1856-03-27-Caravan

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

Source: Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, pp.140, 266, 300, 542; Deseret News, Vol. VI, p.100

Soon after arriving in New York, those who expected to go forward to the outfitting place on the frontiers started for Iowa City, while a number who had not the means wherewith to continue the journey, obtained temporary employment in New York and elsewhere.

Autobiography of Eliza Seamons

Source:

We landed at New York, March 27th, 1856. [p.3]

After staying in New York a short time we were re-baptized, then Father moved his family over to New Jersey where we remained until the fall of 1859. Here there were eight other Mormon families with whom we used to meet and hold meetings on the Sabbath for the purpose of worshiping God and bearing our testimonies, and thus encourage each other in the work of the Lord.

Here, the Spirit of the Lord was often made manifest through the gift of tongues. On one occasion a Sister Ann Garrett arose and talked in tongues and when the interpretation was given it was directed to me as follows: The Lord is not well pleased toward you Sister Eliza for you're not arising and bearing your testimony to the truth of the gospel, which you know to be true, when the opportunity is afforded you. Every Latter-day Saint should arise and tell of the mercies of our Heavenly Father when the opportunity presents itself. Whereupon I arose and bore my testimony as best I could.

On another occasion the same sister spoke in tongues and the interpretation was in the form of a prophecy for my brother-in-law, James Hancey. He had been sick for a long time and had become quite despondent and forsaken and had almost given up all hopes of ever going to Utah. For the interpretation he was referred to the hymn found on page 32 of the Latter-day Saints hymn book. The first verse of the hymn reads as follows:

"Peace troubled soul thou needest not fear,

Thy great provider still is near;

Who fed thee last, will feed thee still,

Be calm and seek to do his will."

He was also told that he would go to Zion, and that his council would be sought by many. All who knew the late James Hancey (Dr.) could testify how literally that prophecy has been fulfilled.

While we were still living in New Jersey we were visited by Apostle Parley P. Pratt. He met with the Saints and gave them good council and advice and encouraged them to move on toward Utah as fast as their means would allow. Soon after this, in the fall of 1859, the Saints who were gathered here started for Omaha, which was then only a small village. They traveled part of the way by train and the remainder of the way by steamboat up the Missouri River.

Autobiography of Hannah Simmons Gibb

Source: Gibb, Hannah Simmons, Autobiography, p. 1 (CHL)

We stayed near New York, Orange County, until spring.

Autobiography of Jemima Seamons Daines

Source: [Collected information on the Seamons and related families, ca. 1980] (Ms 7571-CHL). pp. 11- 12

They landed March 27th, 1856, without money, and here they had to stay and work in order to earn enough to help them on their way. A Mr. Hollenbeck from New Jersey came to the emigration house in New York to find a girl to do house work and Grandmother let my mother go home with him, as she thought his home was only a few blocks away. When Mother parted with her family she did not see her sister Lucy again for forty years. Lucy went with her husband to Iowa with others of the Saints, as that was then a gathering place before coming to Utah; Lucy came to Utah on a visit forty years later. Shortly after arriving in New Jersey, Mother found places for her father, brothers and sisters (except Lucy) to find employment, and soon they were all living close to each other again. Here they lived for three years, when they saved enough to take them to Omaha, [p. 11] Nebraska at Winter Quarters; then the frontier. Their stay in New Jersey was a very happy one; there were enough Mormons living there to organize a branch of the church, and they made many friends who did all they could to persuade the Saints to settle permanently in that locality. It was while living in New Jersey that Mother became acquainted with my father. She had seen him in England, as his birthplace, St. Cross, was not far from all Saints, and he too had joined the church.

Father was married in England to Mary Ann Baker; they had four children. Three of whom died in England, the other child and his wife Mary Ann in New Jersey. Mother's courting days were passed at this place. In the early spring of 1859 all the Saints living in this part of New Jersey moved on to the frontiers, then to Omaha and here on Sunday, May 1st 1859.

Autobiography of Joseph Orton

Source: Orton, Joseph. Autobiography (Ms 8620 reel 13 #4 - CHL), vol. 1, pp. 7-12.

As usual on the evening before landing the ship's crew, also cabin passengers have a kind of jollification, soiree or similar recreation and we were not an exception. A variety entertainment was given. The crew gave some most excellent numbers. Almost penniless reaching New York, I remember with deep gratitude the kindness of my brethren and sisters, especially of Brother Joseph Oxborrow and wife, who tho' lately emigrated, assisted so many temporally and of our Heavenly Father in the opening of my way to obtain a livelihood through a stranger in a strange land.

