. . . 4th Friday At home disposing of goods & preparing to start for the docks, great difficulty in clearing out. Met with an accident, the cart conveying [p.39] our luggage broke at the tail and threw Ellen, Willie & my brother John with great violence to the ground, also broke a box that fell with them. Afterwards went on and arrived at the docks about 8 o'clock p.m.
Sunday May 5th Towed down the River Thames by a steam tug, passed the Nore Light ship at 10 to 5 p.m. Very calm. Attended a meeting on board. I was appointed to preside over the 3rd Ward, the company being divided in 7 wards. Instructions were given to be observed for the preservation of health among the passengers. One important item keeping the gangways thoroughly clean by scraping & having berths kept well aired and striving to demean ourselves so that nothing tending to immorality be made manifest, that God's blessings might be with us on our journey across the ocean. Appointed times for different wards to cook, also time for prayer in the various wards. Wallace Foulger clerk of meeting.
7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, We were beating about making little headway against a strong head wind.
12th. Gale still blowing, very wet and foggy weather. Our good ship lost her course and before the pilot discovered our position, we were within a few rods of south side of Isle of Wight. We lost a yard and sail, several ropes snapped like thread. We tacked ship and anchored at the "Motherbank," a providential escape from shipwreck. My Willie very sick, my wife sick with rheumatics myself from a severe cold. Nearly all on board very sick, a boisterous week.
Sunday 13th Monday at anchor all day. Attended on Willie who is very sick indeed, some said he would die, a report of his death circulating over the ship. A calm day.
Monday 14th. A slight breeze. Left the anchorage and sailed past Isle of Wight. Afternoon very calm. Willie little better, my wife still very sick with rheumatics, attended Willie all night. [p.40]
Tuesday 15th A good breeze blowing all day from the east. Sailing about 8 knots an hour, passed Falmouth, afternoon off the Welsh coast. The doctor said Willie was better but it is no miracle. Wife very sick.
Wednesday 16th Passed Lizard Point at past 7 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday. This morning we have a strong wind blowing from the east. Willie slept better. Myself afflicted with severe cold in the head. 1/4 past 4 p.m. hauling anchors on deck. In the evening 30 past 8 some person came to companion ladder and rose the cry of fire in cooks galley--attending Willie.
Thursday 17th. Attending Willie all day. Left at night without a light. Willie very sick, strong breeze lasting all day. Sailing about 10 knots per hour. Captain ordered galley fire to be extinguished at 6 o'clock p.m.
Friday 18th. Morning again. Quite calm weather. Ship rolling very much. Made but little progress today. Attending on Willie all day who have been very restless; my wife better in health, myself suffering from severe cold, Nelly [and] George well. Wind getting up slightly, making about 3 knots an hour, then again lulling us almost still. A sister confined yesterday. Brother Hill gave me portwine for Willie. Just pumping ship, a strong wind sprung up lasting all night. Willie very restless, I got but little or any sleep.
Saturday 19th. Morning a good breeze blowing from the east. Sailing along first class. Wind increasing, blowing a gale and raining. Taking in canvass. Poor Willie is getting very weak. Wife sick, George, Nelly and myself pretty well, but begin to feel quarmish.[POSSIBLY: qualmish] Several on board are very seasick. Nothing to give our dear baby to suck but cold tea and sugar. Willie has been very restless all night. This morning life is very weak. Wind blowing strong all night. Those who come to sea should be very careful to bring with them as many comforts as possible, especially for the children such as arrow root, soft biscuits, [p.41] port wine, brandy, preserved milk, sherbet, & this from bitter experience.
Sunday 20th Morning wind blowing strong all day. Great signs of stormy weather. Poor Willie very bad all day, nearly worn out myself. Wife poor, others of family pretty well. 1:30 p.m. today a large French ship passed us homeward bound. In the night went for wife to come to Willie, I thought he was dying, rallied a little afterwards. Sea very rough. Ship rolling. The roughest night since we came on board.
