Histories: Ship Information: Williams Family Trees

"The steamship Wisconsin, Guion & Co., under the command of an experienced officer -- Captain William Forsyth, left Liverpool on Wednesday last, June 16th, at 5:30 p.m. , bound for New York, having on board 167 persons belonging to or connected with our people, namely, 5 returning missionaries, 104 adults, 46 children, and 12 infants. They were mostly in the enjoyment of very good health and were feeling well in spirit . We hope that by the favor of a kind Providence, they will have a pleasant passage across the Atlantic Ocean and a safe journey over the plains to their mountain home." "Wed. 16th [June 1875] -- The steamship Wisconsin sailed from Liverpool, England, with 167 Saints, under the direction of Robert T. Burton. The company arrived at New York June 27th, and at Salt Lake City July 8th."

Diary of Robert Taylor Burton

Wednesday 16 - 8 a.m. came to office 42 Islington and at 10 came to Priney Pier and from here by the [-] came on board the Wisconsin to sail for America. Was engaged today in the business of the company getting both of the company &c. At 4:20 President Smith and brethren belonging to the office left the shop and at 5:30 we steamed slowly down the river passing the bar at the [-] was beautiful and brisk. Little if any seasickness on board. [p.50] At East India Dock [- - -] a.m. there was L. Bonder, M.H. Hardy, A.C. Fruler, J.D. Johnson and between had one of the best meetings we have at 12. I dined with Brother Hall, President Smith, W.L.B. at a.m. [- - -] we met several of his friends, again attended meeting. The [-] were [-] farewell many of them were in tears. I [-] returned to [- -] at 10.

Thursday 17 - A delightful morning. I arose early, called the Saints together in the a.m., gave them some instructions and had prayers. Wrote to President Smith, W.L.B., & Brother Ransom. 12:15, ships time, arrived at Queenstown and departed at one. Weather pleasant. Steamed along nicely on getting out to sea. Weather became a little rougher and some of the people were sick.

Friday 18 - Some little fog today. A good many of the company were seasick. With this exception all is well. P.M. those who were sick this morning most of them are better. Wind continued ahead. Still we are making good progress. Have steamed 287 miles today.

Saturday 19 - Arose early as usual. Ship still rolling badly, which continued all day. Shipping some water on the bow of the vessel also most of the company sick. Nothing of note occurred today. Prayer meeting morning and evening as usual. [p.51]

Sunday 20 - Wind still ahead and ship still rolling. Many of the company are still sick and not in condition to have meetings more than the usual prayer meetings evening. Many of the sick feel better. Sea not quite as rough. We are making good time.

Monday 21 - Had a good nights rest. Sea much smoother this morning. Most of the Saints up and able to attend to prayers this morning. Although the wind is still ahead, we are making excellent headway. All continue to improve. My own health good. I am able to be among the people all the time, extending aid to them.

Tuesday 22 - Weather much warmer than yesterday. Sea calmer. The health of the company much improved. Most of them are enjoying themselves on the deck. 6 p.m. we have had a fine, warm day. Wind blowing a little colder as night sets in. Saints had a little concert this evening.

Wednesday 23 - A beautiful morning. All going well. Company still improving in health. Weather much warmer. Had meeting this evening in the steerage, at which many of the elders spoke. All felt well. [p.52]

Thursday 24 - A fine morning. Very warm. Wind blowing from the southwest, continued all day. Increased in the evening so that the ship began to roll a good deal. A good and many of the company began again to feel sick.

Friday 25 - This is the roughest day we have had since our departure from Liverpool. Sea running pretty high and continued to increase during the day. At 3 p.m. an infant child, about three months old, (the grandchild of Brother [Peter] Romeril) died and was quietly buried in the ocean. At 5 p.m. Continued very rough tonight.

Saturday 26 - Very fine morning. Sea quite calm wind northwest. Quite cold. Most of the people feel better this morning. Continued fine all day until 7 p.m. Became a little foggy. The most of the company on deck today. We began to come into sight of shipping, &c. Foggy most of the night. [p.53]

Sunday 27 - A delightful morning. A pilot came on board at 6 a.m. In a short time came in sight of land. People all on deck full of excitement. 12 Dr. came on board. We passed Sandy Hook and landed in New York at Pier 46. At 3 p.m. W. [William] C. Staines was here waiting. I came with him to Stevens House and from here to Brooklyn and took tea with him at his boarding house & returned with M.H.H. to Stevens House.

Monday 28 - At 7, came on board the Wisconsin and commenced to make arrangements to have the company's baggage pass the inspector which we accomplished with but little difficulty and landed them all in Castle Garden. At 11 a.m. was busily engaged in making arrangements for getting onto the railroad on Tuesday. Stayed tonight again at the Stevens House.

