Richard Rushton, silk manufacturer, the second son of James Rushton of Leek, Staffordshire, England, coal merchant, born in the year of our Lord 1780, in May, and was baptized into the Church of Latter-day Saints of Jesus Christ, in the 60 year of his age being in the year of our Lord 1840, in July and left home for Whitmore and went by railway to Liverpool along with Edwin Rushton & wife and George Wardle & Fanney his wife. We were booked by railway for Liverpool which cost us 10/- each second class, they charged us 1/6 per cwt for luggage above a hundred weight allowed to each passenger. We arrived safe at Liverpool on Sunday the 30th Jan.1842, and were kindly treated by Mr. Woods at the station house at Liverpool. [p. 1] Seeing that we were strangers he sent one of the porters along with us who found us good lodgings at Mr. Samuel Leecke's 25 Market Court, Key Street. They only charged us 6 d. [demies] a meal and 6 d. [demies] each for our beds and they gave us every information where to get all things that we wanted for the voyage, and on Monday we took our passage for the voyage to New Orleans in the ship Hope of Duxbury commanded by Captain Soules at Messrs. Pratt & Fieldings 36 Chapel Street, Liverpool. She got out of dock on Friday 3rd Feb. and she was towed down the river on Saturday morning by a steamboat about 8 miles and on Sunday morning we passed the last land of Ireland.

On Monday 6th Feb. fine sailing weather.

Tuesday 7th fine an. We saw a number of fish called porpoises, and on Wednesday 8th [p. 2] and on Wednesday 8th [SIC] we had a strong head wind, and Thursday 9th it blew a strong gale of wind.

Friday the 10th we saw the porpoises fish again, and it blew very strong.

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12 very stormy.

Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th very fine.

Wednesday 15th calm and hazy-- in the evening a strong head wind from the south and continued till Thursday the 16th, and in the night about 12 o'clock it blew a hurricane and continued a strong east wind till noon.

On Friday 17th Feb. we made 10 knots an hour till Saturday and then about 5 knots an hour and we saw the porpoise fish again and Sunday 25th morning about 5 o'clock then came on a squall of wind and after it blew a steady breeze and we sailed at about 8 knots an hour and on Monday 21st morning fine morning and we sail at 5 knots an hour and continued so till 6 o'clock on [p. 3] Tuesday morning 22 Feb. and then it blew a strong headwind which carried us about 8 knots an hour and continued so all night. And on Wednesday the 23 Feb. the same until night about 11 o'clock and Brother Sharpe's child died and was decently buried in the sea.

On the Thursday morning we had a light breeze in our favor as we have entered the dead sea. We have 5 degrees to go to get to the trade winds and on Friday morning 25th Feb. we have a light breeze from the north in our favor and going at about 4 knots an hour with all sail crowded.

On Saturday the 26th the same and continued so till Sunday morning the 27th Feb. Wind ahead, and going at about 5 knots an hour on Monday morning about 1 o'clock 28 Feb. The wind blew a stiff breeze and we are going at about 10 knots an hour, we have not seen any birds, fish or any ship for several days. [p. 4]

On Tuesday 1st March a good breeze of wind which carried us about 8 knots an hour. We saw a good deal of moss pass by the vessel today.

Wednesday the 2 March the same as yesterday. I saw one flying fish today and one yesterday. Saw a vessel at a great distance we thought making for England.

Thursday 3rd March good fair wind and going at about 6 knots an hour. We saw a vessel sailing northeast, saw 2 flying fish today. A child of John Lambert died today.

Friday 4th March, a strong head wind going at about 7 knots an hour. We saw a tropic bird today. Lambert's child buried in the afternoon.

Saturday 5th a good wind and going at about 6 knots an hour. We saw many flying fish today. A shark seen today about 6 feet long. We saw a ship baring northeast.

On Sunday the 6th March fine day and going at about 6 knots an hour. We had a good sermon preached [p. 5] by Elder [James] Whitehead which gave (2 tropic birds seen today), great satisfaction and another in the evening by Elder [James] Burnham which seemed to give great satisfaction to all.

Monday 7th and Tuesday the 8th very fine hot weather and sailing at about 6 knots an hour. We saw one tropic bird and a great number of flying fish.

Wednesday 9th March almost a dead calm, we saw many dolphin fish today.

Thursday 10th March a strong breeze going at about 10 knots an hour in the forenoon and in the afternoon 6 knots.

Friday 11th March making but little way today. I saw many flying fish and on board there was a child born about half past 12 o'clock name of Miles to be named John and on Saturday. Very little wind today. We saw 9 or 10 tropic birds. Its almost a dead calm the wind changed to south east and continued [p. 6] so until Sunday noon 13th March and then the wind began to blow a good breeze and carried us about 9 knots an hour and continued so till Monday 14th morning and then died away to about 5 knots an hour. Two sharks or some other large fish seen today.

Tuesday the 15th March sailing at about 5 knots an hour, and on Wednesday morning about 1 o'clock a stiff breeze sprung up which carried us about 10 knots an hour until 1 o'clock on Thursday 17th morning and then about 8 knots an hour. Two vessels seen today and two large birds.

Friday 18th we saw the Island of Abaca. This morning several ships an many large birds like cranes. We are going at about 8 knots an hour. In the afternoon we saw the Island of Bahama.

