Went on board the ship Emerald, and we went on board ship on the 18 of October and went in the River Mersey on the 20 and the 21, the 22nd, 23 and 24 and 25 and on the 26 we set sail for Zion. And we went out about 20 miles and then the wind hauled round and we were driven back to the black rock with great violence and then porth [UNCLEAR] was in a great sweat to get the stopper [UNCLEAR] off the cable, but they got it loose before we got ashore and while laying there, one anchor broke and we had to send for another anchor and some water and when the steamer came with anchor and water, Brother Bradbury said that he must go back, for he was the Jonas. And he went back and I wrote back to my family and we lay their 26 and 27 and 28 and on the 29-30 we set sail and in the Irish Channel, and encountered some gales for sometime. About 8 o'clock in the morning with a north east wind a very strong gale & 31-many of us were sick this morning.

November 1 the wind lulled so that we scarcely sailed 2 miles per hour.

2- The wind increased so that we went on very well say many [-].

November 3 Atlantic Ocean, the breeze continued. We went about 9-1/2 miles per hour and the breeze continued and at night and tonight there arose a storm and the waves arose and came over the ship.

5- Very rough,

6- it got [p.225] a little better,

7- a very fine day and I made [UNKNOWN].

8- stunsel born [UNKNOWN].

9- rather squally and,

10- some finer,

11- fine,

12- fine day,

13- got to warm weather, we saw some whales and porpoises.

14- fine,

15- fine,

16- fine,

17- fine,

18- fine,

19- fine and at night the moonlight was so bright that we could see to read on deck .

20- fine,

21- fine,

22- fine,

23- fine and at work for the captain in the cabin. I took the cabin stairs down and put them up again and made a cabin in the stern,

24- at work,

25- at work,

26- at work,

27- at work,

28- at work,

29- a little rain today,

30- fine day.

December 1- fine,

2- fine,

3- fine we went inlay island and we are in the Caribbean Sea. We saw Mount Sarat [Montserrat] we are the nearest to it late tonight, it is high.

5- fine,

6- fine, with a little rain tonight,

7- a death in the night he was a young man about 25 years old he was sewed up in canvas and thrown overboard.

December 7 The Sea. There came on a squall tonight and tore some sails.

8- A fine day but the breakers came over most of this fine weather. I was at work the ship rolled so that I had to over work. We have a very beautiful view of the island of Jamaica.

9- This morning we was very near. We could [see] the houses from the ship. There came on a squall but it soon was over.

10- a fine day we saw Jamaica today.

11- a fine day today, while night and when they were preaching there came on a squall.

12- Another squall. The main gallant sail was torn up.

13- About 8 or 9 this morning we had a headwind which increased until midnight.

14- It still blew a gale ahead.

15- The wind is ahead yet, and the breakers came over and wet us sometimes.

16- The wind is ahead. A death about 7 o'clock this morning. A female about 16 years old. [p.226]

17- The wind is ahead yet.

18- The wind ahead but the wind lulled and almost a calm. There was some murmuring on board. A meeting was called to adjust these things: 1 cut off and one disfellowshipped.

19- Almost a calm. We are going about 1 mile per hour very close and sultry.

December 20, 1842. Gulf of Mexico. A little wind today.

21 A little wind but not very favorable.

22- A headwind. A man child born to Brother Williams this morning. A heavy gale today.

23- The wind is ahead. About 4 o'clock this morning a steamer in sight. She neared us and proved to be a tug to tow us up the river. We were about 20 miles from the mouth of the river She took us in tow over the bar and then left us.

24- about 3 o'clock this afternoon. [UNCLEAR]

25- A fine morning the steamer came about 12 o'clock and 2 small vessels, one a Spanish and the other [an] American vessel. We saw some very beautiful streams at the lower part of the river. We went very slow.

26- Got to New Orleans. The city, it is a very miserable looking place. We were here a few days and then Brother P. [Parley] P. Pratt engaged the "Goddess of Liberty." We got our out fit far up the river from fishers, Poidros St. We had a pleasant trip up the river. Brother Pratt left at Chestor Flanias. I got to St. Louis, Missouri. We landed there and rented a room between Frandeson and Wastrenton Avenue upstairs. There was me and Thomas. I found some money to help Brother Alman to pay for his freight.

1843- January, St. Louis Missouri. Alman and wife, W. Ancock and R. Steel, and there we removed to Wash Street, in a frame house and we made napkin horses of black walnut. I had some clothes money and I bought some lumber and we made them and sold them and by this means I got a living and means to take me up the river. There was a very long winter. It was the later part of March and the "Maid of Iowa" was engaged for the First Company. Captain Dan Joans, [Jones] (he was baptized this winter by Dan Every.) We went on board for Nauvoo. We had a very heavy load. We were loaded to the guards. The ice broke just ahead of us all the way. There was some parts of the river that was gorged and it came very near cutting our cabin if, which we got to Keokuk we had to discharge some freight.

April- 27 [some] of us started to walk, another boat was to take us on board at Montrose, but we stayed to see if we could hear anything of the boat, but we could not, and we engaged a man to ferry us over the river and we made collection for him which amounted to about 24 dollars for his trouble, and we helped him over, the ice [which] was very bad.

April 11, 1843 City of Nauvoo Illinois. We landed about 3 miles down the river and we walked to Nauvoo. . . [p.227]

. . . . Great Salt Lake City, Friday, October 4, 1850. Came in from the states from St. Louis. . . . [p.230]

BIB: Silcock, Nicholas Thomas. Journal Excerpts, IN Our Family
Circle, comp. by Julian L. Dansie [1977], pp. 225-227, 230. (FHL)
(source abbreviations)