Bound for America

"I kept on with my work with Mr. Glenmester [Glenester] until the middle of winter and we were frozen out for a little while. Then as the parish gargents had made me keep my mother as they said, I thought I would try to make them keep both of us. And so I applied to the parish for relief, to Mr. Christmass. He said to me, "I should have thought that a young man like you would be ashamed to ask for relief from the parish." I told him they made me keep my mother for years, which I was willing to do but I was out of work and my mother was sick in bed and it takes most of my cousins time to attend to her. He says, "If you will meet me at Hemel Hempstead tomorrow morning I will give you an order to go to the Union." I agreed to be there in the morning at 8 o'clock. I was prompt, got my order and went in. They cut my hair short and changed my clothes and set me to work painting window bars. I was there 3 days before they brought me before the Gargents [guardians]. 

"They called me before them the fourth day and asked me if I was a Mormon. I told them I was. Did I pay tithing. Answer, yes. "Is it true you pay a tenth of your earnings?" "Yes, sir." "Don't you think it would have been much better to have put it in a savings bank?" I told them I had put it into the Lord's savings bank and I should get a good percentage. "Do you believe in going to America?" "Yes sir, but I've not got the money to go with." Says he, "I should think you could work your way across the sea." I told them I did not know. Sir Ashley Cooper was the chairman. He says, "Under the present circumstances the Board will allow your mother 2 shillings a week- one in provisions and one in cash." I thanked him kindly and gave notice that I should leave, which I did the next day. Five days (in) the poor house as a poper [pauper]. I then left satisfied, for I had gained the point that was desired and that was to get the parish to allow mother something after I had left.

"The frost broke up and I went back to work. My work mates laughed to see my hair cut short and going in as a poper [pauper.] I told them my object for so doing.

"My brother Edward had sent back the money I loaned to him, with interest, and wanted that I leave old England and come out to America and bring his sweetheart, Elizabeth Fillpot (Philpot). He sent me this money to bring her with me if she wished to come, about the first week in March in the year 1861.

"I gave my master notice that I should have to leave him about the last of that month. He said, "I am sorry, John, that you are going to leave us, but I will buy anything that you have to sell to help you raise some more money to help you off. I sold him quite a few things, such as my mother didn't want to use.

"All hands treated to a gallon of beer each day the last week I was at work with them. I left them on the 7^th of April 1861. The day was my birthday, 22 years old. I went up to the work where they were with a large bottle of beer and a birthday cake which surprised them very much. My master paid me all that he owed me and gave me half a crown for pocket money. As I was coming back home I met an old master. He asked me what was the reason that I was not at work. Said I, "My work is done in this country." "Why," said he, "you are not going to leave us are you? Why you were in the Union as a poper [pauper] last month and now you have sufficient means to go to America." "Yes, I have enough to take me across the water and my brother, Edward has got me a place to work where he was working. Well, goodbye, Mr. John Austin. I must be going to Hemel Hampstead tonight."

"I started off home to get ready to pack my clothes in a box, when my mother said, "Then you intend going, do you?" "Yes, mother, I must go. I have already my
certificate in my possession and that says I must be down to Liverpool on the 10^th of April 1861." I bade my sister Charlotte goodbye and she gave me 10 shillings to help me off. They were both crying and said they should never see me or Edward again for the ship might sink. I told them not to fear. I was in the Lord's hands and He would guide the vessel in all storms and guide me safely through.

"I started to Hemel Hempstead that day, lodged with William Sells that night. Started off the next morning to Boxmoor station with three or four others. April 16^th 1861, we started from Hemel Hempstead, took the through train from Boxmoor to Liverpool with my life insured for 2 pence.

"We landed in Liverpool in the evening, about 6 o'clock. There we found Bro. Blackbourne, Bro. Edwin Scott, Jacob Yater and others waiting for us to come and buy their tin ware ready to go on the ship, Manchester. We went down to the docks the next day and found out that the ships bunks would not be ready until the 14^th, when we were called upon to go on board and get acquainted with our several bunks and save expenses which we did. And the tugboat tugged us out to anchor and Bro. George Q. Cannon and Bro. Lyman came out to us and organized our brethren for the trip and preached to us about being patient with one another and trying to help one another.

"The next morning, April 15^th, the word came that if anyone wanted to go ashore to buy necessities, they could, by permit. I went and bought a barrel with an open lid, lock and key, a straw mattress, a leg of pork, cooked and a few other things to spend my money, for word came on board ship that English money was of no use in America, and so I gave the last 2 shillings to Bro. Blackburn

[The Manchester was built in 1860 by Tobey and Littlefield at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was 1067 tons and 178' x 36' x 18'. Two companies of Mormon emigrants crossed the Atlantic aboard the American ship, Manchester. The vessel was commanded by Captain G. D. S. Trask on both occasions. He was from New York and in 1864 skippered the large "Down Easter" General McClellan. The Manchester's first voyage began on 16 April 1861 at Liverpool. Elder Claudius V. Spencer, a missionary returning because of failing health, presided over the 359 emigrants. He was assisted by Elders Edward Hanham and William Jeffries. After a successful crossing of 28 days, the packet ship docked at New York on May 14th. This three-masted square rigger was owned by Captain Trask, Benjamin J. H. Trask and Joseph Stewart of New York City. The Manchester was a two-decker with a square stern billethead. Of the Saints who made this journey to "Zion" it may be said they were "intrepid men, women and children who went down to the sea in ships, crossed the great waters, and found new life and hope in a distant land." Of such fearless character was John Durrant of Bovingdon, Hertfordshire.] 

