Elijah Parsons Immigration

Information on Elijah Parsons' immigration from England to the United States

from the Immigrant Ancestors Project:

Age: 15
Origin: England
Occupation: Labourer
Departure: 28 March
City: Liverpool, England
Voyage Name: George Washington
Church Leaders: James P. Park
Number of Passenger 817

“NINETY-NINTH COMPANY – George Washington.  817 souls.  The fine ship George Washington, Captain Cummings, sailed from Liverpool on the twenty-eighth of March, 1857, with eight hundred and seventeen of the Saints on board, including fourteen returning elders… James P. Park was appointed president of the company with Jesse B. Martin and C.R. Dana as counselors; A.M. Musser, secretary.  The ship had an unusually speedy and prosperous voyage, reaching Boston in twenty-three sailing days from Liverpool.  Four deaths occurred on board, and one child was born.  Captain Cummings, in reply to a complimentary note from President Park and counselors, and secretary of the company, stated, ‘I am free to acknowledge that on no previous voyage have my passengers conducted themselves so orderly and peaceably as those in your charge; cleanliness, morality, sobriety, reciprocation of favors and general good behavior were preeminently conspicuous in their conduct and character.’  On Monday, April 20^th, the George Washington arrived in Boston harbor, and on the following Thursday (April 23^rd), the emigrants disembarked and most of them left Boston by rail the same day in the afternoon.  A few proceeded to New York, and perhaps other places, in search of employment, not having means to continue the journey straight to Utah, while the bulk of the company traveled westward via Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Chicago and Rock Island to Iowa city, where they arrived on the thirtieth.  Here they were met by Elder James A. Little, the emigration agent who had arrived at the outfitting place the day before.  With considerable exertion he and the brethren of the company succeeded in getting the tents, wagon covers, and other commodities which he had purchased for the emigrants on the camp ground, and, considering that the luggage of the company had not yet arrived, except what little they had brought along for immediate or daily use, they were made quite comfortable for the night.  On the first of May a supply of provisions was got on the ground, and the tents were more permanently arraigned.  The bulk of the emigrants’ luggage also arrived in the evening of that day, after which everybody set busily to work preparing for the journey across the plains.  (Millennial Star, Vol. XIX, pp. 223, 334, 363, 377, 379; Deseret News, Vol. VII, p. 141.” <Cont., 14:7 (May 1893), p. 342>