1861-05-14-Manchester
Autobiography of Eliza Burdett Horsepool
Horsepool, Eliza Burdett, [Autobiography], Utah Pioneer Biographies, vol. 13, pp. 111-113. (FHL)
... We arrived in Williamsburg where we stayed for 5 weeks, father working in a knitting factory while we were there. We then took [p.111] a train for Florence, Nebraska or what was then known as Winter Quarters. ...
Autobiography of John Durrant
Durrant, John, [Autobiography], Our Pioneer Heritage comp.by Kate B. Carter, vol 9. (Salt Lake City: Daughter of Utah Pioneers, 1966) pp.289-293. (CHL)
... The ship Manchester was tugged into New York Harbor May 16th, 1861, anchored out that night.... My brother Edward hired a row boat and came out to the vessel, bringing some provisions on board with him. I was looking over the bulwarks with one of those hard biscuits in hand, trying to eat it when he held up a handkerchief with some food in it for us. We were very much pleased to see him for we had not seen him for twelve months. That next day they took us into Castle Garden to get us registered and then I started out to Astoria, Queens County, Long Island, to A.C. Henery's. It was late at night when we got there. All hands were gone to bed. Edward and I laid in the same bed; we were talking about the old country all night. We saw the daylight approaching before we dropped off to sleep. The boss got up, made the fire and got the breakfast for all hands. After breakfast he told me I could go and saw wood into lengths for the stove. It was very hard hickory, the saw being very dull, it made me sweat . The boss came to me and tried it and sent me off to get it sharpened.
About this time Henery Groom came to see me and inquired about his brother Nathan and the rest of the people at Beachwood Green where he came from. I was pleased to see him because he was the first one that brought the everlasting gospel to Bovingdon and Edward wase the first to receive it. Henery inquired of me about Martha Newland, a young lady that Henery promised to send for and marry, but he found out she was coming with me but he never came near the vessel to see her and what was the reason? He had taken up with an Irish girl in the States and married her. He had broken his word in twelve months. Consequently he apostatized and he never came any further.
After working around there a few days my boss says, "John, I want you to take charge of my horses if you will." "Yes, sir," [p.290] says I, "that is just to my hand." Now this required me to get up a little earlier in the morning, about 5 o'clock. This was quite different here to what it was in Old England, three hours less work per day and more pay. I gave very good satisfaction. The horses began to look much better in flesh. I continued with them until the 22 of July, 1861, when the boss came and said, "John, I am very sorry that the war continues; my business is very dull and I am compelled to discharge some of my men." "Now," he says to me, "It matters not to me whether Teddy emigrated, or you, both suit me very well. You can see your brother Teddy and make it up between yourselves, and I will pay either of you and send my team to the depot with your luggage as I understand that the last of your people will start for Salt Lake City on the 23rd." I laid the matter before my brother, and he said Elizabeth had only just got a place to work and I've not sufficient means to take us both through, and another thing, you are only getting 10 dollars per month and I am getting 12. I told him my nine weeks wages would not take me to Florence. Edward said "How do you feel about going this season?" I answered that I would just as leave go this season as any other if I had sufficient money to take me to Florence. Edward said, "I will give you $10.00 to help you on your way if you wish to go, and William Icom and his wife will start with you. The boss says he will send the wagon to take the baggage for all three of you." I agreed to go and Edward gave me the $10.00. We started and took the train on July 23, 1861. ...
Diary of Lars Larsen
Lars Larsen, Diary, pp. 5-6, 8 typescript. [Ms 1789] (HDA)
May 14th And the next day they were lying in New York Harbor where young Elder Lars Larsen had the joy to have a conversation with Apostle Erastus Snow, who from a small ship, or boat, in the harbor came aboard the emigrant ship to bid the Scandinavian emigrants welcome to America. Thereafter he went back to New York again (likely in the boat that brought him out) and L. L. writes, that he kept looking after Erastus Snow�s boat as long as he could see it. The emigrant ship then proceeded to Castle Gardens.
May 15th All the emigrants to America at that time were landed and examined before they were allowed to enter the city proper. After the landed emigrants had been taken a little around the big city, they were taken in a ship to some railroad point, from where they went to Dunkirk and at the place they were transferred to another railroad train, which took the [PROBABLY, them] to Cleveland, Ohio. Elder Lars Larsen did not write down any points relating to the journey of the Danish emigrants from Cleveland, Ohio, to Omaha, Nebraska, where they arrived May 24, 1861.
