. . . Betsy, her mother - Maria Brittle Mason, and her aunt Ann Parsons left Birmingham for Liverpool. When they arrived at that port they found many passengers busily checking luggage and preparing provisions for the voyage and waiting for favorable weather.
From diaries kept of the voyage of the ship Windermere we read:
February 22.. We set sail during that day. We had no fine weather to boast of. When we were a few miles in the Channel the ship began to pitch a little which caused the Saints to feel sickly. We saw plenty of shipping. [p.1]
February 23. Fine day. The Saints getting on with sickness as well as could be expected. We saw one ship. Her bow sprit was torn off. We saw another with her fore and main masts torn out. We saw just such things as she was short of floating in the water. Very likely they belonged to her. An old gentleman [Phillip Squires] died and was buried at sea.
February 24. The wind rather strong and unfavorable. The Saints quite sick enough. I was in bed all day myself. We had a good drop of rain.
February 25. Fine day. The Saints much better. Very little wind stirring and of course very little progress.
February 26. A fresh breeze blowing. The ship going fast. The passengers not so well. We saw the lands of Ireland, also two steamships.
February 27. Fine morning. The wind blowing hard and unfavorable. Many of the Saints are very sick again and in bed. Saw one ship.
February 28. Fine day. The ship going fast till towards dinner then the wind fell off for the rest of the day. The Saints rather better. Saw one ship.
March 1. There was the birth of one child that died and was thrown overboard. We saw three ships.
March 2. Fine morning but it turned out wet during the day. No wind stirring much till night then we had the best wind we have had since we came out. Saw one ship.
March 3. Fine day. The ship going well. The wind changed more favorable in the afternoon. We were going about ten knots per hour. The Saints getting better. Saw two ships.
March 4. Fine morning. The ship going twelve knots per hour till after dinner then the wind got to blowing very high. The ship rolled and pitched very much also.
March 5. Weather so rough. Early this morning the cooking stove broke loose. No cooking was being done at the time or it might have been very serious. This frightened the Saints as they slept just under it. This stove, I suppose, weighs nine or ten hundred pounds - so it is no small thing to dash about the deck. Fortunately no person was injured by it. The sea was very rough and was heaving the ship about very much, throwing boxes and thus from their places. Although it was Sunday we had plenty of work to do to keep things right and from being hurt. There was one death and burial. We saw two ships. We had a deal of rain during the night.
March 6. Fine morning. The ship going very well till after dinner then the wind got very strong. The sea rolled very high. The ship could not make but very little progress. One death and burial. Saw two ships.
March 7. Dull day. Wind and weather unfavorable. Saw one ship.
March 8. Fine day. Wind favorable. The sea rolling very high. Little progress.
March 9. The wind blowing hard and unfavorable. We had five sails set instead of about twenty.
March 10. A gale blowing all day and night. The ship pitching and rolling very much.
March 11. They say the wind is calmer but the sea is still very rough. Smallpox has broken out. The Saints feel it requisite to call upon the Lord.
March 12. Considerably warmer. The ship was but little damaged. The sailors remarked: "The Saints were more calm and cheerful than any of the passengers." Saw one ship and a beautiful rainbow.
March 13. The morning fine. The sea and the wind much calmer which was fully appreciated. [p. 2]
March 15. Fine day. Very little wind. The passengers quite lively cleaning and so on. Seasickness getting over.
March 17. The day rather dull. About midday the ship set on fire but the fire was soon got out.
March 19. Sunday. The morning rather dull. The wind light till after dinner then it got much stronger and continues unfavorably. Saw one ship.
March 22. Quiet an April day shower and sunshine. The rainbow beautiful. A child died and was buried at sea. Wind continues unfavorable. Saw three ships.
March 23. The day fine. The wind light and the ship going slow. Saw one ship.
March 24. A real squally day. Wind ahead. Two births.
March 25. Fine sunshine. The wind light - little progress. Saw one ship.
March 26. Held meetings on quarter deck. Captain of the ship present, also three of the mate and some of the crew. The finest Sabbath we have had aboard. Saw one ship.
March 27. Wind blowing hard. Saw one whale and one ship.