Monday 21st Morning very rough, ship rolling fearfully, just threw me off a stool and broke a glass tumbler. 2 o'clock p.m. ship still rolling fearfully; pots, dishes, pails, provision thrown across the gangways in promiscuous heaps creating great confusion amongst the passengers. A child of Brother Cox's from London has just died. The Lord has still spared my dear child for which blessing unto me I do hope to live to praise him. Another fearful lurch, tins flying in every direction. Brother Cox's child was buried at 8 o'clock p.m. Willie, my dearest child was very ill all night until 7.30 a m when he was released from his sufferings. God bless his dear soul. How he suffered. He came to his death through Mr. Poulters cart breaking on St. Anns Hill, Wandsworth, Surrey, England. Oh how I mourn this great affliction. O Lord help me by thy power to bear it as from thy hand and stimulate me to more nobly and faithfully serve thee and may I live to prepare to meet him in a happier and better world with his dear sister, Elizabeth Maryann and at the resurrection of the just may I be there to meet them. O God grant these blessings in the name of Jesus. My wife is much cut up.
Tuesday 22 Weather fair, ship rolling very much. Afternoon saw my dear boy sewn in canvas by first and second mates. He was buried at 7 p.m.. Captain Adey read the burial service, in latitude 48 degrees 22 minutes North, longitude 20-12, on Monday May 21st 1866. He was born Dec 26th 1863 at Wandsworth. He was a fine intelligent boy. God bless him. Peace to his slumbering ashes. He was taken from our berth by order of doctor into the forecastle, a most unfit place, where he took cold as he laid opposite the hatchway. His spine was injured and he had a malignant sore throat. The doctor told me had he been on land he might have recovered!! A beautiful day, wind nearly due east. Cooks galley on fire. No cooking this afternoon, a strong 3/4 wind blowing which lasted all night. At the prayer meeting, Elder S. H. Hill [p.42] said it had come to his knowledge that some person had been selling consecrated oil at the rate of one shilling per spoonful and said those who had done so would be cursed and their money with them.
Wednesday 23rd Morning. A strong wind still blowing, sailing along gaily. No breakfasts cooked this morning in consequence of the chimney not being completed. A Brother Tracey supplied us with water, had coffee for breakfast. Noon, wind still blowing very strong. Weather very cold. Great dissatisfaction among the folks in consequence of their not being able to get their food cooked. Night. A good breeze blowing. Public prayers at amid ships.
Thursday 24th. Pretty good wind blowing. Much grumbling among some of the people about the provisions. Saw a ship ahead of us. Yesterday a stunt sail fell down from the mast. The sail covered those who sat on the forecastle. Much complaint against the cooks. A light fair breeze blowing, Weather dull, just saw a ship. 7-45 p.m. good breeze blowing which lasted through the night. One of the sailors told me he had crossed the Atlantic from Liverpool to New York eighteen years but never before experienced such a fine passage as we have had. The captain's cook said he never saw such a passage although he had crossed 35 times. Brother Hill gave orders for all open lights to be out at 9 o'clock p.m. Some were very slow to observe this.
Friday 25th. A beautifully fine morning, a pleasant breeze. Two ships in sight. All of my family feel well today. Weather very calm. Saw a steamship pass us homeward bound, also two sailing ships. In the evening cloudy. Saw a seal fish. Public prayers amidships .
Saturday 26th. Morning a good breeze blowing on our course. Family well. Cake! and coffee for breakfast. Sister Read from Cambridge gave me baked flour for Polly to suck through a tube. Night very rough weather, too much so to hold public prayers. Supposed to be near the banks of Newfoundland. Saw one ship today. Rough and foggy night.
Sunday 27th. Very boisterous morning and very cold, wind northerly. My George overbalanced and fell from the top berth unto the deck. Afternoon held meeting between decks, speakers Elders Hill and T. S. [p.43] Priday. A fight between two sailors, one a Norwegian. A very cold day, afternoon calm and also at night. Prayers were offered in the various wards.
