On the 29th of April the emigrating Saints Scandinavian were on board the ship Westmoreland. Capt. [Robert A.] Decan destined for Philadelphia. Number of emigrants

Adults-males [-]

[-] -females

Child-males [-]

[-] -females

President for the company Matt [Matthias] Cowley. Counselors Henry Lunt, E. N. Lilenquist together with two elders who were appointed to go along with the company to Zion via G. W. [Thruston] & Lorenzo [D. Rudd].

Some of the authorities from Liverpool visited us, via Elders Orson Pratt, Ezra T. Benson, John [Kay], Calkins, Williams and W. C. Haight president for Scandinavian.

[- -] came and took our ship in tow, with which O. [Orson] Pratt, E. [Ezra] T. Benson. C. Williams returned to [p. 1] Liverpool. During John [Kay] Calkins and W. C. Haight remained on board the ship.

In the night the following brethren and sisters were married by Elder John [Kay] viz.

Brother Jacob [Bastian] with Gertrude Pedersen

Elder Carl C. N. [Dorius] with Elen G. [Gurina] Rolfsen

Elder Carl C. A. Christensen with Elise K. S. Schiel

Elder Laurizt Larsen with Ane Mary Thomson [Anna Maria Thomson]

Elder John F. F. [Dorius] with Karen [Franksen].

24. Early in the morning, the brethren John [Kay] Calkins and H. C. Haight went onshore and the ship set sail, having favorable wind.

Some bread and water was served out by the steward.

25. Good wind and fine weather. Bread was served out by the steward. In the evening the Saints was called together and a letter from Elder Orson Pratt was read aloud, which informed us of the appointment of Elder Matthias Cowly [Cowley] as president for the company.

After this Elder M. Cowly [Matthias Cowley] [p. 2] moved as President of the Saints on board the ship Westmoreland all united.

Henry Lunt & O. [Olof] N. Lilenquist [Liljenquist] his counselors-united. Moved that the ship was divided in four wards, and the 1st Ward is in the second cabin. President G. [George] W. Thurston.

2nd Ward, President Lorenzo D. Rudd.

3rd Ward, President Christen Larsen

4th Ward, President Carl, C. H. Dorius

President Cowly [Matthias Cowley] wished the Saints of every ward to be attentive to everything which should be told them from the presidency.

The lamps should be lighted as soon as it is dark, and put out between 9 and 10 o'clock in the night.

Elder Jens Jensen was appointed to take care of them.

Every ward will meet together to prayer every night before they go to bed and every morning [p. 3] after they are rised [risen].

The Saints will go to bed at 10 o'clock in the night and get up at 6 o'clock in the morning. The cooks will have made fire at 6 o'clock in the morning and put out at 7 o'clock in the night.

The cooks are [Folkman] & G. [Gudmund] Gudmundsen.

C. [Carl] C. A. Christensen, steward. All these instructions must be punctual fulfilled.

When they get up in the morning, they must clean themselves and round about their berths. No one is allowed to go behind the 2nd cabin, and in case of storm, not go upon the poop.

Sufficient of fresh air must be in the cabins, but the windows must not be opened at the weather side.

G. [George] W. Thurston, captain of the guards. [p. 4]

No one of the Saints are allowed to associate with the sailors, and none of those are allowed admittance below. No bare light must be burned but in camp. One ward will boil at time and then boil for the whole day.

26. Sunday-Water served out. The wind favorable.

At 2 o'clock in the afternoon was held meeting on the deck, and a good spirit prevailed. Some good instructions were given by the Elders O. N. Lilinquist [Olof N. Liljenquist], C. [Carl] C. A. Christensen & Henry Lunt concerning order, faith, obedience, cleanliness, patience, etc.

In the night was held prayer under guidance of the presidents.

President Cowly [Matthias Cowley] was ill and could not partake in our meetings.

27. This day was it fine weather. The rest of the provisions was served out by the steward. [p. 5] In the night the Saints played on the deck. Some few more sick. Prayer in the wards.

28. Water served out. Favorable wind and rolling in the sea so that someones were seasick. It was appointed that the Saints should get up at 5 o'clock in the morning. Prayer in the wards.

29. Favorable wind. Water was served out. Many were seasick. In the evening was danced upon the poop [deck]. Prayer in the wards. Some good instructions were given by Henry Lunt and it was appointed that there should be organized English schools among the Saints because it would be a necessity after their arrival in America.

