The Westmoreland—
The Ship Westmoreland, with U.S. registry, weighing 999 tons, Robert R. Decan serving as Ships Master, Departed Liverpool, England, April 25, 1857, arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, on Easter Sunday, May 31, 1857. The number of LDS passengers was reported as 544. Passage length was approximately 36 days. Matthias Cowley was in charge of the LDS emigrants on this crossing of the Atlantic as well as the ensuing crossing of the plains. Ship details are as follows—
Ship: 999 tons: 170' x 36' x 18'
Built: 1851 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
With 544 Latter-day Saint passengers, the full-rigged Westmoreland of Philadelphia sailed from Liverpool on 25 April 1857. Of this company 540 were from Scandinavia, and four missionaries were returning from Great Britain: Elders Matthias Cowley, Lorenzo D. Judd, Henry Lunt, and George W. Thurston. Elder Cowley presided over the emigrants with Henry Lunt and Ola N. Liljenquist as his counselors. Among the emigrants was C. C. A. Christensen, the famous Mormon painter.
Master of the vessel was Captain Robert R. Decan. He had considerable experience at sea. before assuming command of the Westmoreland in 1854. For example, in 1848 he skippered the 339-ton bark Sultana; in 1849, the 624-ton ship Champlain; in 1851, the 738-ton ship Shenandoah; and in 1852, the 816-ton ship Saranak. Most of the vessels ran out of Philadelphia.
The crossing was one of harmony and good feeling among the emigrants. During the voyage an old man and two small children died. Five couples were married, and a baby was born and appropriately named for the master and ship— Decan Westmoreland Goff. After a thirty-six day passage the emigrants landed at Philadelphia on 31 May.
The Westmoreland was owned by John Burton and John R. Penrose of Philadelphia. She was a two-decker with three masts, a square stern, a figurehead, and was built of oak with iron and copper fastenings. In 1873 the vessel was wrecked by fire and sold at auction. There is no known photograph of this vessel.
Nicolai Sorensen noted the following for us in his account of the voyage—
Thursday, April 23rd, 1857—
We got up at 6:00 a.m. and as usual had morning prayer. We then were served coffee and French bread, all we could eat. Each family was given their passport. It was made out in English so we could not read them. We left the hotel to go to the dock where the big steamship lay that was to take us over the mighty ocean to the State of Philadelphia in America. At 12:00 noon we all was registered and had to spend the night on the ship at harbor. We had very nice beds to sleep in, three in a bed. Husband, wife and one child in each.Friday, April 24th, 1857—
Friday morning, for the first time, we crawled out of our nests and we were all happily satisfied. We spent some time straightening up our belongings. At 8:00 a.m. together with two brethren, Olsen and N. Nielsen and a few more, we went into the city of Liverpool. Here we bought six loaves of English bread and a looking glass. We would have bought more things but didn’t have more time to spare as the ship was to leave at 12:00 noon. We got there plenty early. We didn’t leave till 3:00 p.m.Saturday, April 25th, 1857—
This morning was very special. We were to begin our long journey across the big ocean from Liverpool to Philadelphia. At 8:00 a.m. a small steamer pulled our large ship out of the harbor to deeper water. Here the sails were hoisted. The wind was good and we sailed along at good speed and all was well. There was given out food, one-half loaf of bread to each and 1 lb. of pork a week per person. A few began to get a little seasick. We went to bed at 8:15 p.m. Three men were chosen to stand guard.
— The Westmoreland —
Saturday, May 30th, 1857— Got up at 5:00 a.m. The weather was good. We were still anchored. We could hardly wait to see the state of Philadelphia. At 10:00 a.m. the anchor was taken up. Two small boats were helping us to get in the harbor, one on each side. At 7:30 p.m. we again lowered the anchor as it was getting dark and was hard in the small stretch of water to get to the docks. It happened, an old man 82 died between 6 and 7 in the evening. He was from Vendsyssel. We seen many big and fine looking ships.
Easter Sunday, May 31st 1857— Got up at 4:30 a.m. Today was Easter and never in my life had I seen such a wonderful Easter day. We were getting into the harbor fast. I got up on deck. I never will forget the most beautiful sight. I have never seen a more beautiful one. Those big beautiful buildings, the green meadows where cattle were out grazing, the green forest. It was all too wonderful for words. We landed at Philadelphia at 6:00 p.m. It had been very slow to get into the harbor, as the harbor is long and narrow. A few got to go into see the city and also to buy things needed. I sent with Bro. Jeppesen.(1)
— Westmoreland Passenger Listing, Totals by Type and Country —
Family friend and fellow Dane, Ola N. Liljenquist left us the following—
At Liverpool, we embarked on a sailing vessel called, Westmoreland, belonging to Philadelphia. After seven weeks at sea, we arrived at Philadelphia, and the first news we learned was that Parley P. Pratt had been assassinated, and President Buchanan had sent a large army against the Mormons. From here we took the railway to Iowa City; here I was appointed to go with the handcart company to Florence and my family to go with the wagon company. From Florence, I had the privilege of going with my family to Salt Lake City, where we arrived, September 13th, passing Buchanan's Army on the plains, they traveling on the south side of the Platte and we on the north. We did not see them, but on the plains we met Joseph W. Young on his way to Europe, calling all the missionaries home. Myself, wife and four children arrived all right and well in Zion, according to the prediction of F. D. Richards.(2)
- Nicolai Sorensen, Account of the Voyage from Denmark to America, 1857, Unpublished typed manuscript.
- Ola N. Liljenquist, Autobiography of Bishop O. N. Liljenquist, Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine, July 1881, page 571.
