"DEPARTURE. -- The William Stetson cleared and sailed April 26th for New York, with 293 souls of the Saints on board, under the presidency of Elder Aaron Smethurst, Francis Sproull, and William Wright, which is the last company that we send out under the present American Emigration Law, and swells the number of souls sent out by us since last November to over 3600, of whom over 1100 went out by the P. [Perpetual] E. [Emigration] Fund, Although we participate in the joys and exalted hopes of those who have so far obtained deliverance, still we ask ourselves when shall the remaining nineteen-twentieths of the Saints in Europe get away, who are equally as anxious to go, perhaps quite as worthy, but see not the least chance, except through the kindness of their brethren who are able to extend a hand for their deliverance!"
MS, 17:19 (May 12, 1855), p.296
"THE WILLIAM STETSON. -- The New York Herald of May 30, announces the arrival at that port of the William Stetson, May 27. Two births occurred on board and four deaths
. This vessel was the last we dispatched."
MS, 17:25 (June 23, 1855), pp.395-96
"EIGHTY EIGHTH COMPANY. -- William Stetson, 293 souls. On the twenty-sixth of April, 1855, the ship William Stetson cleared from the port of Liverpool, and sailed for
New York with two hundred and ninety-three Saints on board, under the presidency of Elders Aaron Smethust, Francis Sproul and William Wright. This was the last company of Saints forwarded under the American Emigration Law, and swelled the number of emigrants sent out by the presidency in Liverpool since November, 1854, to three thousand six hundred and twenty-six, of whom one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven came out by the P. [Perpetual] E. [Emigration] Fund. It is estimated that about one thousand five hundred of them reached the Valley in 1855, while the remainder located temporarily in various parts of the United States in order to obtain means to complete their journey to Utah whenever circumstances would permit.
The nationality of the emigrant was as follows: English, 2218; Scotch, 401; Welsh, 287; Irish, 28; from France Channel Islands, 75; Danes, 409; Swedes, 71; Norwegians,
53; Swiss, 15; Italians 15; Germans, 13; Prussian, 1.
The William Stetson had a fair voyage across the Atlantic, and arrived at New York on the twenty-seventh of May. Two births and four deaths occurred on board. I have no accounts at hand about the journey of that company from New York to Atchison. (Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, pp. 296, 395, 406, 600.) . . . "
Cont., 13:12 (Oct. 1892), p.548
"Thurs. 26. [Apr. 1855] -- The ship William Stetson sailed from Liverpool, with 293 Saints, under Aaron Smithurst's direction. It arrived at New York May 27th."
CC, p.53
(source abbreviations)