Tuesday 29 - Early at Castle Garden, checking luggage, &c. 10 a.m. met Brother Tullege [Edward W. Tullidge] at Brother [William C.] Staines' office. He worked some items relating to a book he is writing entitled Utah & It's Founders. At 12 we met J.W. Young. Had quite a visit with him and lunched with him one p.m. and returned to Stevens House and from there to Castle Garden and from there we started on our journey to S[alt] Lake 5 p.m. & from Jersey City, New York in 5 cars. All well.

Wednesday 30 - Passed Harrisburg this morning when we changed cars. Everyone that we had started with and continued our journey passing the Alleghenys that is called the Horseshoe Bend, & arriving at Pittsburgh at 9 p.m. Here we were detained until 2 a.m.

July 1 - Wrote to Brother Staines, sent a telegram, left here in four cars. [p.54] Continued our journey without any interruption. This morning weather warm & rainy. Passed Columbus, Ohio into Indiana. Making very good time all day.

Friday 2 - Still continued our journey west, passing state line. Arriving at Burlington [Iowa] this a.m. Here we change cars again. Remained about half an hour. Came onto Ottumwa [Iowa] where we remained some time and obtained some supplies, &c. Rained very hard tonight. Some of the road had been washed away.

Saturday 3 - 3 a.m. Rained very hard all night. An empty freight car that by some means had been left on the track came in collision with the engine of our train, causing some damage, detaining us some two or three hours but no other damage. 11, arrived at Council Bluffs 12 Omaha. Obtained tickets for the company. Wrote Staines. Had baggage transferred and left at 6:15. All well. Rained hard tonight. [p.55]

Sunday 4 - 5 a.m. at Kearney. Pleasant morning passing up the Platte arriving at Platte City at 5 p.m. Company all well with one exception. A Swiss sister who had been suffering with her lungs for years. We administered to her. Held meetings in all the cars at 9. All the Saints feel well.

Monday 5 - A beautiful morning. Arrived at Sidney at 5 a.m. Went out with Elder Freeman & obtained some supplies. Remained here until 7:30 a.m. Continued our journey arriving at Cheyenne 3 p.m. From here I sent a telegram to President Young. Remained here until three-thirty. Passed Sherman at 7, arriving at Laramie at 9. Here we remained some two hours. The people were celebrating the 4th of July. Left here at 11 p.m.

Tuesday 6 - Very cold last night. Morning very fine. Sun shining out beautiful. Arrived at [UNCLEAR, POSSIBLY Como] 5. Remained here some little time. Fort Steele at 9 & Rawlins at 11 a.m., Green River at 11 p.m. The day has been very fine.

Wednesday 7 - Continued without interruption arriving at [Fort] Bridger at 5 and at Evanston 9 1/2. Remained here 40 minutes arriving at Echo at one p.m. Here I met my wife, Maud, daughters, Theresa & Florence & L.S.H. came from here by express to Ogden where I met some of the rest of my family & many friends who had chartered a car and come here to greet me. Left the company here and came to Salt Lake at 8 p.m. where I met with family & friends. All well. Choir & band came to serenade. [p.56]

Thursday 8 - 7 a.m. returned to Ogden to bring the company to Salt Lake. Returned at 12 we all had luggage delivered A Company cared for. Come to my home in city at 2 p.m. Remained here until 5 and came with my boys to farm where I found my family well and remained here tonight. Had a good quiet rest which I so much needed . . . . [p.57]

BIB: Burton, Robert Taylor. Diary (Ms 1221), reel 1, bx. 1, fd. 7, vol. 13, pp. 50-57. (CHL).

Letter from M. H. Hardy - June 17, 1875

Queenstown, on board S. S. Wisconsin Thursday, June 17, 1875.12:10 (Noon)President Joseph F. Smith.

Dear Brother,--We left our moorings yesterday at 5:30 p.m., and at 8 we called the Saints together and organized with the following officers:

Thomas Hull, clerk and historian for the company which is divided into two wards - English and Swiss. Peter Romeril, President of the English Ward, with Edward Warren, officer of the guard, and Joseph Eerstner, President of the Swiss Ward, with Jacob [Johann] Zwahlen, officer of the guard.

We meet for morning prayer at 7, and evening at 8 o'clock.

We moved slowly until we had passed the bar, after which we steamed smoothly and pleasantly along to this place. All are feeling well, very little seasickness. Everyone is as comfortable as could possibly be expected.