Monday 28th. Morning calm, wet, and foggy. Saw a whale, my wife rather sick. Children pretty well, also myself, a cold excepting, which has troubled me since I came on board. A Brother Cook said he had received a revelation informing him that our ship will arrive in New York on Wednesday next. Becalmed on the banks. A large four mast steamer passed us homeward bound. Saw several whales and flocks of birds. In the evening a breeze sprung up and continued to increase in force during the night, rainy, cold and foggy. Some considerable quarreling among some members of the Fifth Ward. Fog bell ringing.
Tuesday 29th. Wind blowing hard, canvas furled. The jib boom plunging into the waters, weather wet and foggy, several porpoises near ship. Fog bell ringing. Family well, colds always excepted. We are now, according to Brother Hill, off the banks of Newfoundland. A strong head wind blowing, heavy sea rolling, ship tossing very much. Pails, tins, barrels, people, etc. rolling about in beautiful confusion. Head wind all night. On Monday evening at 7 o'clock a Swiss brother's child was committed to the deep.
Wednesday 30th. Fine clear morning with a strong head wind, very cold, heavy swell on. Saw a shoal of porpoises, some jumped clear from the water. During the day wind veered round and we sailed along first rate until 4 a.m.—when it suddenly changed ahead of us. My George fell from the deck to the bottom of the hatchway. J. S. Fullmer gave notice that some person had lost coat and bonnet and he wished that those who had found the same would bring them to him. Weather very foggy.
Thursday 31st. Morning calm and dull. Rice boiled for breakfast, no bread in stock. At 4 a.m. this morning the wind changed suddenly ahead of the ship, caught the sails and drove us back at the rate of 9 knots an hour. A cry of all hands on deck--rather frightened some of the folk as they felt the immense straining of the ship, when the wind struck her we were in great danger of foundering. Calm most [p.44] of the day. Sundown a breeze blowing about six knots, standing with my wife on the forecastle to witness a magnificent sunset. Family poorly.
Friday June 1st. Calms and head squalls all day, made little if any progress. Nelly attacked with measles or scarlatina--very poorly myself. Saw one ship to day.
Saturday 2nd. Ellen very sick. Brother S. H. Hill gave us some brandy and Sister Watts some saphron which is considered good for measles. Evening sailing with a fair wind which have continued, though slightly, through the day. Brother Hill ordered Ellen to be moved into the forecastle. I considered it a most improper place and objected to her being removed from our berth, doctor said it's not necessary to have her removed as the disease have not developed itself. Saw a fishing smack. Public prayers at 8 p.m., afterwards breeze freshened and blew pretty strong at 9 p.m.
Sunday 3rd. Morning foggy and wet with a head wind blowing. A steamship passes us early this morning. Ellen more cheerful, very fretful through the night. Boiled rice for dinner, Ellen, wife and myself very sick. Afternoon calm, a fishing boat with 15 hands on board passed near us. Three days sail from Cape Sapel [Sabel]. Public meeting amidship, J. S. Fullmer spoke. At public prayers Brother Hill threatened to suspend some from fellowship unless they repented. Saw one ship to day.
Monday 4th. An easterly wind blowing, stunt sails up, sailing along gaily at 8 knots an hour. Ellen seems a trifle better this morning—up all night with her. Saw a large shoal of porpoise. Fair wind all day. Sailors made cable ready for anchoring, expect to arrive at New York on Thursday. Ellen is progressing favorably, myself and wife better. Fight between a sailor and second mate. Public prayers, Brother Hills called on the Saints to cease backbiting. Strong wind all night, ship roll.
Tuesday 5th. Foggy, wet and calm morning. Ellen better. A ship passed near us in the night. Foggy at intervals, several large Grampus seen. [p.45] Head wind all day with a heavy swell on. Ellen better, myself and wife very unwell. Polly extremely cross. I feel very weak and quite tired of being at sea. Brother Dalton gave us a can of sweet milk for Polly. Public prayers. Saw two ships.
