1841-05-20-Rochester

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

Source: Customs #178 (FHL #002,289)

�The Rochester arrived at the dock in New York about four o'clock p.m., on Thursday, May 20th, but the passengers were prevented from landing by the carters and rowdies until late in the evening. Such was the confusion in New York at that time at the arrival of a ship, steamboat or coach, that strangers were led to suppose that the city was without mayor, marshal, police or any other officer to keep the peace. The company remained in New York until the fourth of June, when the journey was continued, under the direction of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and John Taylor, via Philadelphia to Pittsburg by railway and canal transportation. �

Autobiography of Edward Ockey

Source: Ockey, Edward. Reminiscence and journal, (Ms 11746 - CHL), pp.1-2.

� We arrived at New York 28 days later where I got married to Miss Eliza Brewer.

After touring for a few days we started again for Nauvoo via Pittsburgh�

Journal of George A. Smith

Source: Smith, George A., "My Journal," Instructor 83:5 (May 1948) pp. 215-216.

Wednesday, April 21. Set sail and put to sea.Arrival at New York

Thursday, May 20. Landed at New York in good health and spirits.

Friday, May 21. Wrote a letter to my father and George W. Gee.

Friday, June 4. Left New York for Heighstown by rail, parting with Elders Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and John Taylor, who proceeded on their journey home. I met Elder Erastus Snow, who carried Elder Reuben Hedlock and me to New Egypt,�

Journal of Wilford Woodruff

Source: Woodruff, Wilford, Wilford Woodruff's Journal, vol. 2, ed by Scott G. Kenney (Midvale, Utah: Signature Books, 1983, pp. 92-103, 124-32.

17th A strong west head wind. Run 8 knot an hour to the northwest We are now getting into great danger of shoals & bottoms as wind is against us we can only about hold our own. The sea is much chopped this morning. Appears some like Lake Erie.

We came in full view of Long Island at about 3 o'clock p.m. A pilot boat hove in sight & made for us. About the same time a French sail to the leeward of us raised her flag & made for the pilot boat. We took our pilot on board at 4 o'clock. We soon came in sight of 5 sail. We kept in sight of Long Island during the evening. Our pilot informed us that he had not heard from the "Oxford" or any ship that left Liverpool at the time we did & even for several days before. So we had made the best voyage [p.100] of any at this time of sailing. We had not heard from the steamship "President" but expected she was Lost. Wind went down in the evening.

18th A strong northwest wind. Sail 9 knot an hour. No land in sight. I had the perusal of a New York paper which informed us of the death of General Harrison, President of the U.S.A. He Died on the 4th April 1841 just a month after taking the Presidential Chair. This is the first president that has died in the U.S.A. while filling that office.

We came in full view of the Jersey shore & 10 or 15 sail in the afternoon. I felt to rejoice to once more behold the America shore my native country after being absent from it 16 months. We had a view of Barnagar Lighthouse as we passed along.

19th I went on deck at 4 o'clock in the morning to see them go through. We had head wind & had to beat through which made it dangerous. We passed through the hook. Run into a fishing smack. Came near sinking her with all on board. We had a view of the horse shoe and all the light houses as we passed along we saw 50 fishing smack waiting for bait. We raised our flag on the top of the main mast. Having head wind we could not run in. We got within 4 miles of the quarantine ground & cast anchor at 11 o'clock.

A steam boat came along side & took the Liverpool papers containing the latest news. The editor paid $45 dollars for the steam boat to bring him down to the ship to get the news.

We have been 29 days from Liverpool to our casting anchor this morning. We raised our anchor in the afternoon & went in with the tide on to the quarantine ground & again dropped our anchor.

The physician came on board searched the passengers & found them well. But we shall be quarantined until tomorrow. Now is the time we need much patience & long suffering in bearing one with another in taking our baggage going through the [p.101] custom house & getting settled in New York. The captain went onshore at night.

20th Warm pleasant weather. We commenced early in the morning getting our baggage on deck. Passengers went to washing & cleaning up. It was a very busy time. There was a fight between the carpenter & second made which was ended by the first mate who bruised the carpenters head badly by striking him with a junk bottle.

Two quarantine lighters Came along side of the Rochester & took off all the passengers & baggage & took us all to the custom house. Here we had to unload all the baggage which were examined by the custom house officer & out of 300 passengers we were not charged duty for the first article.

