Ship Manhattan

The ship that Mary Kershaw and Lambert Blamires came on.

Ship:     Manhattan

            Date of Departure:        22 Sep 1869      Port of Departure:         Liverpool, England

            LDS Immigrants:           242                   Church Leader: Joseph Lawson

            Date of Arrival: 7 Oct 1869        Port of Arrival:  New York, New York

            Source(s): BMR, Book #1041, pp. 95-104 (FHL #025,692); Customs #1156 (FHL #175,675)

          

Notes:   "DEPARTURE OF THE MANHATTAN. -- The steamship Manhattan, Captain Forsyth, left this port on the 22nd for New York, with 242 souls of the Saints on board, including the following elders returning from missions in this country: -- Joseph Lawson, Robert Dye, and Alonzo E. Hyde.  Elder Lawson is in charge of the company.  We trust they will have a pleasant and prosperous journey across the ocean and to the mountains."

<MS, 31:39 (Sep. 25, 1869), p.630>

"Wed. 22 [Sep. 1869] . . . The steamship Manhattan sailed from Liverpool, England, with 239 Saints, in charge of Joseph Lawson.  The company arrived at New York Oct. 7th, and at Ogden Oct. 16th"

<CC, p.81>

Autobiography of Lamoni Grix

            . . . I was born October 7, 1855 in Norwich, England a son of Jonathan and Sarah Florence Grix.  We sailed from Liverpool September 22, 1869 on the steamship Manhattan and arrived in New York at dusk October 6.  We landed the next day, my birthday when I was 14.  We had a rough voyage on the Atlantic.  There were three days of severe storm.  On October 16 we landed in Ogden from New York by train.  Joseph Lawson was in charge of our company. . . . [p.175]

BIB:     Grix, Lamoni, [Autobiography], Utah Pioneer Biographies,  vol. 11, p. 175.  (FHL)

Letter from A. E. Hyde - September 23, 1869

Steamship Manhatten, off Queenstown, 8 p.m. September 23, 1869.

President [Albert] Carrinton.

            Dear Brother,--As the tug will be alongside in a few minutes, I hasten to “report progress.”

            Up to the present we have had a strong head wind, though the sea is moderately smooth.  About nine-tenths of our passengers are seasick, and the other tenth are singing the songs of Zion.  Brothers Dye and King have been “discharging cargo” pretty freely all the morning, and Brother Lawson has just ascertained that he and his dinner cannot agree, and they are now going through with the ceremony of separation.  Up to the present I remain “compos mentis,” and my appetite is ferocious.

            We organized the company into four wards last night, and appointed a good many over each ward, to look after the sick, see that order and cleanliness are maintained, &c.  The officers of the ship are very gentlemanly and obliging, and grant us many little indulgences, which tend greatly to promote the comfort of the passengers, all of whom seem perfectly satisfied with the arrangements which have been made, and, with the exception of seasickness, are in excellent spirits; in fact, we have yet to find the first cause for complaint.

            With kind love to yourself and the Saints, in which the brethren and all the Saints on board join me,

            I remain,

            Your brother in the gospel,

A.E. Hyde [p.648]

BIB:     Hyde, A.E. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 31:40 (September 29, 1869) p. 648.  (HDL)

Letter from Joseph Lawson - September 23, 1869

Steamship Manhatten, off Queenstown, 8 p.m. Sept. 23, 1869.

President [Albert] Carrinton.

            Dear Brother,--We have had a strong head wind, nearly all our emigrants experiencing seasickness.  Our company are organized into four wards in the usual way.  I feel first rate myself, as also the brethren with me.  I expect to get along all right.  Got all our passengers on deck.  The Saints generally remember their songs of Zion, which helps to cheer.  We also have some musicians in our company, with musical instruments, and when our seasickness is over we shall endeavor to make our time agreeable and interesting.

            With respects to yourself and Brother Carlson, with all co-laborers in the love of the gospel,

            I remain, yours,

Joseph Lawson. [p.648]

BIB:     Lawson, Joseph [Letter] Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star 31:40 (September 29, 1869) p. 648.  (HDL)

Letter from Joseph Lawson - October 7, 1869

On board steamship Manhattan, New York, Oct. 7, 1869.

President A. [Albert] Carrington.

            Dear Brother,--After a tedious and for the most part rather a rough passage, we arrived here last night, all well.  With the exception of a few pleasant days, we have had adverse winds.  The company have got along tolerably cheerfully, notwithstanding seasickness has been experienced more [p.708] or less by a great many during our sojourn on the bosom of the great deep, and we have realized the hand of the Lord over us for good.  Morning and evening our songs and prayers have ascended up unto him.  With the aid of a violin and bass horn, the latter performed on by Brother McMeiken, from Nottingham, and the former by Brother Hitching, from Pembroke, our singing has been pleasant and harmonious.

            We have to record the death of a child on the morning of Sept. 28, which, according to the report of the mother, Sister Edwards, from Birmingham Conference, had been sickly and puny since its birth, about seven months ago.

            The attention of the stewards and assistants has been very good to the sick, &c., also we have experienced from the captain and other officers, with very few exceptions, general kindness.

            On Sunday last, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m., we had a public meeting on deck, and we invited all on board, passengers and crew.  Several hundreds, besides our company, were privileged to hear preaching from Brother Hyde and Dye, myself bearing testimony.

            12 p.m., 8, Battery Place.

            We are now getting all onshore at Castle Gardens, and expect to leave this afternoon.  Brother Dusenbury will go through with us.  Brothers Staines and Teasdale are well.  I am now very busy attending to the business for the company to leave this afternoon.

            Accept of my love to yourself and all associates.

            Yours truly,

Joseph Lawson. [p.709]

BIB:     Lawson, Joseph [Letter] Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star 31:44 (October 27, 1869) pp. 708-709.  (HDL)