30. Some ones were seasick but not much in generally. Prayer in the wards. [p. 6]

May 1. Fine weather and some wind whereby great many were seasick.

2. Fine weather and favorable wind. Provisions were served out to the company. The most of the sick persons were brought up on the poop which made them very good. In the night it was appointed to have a fast day next day and meetings too. Prayers in the wards.

3. Some rain and wind, which made the ship rolling very much. After the testimony last night the Saints did fast but no meeting was held on account of the weather.

A sister Maria Garff gave birth to a male child who was called Deacon [Decan] Westmoreland Garff, born about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Latitude 46.45. Longitude 26.23.

Rolling in the sea, wherefore the provisions could not be served out. Some ones were suffering of [p. 7] seasickness.

5. No wind and fine warm weather the most sick persons were up on deck. Provisions served out.

6. No wind and fine warm weather.

7. Wind-north. The Saints are well as could be expected. Not many sick persons.

8. The wind from the east. It was said that we had gone half the way of our voyage. Very fine weather. In the [-] by request of Brother [Henry] Lunt we all prayed for a stronger wind. In the course of the night it freshened up and blew strong from the south.

9. In the morning the wind was strong from the south and we were on our course going about 10 miles an hour. The wind kept increasing until it blew quite a gale and for the first time since leaving Liverpool we were obliged to take in sail. About 10 o'clock the wind turned round to the west in which place it remained all the [p. 8] day, blowing quite strongly. In the night it blew from the southwest very strong. Some were sick, and were blessed.

10. Sunday. The wind continued high from the southwest coming as pretty heavy sea. It was a fine day, but many were sick. Among those were Brothers [Henry] Lunt and Rudd.

11. Fine weather, but the wind remained unfavorable. All the provisions were served out. Many of the sick was convalescent.

12. The wind was unfavorable and our course was towards the north. At 3 o'clock p.m. the first child died on board the ship. Name Karen Larsen, born in the Falster in Denmark, February 21, 1856. Sex: female. Her mother's name, Ane Petersen. It was buried in the evening at 6 o'clock.

13. Favorable wind, but cold weather wherefore not many could be on the deck. In the afternoon the [p. 9] musicians played in the cabins. In the meeting to prayer in 1st ward, some good information were given by its President Brother [George W.] Thurston, and also by Elder O. [Olof] N. Liljenquist.

14. Fine but cold weather in the morning. At noon it rained and hailed. The wind favorable but not very strong. In the night was held a good meeting in the First Ward and also in the other wards. The Spirit of the Lord prevailed in our middle. Not many sick.

15. Soft wind and rain in the forenoon. In the evening the wind shifted to the east. The Saints were well in generally.

16. The wind weak from the east. This increased to a pleasant breeze. The wind had blown strong last night. This day it was very changeable, sometimes very strong and at others weak. In the evening the wind was strong form the west. The Saints were pretty well. [p. 10]

17. Sunday- a tolerable fair day. The ship sailed well all the day. A conference meeting was held this day, in which, Elder Mathias [Matthias] Cowly [Cowley] presiding. The meeting opened with song and prayer by Elder O. [Olof] N. Liljenquist.

President M. Cowly [Matthias Cowley] made some introductory remarks in opening the meeting. After which he called for the presidents of the wards to give in a representation of their respective wards.

1st. Elder G. [George] W. Thurston reported that the Saints in his ward were pretty well in generally. They kept their floor clean as far as possible and wished they should do progression.

2nd. Elder Lorenzo D. Rudd reported that some ones had been suffering in his ward of sickness which they had brought with them on board, but they were now convalescent and hoped that all sickness soon would leave them. He bore testimony about [p. 11] the truth of the work of the Lord in these the latter days.

3rd. Elder Christen Larsen reported that had been sick in his ward, but the Lord had blest and raised them up. He had divided his ward in four parts and appointed an elder to have inspection in each of them. The brethren were faithful in discharging their duties. Only 3 or 4 persons were very sick. The Saints were feeling well according to the circumstances.

4th. Elder Carl C. N. Dorius reported that the Saints in his ward were blest, though it in the most unhealthy place on board this ship. Many in his ward had been sick, but were soon well. They were willing to attend to his councils and the Spirit of the Lord was among them.