March 29. Fine day. The wind light and continues ahead. Saw a lot of fish.
March 31. Saints making tents and wagon covers. Saw one fish and a large fish.
April 1. Best sailing we have had yet - making about 12 miles per hour. Saw a quantity of flying fish.
April 2. Sunday - a fine day. The ship going well with the fair wind. Saints held two meetings, one in the afternoon and another in the evening. These meetings were attended by the captain of the ship, five mates, the steward and his wife.
April 3. Small pox increasing. Saw a large fish. Held two meetings attended by the officers of the ship. Saints beginning to bathe in a large tub of salt water each morning now the weather is warmer.
April 4. Fine day. Wind fair - ship going well. Had a good meeting at might. Saw large fish.
April 5. The day fine and very well. The wind changeable and light. The Saints continue to bathe in the large tub of salt water. We had a good meeting attended by most of the officers of the ship.
April 6. The Saints congregate together half past five to celebrate the birth of the church. It being twenty four years old today. Had preaching, recitations and songs. Saints enjoyed themselves very much. The meeting was attended by the captain, his mates and some of the crew. It was a beautiful day. The wind was fair and light. We saw one ship.
April 8. Early this morning we saw island of St. Domingo. It is about three or four miles long. Saw a ship away ahead. We could hardly discern it. About tea time we had left it behind. This convinced me our ship was a good one. A child died of smallpox. We had a good breeze all day.
April 9. Weather very hot among the islands as in England in mid summer. Sunday and a very fine day, very little wind. The sun shone beautifully all day and the moon bright at night so we have had very little darkness. The small pox is very bad now. We are about thirteen hundred miles from New Orleans. We held two meetings. Saw six ships.
April 10. Sun very hot. Young man died of smallpox. [p. 3] One birth. Saw Cuba and her islands, also two ships.
April 11. Two young women died of small pox. Meeting at night. Saw a steam ship.
April 13. One birth. A large dolphin was caught and we had some of it for dinner. Saw two ships. Very hot day.
April 14. Good Friday. The day very hot and very little wind. Ship going slow. Child died of small pox. Saw a steam ship.
April 15. Fine day. Going well. Child died of small pox.
April 16. Day squally. Child died of small pox. Saw three ships. No meeting on account of the weather.
April 17. The Saints and crew getting short of provisions. The mate saw some ships of the company so he and four men went to get provisions for us, but these ships were as short as we were so they got none.
April 18. They lowered the boat again and went to another ship and got some meat and biscuits for the crew. We saw the other end of Cuba. Glad to see this. We now have five hundred miles to go to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Saw four ships. Calm till dinner then we had a head wind again.
April 19. Ships going well - about twenty miles from the bar of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
April 20. Fine day. Wind very good and ship going well.
April 21. Fine day. Wind light and ship going slow.
April 22. Cool this morning. We got a steam tug about twenty miles from the bar or mouth of the river. We are now on our way up the river. Nice scenery, sugar plantations, plenty of oranges, farms, and cattle.
April 23. Still going up the river and landing in New Orleans. Voyage ended.
Thus it had taken sixty one days to make the voyage.
Grandmother wrote: "How happy we were to see my eldest brother Alfred, and his wife who met our ship at the wharf. Such a reunion - so much talking and talking. Mother, Aunt Parsons, and I spent the next three days with them in New Orleans."
From New Orleans they went up the Mississippi River to St. Louis on the boat "Grand Iowa." In St. Louis they were quarantined because of the dread disease smallpox which had been so bad on the ship.
They left St. Louis on the boat "Honduras" and sailed up the Missouri River to Kansas City. Again sickness moved in on this brave group and several died of cholera. There was another delay of several weeks before Captain Job Smith's company could begin its trek on the plains. We do not find any notes on this journey save that they arrived in Salt Lake City September 26, 1854. It had been seven months since these Saints left their happy homes in England. . . . [p. 4]
BIB: "Life Story of Betsy Mason Brower." IN "A History of the Jarvis Family." pp. 1-8 [Mentions that diary is "from diaries kept of the voyage."]. (CHL)
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