Under Sail for America

Introduction 

            A short sketch of the conversion of Joseph and Ann Shelton Howard is given here to introduce the arduous journey they undertook for the sake of the Gospel.

            Joseph and Ann were readily converted when the “Mormon” Elders taught them.  They were soon baptized in a baptismal font constructed on their farm from water fed by a spring.  Joseph was ordained an Elder at that time and later appointed President of the Allison Street Branch. Meetings were held in an upstairs room of their home.  There was much opposition to the Church, but the membership of the branch continued to grow until it was necessary to secure larger quarters.  Joseph was able to lease the Hockley Chapel for ninety-nine years.  When he was returning home that day some ruffians suddenly attacked him from behind and beat him unmercifully, yelling “Take that, you Bloody Mormon” and other insults.   Although he was a large, husky man, each time he tried to get up, he was knocked to the ground until he was almost unconscious.  His coat was badly torn, his silk hat battered in, and his face cut and bleeding.  When even his neighbor refused to help him,  he was forced to stagger home unaided.  Thereafter, he was always accompanied to and from meetings by some of the members.  As the persecutions continued, the family grew increasingly anxious to gather with the Saints in Zion. Joseph presided over the branch until his departure to America almost thirteen years later.  Circumstances did not permit Joseph, Ann and their eleven children to come at that time.  They decided to send Thomas and William ahead to help earn the passage for the rest of the family to join them in Utah.

            The Howards were truly of a spiritual nature and proud of their heritage as witnessed by the names they chose for their children, Joseph, Mary, John, James, Samuel, Elizabeth, Hannah, Tamar, Richard, William, Ann and Emma.

Joseph and Ann Howard taken about the time of their immigration 

Chapter 1

For three years Church emigration from Europe had virtually ceased due to the problems brought on by what became known as the Utah War.  In 1860 Church leaders sought ways to help the poor to emigrate by initiating the down-and-back method where teams, wagons and supplies were sent from the Salt Lake Valley to meet the immigrating Saints and help them to reach the body of Saints in Utah. 
    Despite the long-felt urgency, because of their large family and financial situation, the Howards had not been able  to leave.  After  much faith and prayer, they determined to send the two oldest boys, only sixteen and seventeen years old, ahead to help earn money for the rest of the family to follow. On April 23, 1861, Thomas and William, having bid farewell to their family and friends, left Liverpool aboard one of three Church-chartered ships carrying approximately 2000 Saints from England to America during April and May of that year.  They sailed from their homeland beneath the flag of their new country on the Underwriter with Captain J. Roberts, Ship’s Master, and Elder Milo Andrus, a returning missionary as company leader.   The Saints were divided into nine wards, which included a separate ward for unmarried men away from the families and single women.  The brothers were very blessed to have each other for companions as they experienced this new adventure, watching the ocean crash against the hull of the ship or wash across the deck, and listening to the flapping of the canvas as the wind whistled and howled through the shrouds and rigging.  They had never  been crowded into such close quarters with so many strangers before. Thank goodness most of the passengers shared their religious beliefs and goals.
    Although it proved to be a relatively swift voyage, lasting only 29 days, it was long enough for them to get homesick. They missed the family back home.  Their mother [Ann Shelton Howard] was expecting her eleventh baby soon, which she planned to name Tamar, after her Grandmother Tamar Mills Howard, if it was a girl. 
    Thomas no doubt missed his sweetheart Mary Lowe. “The Last Farewell,”(43). a paraphrased popular song from a few years ago, gives some insight into how Thomas must have felt leaving his sweetheart, Mary.

There’s a ship lies riggin’ ready in the harbor,
Tomorrow from old England she sails;
Far away to a land of endless sunshine,
From a land of rainy skies and gales.

And I shall be aboard this ship tomorrow,
Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell,
For you are beautiful, and I have loved you dearly,
More dearly than the spoken word can tell.

Though death and darkness gather all about me,
And my ship be torn apart upon the sea.
I shall smell again the fragrance of these islands,
In the heaving waves that took me far from thee.
                               
I have no fear of death, it brings no sorrow,
But how bitter will be this last farewell,
For you are beautiful, and I have loved you dearly,
More dearly than the spoken work can tell.

If I return again someday to England
I’ll watch the English mist roll through the dell,
For she is beautiful, and I have loved her dearly,
More dearly than the spoken work can tell.

