". . . The George W. Bourne also cleared on the 9th instant, having on board two hundred and eighty-one passengers, under the presidency of Elders William Gibson, Thomas Margetts, and William Booth. Greatly blessed are these companies in the society and instruction of these holy men who accompany them. Long will the labors of love which these ministers of the Most High have performed in the British Isles, be cherished in the memories of thousands who have been enriched in the knowledge of God by their precepts and examples. They go laden with the experience of Heaven's goodness, bearing their sheaves with them home to Zion. May fair winds, and plenty of them, haste them speedily to New Orleans. . . ."
MS, 13:2 (Jan. 15, 1851), p.24
"FIFTY-THIRD COMPANY. -- George W. Bourne, 281 souls. On Thursday, January 22nd, 1851, the ship George W. Bourne sailed from Liverpool with two hundred and eighty-one passengers, under the presidency of Elders William Gibson, Thomas Margetts and William Booth. After a pleasant passage of eight weeks, the company arrived in New Orleans on the twentieth of March. Elder Gibson, in repeating the passage of the company to the presidency in Liverpool, stated that he believed that no company of Latter-day Saints had ever crossed the Atlantic with less seasickness than the company he led. During the voyage, one marriage, three births and one death occurred. The latter was a boy, five years old, who was far gone in consumption before he sailed. Two of the ship's crew were converted and asked for baptism, and several of the sailors expressed a desire of accompanying the Saints to the Valley.
From New Orleans the journey was continued in the afternoon of March 22nd, and arrived in St. Louis, Missouri, on the twenty-ninth. There the emigrants found employment like those who had come in preceding companies, and after earning means to procure an outfit for crossing the plains, the majority of them continued the journey to the Valley. A number, however always remained in the States. (Millennial Star, Vol. X
III, pages 24, 137, 159.)"
Cont., 13:7 (May 1892), p.328
"Wed. 22. [Jan. 1851] -- The ship George W. Bourne sailed from Liverpool, England, with 281 Saints, under the direction of William Gibson; it arrived at New Orleans March 20th."
CC, p.42
(source abbreviations)