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Subject: [HANDCART-L] George Finlinson - 1
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2000 17:52:23 EDT

In a message dated 8/3/00 2:33:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
writes:

<<
There is a daily diary of this second voyage in the special collections
at Brigham Young University written by George Finlinson. I am trying to
get a copy from one of his descendants so that I can put a copy on my
web site. It makes interesting reading of the day by day activities on
this voyage - he also describes the train journey to Wyoming, Nebr. >>


Is this what you wanted?
Michele


George Finlinson Family
. . . 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 ½ 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 women 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 ½ past 9 a.m. We set sail
about ½ 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.

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