On February 5, 1841 Father Alexander and Mother Ellen Neibaur and family of three children left Preston, Lancashire, England in company with others for Liverpool to embark on the ship Sheffield bound for New Orleans. We left Preston by the 8:30 train, reached [-] at 10:30, went directly on board the ship where we found a number of immigrants and the ship all in an uproar. Men, women and children and luggage went to Hargraves Railway Office. Got our luggage put on board the ship. We then got something from the cook's shop for our families to eat. As it was very cold we went to bed at dark.
Feb. the 6th I went to see a friend of mine, Mr. Hanks. He was very pleased to see me. As I had made up my mind to emigrate, he gave me a present for my wife, a bowie, a muff for my daughter and a pair of gloves for myself. He wished me a safe arrival, that the Lord would prosper me. Towards dark Elders Young, Richards and Taylor-these three had the superintendency of storing of the company-arrived with Elder Hyrum Clark, the president of the company for the voyage. After the immigrants were called together, order by Bro. Young and silence being attained, the company was ordered by 8 o'clock on Sunday morning; and all those that hadn't paid their passage money or deposited 21-1/2 pounds towards their provisions would be put on shore with their luggage, and all those that hadn't done so were ordered to go immediately to 72 Burlington Street or they would have to abide the consequences. There were some that were compelled to borrow; others were forced to pawn their luggage.
Sunday, Feb the 7th about 8 o'clock Brigham Young, Taylor and Richards, in company with Clark, came on board. All were now in an uproar. The captain, K. K. Porter, gave his orders about 10 o'clock; the ship was under way. The shore was lined with people. A fine breeze carried us down the river. Soon we were out of sight of Liverpool.
Feb. the 8th the company are most all sick in bed.
Feb. the 10th a sloop in sight having to inquire her way, having been at sea 11 days, 5 days to the land.
Feb. the 11th a woman very sick, dies at 12:30.
Arrived at Nauvoo April 18, 1841.
BIB: Neibaur, Hyrum Smith. Autobiographical Sketch, (Special Collections and Manuscripts, MSS 438, Folder #3), p.1 (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.).
(source abbreviations)