Having considered indoor confinement at my trade, injurious to my health with the old world I resolved that on landing in the new, I would seek a more healthful occupation. Pursuant thereto, hired out to a farmer residing on Staten Island; at the same time, telling him that I was quite unaccustomed to farm labor, but promised him my best should be done to fulfill his expectation and that when doing so, he was not to grumble. To which he agreed. By boat and buggy reaching the farmer's home, after taking refreshment was shown my sleeping apartment. My bed mate, being of the Negro tribe, did not altogether suit my taste; the food provided, if anything, still less; indeed I could not eat it - sufficient to nourish and impart strength for the usual labor undertaking. My system became weak, so emaciated that I fainted at times, and recovering therefrom found it necessary to make less exertion and at intervals rest. Doing so one day, my employer being present, rather upbraidly said."I see you rest when I am not with you." My reply was, And also when you are with me, You should. . .[p.8] not complain, boss, I am doing my best and my engaging agreement with you was, that when doing so you were not to grumble. The contract with me, you have broken. I can not eat sufficient of the kind of food provided to give me strength to do the work required and there-upon I feel justified in leaving. You had better stay, said he - Oh no said I, being a shoemaker by trade, I guess work can be obtained in New York City. Finding he could not move me from my purpose, he asked what amount was coming to me. Raising my head as if reckoning amount and stating it, said, "You are a close calculator. I shall give you as much (a few cents less)." It was just noontime taking dinner and packing up what few duds belonged to me and wishing the family goodbye, I took the road on foot. Found employment at my trade in New York but in consequence of a general I may say a national financial crisis existing, although I took a strenuously economical course - money being scarce - trade being sluggish and fourteen months elapsed since my landing on these shores, I had laid up nothing for emigration, but afterwards was astonished how quickly sufficient was saved for an early start to Utah in 1858. In New York I took advantage of public night school and also took private lessons from Elder Alexander Otto, missionary. During the year 1857 it will be remembered the "Buchanan Army was equipped and sent to Utah by the president at the instigation of Judge Drummond to whom the following was inscribed and published in the Mormon," a paper edited by the Apostle John Taylor, to wit:

O thou who are by hell inspired to action on this stage.

The friendly judiciary advice hath made the halcyon rage.

Against the Saints thy devilish spleen profusely has been shed,

but where thy blatant tongue was heard. This counted now as dead.

Thy name was held in reverence, Till facts appeared so plain;

No longer could thy friends withhold, Thy guilty head from shame.

T'is proved and thou canst not confute procedure have been sore;

For what the Gentiles now believe. The "Mormons" knew before.

Thy name inscribed on history's page with infamy will seek, -

A curse, a guilty al withal, [SIC] when silent will bespeak.

Thine acts of treachery were great, Fair. . .[p.9] Utah's faults to scan:

Forgetting thine own weakness, the humanity of man,

Amend your ways, you lying judge, Be truthful and wise -

When speaking of man's character you can't be too precious.

An intensely bitter sentiment and feeling was aroused in the hearts of the people of New York against us, the Mormons, caused by the arrest of the memorable army's march en route to Utah and their final encampment at Hams Fork during the winter of 1857-8. Ludicrous caricatures appeared in the papers of the flower of the America Army on Ham Fork eating mule beef while the scoundrel Mormons were at home eating the fat health-giving beef of Uncle Sam. My employer on reading morning paper seriously remarking that a handful of Mormons had to put a stop to the progress of the Army, reminded me of the saying of the prophet, and I asked "Have you not read in the good book that one shall chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to "flight. "Work up to a tremendous pitch, he said, "Joseph, much as I like you, if you don't stop such sayings, I shall have you sent out for a policeman." I said, "I was merely quoting scripture." The entire family was strongly attached to me. Notifying my employer that I was going to Utah, he said if you are not satisfied there, send me word and I will mail means for your return. His daughter, a young miss of sixteen summers, gave me a nice memento of her respectful artistic work of her hands. It will be not forgotten that early in the spring of 1858 our brethren, missionaries in all parts of the earth, were called home, but that no particular excitement might be caused as to the object of their passage through the United States in great numbers destined to one particular point, it was deemed advisable that the frontier be reached by some what circuitous route.

I was ordained an elder by Elder Edward Cox before starting. It was my good fortune to be permitted to join with the second company of missionaries.

Autobiography of Mary Seamons Thurston

Source: [Collected information on the Seamons and related families, ca. 1980] (Ms 7571-CHL). pp.2-3

We arrived at New York March 27, and were landed at Castle Garden. Here I gave birth to a baby girl on March 28th. We remained there a sort time and then moved over to Williamsburg where my husband found work at one place and I at another. While there my baby took very sick and my sister and I walked several blocks in the middle of the night to get two elders to come and administer to my baby. But with all I could and did do, it died July 31, 1856. We were too poor to buy a burial place for it in the churchyard, so we had to report it to the city officers. The sent a man with a rough coffin, several sizes too big for it and took it. However, they would not allow us to go and see where they took her to. It was reported to us later that they buried the bodies in quick lime, which soon ate the bodies up, and that some were sold to doctors to dissect and experiment with. So we never knew what became of our first born. I have always felt that the Lord's hand was over us and guiding our destinations and that all would be well in the end.

