Barlow said "Let Elder Perry repent before he can have what he asks
for." Elders Perry and Willes
confessed to their having repented of their dancing: My wife was afflicted of the headache today. The breeze freshened up about 9 a.m. and
being fair all our sails was set and away we went very smoothly at the rate of
9 knots an hour. The weather is very
fine. The cooking is sadly behind today
and this causes a great bustle in the galley.
He earns his meal who cooks it today.
A collection was taken up in the wards to pay a man whom we had
appointed to attend the fires &c. In the galley, today is a man, or rather
a rascal at Liverpool, to lash [p.183] it properly in the ship, but he got his
cash from Brother Robinson before hand
and he contented himself with lashing only a few boxes and we want to have £2
or £3 on hand when we arrive at New York
to slip into the excise officer's hand so that we might get passing our luggage
without being detained at that port, in the way of having any luggage examined. I attend my ward meeting. Ten shillings was what I got out of No. 5
Ward for the above. There are some large
families some of whom have nothing in the shape of money. Others of them have such as 5 demies , 6 demies
and a 1 [-]. Poor enough!
Sunday 20th. I attended to the cooking of some oatcakes in
the morning, then my ward meeting. Then
a council meeting. Nothing of any
consequence was done. The latter. The wind blew [p.184] at a good rate and we
dashed through the waves in bold and rapid manner. The weather would not admit of us having a
meeting on deck today. The wards met at
7 p.m. when the sacrament was administered.
Monday 21st. Many get up early this morning to see the
land, as it was given out at day- break that such was to be seen but as the sun
got up the land went down. What a
disappointment! The morning was
beautiful, and many vessels were to be seen.
The wind was ahead of us in the morning.
In the afternoon a pilot came on board and agreed with the captain to
pilot us in to harbor for the regular pilot fare on the pilot ground although
he was many miles on this side of it. [p.185]
The pilot boats with their pilots run far out on sea in opposition to
each other in getting vessels. The evening
was beautiful and many of the Saints get up upon deck and sang some of their
Mormon songs in the true Mormon spirit.
I attended my ward meeting. I
examined some luggage that I had brought out of the railway luggage van at
Liverpool for Sister Smith's it being addressed "Mrs. Smith passenger to Liverpool ."
It consisted of a good leather portmanteau, a little square box and
another old worthless box, broken in the lid.
They cautioned principally clothes and toys and school books for a young
girl who as far as I could make out from letters in the same was at school at Liverpool . The
name of her parents is seemingly, Anderson , St.
James's Square, Hull America Liverpool
I should have returned with it to the railway station. In a small "savings bank" in one of
the boxes were three pieces of silver coin; one a shilling of George the 3rd’s
reign, dated 1816, and has a quite new appearance. Another is a French coin, stamped with the
head of Napoleon, having on the head side "Napoleon Emperor," and on
the other side "Empire Francois. A. 1811." and round the edge
"Dieu Protage La France
Tuesday 22nd. 6 a.m. the land was sighted by a naked eye,
and oh! how beautiful it did appear to the emigrant’s eye. All were electrified by the cry of land. Lame, old, young, sick, and all ran [p.187]
up on deck to see it. It seemed like a
fairyland. We first gazed upon what is
called "Never Sink," then "Sandy Hook." then "Stratton Island ,"
to the left, then we feasted our eyes upon the beauty of "Long Island ." There we passed the doctor who is
stationed there for the inspecting of passengers relative to the state of their
health &c. The company all passed
without any exception, save the child that had the smallpox, and that the
captain contrived to put out of sight until the examination was over which did
not last longer than 15 or 20 minutes.
The doctor that came out with us the captain put out of sight so that he
might not have need to sin his soul by telling a lie as to no disease being on
board or from sinning still greater by telling the truth in the matter. Elder Willis acted the part of the doctor in
his stead. All passed off well. [p.188]
The steamer towed us into the harbor by the afternoon, and all the way up the
(Hudson) river we were annoyed by sharpers, alas thieves, who came out in small
boats, and "climbed up (another way)" on to our vessel, and would be
in but our guard kept them at bay and hunted out of the vessel any that chanced
to get in. The captain engaged the
steamer that towed us in for 75 dollars, which was only 100 dollars less than
what the captain of the tug offered to tow us in for. There was plenty opposition in this by
steamers. Yankee meets Yankee here. When
landing at New York we were regularly beset by thieves, but the guard and the
captain and crew kept them back and all the hatchway were guarded so that no
stranger could possibly get down to our goods.
Oh with what audacity and unconceived of impudence do the New York Liverpool
what a life he would be led by our misconduct on board, during the voyage. This, he states, he is prepared to speak
against. Our landing was reported in the
New York
BIB: Rowan, Matthew, 1827-. Journals, 1853-1855. [LDS Church Archives, Ms
6084 1, fd. 1, vol. 2; Acc. #9323] pp. 153-190.
(HDA)
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John
was baptized 28 April 1848 by T.J. Schofield and confirmed 29 April 1848 by
John Albiston Jr.
