George Finlinson Diary

(extract)

. . . The Trimbles had joined the Mormon Church in 1855 and had told George a great deal about their new religion. He was taught the gospel by Edward Trimble and became converted. He was baptized by Elder J. G. Graham and confirmed by Elder George Q. Cannon in April of 1864 in Liverpool, England. His wife couldn't see the truth of the gospel and became very bitter. George tried in every way to convince her that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the true church but she couldn't see it. His uncle pleaded with him to stay in England. All the property would be his and he would never want for money. George know that the new religion was true and it meant more to him than earthly belongings. He left immediately for America. He migrated with the hopes that his wife would see the truth and come later.

The following is a copy of the diary he kept while crossing the ocean and crossing the States:

Saturday, 23. (April)--Went to Eastham in Cheshire the nicest place I ever saw 7 miles across the water. Went on board the Monarch of the Sea for New York.

Sunday 24.--We had preaching on board and we were very busy getting new berths. Got into a nice place at last. Went to the meeting at night to [p.14] Liverpool. Brother Cannon preached, Brother Romney and Brother Taylor, they gave us splendid lectures. They appointed Brother Smith son of Hyrum Smith to be president of the vessel assisted by the elders of the church.

Monday 25.--Started out of dock. Sailed into the river and anchored there to get everything in order. The sailors on board and such like and a great lot of brethren came out with us. A woman delivered a fine male child. Both mother and child are doing well. We went to bed about eleven o'clock at night. Brother Cutler gave us prayers at night.

Tuesday 26.--Still laying in the river. Brother Cannon and the doctor came on board to pass us all. We had all the decks to sweep clean and make all clean. We all passed except two Danish families who had to go back home on account of them not being healthy. The sailors came on board and they were very busy getting us ready for going.

Wednesday 27.--We are already for going but we cannot on account of the want of seaman. The mate turned a lot off on account of them not being good seaman. The captain has been off all day trying to get more but has not got them yet. We want about twenty men more. There is a good deal of dancing tonight among the Saints. We expect to get off tomorrow.

Thursday 28.--The captain came on board this morning with some more sailors and we started to heave anchor, about A½ past 9 a.m. We set sail about A½ past 10 o'clock. The tug steamed us out and carried us a long way. After we got out a bit there was a man jumped overboard and drowned himself. He was a Cornish man and not belonging to the Saints. We passed the Welsh

Mountains about 8 o'clock p.m. There has been 4 marriages on board. [-] was near steam. Tug left about 10 p.m.

Friday 29.--A very calm morning. Not much progress. We have been very busy all day serving provisions. I was serving out rice for about four hours. It took about 8 hours to serve all out. There has been some more marriages on board. P. [Parley] P. Pratt sleeps next to us. It has been

very calm all day. We have not gone above two or three knots. I have a little touch of a cold but not bad. There is one woman in the hospital, Danish.

Saturday 30.--A very calm morning. Again we made no progress almost stand still. Just one knot an hour. The wind started to rise about 9 o'clock p.m. There was one marriage last night and one child dead and a good many sick in the hospital, all Danish. There was seven on guard last night two middle and upper I had to mind them to keep them to their duty.

Sunday-May 1.--We had a rather rough sea this morning and a good many commenced to be sick in the afternoon. I did not feel so very well. I went to bed about 5 o'clock and slept all night.

Monday 2.--A very rough sea this morning and a good lot of sickness on board. Hollsworth [Fred Ellis Holdsworth] and I laid in bed all day not so very sick but we could not stand the vessel rocked so much. We eat nothing all day. We slept a good part of it. We were going about 8 or 9 knots an hour.

Tuesday 3.--Still keeps stormy. Laid in bed all day but a little in the morning, vomited a good deal through the day. The passengers were nearly [p.15] all sick. All together there has not been much eaten these last two or three days. I do assure you I eat 2 herring myself during the day.

Wednesday 4.--Very stormy again. I was first rate this morning got up fit to eat anything. It became very calm in the afternoon. A deal of people very sick and had to be carried on deck to get fresh air.

Thursday 5.--A very calm morning no wind. We have been nearly at a standstill all day. There was a child buried this morning. It belonged to one of the Danes. It had been poorly a long time. There was a good many sick today just like corpses. I have been busy cooking and washing dishes.

Friday 6.--A nice wind this morning. Going nicely along. Been very busy getting weekly provisions in again this forenoon. I changed my messing today to John Ashman close beside where I sleep in the afternoon. The wind dropped and we made very little progress, hardly moving. The hospital is full of sickly people. There was some fun on deck with tight rope dancing. There was a child buried 2 months old.

