1855-05-27-William Stetson

Journal of Ellen Wasden Christensen

Source: Christensen, Ellen Wasden, [Journal], Our Pioneer Heritage, comp. by Kate B. Carter, vol. 12 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1969) p. 465.

I left England April 26, 1855 on the William Stetson ship setting sail from Liverpool. It was a small sailing vessel with 700 people aboard and we reached New York in May, landing at Castle Garden. I had such glorious ideas of the New Country, and these dreams of America were somewhat shaken when I viewed the awful place with such a fair sounding name -- Castle Garden. But it was a relief to get on land and quit the little vessel which had been a scene of much discomfiture and peculiar experiences.

We were all anxious to set our eyes upon the promised land, but landing at the unkept immigration quarters was enough to disrupt the bravest heart. Then when we knew that the untried dangers of the trackless plains lay before us and our journey had just begun, we raised our petitions to the keeper of all for strength to the end. [p.465]