July 4. Wrote to Liverpool and obtained a certificate of passage on the "Australia" for myself and three persons.

July 23. Left Bath for Bristol at 11:25 a.m. left Bristol for Birmingham, where we stayed at night.

24. Left Birmingham for Liverpool at 6:15 a.m. arrived at Liverpool at about 12 went to the Shipper Hotel where we stayed till the ship started.

27. We all went on board, but the "Australia" had her [- - -] as defected so we were put on the Cynosure which started on the 29th. Brother Turnbull of the Liverpool office organized our company with Brother Seager as president & 6 wards.

30. Sailing pretty rough.

31. " " " " "

Aug 1. " still rough, my family all sick.

Aug 2. still rough, family sick

3. " " " "

4. " " " "

[-] 5. Sailing, quiet weather held 2 meetings.

6. " fine "

7. " rough " My wife gave birth to a son at 12:45 p.m., had trouble with the afterbirth, but called in the elders who administered to her & the trouble ceased. The doctor was surprised he saw there certainly was some power there above his skill or understanding.

8. Sailing, Mary & the child doing well.

9. " " " " " " " "

Sister [Mary] Pile attended to her.

10. At 5 a.m. Mary A. Morgan 4 month old died. At 9:30 Charles Jones 11 months old died, both buried in the waves at once.

11. Sailing, Mary still well.

[-] 12. " " " " " held one meeting [p.2] on deck and one below, held a general fast, praying for a fair wind & speedy passage.

13. Sailing, Mary doing well, but weak.

14. " very fine day. All that could go had to go on deck as the ship had to be fumigated. Mary got up & felt better than before after coming down.

15. Sailing, Mary and child doing well.

16. " " " " " " "

17. " " " Mary Pile has a bad cold. William seems to be chilled from being out in the cold merely to gratify the ship's officers cast iron rules.

18. Sailing, Mary doing well.

Sunday 19. " Held 2 meetings below, Mary got up & attended meeting.

20. Sailing, Mary doing well.

21. " " " but not allowed to get up.

22. " " " " Sister Pile quite sick. [p.3]

23. Sailing, Mary doing well, Sister Pile still sick.

24. " " " " " " " " " "

25. " " " " "

26. " held 3 meetings. Mary doing well. Mary [Mona] Pickering 23 month died, buried same day.

27. Sailing.

28. "

29. "

30. "

31. "

Sept 1. " I am this day 23 years old.

[-] 2. " Held 2 meetings. Sister Pile much better.

3. " Pilot came on board in the afternoon.

4. "

5. " Came in sight of New York and soon landed at Castle Garden. Several brothers from the Mormon office came to see us.

6. President John Taylor came to see us and we was into lodgings in Brooklyn.

Oct. 2. Our son William. A. Silver died....[p.4]

BIB: Silver, William John, Diary, (Ms 2199) Acc. #33004 pp. 2-4(CHL)
(source abbreviations)