I, Selina Walker Hammond, was born April 19, 1841, at "Little Elms," Burlingham, Herfordshire, England. I was the youngest daughter of Henry and Annie Preece Walker.

The year I was born, Father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Some of my sisters also joined. I was baptized in 1849 when I was eight years old by Elder John Andrews.

It was Father's greatest desire to come to Utah. So, in 1853, he sold "Little Elm" and went to Liverpool where he procured passage for his family on the sail boat International. They bid adieu to their kindred, home and all, and sailed for America on 1 March 1853. There were English, Irish, Scotch, and Welch among us. The captain of the ship was David Brown. The president of our company of Saints was Elder Arthurs. His two counselors were Elder Lyman and Elder Waddington. We had a big celebration on the ship on the 6th of April, singing and rejoicing. Four couples we4re married that day. My sister, Sarah, was one. While coming over there were two deaths, five births, and twenty-five were baptized.

We reached New Orleans on the 29th of April. We went up the Mississippi River on a steam ship. We were at the mouth of Red River on the 1st of May, where the boat stopped to unload for rails for a railroad which took a good part of the day. We then went to St. Louis and stayed there a few hours or long enough for the people to go out and do some shopping. My father bought a stove, the first the most of us had ever seen. Mother bought some dress goods, shoes . . . [p. 1]

. . . arrived in Salt Lake the 20th of September. . . . . [p. 3]

BIB: Hammond, Selina Walker. Autobiographical Sketch. (Ms 14023) pp. 1,3.
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