"EMIGRATION. . . . The Emerald, to sail on the 19th instant, with about 250, thus fulfilling the sayings of the prophets of old. . . ."
MS, 3:6 (0ct. 1842), p.112
"We are happy to have to announce that the ship Emerald, Captain Leighton, in which our beloved brother P. P. Pratt and family, together with a large company, sailed on the 29th of October last, has arrived at New Orleans. Further particulars have not yet come to hand."
MS, 3:10 (Feb. 1843), p.175
"EIGHTEENTH COMPANY. -- Emerald, 250 souls. October 29th, 1842, the ship Emerald Captain Leighton, sailed from Liverpool with two hundred and fifty Saints bound for Nauvoo, via New Orleans, under the direction of Apostle Parley P. [Pratt].
'We had a tedious passage of ten weeks and some difficulties, murmurings and rebellions; but the Saints on board were called together, and chastened and reproved sharply, which brought them to repentance. We then humbled ourselves and called on the Lord, and he sent a fair wind brought us into port in time to save us from starvation. We landed in New Orleans early in January, 1843. Here I chartered a steamer called the Goddess of Liberty, and took passage with the company for St. Louis. Running up the river for about a week, I landed with my family in Chester, Illinois, eighty miles below St. Louis. The company continued on to St. Louis.'
On account of ice in the river which made it impassable for steamboats, the emigrants were forced to remain in St. Louis until the spring, when the Maid of Iowa, Captain Dan Jones, came down from Nauvoo and brought the people up. Under date of April 12th, 1843, the Prophet Joseph writes:
'About five p.m., the steamer Maid of Iowa, hauled up to Nauvoo House landing, and discharged about two hundred Saints, in charge of Elders Parley P. Pratt and Levi Richards. These had been detained at St. Louis, Alton, Chester, and other places through the winter, having left Liverpool last fall. Dan Jones, captain of the Maid of Iowa, was baptized a few weeks since; he has been eleven days coming from St. Louis, being detained by ice. I was present at the landing and the first on board the steamer, when I met Sister Mary Ann Pratt (who had been in England with Brother Parley,) and her little daughter only three or four days old. I could not refrain from shedding tears; so many of my friends and acquaintances arriving in one day (another company in charge of Lorenzo Snow had arrived the same day) kept me very busy receiving their congratulations and answering their questions. I was rejoiced to meet them in such good health and fine spirits; for they were equal to any that had ever come to Nauvoo.'"
Cont., 12:12 (Oct. 1891), p. 446
"Sat. 29. [Oct. 1842] -- The ship Emerald sailed from Liverpool with 250 Saints, under the leadership of Apostle Parley P. Pratt. Because of ice in the Mississippi River the company was detained during the winter in St. Louis, Alton, Chester and other places, and did not arrive in Nauvoo until April 12, 1843."
CC, p.22
(source abbreviations)