Saturday 7.--A splendid wind struck up today. All on board prayed to God last night for wind and we got it today. He heard our prayers. We are going about 8 knots an hour. We had partridge for breakfast this morning. I never enjoyed them better than I did this morning. There is some people looks very sick yet. There is a good deal of dancing on deck this evening.

Sunday 8.--There was no wind this morning. There was a boy buried this morning 7 years of age, of fever and there was a marriage of English people. We had prayers on deck this afternoon. There was good wind this afternoon, a little in the wrong direction giving us about 7 knots an hour. The captain was rather frightened of the storm.

Monday 9.--Fine wind this morning in the right direction. A boy fell down the hatchway and was nearly killed. A child died today. The wind blew very strong all day. I was on guard until twelve o'clock at night. It rained all night through and the wind was very strong. The sailors had to take some of the sails in it was so windy. It was like dismasting the ship.

Tuesday 10.--Very wet this morning. There was a most dreadful squall this morning. It was like to tumble the ship right over. Boxes was tumbling and women and men tossed in all directions. The water came over the ship sides and continued all day without ceasing but they made little progress. There was no cooking, but breakfast. The cook could not stand in the galleys.

Wednesday 11.--A fine wind this morning commenced about 4 o'clock n the morning and continued all the day. Blowing in the right direction. We went about 8 knots an hour all day. Rather a change from yesterday. There has been a ship going along with us all day, just about the same speed as us. If we continue on this speed the captain says fourteen days will carry us to New York.

Thursday 12.--A strong wind this morning carried on all day. It broke two jib beams during the day. The sailors had a very long day repairing them. The vessel went about 10 knots per hour, and in the afternoon they were [p.16] compelled to take in some of the sails it was that strong. Had a game of cards this afternoon with Mr. Ashman.

Friday 13.--Tremendous wet and stormy last night. She went 12 knots an hour and in the morning it blew hard until afternoon. The boy died that fell down the hatchway the other day and there was an old man died today that had been poorly for a few days. They were both thrown over board immediately. This evening the vessel heaved from one side to another. There still keeps a good many sick. A child died.

Saturday 14.--A very strong wind this morning. Very busy giving out provisions today. In the afternoon a tremendous storm set in and continued all night.

Sunday 15.--A very strong wind this morning. It was that stormy and cold that there could be no prayers on deck. I never saw anything so cold in my life. It was as cold as the middle of winter.

Monday 16.--Still keeps very stormy and wet. There was another child thrown over board this forenoon. It is most tremendous cold. We are close to the banks of Newfoundland. I have been very busy inspecting the cooking galley. We are expecting to see some ice very soon.

Tuesday 17.--The wind still keeps very high in the right position. Two or three more children cast at sea today. Still keeps very cold. I have a little touch of cold on me now but is improving very fast. There was a ship passed us this afternoon from New York being about 8 days sail to where we met her.

Wednesday 18.--The wind changed this morning but a very fine morning. Made very good progress. Some more children thrown over board. I cannot tell you how many have died exactly yet. We have been very busy cleaning out the decks and sprinkling lime on to sweeten the berths out.

Thursday 19.--A very calm morning, this making little progress this morning. About 4 o'clock there were two ice bergs passed us, one about the size of this vessel and the other 60 feet high. They would have smashed us if they had come near us. Some more children died during the day.

Friday 20.--A calm morning again very little wind. Busy receiving provisions today. Past two ice bergs this afternoon most bitterly cold when we passed them as cold as Christmas nearly. One child thrown over board today. Tom in bed poorly today. A little toward evening very foggy. We passed a vessel today.

Saturday 21.--Very calm still. We passed a good deal of ice and it was most dreadful cold. Tom still poorly. A good deal of the people on board bothered with looseness of the bowels, and some very sick. Still very foggy.

Sunday 22.--A fine wind this morning. We passed a steam vessel this morning. She had sailed about three days from New York. On guard from 3 o'clock until morning. Preaching on deck this afternoon. One child thrown over board, Danish.

Monday 23.--It was a very stormy night last night to sail very much. The wind continued strong until afternoon then it changed a little. Two more children thrown over board today belonging to the Danes. Very cold still, [p.17] yet.

Tuesday 24.--Not much wind this morning. Very still. They are busy painting and cleaning preparing for New York as fast as they can. Hollsworth [Holdsworth] very poorly in bed today. Another Danish child thrown over board today.

Wednesday 25.--A nice breeze this morning. Hollsworth [Holdsworth] a little better this morning. Three Danish children thrown over board today. The wind was very much against us this afternoon and very thick and misty.