His account continues . . .

• "April 16^th 1861, I started to America on the sailing ship, Manchester, about 11 o'clock in the morning, it being very calm.
• April 17^th, still calm weather.
• April 18^th, fair sailing, one couple married that evening.
• April 19^th, good sailing, one sailor drowned and one vessel in sight.
• April 20^th, good sailing, one vessel in sight.
• April 21^st, fair sailing, 4 vessels in sight. The Saints asked permission to hold a meeting on deck and it was granted. Subject: "Why do the Saints gather?"
• April 22^nd, very calm, 4 vessels in sight. A party on deck, fiddling and dancing on deck. Dismissed by prayer.
• April 23^rd, very calm, 4 vessels in sight. That day, spent the evening in fiddling and dancing and singing.
• April 25^th, good sailing, several vessels in sight that day.
• April 26^th, very good sailing that day, one vessel in sight that night.
• April 27^th, very good sailing.
• April 28^th- 29^th, wet and foggy but good sailing.
• April 30^th, good sailing.
• May 1^st, good sailing and plenty of porpoises to be seen ahead of the vessel.
• May 2^nd, A hard wind and very cold.
• May 3^rd, calm and 2 vessels in sight.
• May 4^th, good sailing, fiddling and dancing on board deck.
• May 5^th, the sea very rough and the weather very cold, several vessels in sight.
• May 6^th, fair sailing, fiddling and dancing in the evening.
• May 8^th, good sailing, that evening spent in various kinds of amusements.
• May 9^th, calm, the evening spent in fiddling and dancing, a pilot came on board.
• May 10^th, very calm, different kinds of amusements on deck during the day, dancing in the evening.
• May 11^th, calm, one couple carried on deck, fiddling and dancing.
• May 12^th, very calm, a meeting called on deck, opened by singing and prayer.

Many subjects were touched upon by the brethren.
• May 13^th, very calm, arriving at *sandy Hook and cast anchor that evening.
• May 14^th, raining very fast.

"The ship Manchester was tugged into New York harbor May 16^th 1861, anchored out for the night. Small boats of bread came out there for sale but I could not buy for I had given my last sixpence to Brother Blackburn in Liverpool. 

"May 17^th my brother Edward hired a row boat and came out to the vessel, bringing some provisions with him. I was looking over the bulwarks with one of those hard biscuits in hand, trying to eat it when he held up a handkerchief with some food in it for us. We were much pleased to see him for we had not seen him for twelve months. That next day took us into Castle Gardens to get us registered and then I started out to Astoria, Queens County, Long Island to A. C. Henerys. It was late at night when we got there. All hands were gone to bed. Edward and I laid in the same bed. We were talking about the old country all night. We saw daylight approaching before we dropped off to sleep.

"The boss got up, made the fire and got breakfast for all the hands. After breakfast he told me I could go and saw wood into lengths for the stove. It was very hard hickory, the saw being very dull it made me sweat. The boss came to me and tried it and sent me off to get it sharpened.

"About this time Henry Groom came to see me and inquired about his brother Nathan and the rest of the people at Beachwood Green, where he came from. I was pleased to see him because he was the first one that brought the everlasting gospel to Bovingdon and Edward was the first to receive it. Henry inquired of me about Martha Newland, a young lady that Henry promised to send for and marry but he found out she was coming with me but never came near the vessel to see her. And what was the reason? He had taken up with an Irish girl in the states and married her. He had broken his word in twelve months. Consequently he apostatized and he never came any further.

"After around there for a few days my boss said, "John I want you to take charge of my horses if you will." "Yes sir," says I, "that is just to my hand." Now this required me to get up a little earlier in the morning, about 5 o'clock. Now this was quite different to what it was in old England - three hours less work a day and more pay. I gave very good satisfaction. The horses began to look much better in flesh. I continued with them until the 22^nd of July 1861, when the boss came and said, "John, I am sorry that the war continues. [A reference, no doubt to the War Between the States, or the Civil War as it came to be known.] My business is very dull and I am compelled to discharge some of my men." Now he says to me, "It matters not to me whether Teddy emigrated, or you. Both suit me very well. You can see your brother Teddy and make it up between yourselves, and I will pay either of you and send my team to the depot with your luggage as I understand that the last of your people will start for Salt Lake City on the 23^rd."