Saints by SeaMS, 17:50 (Dec. 15, 1855), p.792
"NINETIETH COMPANY. -- Emerald Isle, 350 souls. The ship, Emerald Isle, Captain G. P. Cornish, cleared from the port of Liverpool on the twenty-eighth, and sailed on the thirtieth of November, 1855, with three hundred and fifty Saints on board, under the presidency of Philemon C. Merrill, assisted by Elders Joseph France and T. B. H. Stenhouse. Only a little sickness prevailed on board, except the ordinary seasickness. On the twenty-sixth of December a heavy sea caused by high winds stove in a part of the bulwark, rent a sail or two, and caused considerable confusion. The same evening two children died. Three couples were married on board. On the twenty-ninth of December the Emerald Isle arrived at New York, and the emigrants were landed in Castle Garden, where some of them remained a few days, until they found houses to live in, and the brethren obtained employment. Some of the emigrants continued the journey to St. Louis and other parts of the West, and in due course of time most of them reached the valleys of the mountains. (Millennial Star, Vol. XVII, page 792; Vol. XVIII, page 78.)"
Cont., 13:12 (Oct. 1892) p.553
"Fri. 30 [Nov. 1855] -- The ship Emerald Isle sailed from Liverpool, England, with 349 Saints, under the direction of Philemon C. Merrill. It arrived at New York Dec.
29th."
CC, p.55
. . . I was taken sick with the same fever and was very weak and low for six months, but I recovered and in 1855 in Nov. started for America. Leaving my family in London believing I could make means in New York to get my family over, I sailed in the ship Emerald Isle, Captain Mackintosh, our voyage was rough and cold but we landed safe in New York.
Dec. 31st 1855 weather very cold and snow deep as it was the depth of winter, work was very scarce, but I managed to make enough to live on. Many Saints came in this winter from Europe and President Taylor appointed me to look after them and act as a kind of agent for them, this gave me an insight into business and men that I had never had before.[p.17]
. . . On July 4th 1856 my wife arrived in New York with our two daughters, Mary Kate and Ellen Eliza and my wife's niece Harriet Eliza Scott having crossed the ocean in the Ship Horizon to Boston.
Immediately on the arrival of my wife I went to President Taylor to seek his counsel about coming to Utah with the handcart company. He advised me not to go with that company. He told me he wished me to stay in New York for three years, and to help all I could that I was not fit to haul a handcart. [p.19] I was appointed corresponding secretary for the Eastern Mission which office I held till I left for Utah. . . . [p.20]
. . . On the 24th May 1859 I started from New York for Utah in company with T. [Thomas] B. H. Stenhouse, William J. Silver, & Thomas Lyon. We came by Albany, Niagara, Chicago, to Quincy Illinois from Quincy to Omaha by boat.[p.21] We laid at Omaha several weeks while a train was being fitted out to cross the plains.
Elder Edward Stevenson was captain of the company, T. [Thomas] B. H. Stenhouse chaplain, Joe Eldridge [Joseph Eldredge] musician, W. [William] J Silver secretary. . . . [p.22][DATE OF ARRIVAL IS MISSING IN THE JOURNAL, HOWEVER THE 1997-98 DESERET NEWS ALMANAC p. 173 INDICATES THIS COMPANY ARRIVED SEPTEMBER 15-16, 28, 1859]
BIB: Robinson, Joseph Eldridge. Biography of, and some writings by, Joseph Eldridge and Joseph Eldridge Robinson, his grandson (Ms 7686), bx. 5, fd. 6, reel 4, pp.17, 19-22 (CHL)
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