. . . We left Penworthen to go to Liverpool and take shipping for America on the 30th day of May in the year 1840.

We got all of our luggage on board that night. We bought some more provisions the day after. June 2nd, we bought Richard Moon, my oldest brother, 36 yards of linen for a tent. When we returned to the ship (the ship's name was Britannia), we found Elders Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball aboard. They had stretched a curtain across our cabin and commenced blessing the company. They bid us walk in. They showed us a way and gave us directions about the route we should take to Commerce, (Nauvoo).

June 5th - We went out into the river about 2 o'clock.

June 6th - About 4 o'clock we were let loose in the river and set sail.

June 7th - Sunday - Most of us were sick.

June 8th - We had a strong and boisterous wind.

June 9th - Some of us began to get a little better.

From about this time to the 18th of June we had much sickness -- seasickness and flucks [UNCLEAR] -- had a strong head wind.

June 19th - the passengers were aroused to much excitement by the sailors beating the old cook; the captain and first and second mates were called. They laid hold of the sailor who began to fight, to put him in irons, but all the balance took sides with him. After quite a stir they got the sailors quieted down again.

June 28th - We had a fine day, but with much sickness aboard.

July 2nd - We got to the banks of Newfoundland; saw a fishing craft, bought some fish, etc. [p.2]

July 17th - We cast anchor in sight of New York City. We stopped in the river two days; then came to the city, stayed in the city eight days. I took a bad cold in the banks of Newfoundland, the glands of both of my ears full. I could neither sleep, eat, speak, nor drink anything. They carried me to Brother Addison Everett's room. William W. Rust gave me some medicine which opened my throat; Sister Everatt nursed me with all the care of a mother till I could be moved again.

July 28th - We took steamboat for Philadelphia, sailed 2 hours and 15 minutes; then took railway 2 hours 22 minutes, then steamboat again, reached Philadelphia at 3 o'clock.

July 20th - I left Philadelphia for Pittsburg.

August 6th - Got to Pittsburg about 10 o'clock at night.

August 7th - Rented a house in Pirastown, [UNCLEAR, NO SUCH TOWN KNOWN] Pittsburg.

August 21st - Crossed the Alleghany River, rented a house in Alleghany City.

October 2nd - Thomas Moon died at 25 minutes past 10 o'clock at night of billious fever.

October 9th - Moved out into the country about 15 miles, rented a log house in Pine Township. The waters were so low we could not travel, so we went into the country to thresh grain till spring.

January 19th, 1841 - Henry Moon, my uncle, died, aged 71 years.

April 3rd - Went to Pittsburg, put our things on a boat by the name of "William Penn."

April 4th - Started up the river, got to Wheeling at 6 o'clock.

April 7th - Touched at Cincinnati.

April 12th - Got to St. Louis.

April 16th - Got to Montrose, saw my Aunt Lydia and brother, William Clayton. He helped us to move our luggage to a log cabin half a mile from the river.

April 20th - We got Uncle Thomas Moon's oxen and moved to a log cabin about three miles from the river, or rather from Montrose.

Myself and my brother, John and a young man by the name of Henry Moon, who married my sister, Lydia, went to work ditching for a man by the name of Bosher, we did not work long before we all got sick of the fever and ague. I got so low they could not tell whether I was living or dead. I finally came too again and lived through it. My mother was so as to be about. [UNCLEAR] She did for those of us who were sick while she could possibly get around. Then she took a heavy chill, gave it up, and took her bed. She had a short but severe illness and August 14th, 1841, she died.

December 9th - We came down to Montrose to a log house owned by Bates Nobles; myself, and my brother John, and three sisters -- Hannah, Dorothy and Alice lived in Montrose for two or three years. We rented land of a man by the name of Kilburn.

We bought a claim in Jack Oak Grove and part builded a house, fenced a small patch of land then sold out.

January 12th, 1845 - I was ordained a high priest in the Masonic Hall at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois.

April 21st - We crossed the river and moved to Nauvoo. . . . [p.3]

BIB: Moon, Hugh. Autobiographical sketch (formerly in Msd 2050), pp. 2-3. (CHL) (Ms 11392)
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