Ship: Swanton
Date of Departure: 16 Jan 1843 Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
LDS Immigrants: 212 Church Leader: Lorenzo Snow
Date of Arrival: 16 Mar 1843 Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana
Source(s): Customs #102 (FHL #200,151); NSHP; AF (various families)
ALLEN, Hannah <1792>
ALLEN, Martha <1822>
ALLEN, Benjamin <1828>
ALLEN, Edward <1831>
BARKINGTON, Ralph <1807>
BARKINGTON, Ann <1811>
BARKINGTON, Catherine <1833>
BARKINGTON, Ellen <1835>
BARKINGTON, William <1837>
BARKINGTON, Sarah <1841>
BARKINGTON, Joseph <1843>
BELL, Thomas <1818>
BILLINGTON, John <1823>
BLACK, William <1784>
BOLT, Ann <1814>
BOLT, Margret <1837>
BOYCE, Hyrum <1820>
BRIDGE, James <1824>
BROW, Lucy <1822>
BRYSON, Margret <1793>
BUCHANNAN, Maria <1814>
BURROWS, David <1803>
BURROWS, Sarah <1803>
BURROWS, William <1830>
BURTON, Ann <1783>
BURTON, Robert <1803>
BURTON, Robert <1827>
CHARLETON, John <1808>
CHARLETON, Ann <1813>
CHARLETON, John <1840>
CHARLETON, Thomas <1842>
CLINTON, John <1813>
CLINTON, Isabella <1820>
CLINTON, Thomas <1841>
CLINTON, Margaret <1842>
COLEMAN, Prime <1803>
COLEMAN, Sarah <1807>
COLEMAN, George <1828>
COLEMAN, Sarah <1830>
COLEMAN, Prime <1832>
COLEMAN, Ann <1834>
COLEMAN, Elizabeth <1835>
COLEMAN, William <1837>
COLEMAN, Rebecca <1839>
COWLEY, Charles <1803>
COWLEY, Ann <1820>
COWLEY, Charles <1834>
COWLEY, William <1836>
COWLEY, Ann <1840>
COWLEY, Thomas <1842>
EDWARD, Ann <1804>
EDWARD, George <1811>
EDWARD, William <1833>
EDWARD, George <1834>
EDWARD, Sarah <1835>
EDWARD, Hannah <1836>
EDWARD, John <1836>
EDWARD, Elizabeth <1838>
EDWARD, James <1841>
EDWARD, Mary <1842>
FARQUER, Ann <1821>
FAWCETT, William <1816>
FAWCETT, Jane <1820>
FAWCETT, John <1840>
FAWCETT, Nephi <1842>
FOSTER, Priscillia <1826>
FOSTER, Mary <1832>
GARDNER, George <1836>
GRIFFITHS, Mary <1811>
GRIFFITHS, Richard <1811>
GRIFFITHS, Joseph <1817>
GRIFFITHS, Ann <1819>
GRIFFITHS, John <1823>
HALL, Mary <1826>
HAMMIAN, Mary <1810>
HAMMIAN, Thomas <1810>
HAMMIAN, William <1825>
HAMMIAN, Thomas <1833>
HAMMIAN, Jane <1837>
HAMMIAN, John <1838>
HAMMIAN, Mary Ann <1840>
HAMMIAN, James <1843>
HAMPLETON, Mary <1809>
HAMPLETON, John <1810>
HAMPLETON, Samuel <1833>
HAMPLETON, John <1840>
HARES, John <1789>
HARES, Mary <1806>
HARES, Mary Ann <1838>
HARPER, John <1808>
HARPER, Margret <1816>
HOBSON, William <1798>
HOBSON, John <1826>
HOBSON, Mary <1828>
HOBSON, Richard <1830>
HOBSON, Ann <1832>
HOBSON, Emma <1837>
HOWARD, Betsy <1813>
HOWARD, Samuel <1813>
HOWARD, Betsy <1836>
HOWARD, Sarah <1839>
HOWARD, Samuel <1841>