After leaving Williamsburg we moved over to New Jersey where we stayed nearly two years. While there my husband took very sick and as we could not afford to hire a doctor he suffered a great deal with some kind of fever. At times he would moan and say "I wish that Brothers Robert Javiett and John Bloomfield could come and administer to me and that I could get well." These men lived some miles away from us and we could not send for them, but one day they came to our home unaware and when my husband say them he said, "You are the very men I have been wanting to see. I want you to administer to me." They did so and he immediately began to get well. The visiting brethren stated that they did not know why they had come to see us unless it was for the purpose stated above.

We went by rail and steamboat from New Jersey to Omaha, Nebraska…

Autobiography of Rachel Seamons Hancey

Source: [Collected information on the Seamons and related families, ca. 1980] (Ms 7571-CHL). p. 5-7

We landed at New York on March 28, 1856. A steam tugboat came out and tugged us into the harbor. I had to be carried from the ship to the steamboat and then from the boat to land and up three flights of stairs to a room for the sick. This was in a place called Castle Garden. My mother stayed and took care of me and another sister who was sick until we were able to be moved two weeks later. [p.5]

My husband and James Thurston went over to a place called Williamsburg on the 1st of April and got a job from Jerry McWiggens. After a few weeks we moved over there and stayed until the fall of the year and then moved to New Jersey, where we lived for a little over three years. The people there were very kind to us and a branch of the Church was organized there with 33 members. Brother George Baker (now of St. George, Utah) was president of the branch. On June 21, 1858, my second son George Henry was born at New Jersey, Monmouth County.

In the year 1859 our late President John Taylor was then president of the New York Conference and he came and counseled the Saints with the families to move as far toward Utah as their means would carry them. Accordingly all the Saints of the New Jersey Branch went as far as Omaha…

Diary of William Richardson

Source: Richardson, William. Diary (Ms 1783-CHL), fd. 1, pp. 18-21, 36.

We landed in New York on the 27 of March. The time that we was in Castle Garden we went out once & got some oyster soup & she felt a good deal better. That we was two days there & started for Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on the York & Erie by. There was about 50 families all together. There was Scotch, English & Welsh. When we landed at Great Bend it was Sunday afternoon & we could not a train till the next morning. We got stopping in the cars all night & there was a baker's store there & we got some bread & we got something to eat. We started for Scranton early in the morning & got there before noon so we got something to eat & then started for Pittston which was 9 miles from Scranton so some of the Scotch sisters was going to get in a [p. 19] wagon but it would not start till after dinner so we started to travel. I had to carry William & help his mother too. We got about 4 miles on the road when they catched up to us so she thought that she could ride a little bit & got on the wagon & she did not stay on it mile till she had to got off & then she was worse then if she had never been on the wagon. Then Brother [Matthew] Sinclair came along. We had to almost carry her along. We was on the road from 12 to 8 o'clock at night when we got in to Pittston. So there we was in a strange land not much money in our pocket & sick so we was told to go in to a grocery where there was some Scotch went into some times & it chanced to be a Odd Fellows meeting night & there was a house full of Scotch & English & all the emigrants had to & get there supper there & there was 6 men there from Rutherglen & had all been acquainted with me from a boy. So after Ann got some supper & rested a while we went home with one, the name of James Gilnauer & his wife fixed a good father back to lie down upon. She felt better in the morning. We rested that day & the next day James Gilmour went & rented a house & three of us went & lived together & took us to a store for us to get what we wanted. We did not get any furniture but a bedstead, for Ann did not want to have (his/her) bed to lie on the floor when she was sick & we got all that we wanted to eat. [p. 20] John was born on the 13 of April '56 just 13 days in the country. I was not there long until I got started to work with the Pennsylvania Company so at the end of the month we got a house of our own & about the middle of May I went to work for James Gilmour for more pay. When we was there about a month Matthew Sinclair went away & he never said where he was going to. After he was away a while he wrote to his wife that he was at Pottsville, Schuykill County & for her to come to him, so she went away to him. It was bout 60 miles from Pittston to Pottsville so in July Angus M. Cannon came up from Philadelphia & organized the Pittston Branch. That was the day that John Thornton Richardson was blessed by Angus M. Cannon & we was all rebaptized in the Susquehanna River. During the summer James Gilmour told me about James Watson living at Jessup for he was there the winter before & he got work there most all the winter & that I should go there for there was very little work in Pittston in the winter. I wanted to get all the work that I could get for we to go to Salt Lake as soon as we could…

Reminiscences and Diary of William Holmes Walker

Source: Walker, William Holmes. Reminiscences and diary, (Typescript), pp. 111,131. (CHL)

We had a good voyage and arrived at New York about the 24th of March. The company remained in Castle Garden 4 days. The company was divided up, some going to Pittsburgh, others remaining in New York. I had charge of the company through to Iowa City, via Buffalo and Chicago.

New York Tribune: Mormon Immigrants

Source: New York Tribune, 27 March 1856, p. 1

MORMON IMMIGRANTS.—The ship Caravan, Capt. Sands, from Liverpool, arrived yesterday, brings 456 passengers, all bound to locate among the Mormons. There was one wedding, three births, and two deaths during the voyage.