Wednesday 6th. Morning very foggy and wet, sea smooth as a sheet of glass. Weather very warm. Ellen little better. Sailors washing decks and bulwarks. I shall be glad to see New York. Calm nearly all day. Breezy towards evening, at 8 p.m. A strong head wind with thick mist. Public prayers. Brother Hill said towels had been stolen from the rigging and called on those who have stolen them to return them or he would call for them. Ellen and family better.
Thursday 7th. Morning head wind and foggy, afterwards cleared. Saw a schooner. Ellen better. Evening saw a ship, head wind still blowing. Public prayers, Brother Hill spoke very pointedly to those on board who had been guilty of theft.
Friday 8th. Morning calm. Yards squared about 7 oc [o'clock] a.m. a slight breeze blowing favorably. At noon had some codfish for dinner. Several fishing boats lying at anchor. Ellen better. Strong wind all last night, making good progress. Public prayers, Brother Dolton prayed. Wrote letters to my brother Robert and father-in-law.
Saturday 9th. Morning. Strong wind blowing, ship rolling considerably. Captain sharpening sails to stand in towards land which in a few hours we are expecting to see. Ellen improving very well, rested well--serving out provisions to last three days. Saw four ships, at 3-15 p.m. The pilot came on board; in the evening got a glimpse of Long Island. Bad headache.
Sunday 10th June. Morning. Very calm, 11.30 a.m., land ahead. My wife very poorly, at eleven a.m. President S. H. Hill convened a meeting amidships at which Captain Stephen Adey, Doctor Summerville were present. A vote of thanks was accorded them by all the passengers. Captain Adey briefly responded. He spoke favorably of the conduct of his passengers, said he never wished to cross with a better lot of people & and wished us continued prosperity on our way to Utah, also Doctor Summerville briefly but favorably responded. A vote of thanks was given [p.46] for S. H. Hill president, also votes for his counselors, Raymond and Fulmer, to stewards Dolton and Priday. Three cheers were given for each of those officers and the meeting terminated, several sails in sight. Captain Adey has been kind to the passengers and I will say on the part of the crew that a more social and agreeable lot of sailors as a whole could not be met with, their conduct towards us had been all that we could expect. 3.30 p.m. passed Sandy Hook light boat. We are now off the batteries. A more magnificent sight I never saw--at about six o'clock p.m. we cast anchor near the mouth of Hudson River. The medical officer boarded but the captain not being ready at a moment call our examination is postponed till tomorrow at 9 o'clock a.m. Public prayers.
Monday 11th. Morning. Misty, cleared off and is now beautiful, at 9 a.m. Weighed anchor, went down the Hudson to Castle Garden. It is a place formerly a theater appropriated by the U. S. Government for the reception of emigrants, is a very large circular building. Emigrants were laying in groups upon the boards in promiscuous heaps, men and women without apparently any regard for decency. These were mostly German and Irish. There is a general information office, an exchange, a railway ticket office, also a rostrum from which an appointed speaker gave information to emigrants, and a provision store. A pint of milk and small loaf 20 cents. It is lighted at night with twelve jets of gas. We were informed previous to landing that there were 7 thousand emigrants before us. We are informed we might be ready to start out at 11 p.m. We found it extremely difficult to reach Peck Slip, mistook our way. Weary, dispirited and perplexed we reached the steam boats to steam to New Haven, Connecticut.