    Since no picture of the Underwriter ship exists, we can only imagine how she looked.  From the written description of her, we know she was built with a round stern, a full length figurehead and three decks.
    The company clerk aboard this ship recorded insight into their trip as follows: (26) 
    “The Underwriter, Capt. Roberts, containing 618 souls started out of the Waterloo Dock on Sunday Morning, April 21st, and after a short run was anchored in the River Meresey, Liverpool.  The First Presidency, namely, Amasa Lyman, Chas. C. Rich and Geo. Q. Cannon came on board and appointed Milo Andrus President and Homer Duncan and Chas. W. Penrose as his counselors, thus forming the presidency over the ship.  The doctor examined the passengers and crew and all was satisfactory.
    April 23rd Tuesday: Sailed from Liverpool exactly at 5 o’clock p.m., weather very fine, but wind unfavorable. The scenes of Liverpool Docks, the vessels lying in the river were severally attracted to the company on board...All seemed merry and amused themselves with singing and play.  General good feelings prevailed for we were brightened up with hope of happy days to come, when the good folks we parted with would follow on to meet and live with us in Zion.  Temporary arrangements were made for the wards, and men were selected to rule.
    April 24th Wednesday: Still was calm.  A few were sick during the past night.  Some dancing on board.  Most upon the deck walking about enjoying the fresh air and casting glances at the Welsh coast. Meeting held for instructions.
    April 25th Thursday: 155 miles from Liverpool, coast of Ireland in sight.  Arrangements for cooking made with the presidents of wards.  A party held last night in which we had some good comic and sentimental songs and recitations.  At 8:30 the wards met in prayer.  Afterwards some walked on deck and watched the rising of the moon.  The glistening rays played upon the wide expanse of waters, the sky was unclouded and spangled with bright stars.  A fine breeze began to fill the sails and our ship dashed along at a fine rate.  The saints had ceased to sing and a calm prevailed when the music of an accordion handled by Captain’s cook broke upon the ear.  A group quickly surrounded him to listen.  After this entertainment we started away to our sleeping cribs.
    April 26th Friday: Sailing direct west.  Saw the Coast of Ireland more distinctly. Pleasant weather, but little wind.  Groups of Saints to be seen singing, reading, dancing and playing.
    April 27th Saturday: Eight vessels in sight sailing south.  A stiffer breeze this morning.  The ship rocks and pitches causing many complaints of sick headache and making many of the most healthy to vomit.  Eight of the berths fell down during the night.  A sister narrowly escaped having her head crushed, none were injured.
    April 28th Sunday: Distance from New York 2600 miles.  At 9:30 a.m. wards met to prayer and sacrament and remarks by several brethren.  All seemed very happy and united.  Another meeting in afternoon...Thoughts and talk of friends who doubtless missed us.
    April 29th Monday: Much motion in the ship and sickness with all its horrid weakening power has seized a great number of the Saints.
    April 30th Tuesday: Many confined to their beds too weak to rise, felt they were in the midst of whirlpool descending down.  Not many wanted the gruel, but red potatoes, rice and other dainties.
      May 1st Wednesday: Many very sick today.  Fat and strong men and women had become weak and thin.  The Captain and doctor seemed ready to oblige and comfort the suffering.  We pray the lord will speed the ship and give us strength to bear the sickness.
    May 2nd Thursday: The Captain seems eager to get the decks cleaned and all the people on the upper deck.  The healthy boys (Thomas and William included) are engaged scraping and brushing up the floors.  Men are changed in appearance by another calamity, ‘apostasy from razors.’  We had a little dancing.  The young sisters, those who made themselves Ministering Angels to the sick, Brother Andrus asked to dance with him.
    May 5th Sunday: New York distant 1600 miles.  Liverpool is distant 1500 miles east.  Sails well filled.  She lays upon her side and cuts her way at a smart rate.  The Captain appears to take advantage of every wind and does not seem timid at the use of the canvas.
    May 6th Monday: A very strong breeze and roughest seas we have seen.  A crowd huddled together on deck would often be tossed about to a good drenching.  All seemed to bear these little scenes with merriment and good feeling.  The wind howled and blew grievously causing all to cling to ropes.
    May 7th Tuesday: Captain Andrus sick and weak.
    May 8th Wednesday: A ship alongside from New York brought newspapers.  The New York Herald World were dated 19th and 20th April.  Every column seems teaming with excitement about the outbreak of warlike movements of the North and South.  The troops passing through Baltimore on their road to Washington.
    May 9th Thursday: A dense fog.  The ship’s bell was tolled the whole day sounding quite doleful.  This fog produces chilly feelings.  It requires extra raiment to keep warmth within us.
    May 10th Friday: Still very foggy, bell still tolling.
    May 12th Sunday: Damp and cold weather, not many on deck, but those who are seem very blue around the nose.  Some are walking about very quickly to keep up the heat.  Everything very damp.  No prospect of meeting on deck this day.  New York 900 miles distant west and south. 
Moving direct west about 5 miles an hour.  Good feeling generally prevails, but occasionally a little
show of bad feeling prevails with the impatient at the cooking galley.  All cook their dinners on alternate days, so that sufficient has to be cooked to last 2 days.
    May 13th Monday: Sailing at a fast pace, if we continue to run as fast, we shall see New York in a very few days.  Sisters learning to cook from each other.  Making cakes from biscuits pounded to dust and then mixed with flour, pig fat, sugar and spice--it makes a very nice cake.
    May 14th Tuesday: Rushing through the waters very fast.  The vessel leans upon her side and the sea presents a rougher appearance than I have hitherto noticed.  New York 540 miles.  Bro. Andrus made first appearance since his sickness, but soon retired to his berth again.
    May 15th Wednesday: Extremely calm.
    May 16th Thursday: Saints assembled on deck and were amused with a number of Scotch and English songs and recitations.  This lasted about 2 hours and then a company enjoyed in dancing.  Beautiful sunset on horizon. Brother Penrose had a remarkable birth of a rat in his shoe this morning..
    May 17th Friday: Presidents of wards and Andrus prayed for favorable winds.
    May 18th Saturday: Plenty of rocking.  Sailed down south rather to much to result in a speedy conveyance to New York 292 miles. 
    May 19th Sunday: Saints dressed up for meetings on deck.  The ship has had an extra clean up and bears as smart an appearance so as rest of us.  Prayers and sacrament below deck.  On deck watched fish and birds.  3 p.m. upper deck meeting.
    May 20th Monday: The rain coming down in torrents.  Saints below decks, hatches all closed, sea very rough.
    May 21st Tuesday: Met pilot boat.  The people look smart and joyful at the prospect of soon landing.
    May 22ndWednesday: The doctor came on board this morning and all passed his inspection.  He praised our appearance and added that he never saw a company having such appearance of good health.  Captain and Lady left ship with doctor by steamboat.  The hour arrived for the Saints and their luggage to be removed from the ship.  While the conveyance was drawn to shore handkerchiefs and hats were waving, their voices competing with those engaged in the national war who were conducted on steamboat to Castle Gardens.
    May 23rd Thursday: Luggage weighed.  Started for railway station about 10 p.m.  Train started from New York.  The majority of the Saints who came in the Underwriter booked to Florence.”  (26)
                       