We had to load every thing again on board of the lighters who took us to New York City & when we arrived at the docks we found them covered with horses & drays & about 50 drayman who stood ready to leap on board & devour all our baggage & because we were not willing to have our things stolen from us & be defrauded out of our rights but felt disposed to do our own business without being forced to measures by carman. They cursed & swore at a dreadful rate & appeared more like cannibals than civilized men. But after much trouble & difficulty we got our good out of the lighters & loaded them on to drays & constantly had to keep a guard over them to keep them from being stolen. We were until 10 o'clock at night getting off the docks to an inn, where we spent the night.

I was the nearest tired to death by fatigue & labor that I ever was in my life, for I was continually loading & unloading boxes chests, barrels & trunks from sunrise until 10 o'clock at night, without eating or drinking.

I took a hearty supper about midnight & lay down in a room where there was two children expected to die hourly. I did not sleep a moment. Arose in the morning & again commenced carting baggage.

I truly felt to rejoice to once more step upon [p.102] our native shore. I thank God for sparing my life & giving me such a blessing. We spent the night at the Battery Pavilion. Distance from Liverpool to New York is 3,500 miles.

[May] 21st We paid our bill & took locations in different parts of the city. Elder George A. Smith & myself took up our abode with Elder L. R. Foster who appeared glad to see us & made us welcome. I also was privileged with an interview with Messrs Ezra & Ilus Carter by brothers-in-law also Dr. Charles Fabyan. I send a bundle to Phebe by Ezra Carter. I was truly glad to see the face of my friends & the Saints once more. . . . [p.103] [ELDER WOODRUFF SPENT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS MEETING WITH THE EASTERN SAINTS AND VISITING WITH HIS FAMILY, BEFORE PROCEEDING ON TO NAUVOO.]

Manuscript History of Brigham Young

Source: Young, Brigham, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801- 1844, comp. by Eldon Jay Watson (privately printed, 1968) pp. 96-105.

--17--Strong head winds; we came in view of Long Island, 3 p.m., took a pilot on board at 4, who informed us that they had not heard from the "Oxford," nor any ship which left Liverpool at the time we did, nor for several days before; he also informed us that no word had been heard of the steamship "President;" all expected she was lost.

--18--Strong northwest wind; sailing nine knots an hour. We heard of the death of General Harrison, President of the United States.

--19--While passing through Sandy Hook we ran into a fishing smack, came near sinking here with all on board. We had a head wind and could not run into the dock; cast anchor at 11 a.m. at the quarantine ground. A steamer came down to get the latest Liverpool news. An editor, who came on board, paid the steamer $45 to bring him out to the ship to get the latest news.

--20--Warm, pleasant weather. We commenced early in the morning to get our luggage on deck. There was a fight between the [p.102] carpenter and second mate, which was ended by the first mate striking the carpenter with a junk bottle, and as he went to strike the second blow, I caught his arm and prevented him.

Two quarantine lighters came alongside the Rochester and took all the passengers and baggage to the custom house, where we had to unload all the baggage, which was inspected by the officers, after which we reloaded on board the lighters, which took us to New York City.

When we arrived at the docks, we found them covered with horses and drays and a great crowd of draymen and pickpockets, who stood ready to leap on board and devour all our baggage, and, because we were unwilling to be robbed and felt disposed to do our own business without being forced to measures by draymen, they cursed and swore at a dreadful rate, and acted more like savages than civilized men; but, after much difficulty, we got our goods out of the lighters and loaded on drays, and had to keep constant guard over them to keep them from being stolen. Many attempts were made to steal our baggage. I collared some of the thieves, and threatened to throw them overboard if they would not let it alone. I was under the necessity of striking their fingers to keep them from carrying off the trunks they laid hold of.

We were until ten o'clock at night getting from the docks to an inn. We were all very much fatigued, for we had been constantly handling boxes, chests, barrels and trunks from sunrise til ten p.m., without eating or drinking. We took supper about midnight and laid [p.103] down to rest at the Battery Pavilion.

--21--Brother Kimball, O. [Orson] Pratt and myself took lodgings at the house of Elder Adams.

--23 (Sunday)--The Twelve met in council in the morning. Elders Kimball, Pratt, Woodruff and myself gave an account of our mission to England to the Saints in the Columbian Hall, Grand Street.

--30 (Sunday)--Forenoon, attended meeting. Elder Woodruff preached. Afternoon, held a conference meeting. Evening, Elder Kimball addressed the people.

--31-- I visited the Saints on Long Island.

June 1--I returned to New York, and on the 4th, in company with Elders Kimball and Taylor, I left for Nauvoo, by way of Philadelphia.

--7--Arrived in Pittsburgh.