Saturday 19th passed the Hen & Chickens Rock about 8 o'clock this morning [p. 7] and entered the stream of Florida about 10 o'clock saw a vessel coming the same way that we are taking but we left her behind. About 11 o'clock came in sight of an Island supposed to be [-] and saw the Gun Key Lighthouse about 12 o'clock. Sailing at about 8 knots an hour.

Sunday 20th March saw the first thing this morning a lighthouse amongst some rocks to the left of us. We saw a ship going to the west of us steering that way. We saw many birds today in the afternoon saw a large ship bound for Liverpool name of "Queen Star" from New Orleans. We spoke to her. 2 lighthouses on the Island Key West.

21st Monday morning saw several vessels. One came very near to us steering east sailing about 7 knots an hour and in the evening about 8 o'clock we saw a brig which came [p. 8] a long side of us from Archissley bound for New York. We spoke to her.

On Tuesday 22nd saw vessels bound the same as us, a dead calm today.

Wednesday 23 saw a ship to right side of us making the same way very little wind today also.

Thursday 24th March a little wind today going at about 5 knots an hour. We saw the same ships today as we saw yesterday. A little ahead of us we saw and heard a whale close to the vessel last night by moonlight. We saw tonight many large fish leap out of the water but don't know the name of them.

Friday morning 25th March making about 4 knots an hour, saw the vessel that we saw yesterday a little ahead of us making to wind ward. She then returned to our course again and is a little ahead of us this [p. 9] morning.

Saturday 26th March a dead calm this morning. We saw many porpoise fish last night and this morning; also today at noon the ship that was a little ahead of us is now along side of us. Her name the "Moscow" from Boston.

Sunday 27th March a calm still. The same ship is in company still.

Monday 28 March a good wind sprung up this morning going at about 7 knots an hour the same ship in company this morning. A curious fish caught by Mr. [Thomas] Boscow yesterday.

29th Tuesday small breeze the ship "Moscow" continued with us till Tuesday evening.

30 March Wednesday morning the steam boat "Star" arrived and took us in tow about 9 o'clock in the morning and we overtook the "Moscow" about 11 o'clock and took her in tow also and by 12 o'clock in the forenoon she brought us up to the bar, when she left the "Moscow" and towed us over the bar and then returned and fetched the "Moscow" [p. 10] and towed her over the bar, and took us both in tow up the great Mississippi River and when we got up the river some distance on Thursday morning the 31 March we came in sight [of] a most beautiful country diversified with plantations farm house, sugar manufactories, and beautiful cottages &c and wooded on each side of the river and on 1st April we got to New Orleans and safe and sound and on the second of April we chartered a steam boat named "Louisa" commanded by Captain C. H. Cable to St. Louis.

On the 2 April examined by the custom house officers and obliged to enter all our baggage and merchandise. I entered my goods and which was 4-12 ounces silk twist and the boat set off. I had no time to redeem the goods [p.11] and on Sunday the 3rd April about 11 o'clock in the forenoon we departed from New Orleans up the great Mississippi River. New Orleans is a fine place but all thought of religion is neglected. It was very hot here and great numbers of flies at this time of the year. Almost everything are to be had here; if you have money I should advise all to exchange all their gold if you can get 5 dollars for each sovereign, but at sometime you can get more and on Monday the 4th April we had great deal of thunder but the country all up the river looked very fruitful and on Tuesday 5th April we came to the town of Pittsburgh on the right hand of the river. Going up we had thunder and lightning in the evening. Wed. 6th April we passed several villages and had very great storm of thunder and lightning. Ran upon [p. 12] Sand Bank, and were obliged to take shelter from the storm. The rain fell very heavy. Provisions here are very dear all along the river.

Thursday the 7th a fine morning we saw a wild goose and two pelicans, and great numbers of wild ducks and in the afternoon we saw a great number of pelicans, wild geese and duck. In the evening we had much vivid lightening. We passed the town of Memphis.

Friday the 8th April this morning we saw the Missouri River which was very muddy and many pelicans, wild geese, and ducks.

Saturday the 9th April we passed several villages and stopped to clean out the boilers which took about four hours, we saw some lime stone rocks, also wild ducks & geese. We stopped to take provisions, at the village of [-].

Sunday morning 10th April a wild goose was shot, which we were [p. 13] obliged to leave behind, we passed many limestone rocks this morning. The whole of the country looked charming. We passed a military station about noon. The weather very hot, and in the afternoon we saw the arsenal, and about 4 o'clock we arrived safe at St. Louis and it is a fine place. We stayed here until Tuesday 12th April at noon and then set sail for Nauvoo by the same vessel "Louisa." We changed our English money for American money. We got 5 dollars and 4 demies for the English sovereign. We came to the town of Alton in the afternoon and passed the mouth of the Missouri River and the water became more clear and in the afternoon it became extremely hot and in the evening we had much thunder and lightning but the scenery was very grand. The rocks on the right hand side of the river were enchantingly beautiful.

On Wednesday the 13 April we passed the handsome Mary Ann City on the left hand side of the river [p. 14] and we passed the beautiful city of Quincy about 10 o'clock this morning and in the evening we came in sight of the city of Nauvoo and we got safe and sound at my son & daughter's by twilight that evening. . . . [p. 15]

BIB: Rushton, Richard. Journal. (Ms 1793) (CHL pp.1-15)
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