Castle Garden Baggage Room ca. early 1880s

Source Note:

This is Chapter 1 from The Joseph Howard Family Journeys: 1861 and 1864 by Inez Foy Barker, great-granddaughter of Thomas and Mary Lowe Howard, great-great granddaughter of Joseph and Ann Shelton Howard. © All rights are reserved for commercial use. Copies may be made for personal and family history research purposes. No changes may be made.

Reference 26 is from The Milo Andrus Immigration Co., LDS Church Archives, Ms. 260. Journal 1861 April - May and July-August. Access #1439-ARCH-88. 

Some of the illustrations are subsitutes for the originals.

Image of Liverpool from a souvenir booklet of the International Exhibition on Navigation, Commerce and Industry in Liverpool which was opened by Queen Victoria on May 11, 1886. The booklet was published by Lewis's of Liverpool, a famous department store of the time. See also http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2008/02/jesse-hartley-dock-builder/
http://www.whistonweb.co.uk/gen/machin.htm

Map of the Docks is a illustration of The River Mersey, in the port and town of Liverpool, it was originally published in the 'June 30 to July 31, 1832' issue of 'The Penny Magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge'. It is in the public domain and found on Wikipedia.

Picture of Castle Garden Baggage Room: Receiving and Storing Luggage of Arriving Emigrants, from Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration, by Fredrich Kapp (New York: Arno Press and the New York Times, 1969) found on The Ship's List.

Mother's Day

Picture of Mary Lowe Howard taken in middle age.

Just one week after Mother's Day, it seems not too late to share as a tribute to our maternal grandmothers the life sketch of Mary Lowe. Written by Sarah Ann Howard Tuttle who was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Lowe Howard, we hear in her words the love of a daughter for a mother. In the facts we gain an appreciation for the sacrifices she made for God, family and faith. If you have watched PBS series such as Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs you get some feeling of what her teenage and young adult years may have entailed as head cook for a wealthy, if not aristocratic, family in England.

