On the 22 [November] we went aboard of the Clara Wheeler, on the 27 we sailed. There was the power of God made manifest in abundance. On that night and the next day and night we thought that we should be on shore and be knocked to pieces. They throw fire for signal and on the 9 the Lord beneath the helm blessed us with a pilot and brought us back to Liverpool safe and we stopped there till the [-] wind was fair. On the 6 of December we fasted [p. 48] and prayed. On the 7 we had fine wind and went to sea. The 8 and 9 we had [it] very rough.

Saturday night and Sunday, the 10, fine. Then the wind was against us. On the evening of the 13 there came a ship right a fore the wind and was thought to run us down. Every minute the cry was gone through the ship, but the Lord stretched out his hand and saved his people. We was first to give God the glory and prayed. Then we had fine wind long and hot days. 25 being Christmas day we did enjoy ourselves on deck and finished the day with music. That night and the next day it blow [George Marthen [Martin] IS WRITTEN AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 49][p. 49] fresh breeze 28 more fine and was but some rain. On the 6 of January we passed through the West Indies. On the 10 we see the America land and 12 o'clock the steamer was fast in us. We had luck and went across the bar safe. On the 11 we was in New Orleans. Through the voyage we had 21 children died in the measles and 2 women. The Lord was very good to his people and blessed us with a good passage. The captain said that he never had the like passage. On the 12 we had the steamboat and went up to St. Louis and we had a fine passage till the 21. We had snow and frost on the 22. We was brought in by [p. 50] the power of God for if the boat had stop 2 or 3 hours we should been force up, but the Lord was with us so we came safe to St. Louis. But 6 died and 1 fell over. 23 we landed and went to the chapel
. 24 I went to seek for work. . . .[p. 51]

BIB: Thomas, George. Daybook, Reminiscence and Diary, (Ms 1452) pp. 48-51 (CHL)
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