Thursday 26.--A calm morning again scarcely moving. Hollsworth [Holdsworth] a good deal better today. The wind got a good deal stronger this afternoon. Had a game of Whist in the cabin with Brother Pratt, the captain and I .

Friday 27.--A fine wind this morning. Provisions given out today. This for the last time till we get to Wyoming. The wind still continues good all day. Had a game of Cribbage with the Captain in the evening then a game of Whist later.

Saturday 28.--A calm wind she scarcely stirred at all. Hollsworth [Holdworth] clean better now. The wind rather freshened this afternoon. Land in view this evening. Had a game of Cribbage with the captain at night. The beautifulist evening I ever saw.

Sunday 29.--In morning turned out very wet until afternoon and then the breeze freshened. A little too wet for prayers on deck today.

Monday 30.--Fine wind this morning. We were delayed about an hour this morning with a fishing boat. (We expected to have seen the pilot. We got news of board.) Had a game of cards at night.

Tuesday 31.--Fine wind this morning continued all day, passed Blasts Island. Hollsworth [Holdsworth] poorly again. The wind blowed very strong.

Wednesday-June 1.--The wind blew very strong. Hollsworth [Holdsworth] very poorly this morning. Had a game of cards with the captain until 12 o'clock and then the pilot came on board. (There were 23 children and 1 man buried in the ocean of this group.)

Thursday 2.--The wind this morning, calm. (In sight of land kept in sight.) There was a tug came about 10 o'clock and fastened to us. It towed us up and we passed the most splendid scenery I ever beheld. The doctor came on board and passed all passengers. On watch at night.

Friday 3.--The steam boat came to tow us up the river about 10 o'clock and commenced to get the baggage on it. Arrived in New York about 2 o'clock went in the steamboat to Albany about 150 miles. Started at 6 o'clock and sailed all night. We had a ramble through New York it is a nice place and all along as we go it is beautiful to behold.

Saturday 4.--Landed in Albany about 4 o'clock in the morning. It is a beautiful place. Lays on the River Hudson it's length is about 160 miles long. Started from there on the train there was about 22 cars on the train. We passed some of the most splendid places I ever saw. Pen cannot describe them.

Sunday 5.--Landed at Rochester about 5 o'clock in the morning and stayed there awhile. It is a very large place. It lays on the Genesse River. Landed [p.18] at Buffalo at 1 o'clock. It lays on Lake Eire River about 100 miles across. Changed carriages and crossed the river on a steam boat and landed in West Canada about 4 o'clock, landed at Brentford at 8 o'clock and got provisions went on Strattam arrived at 12 o'clock.

Monday 6.--Landed at Port Edward at 6 o'clock and crossed the Detroit River, Lake Huron and started from there at 4 o'clock, changed cars, landed at 8 o'clock got provisions.

Tuesday 7.--Passed Battle Creek about 10 o'clock passed Mishgill city at 4 o'clock a tremendous place for sand. Passed Lake Michigan landed at Chicago at 8 o'clock. It is the territory of Illinois. Stayed there all night.

Wednesday 8.--Started from Chicago at 10 o'clock passed Osweago. Some water.

Thursday 9.--Arrived at Quincey at 11 o'clock crossed the river at 7 o'clock. Started fro Palmyra at 8 o'clock.

Friday 10.--A very wet night last night, and we got badly on this morning, owing to the rail being slippery and the road so bad and us in cattle cars. We arrived at Brooksfield at 11 o'clock landed at St. Joseph at 8 o'clock slept in a shed all night.

Saturday 11.--Started from St. Joseph at 4 o'clock slept on board all night. Rather cold but dry.

Sunday 12.--A very fine morning. We saw 4 Indians this morning the first we have seen.

Monday 13.--Came to Nebraska City about 10 o'clock. Landed at [-] Wyoming at 5 o'clock got off and camped on the Platte. Slept all night the camp very comfortable it was.

Tuesday 14.--Busy preparing to go west and hired for 20 dollars per month to go with 8 oxen across the plains.

Wednesday 15.--Went to Mr. Harris' camp to start work. Came on very wet and did not move.

Thursday 16.--Busy getting the oxen into yokes and yoking them. We had an accident. There was a man broke his wagon pole off and delayed us about an hour and half, traveled till 9 o'clock at night and camped again.

Friday 17.--Mr.. Harris had to go to Nebraska today so we did not move camp today.

George did not write more in his diary but he went on to Salt Lake and then

on to Fillmore. . . .[p.19]

BIB: Finlinson, George, George Finlinson Family, 1835-1974, comp. by Angie

F. Lyman (privately printed, 1974) pp.