Tuesday 12th. Took cars at New Haven, reached Hartford, Connecticut at 8:30 a.m. Stopped an hour and changed cars at Springfield, Massachusetts, passed Holy Oak [Holyoke], Northampton, Granfi [UNCLEAR], into the State of Vermont at South Vernon. Broke a coupling pin. Most of women and children hereabout are without shoes an stockings. I suppose tis for comfort. Passed Brattle borough, Dummerston, Putney at Westminster and Mill Falls. Night in train. [p.47]
Wednesday 13th. Luggage train on fire. Brothers Bates, Pain, Tracey, Miller and others lost a great portion of their luggage, some lost nearly all they had--occurred at St. Albans, met a body of British troops on the scout for Fenians at St Alexander. Lost Polly's police [UNCLEAR]. Polly very poorly, stopped at St. Johns on the Richelieu River where some soldiers informed a fight had occurred between them and Fenians, crossed Victoria tubular bridge over the River St. Lawrence to Montreal, capital of lower Canada, stop all night at St. Aoaro. Our best bag of clothes we have found burnt, company allowed us fifty-five dollars damages. Stayed in a railway shed. Grain Trucks were provided for us to travel in. Rain, thunder and lightning kept us up most all night.
Thursday 14th. In the morning at eleven o'clock we moved out in the trucks for Detroit junction 350 miles, stopped at Point Clare, at Lancaster and Cornwall. Met a body of troops who were expecting a Fenian attack on Cornwall, stopped at Landing and Aultsville, Williamsburg, Matilda. Traveling all night. Saw soldiers several places on the route.
Friday 15th. Stopped at Napanee, Harmonville and Belleville. Fine morn. An English shilling here passes for fifteen pence Canadian. An American dollar green back 66 cents. Those of us who changed our gold at New York did so at a great disadvantage as we found when we tendered our greenback for provisions, in some cases they were considered worthless. Stopped at Brighton, Coburg, passed alongside Lake Ontario and stopped at Port Hope, a beautiful town on the Lake Ontario at Newcastle, arriving at the city of Toronto at 7 p.m., 333 miles from Montreal. Left Toronto in the evening and traveled to Sarnia, a distance of 186 miles.
Saturday 16th. Fine Morning. Ribs tender through sleeping on the hard boards of a jolting car. Train parted yesterday, Brother Boulden was left behind about one mile. Stopped at Hamburgh, at St Mary's. Bought Qt Milk for 10 cents. Arrived at Sarnia, a town on Lake Huron, the terminus [p.48] of the grand trunk railway of Canada, at 1/4 to 4 p.m. 186 miles from Toronto, crossed the River St. Clare in a steam boat, stayed all night in the depot, a dirty lousy place with about 1000 Germans, a set of filthy people. Took supper at an hotel in Port Huron. Paid 50 cents each. A German brother's child, who was born on the ship Caroline, died in the night, Port Huron in state Michigan.
Sunday 17th. Morning. Fishing in the River St.Clare. Since leaving London we shifted luggage at following place: 1st at New York into a steamer, 2nd into steamer at Peck Slip, 3rd into cars at New Haven, 4th onto cars at Montreal, 5th into cars at Port Huron, 6th into cars at Chicago, 7 into cars at Quincey. Wet afternoon. Stopped all night at Michigan connection or Detroit Junction. Wet and stormy night, slept in a first class car.
Monday 18th. Wet morning. Left the train to find a place to buy milk, 20 cents for loaf, butter 36c lb, a lady treated me very kindly, left Detroit junction at 12 a.m., stopped at Munro [Monroe] Junction, at Dexter, state Michigan, at Chelsea at Jackson, traveling all night.