Elder O. [Olof] N. Lilinquist [Liljenquist] gave some good instructions at the close of the meeting.

The meeting closed with song and [p. 12] prayer by Elder Mathias Cowly [Matthias Cowley] until at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, opened with prayer by Elder O. C. Olsen and song.

Elder O. [Olof] N. Liljenquist raised and told that President Cowly [Matthias Cowley] could not be with us at present, because he had been ill, but that he (Liljenquist) was authorized to lay before the conference those things which were upon his mind.

Elder O. [Olof] N. Liljenquist moved therefore, that Brigham Young and his two counselors were sustained as the First Presidency for the Church in all the world and also the Twelve Apostles in their place and Orson Pratt as president over the mission in Europe and his counselors and all the authorities in all the world. All united.

Mathias Cowly [Matthias Cowley] was sustained [p. 13] as president for the Saints on board this ship and Henry Lunt and O. [Olof] N. Liljenquist as his counselors, and all the presidents of the wards likewise sustained. Elder C. [Carl] C. A. Christensen as clerk.

President Cowly [Cowley] had collected 12 dollars for every adult and 6 dollars for children between 1 and 8 years of age to pay their journey on the railway in America.

Being called upon, the Saints sustained what he had done by an unanimously vote. The meeting was then left to the brethren and sisters to express their feelings. 7 elders bore their testimony by the Spirit of the Lord. Elder O. [Olof] N. Liljenquist gave some instructions and Elder L. [Lorenzo] D. Rudd closed with prayer.

In the evening at 7 o'clock an infant died by name Ephram Gottfred Jensen. Born in [p. 14] Copenhagen on 22nd of July 1856. Name of his father Anders Jensen. It was brought upon deck where it remained in the night.

18. In the morning the death [dead] child was buried. It was very fine day and all the Saints were well as might be expected. The wind continued in the east or a little south of east all the day. Music and dancing on the deck. In the night, good meetings in the wards.

19. Wind fair from the east. Had been strong all the night.

20. In the forepart of the day foggy and wet. Wind from the east. There was little change in the wind or weather during the day till in the evening, when a breeze struck up blew fresh from the south-west.

21. The wind was good but yet unfavorable as it blew from the south, [p. 15] west by west. The weather pretty fine and the Saints were well in generally and were mostly on the deck. The provisions were served out this day.

22. Fine weather but the wind continued unfavorable all the day. Provisions were served out this day. In the evening music and dancing on the deck and afterwards meetings in the wards.

23. Fine weather, but unfavorable wind. The Saints were mostly on the deck.

24. Fine weather but the wind unfavorable. In the afternoon at 2 o'clock was held meeting in each ward under guidance of the presidents. Good instructions were given concerning the landing in Philadelphia and as further. The most of the Saints were on the deck and were very well in generally. [p. 16]

25. Fine weather, but no wind. The Saints used this day in preparing for the landing.

26. Fine weather, but the wind against us. In the evening it changed a little more in our favor, so that we in the night were going rather fast. The Saints were nearly all on the deck.

27. Fine weather and the wind continued as last night so that we soon passed another vessel, which was going in the same course as we. A sister had got fever and was administered to by the elders. The Saints were preparing for the landing yet.

28. Fine wind, but foggy. In the evening did we see a light ship and in the night we received the pilot on board.

29. A pretty fine day but little of wind. In the morning passed by "Cape May" and in the forenoon did we see the coast of [p. 17] both sides of Delaware Bay, and the Saints were rejoicing by this sight. The music played and the Saints danced on the deck.

30. A pretty fine day. The Saints were rejoiced by the beautiful sight of the land on both sides of Delaware River. A steamer took us in tow, which was later changed with two other ones and we went forth until it got dark and we anchored. About at [-] o'clock died an old man, 82 years of age. He was born on the [-] in Jutland in Denmark and had no relations along with him in this company.

31. A fine day. In the morning our two steamers continued their journey with us up the Delaware River, and passed great many towns and villages. [p. 18] [NO RECORD OF ARRIVAL INTO SALT LAKE CITY IS PROVIDED HERE.]

BIB: Matthias Cowley Emigrating Company. Journal. (Ms 5479) pp.1-18. (CHL)
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