The Journey to Winter Quarters

On 10 January 1852 the 1070 ton sailing ship 'Kennebec' sailed from Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, with 333 Mormon migrants on board. The Kennebec was bound for New Orleans, Louisiana, on the Gulf of Mexico, although one report mentions calling at New York after 6 weeks. The passengers were bound for the Mormon homeland of Utah.

The Company had originally chartered the 'Devonshire', but were not happy with the condition of the ship. The 'Kennebec' was 'much newer and stronger'.

Amongst the passengers were George and Hannah May (who is thought to have been suffering from tuberculosis), together with their 7 children. Also in the party was Henry Ballard. But, like many others on board, not all the Mays would reach their destination.

The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latterday Saints on the'Kennebec' were under the leadership of Elder John S. Higbee, who was appointed President for the voyage, together with Elders John Spiers, Thomas Smith and William C. Dunbar, who served as Councillors.

Some of the migrants were funded by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, while the rest had to fund their own passage. The ship would have been crowded by today's standards, and there would be a foul stench below decks in steerage.

The ship was described as being 'large, new and commodious', and had been delayed at Liverpool for 2 days by a gale. The voyage was 'safe and pleasant' apart from one storm, lasting 3 days and nights, which swept the deck clean of everything movable. However, some Irish emigrants also on board who had insufficient provisions for the voyage, stole food from the Mormons with the result that all on board were on short rations for the last few days of the voyage when the 'Kennebec' became stuck in the mud of the Mississippi for ten days.

On 19 March 1852, the 'Kennebec' docked in New Orleans, and the passengers transferred to the steamboat 'Pride of the West' for the next stage of their journey, several hundred miles up the Mississippi to St Louis, Missouri. 'Pride of the West' was in such poor condition that it was held together by chains. From here they transferred the paddle steamer 'Saluda' for the journey up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, opposite Omaha, Nebraska.

At Brunswick, Missouri, Eli B. Kelsey, together with George and James May, decided to take the overland route to Council Bluffs. Further upstream, at Lexington, they heard that the 'Saluda' had exploded. Many lost their lives, The Mays only suffered an injury to Harriet's left foot, but they lost most of their possessions.

The May party
who left England
in 1852

George May born 1809
Hannah May born 1809
Elizabeth May born 1830
James May born 1832
Harriet May born 1838
Thomas May born 1840
Richard May born 1843
William May born 1846
Emily May born 1850

Henry Ballard born 1832

This narrative gives only the known experiences of the May family, together with brief details of the conditions they are likely to have experienced on their journey. There are many more detailed accounts of such journeys, and these can be accessed through the 'Sources' button on the left.

This web site is a work in progress which I have put 'on-the-air' in the hope of making contact with those who know more than I about the subject.

I will be adding to the narrative and the data as I learn more.

Lexington's 'Heritage Park' features the 'Saluda Memorial'.

Also see here

The 'Saluda' was a side-wheel, wooden hull packet measuring 179' X 26.7', and displacing 223 tons. She was mostly built at Ohio r. yard and finished at St. Louis.

Her owner and Master was Francis T. Belt and her Pilot was
Charles S. LaBarge, brother of Capt. Joseph LaBarge

In a previous incident in 1850, 5 miles below Rocheport, MO, she snagged and sunk, and was subsequently raised and rebuilt.

On Good Friday, 9 April 1852, with Mormon emigrants aboard, the boat was headed for Council Bluffs, Iowa. Upon arrival at Lexington, the current being swift, the pilot Charles S. LaBarge pushed her too hard into the rapid water and her boilers blew up. The pilot and 26 others died. This was the worst steamboat disaster on the Missisippi River.

The roof bell from the 'Saluda' was auctioned off and went to the
Christian Church of Savannah, Missouri. It is still in possession
of that church.

My thanks to Dave Dawley, from whose web site this information has been extracted. http://members.tripod.com/~Write4801/riverboats.html