London to Great Salt Lake City Distance Table
London to New York | 3500 miles |
New York to New Haven | 73 |
New Haven to Montreal | 400 |
Montreal to Toronto | 333 |
Toronto to Sarnia | 186 |
Crossed river to Port Huron | |
Port Huron to Michigan | 59 |
Connection [Detroit] Junction to Chicago | 222 |
Chicago to Quincy | 216 |
Quincy to St. Joseph | 206 |
St. Joseph to Wyoming | 170 |
Wyoming to G S L [Great Salt Lake] City | 1100 |
Approximate Distance | 6465 |
[p.49]
Tuesday 19th. This morning at 6 o'clock a.m. a terrible accident brought us up suddenly. One carriage 4 wheels off, 1 top knocked off, one side and end broken in, 1 thrown across the rail, 1 thrown completely over on its side, we were obliged to batter in the end to get the people out, 3 carriages off metal not turned over. It seems miraculous how such a catastrophe could occur and no one be seriously injured as the cars were all full of passengers. A Brother and Sister White from Paddington received injuries, also a little boy of Sister Guivers, 'tis a distressing sight. Camped and cooked on the railway track. Cleared and we were started again at past 12. A lady gave me potatoes and pork, all persons who saw this disaster say it is a miracle how we escaped with our lives, brought children back to station, got humbugged with our luggage. Wife and children sitting on a bank in the broiling sun. Four cars completely mashed. Occurred at Buchanan 189 miles from Detroit, 25 to 2. Coupling broke. Stopped at Michigan City on the shore of Michigan Lake. Passing over a flat country swarming with gnats. Passed Illinois Central Junction about 20 to 8, arrived in Chicago about 9 p.m. Slept on the floor of a shed. Weather very hot. Chicago is situated on the shore of Lake Michigan and is in the state of Illinois.
Wednesday 20th. Noon. Still at Chicago, help to shift luggage from the cars. Left Chicago about 5 p.m. after waiting 20 hours for the cars. Train stopped at Lyons, Illinois. Brother Hill angry in consequence of some brethren refusing to leave seats to make room for the sisters. Passed through a fine level country. Traveled all night. Weather very hot. Polly very sick.
Thursday 21st. Train stopped at Kenewa, Illinois--Wataga--arrived at Quincy at 3.30, Stopped to get refreshment, shift luggage--several men were loud in their declamations against the Mormons, Brigham in particular. Some were against such expression and wished us as a people our rights. Went on board steamboat on the Mississippi at 5 past 5 p.m. All well. Weather very hot indeed. Quincy is a town on the Mississippi River and in the state of Illinois. Left West Quincy at 1/4 to 7, assisted to shift luggage from the steamboat to the cars on Hannibal and St. Joe's rail road. A heavy storm, thunder, lightning & rain this morning. Saw fire flies traveling on cars all night. [p.50]
Friday 22nd. Heavy thunder storm while stopping at Cameron, Missouri. Stopped at Kippen. Fearful rocking traveling cars rocked very much. Passed large tracts of good land unoccupied. Bought 2 quarts milk 10 cents. Family pretty well. Rain pouring in torrents 11-5 a.m., reached St. Joseph, Missouri at 3.30 p.m.. Lodged in a shed at St. Joseph's.
Saturday 23rd. All day at St. Joseph's. Some of the people here are very bitter against the Mormons.
Sunday 24th. Left St. Joe's per steamboat "St. Joseph" at 6 a.m. Family all pretty well, weather very hot, on board all night.
Monday 25th. On board steamboat. Stopped at Burlington, Nebraska Ty, Rock point Landing, Missouri, to discharge stores. Weather very hot all night on board. [p.51]
. . . Met several folks we were acquainted with in England, Brother John Thompson, Foulgers, Earle etc. who treated us to beer, fruit pie etc. We were pleased to behold the city after a long and perilous journey of seven thousand miles across the ocean through the states, over the plains, across rivers and lofty mountains, we looking like walking lumps of dust, our train passed through the city to the president's yard where we signed an obligation to pay $180 dollars for transit across the plains from Wyoming. We paid 28 pounds from London to Wyoming for sea and rail fare. My wife's cousin Eliza Wilds hired a wagon and had our luggage conveyed to her house in the Ninth Ward, Great Salt Lake City. Thankful to get a rest !!! [p.63]
BIB: Driver, William. "London to Salt Lake City in 1867 [sic]: The Diary of William Driver," ed. by Frank Driver Reeve. Reprinted from
New Mexico Historical Review, (January 1942), pp. 39-51,63. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)