Elders M. [Milton] H. Hardy,Peter Sinclair,E. N. Freeman,Jacob Zundel,

join in love. Your brother,

R. [Robert] T. Burton. [p.397]

BIB: Hardy, M. H., [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 37:25 (June 21, 1875) p. 397. (CHL)

Letter from Milton H. Hardy - July 7, 1875

Stoneham, Massachusetts, U. S. America, July 7, 1875.President Joseph F. Smith.

Dear Brother, —After seeing the company in cars ready to start (7 p.m. Tuesday, 29th ultimate,) I bid them all goodbye for a short time. And after enjoying the company and courtesy of enjoying the company and courtesy of President [William C.] Staines and Brother Bywater, I took passage on board the magnificent floating palace, "Providence," for Fall River, having received an invitation on arriving at New York, from Brother Samuel Bakes, formerly of Leeds Conference, to visit his family there. I found them and the few Saints there enjoying the spirit of the gospel. A branch was organized with ten members, November 10th, 1874, called the Fall River Branch. Two have since been received, and four emigrated. Two more intend to join the company now on the way from Liverpool.

We held meeting at the house of Brother Bakes, where the Saints assemble each Sabbath. Two strangers joined with us. The Saints all bore testimony to the latter day work—felt cheered and blessed—and are anxious to move on and join the body of the Church in the valleys of the mountains.

On the 6th instant I took train for Boston, where my cousin met me. I am now at my aunt's, who welcomes me to her home. I have invitation to visit a family of Saints at Lowell, where I hope to hold a meeting.

I have brought with me a supply of tracts which I intend to circulate generally among my numerous relatives in this State. In a day or two I expect to go to Lawrence, thence to Groveland, Bradford, Haverhill; also to Salem, etc., to learn what I can of my father's house.

Praying the blessings of Israel's God to be upon you and your efforts, and upon all ungathered Israel, and desiring to be kindly remembered to all at "42," [42 Islington WAS THE ADDRESS OF THE BRITISH MISSION IN LIVERPOOL]

I remain obediently your brother,

Milton H. Hardy. [p.507]

BIB: Hardy, Milton H., [Letter] Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 37:32 (August 9, 1875) p. 507 (CHL)

Letter from R. T. Burton - June 27, 1875

New York, June 27, 1875.President Joseph F. Smith.

Dear Brother,--Our company in the good S. S. Wisconsin, arrived here at 4 p.m. today. All is well with us: one general feeling of satisfaction being expressed by all. Our passage has been prosperous and speedy despite headwinds all the way. One death only, that of the motherless babe three months old, brought by Sister [Elizabeth] Romeril, which occurred on Friday, 25th, and the body was consigned to a watery grave.

After leaving Queenstown, from which point we wrote you, we came at an average rate of 291 miles per day. The air was cool and bracing up to Thursday, 24th, when, this side the banks of Newfoundland, it was warm and sultry. But on Saturday morning, the 26th, it changed again delightfully cool. Two or three days of the voyage the sea was somewhat rough and broken and, as would naturally be expected we had some seasickness in the company.

Sister Charlotte Young, from Godalming Union, whom you will remember as the entirely helpless cripple of 20 years' standing, and who physicians said would not survive the fatigues of the short journey from Godalming to London, (about forty miles) has passed the journey thus far heroically and without sickness, and is today considerably better than when she parted from her friends in London.

Meetings have been held on weekday evenings, by both English and Swiss Saints, as well as conjointly.

We wish to express gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his constant blessing, daily care and guidance.

We also acknowledge the uniform courtesy and kindness shown by Captain Forsyth and officers, not forgetting the kind stewards and stewardess who have attended to the wants of the company so faithfully. Captain Forsyth's principle of superior ventilation has conduced greatly to the health and comfort of the passengers.

Tuesday, 29th. Company remained at Castle Garden overnight very comfortably. We leave by the 7 p.m. train today, all is well.

Praying that the blessing of our Father may be upon you and the brethren with you, and all the interests of Zion, we remain,

Your brethren and fellow laborers in the cause of truth,

R. [Robert] T. Burton,M. [Milton] H. Hardy,Peter Sinclair,E. N. Freeman,Jacob Zundel. [p.444]

BIB: Burton, R. T. et.,al, [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 37:28 (July 12, 1875) p. 444. (CHL)

Linked to Harding, Laban; Lerwill, Lydia Ann; Lerwill, Susan

«Prev 1 2 » Slide Show

Williams Family Genealogy

Including the ancestral lines of my four grandparents and my husband's lines.

Lerwill, Lydia Ann

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

Diary of Robert Taylor Burton

Letter from M. H. Hardy - June 17, 1875

Letter from Milton H. Hardy - July 7, 1875

Letter from R. T. Burton - June 27, 1875