A Life Sketch of Mary Dudly Lowe Howard

Mary Lowe Howard was the wife of Thomas Howard, and daughter of Richard and Sarah Dudly Lowe. She was born November 30, 1837 at Walbrook Staffordshire*, England and was the third in the family. She was the first one to join the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Her mother died when she was six years old, and she lived with her grandmother Dudly for a few years until her father married again and at 14 years of age she went out to work and became a special cook with wealthy families and made very good money. There was no free schooling in those days and children soon went out to make their own living; however, mother learned to read and write very well.

She was a head cook for a wealthy family who was religiously inclined. They had the minister come and read to them very often, but mother never seemed satisfied. She heard of some Mormon meetings that were being held some six miles from her home and she walked there to investigate. Joseph Howard was the District President and invited her to stay to their night meeting. Apostle Penrose who spoke that night seemed to be inspired and said the very things she had been wanting to know. Joseph Howard, who later became her father-in-law, took her home and she could hardly wait for her next Sunday off to visit the meetings again.

As she became more interested one of the servants told the people she was working for that she was attending Mormon meetings. They thought a good deal of mother and had the minister talk to her. They said she was too good a girl to be going to such meetings. But she prayed earnestly that if the Mormons were right that nothing would stand in her way or prevent her from becoming one of their people. She provised the Lord that she would rather live on potatoes and salt and be with his people than to live on the riches of the land without the true gospel, and she was surely put to the test.

Mother met with the minister a number of times at the request of the people she lived with, but the more she talked with him the more discontented she became, until she refused to see the minister and her mistress told her she would never have another girl that she thought so much of, but she would not have the minister treated that way and she would have to leave. They gave her a good letter of recommendation and said that she was very honest, trustworthy, agreeable and a good cook, but that she would associate with the Mormons. She looked a long time for work but no one would hire her being a Mormon. She finally found some people that said they had a peculiar religion too and it didn't make any difference to them although she had to take lower wages and work much harder.

source: Inside the Victorian Home, Judith Flanders, 2003

Mother kept going to the meetings and Joseph Howard said his son Thomas was younger and could take her home as he was better able to walk that distance. They began keeping company until he cam to Utah, he was to come here and help earn money with his brother William to bring her and the rest of the family. They agreed that if neither one met anyone they liked better before they were united in Utah they would get married when she arrived. Mother had a number of chances for marriage with well thought of young men from wealthy families, but none of them seemed to appeal to her as Thomas Howard did.

Mother Joined the church in England about 1861 at Gravely Hill and was baptized by Joseph Howard and traveled to Utah with him and his family in 1864 with the William Hyde Company. She went through many trials but she never complained. 

Mother was a few wagons ahead of Joseph Howard when his wife became very ill. I have heard my mother say she went back of the wagon and looked through the canvas saying, "Mother, how are you tonight?" and she replies, "I'll never see my dear boys again." Early the next morning Grandfather, Joseph Howard, came for mother to help lay his wife, grandmother, away. They had no casket or boards, they just put clean underwear and a dress on and sewed her in a clean sheet and burried her in a grave which the children lined with goldenrod. Mother had to hurry to gather her few cooking utensils and get them in the wagon as they were all starting to move. She looked back and saw the smoke burning up from the grave. They built a fire on all the graves to keep the animals away. 

Grandmother died as many other saints - a MARTYR for the gospel and she will wear a martyr's crown. 

Mother was older than grandfather's daughter's and therefore, took the responsibility of the family until grandfather married again.

While they were traveling on their journey, they would mix up a little sour dough bread and let it hang under the the wagon and bake it in a camp kettle at night. Sometimes it would be burnt on the outside and dough in the middle. There was no time to cook as they journeyed each day. No wonder the poor saints were sick and died.

Notes: 

The above biography is transcribed exactly as Sarah wrote it and typed by her daughter, Florence Howard Tuttle Foy. In the title of this biography Sarah gives a middle name for Mary. Dudly, or Dudley as it is more properly spelled, however, while the maiden name of Mary's mother, does not appear to be part of Mary's legal name. It does show, though, how much the ancestral name of Dudley meant to her granddaughter, Sarah.

*Mary actually born in Bilston, Staffordshire, although her father was born in New Wallbrook, Staffordshire.

To view several pictures of Gravely Hill, Birmingham, click on the link and then scroll down.To see the Graveley Hill railroad station, click on the link.

The picture of the Victorian kitchen was originally found on The Victorian Kitchen.