"EMIGRATION. -- Three vessels have been dispatched by us since the 15th of September. The Sidney, containing 180 souls, the Medford, 214, and the Henry, 157. . . ."
MS, 3:6 (Oct. 1842), p.112
"FIFTEENTH COMPANY. -- Sydney, 180 souls. On Saturday, September 17th, 1842, the ship Sidney, Captain Cowen, sailed from Liverpool, with one hundred and eighty Saints on board, under the direction of Elder Levi Richards, bound for Nauvoo, via New Orleans. George D. Watt the first man baptized in England, who emigrated with this company, writes from New Orleans, under date of November 13th, 1842, as follows:
'We have had a passage of fifty-six days -- fine weather -- with a kind captain and crew, who allowed us every reasonable privilege. There have been five deaths out of the company, and one sailor who fell from the yard arm and was killed. The dead are: Brother Yates' eldest child, Sister Cannon, (mother of President George Q. Cannon,) Brother Browne's child and two children belonging to a man who is not in the Church. We stuck up on the sand bar at the north of the river (Mississippi) thirty-four hours. About two hours after we got off, the Medford came on the bar, where she stuck thirty hours. We landed here (New Orleans), on the eleventh instant and the Medford arrived today the thirteenth. She lies about ten yards from us. * * * We have taken one of the largest and best steamboats in this port. We pay two dollars and fifty cents per head, and twenty-five cents per one hundred pounds above the weight allowed each person, which is one hundred pounds. We are all going up together; i. e. The Sidney and Medford passengers.'
After tarrying three days at New Orleans, the emigrants embarked on the steamer Alexander Scott and made rapid progress till they had passed the mouth of the Ohio River
, when they ran aground and remained fast three days. After getting clear again they continued the journey to within ninety miles of St. Louis, where the vessel had to remain three weeks for want of water. When the emigrants finally arrived at St. Louis, it was the dead of winter, and the river being frozen up above that city, it became necessary for the Saints to remain there for a while until communication opened up again with the towns on the upper Mississippi. Without much difficulty houses and provisions were secured, and the remainder of the winter was spent quite comfortably in St. Louis. In April, 1843, the journey was continued to Nauvoo."
Cont., 12:12 (Oct. 1891), pp.445-46
"Sat. 17. [Sep 1842] -- The ship Sidney sailed from Liverpool with 180 Saints; it arrived at New Orleans Nov. 11th."
CC, p.21
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