"EMIGRATION. -- We feel truly thankful that amidst the general distresses, poverty, and famine which prevails throughout this country, several hundred of our brethren and sisters have just been enabled to embark for the country which God has provided for a refuge for all nations. Upwards of two hundred and forty of the Saints were to sail from Liverpool, for New Orleans on Sunday last. They were from Preston, Manchester, and various other towns in England, and were destined for the colonies of the Saints in the state of Illinois, and in the Territory of Iowa.
Among this company was a large proportion of the industrious poor, who were upon the point of starvation in this land, or who were working like slaves to procure a very scanty subsistence. By the kindness of their brethren they were enabled to escape from worse than Egyptian bondage, and go to a country where they can by their industry obtain an inheritance, and enjoy plenty for themselves and their children. May the Almighty preserve them upon the waters. And bring them to Zion with songs of everlasting joy. May they obtain 'joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing flee away.'
We sincerely hope that the Saints will continue to cultivate that spirit of love and union which will work a full and complete deliverance of the rich and poor of his people, that they may all be gathered in one; that 'there may be one fold and one shepherd.'. . ."
MS, 1:10 (Feb., 1841), p.263
"FOURTH COMPANY. -- Sheffield, 235 souls. The following is culled from the History of Joseph Smith:
Saturday, February 6th, 1841, a council meeting was held at Brother Richard Harrison's, seventy-two Burlington Street, Liverpool, for the purpose of organizing a company of Saints going to New Orleans on the ship Sheffield. Captain Porter, Apostles Brigham Young, John Taylor and Willard Richards and other officers were present. Elder Hiram Clark was chosen president, and Thomas Walmsley, Miles Romney, Edward Martin,
John Taylor, Francis Clark and John Riley, counselors to President Clark. Edward Martin was appointed clerk and historian of the company. President Clark and his counselors were blessed and set apart for their mission.
The Sheffield sailed from Liverpool, bound for New Orleans, with two hundred and thirty-five Saints on board, on Sunday the 7th. . . .
. . . After a passage of fifty-one days the company landed in New Orleans; three deaths and two births having occurred on the voyage. On arriving at New Orleans, Elder Clark made a contract with a steamer to carry the company to St. Louis for two dollars and fifty cents each, including baggage. From St. Louis to Nauvoo they secured a passage on the Goddess of Liberty for one dollar each. About thirty of the emigrants who had become disaffected through false reports, tarried at St. Louis. The bulk of the company landed in Nauvoo, April 18th, 1841, about eleven o'clock in the evening. Notwithstanding the late hour, quite a number of the brethren stood on the shore to welcome these new arrivals from the old world."
Cont. 12:12 (Oct. 1891), pp.442-43
"Sun. 7. [Feb. 1841] -- The ship Sheffield sailed from Liverpool, England with 235 Saints, under the leadership of Hiram Clark."
CC, p.19
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