Young, Brigham

Revision as of 13:24, 17 December 2011

Excerpts from the Manuscript History of Brigham Young

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March 13th, 1837, I started in company with Dr. Willard Richards for the Eastern States, on a special mission appointed us by the Prophet Joseph. We travelled by stagecoach through Ohio and Pennsylvania to Buffalo, New York. Riding day and night over very rough roads, we became very weary, and tarried a short time to rest ourselves, then took stagecoach again, and travelled as far as Canandaigua, where we stopped two nights and one day. While here I visited Martin Harris.

Proceeding on our journey, we rode day and night till we arrived in Albany. Visited Troy, where we transacted considerable business. I purchased from a gentleman there a fine tavern establishment, which was situated in Auburn, directly across the street from the gate of the penitentiary, which property I still own.

We travelled day and night until we arrived at West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, at the doctor's old homestead, which he had left the year before. We stayed with Father Richards and family a short time, then proceeded to New Haven, and from thence to New York City, where we stopped a day or two, and took steamboat for Boston by way of Providence, visiting the brethren in Lynn and Salem, also many of the friends and brethren in the country; transacted much business, and returned to Berkshire County. My cousin Phinehas Richards and his son George started with me for Kirtland, leaving the doctor with his friends.

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We arrived in Buffalo early the next morning. Joseph and the brethren proceeded to Canada. I took the cars for Lockport, with Brother A. P. Rockwood and from thence we took a line-boat for Utica. Brother Rockwood stopped at Auburn to see some of our relatives and I took the cars for Albany, and from thence by stage to West Stockbridge, arriving at Uncle Joseph Richards at half-past 6 o'clock Friday morning, August 1st, and found them all well. I transacted my business and returned to Albany, where I took steamboat for New York, and found cousin A. P. Rockwood on board. We arrived in New York Sunday, 5 o'clock, p.m., called at Brother Elijah Fordham's, and learned that Elder P. [Parley] P. Pratt and Brother Fordham had gone to meeting. We found Elder Pratt preaching on board a schooner at the foot of Canal Street. I remained in the city a short time, and held three meetings. I ordained Brother Rockwood an elder, predicting on his head that his family should all be gathered into the kingdom, and that there should be a branch of the Church raised up in his native town, Holliston, Massachusetts, where he then resided and kept store, and set him apart to preside over said branch when it should be raised up. Having closed up my business I started for home.

August 18 [1837].-- Took steamer, Daniel Webster, at Buffalo, for Fairport. �

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--[January] 30 [1840] -- We took steamboat and started, but on getting out a few miles a portentous cloud in the east caused the captain to return, and we went back to the hotel.

Next day we took steamboat and went within eighteen miles of New York. When we came into the channel of East River, we found it frozen over. The captain ran his boat as far into the ice as he could, but the ice was so thick he had to land us at Frog's Point, where we hired a Paddy's dirt-cart to carry our luggage a mile, when, with other passengers, we hired a market-wagon to carry us to Harlem, paying all our money on our arrival there. It was late in the evening, and all the stages had left for New York but one, which had only two horses; sixteen of us got on to it, and we arrived in New York by 10 p.m. When we landed I observed Captain Stone, the commander of the steamer, come out of the coach, and asked him if he would have the goodness to pay this gentleman's fare and mine (pointing to Brother George A. [Smith]). He replied, "With pleasure." I thanked him. He said it was all right, and, shaking hands with us both, bade us Godspeed. We left our trunks in the baggage room of the North American House, and soon found Brother P. [Parley] P. Pratt and family, who lived at No. 58, Mott-street. We were heartily received by the family, and returned thanks to God for having preserved us and brought us in safety so far on our mission to the nations of the earth.

February 1-- Spent the day at Brother Pratt's; my health was feeble.

--2 (Sunday)-- Attended three meetings at the Columbian Hall, Grandstreet. Elder George A. Smith and myself preached.

I attended a meeting in some part of the city every evening during the week, and on Sunday, 9th, preached three times in the hall. I again attended meetings every night during the week, and was constantly conversing with people and teaching them the principles of the gospel. Passing from Brooklyn to New York, I jumped on to the ferryboat with my left arm extended, meaning to catch hold of the stanchion, but I fell on a large iron ring on the deck, which put my shoulder out of joint. I asked Brother Hedlock to roll me over on my back, which he did; I directed Brothers Kimball and Hedlock to lay hold of my body, and Brother Pratt to take hold of my hand and pull, putting his foot against my side, while I guided the bone with my right hand back to its place. The brethren wound my handkerchief round my shoulder and helped me up. When I came to a fire I fainted, and was not able to dress myself for several days.

February 23 (Sunday)-- I attended meeting. Elder P. [Parley] P. Pratt preached.

I visited Long Island and preached in the counties of King and Suffolk, at Hempstead, Rockaway, Brooklyn and other places. At the last meeting I held, I told the people I was on a mission to England with my brethren; I had never asked for a dime in all my preaching, but we had not sufficient means to proceed, and if any one wished to contribute to help us, I would thankfully receive it. After meeting, $19,50 was put in my hands. We baptized nine, and returned to New York.

March 4.-- Attended a conference with the Church in New York. Elders Kimball, Parley P. and Orson Pratt and Geo. [George] A. Smith were present. Much instruction was given to the Saints, and a number of elders were ordained.

On Sunday I taught the Saints to ask the elders, when they came to stay with them, if they wished water to wash their feet. In the evening we went to Brother Addison Everett's; Sister Everett asked us if we would have some water to wash our feet; having no fire, she brought us a bucket of ice and water, and we washed our feet, the cold, however, was alleviated by our exceeding good humor.

We engaged our passages for Liverpool on board the Patrick Henry, a packet ship of the Black Ball Line, Captain Delino, and paid $18 each for a steerage passage, furnished our own provisions and bedding and paid the cook $1 each for cooking. Brother H. [Heber] C. Kimball and myself occupied a lower berth, Brothers Parley and Orson Pratt the one over us, Brothers George A. Smith and R. Hedlock an upper berth at their feet; two Englishmen occupied the berth below. The brethren in New York furnished us with an ample supply of provisions by donation; the sisters made us ticks and filled them with straw for beds and filled some bags with straw for pillows.

--9-- A large number of Saints came down to the wharf to bid us farewell. When we got into the small boat to go out to the ship, the brethren sang, "The gallant ship is under weigh;" we joined them as long as we could hear. When we got on board, the vessel weighed anchor; the steam-tug took us out to Sandyhook. Brother L. R. Foster, the presiding elder of the New York Branch, came out to the Hook and returned with the tug. We set sail, and by sunset lost sight of our native shore. �

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