JOHNSTON, George <1821>
JOHNSTON, Sarah <1821>
KELLY, Thomas <1808>
KELLY, Esther <1810>
KELLY, John <1839>
KELSELL, Samond <1816>
KELSELL, Ann <1820>
KELSELL, George <1838>
KELSELL, Edmond <1840>
KELSELL, Mary <1842>
KNIGHT, William <1803>
KNIGHT, Sarah <1808>
KNIGHT, James <1832>
KNIGHT, Martha <1837>
KNIGHT, William <1840>
LAYTON, Mary <1820>
LAYTON, Cristopher <1821>
LAYTON, William M. <1843>
LONG, Elizabeth <1771>
MARRIOTT, Elizabeth <1819>
MARRIOTT, John <1819>
MARRIOTT, Susan <1822>
MARRIOTT, Caroline Swanton <1843>
MARTIN, Ann <1818>
MARTIN, Martilda <1837>
MARTIN, Martha <1839>
MCAULEY, John <1799>
MCAULEY, Ann <1809>
MCAULEY, John <1836>
MCCANN, Sarah <1818>
MCCANN, Thomas <1818>
MCCANN, Caroline <1840>
MCCOARD, James <1820>
MCCOARD, Margret <1822>
MCCOWEN, Newel <1819>
MCKEY, Margaret <1816>
MCKEY, Agnes <1837>
MCKEY, John <1839>
MCKEY, Elizabeth <1842>
MOBBS, Catherine <1822>
MOBBS, Sarah <1843>
MOSELY, William <1812>
MOSELY, Mary <1814>
MOSELY, Elizabeth <1833>
MOSELY, Mary <1837>
MOSELY, Ann <1838>
MOSELY, Anna <1840>
MOSELY, Alfred <1843>
MOULD, Harriet <1822>
MUNRO, Elizabeth <1820>
NICHOLS, Catherine <1825>
PAINE, Samuel <1813>
PAINE, Mary <1815>
PAINE, William <1839>
PAINE, Joseph <1841>
PAINE, Ann <1842>
PAYNE, William <1823>
PIPER, John <1821>
POTTARD, John <1793>
POTTARD, Sophia <1794>
POTTARD, Sarah <1823>
POTTARD, William <1824>
REEVES, William <1803>
Age: 40
REEVES, Francis <1806>
Age: 37
REEVES, Josiah <1836>
Age: 7
REEVES, Sarah <1839>
Age: 4
REEVES, Francis <1841>
Age: 2
REID, Robert <1811>
REID, Barbury <1832>
RIDGEWAY, David <1773>
ROLY, Sarah <1822>
RULE, Thomas <1798>
RULE, Jannet <1800>
RULE, William <1830>
RULE, Peter <1837>
SHAVER, William <1819>
SHEFFIELD, Sarah <1801>
SHEFFIELD, John <1803>
SHEFFIELD, Susan <1831>
SHEFFIELD, Peter <1834>
SHEFFIELD, Alfred <1838>
SHEFFIELD, May Ann <1841>
SIDWELL, John <1824>
SMITH, Daniel <1795>
SMITH, Sarah <1798>
SMITH, Mary Ann <1813>
SMITH, Ann <1818>
SMITH, Samuel <1818>
SMITH, Charles <1820>
SMITH, William <1820>
SMITH, Sarah <1822>
SMITH, Jane <1830>
SMITH, Mary Ann <1836>
SMITH, John <1839>
SMITH, Mary <1842>
SNOW, Lorenzo <1815>
SPUR, William <1825>
THORTON, Joseph <1783>
THORTON, Thomas <1813>
THORTON, Amelie <1815>
THORTON, Joseph <1817>
THORTON, John <1821>
TOPHAM, John <1797>
TOPHAM, Jane <1807>
TOPHAM, John <1827>
TOPHAM, William <1828>
TOPHAM, Hannah <1830>
TOPHAM, Sarah <1832>
TOPHAM, Elizabeth <1834>
TOPHAM, Joseph <1836>
TOPHAM, Jane <1839>
TOPHAM, Thomas <1840>
TOPHAM, Rebecca <1842>
TURBOT, Thomas <1813>
TURBOT, Ellen <1820>
TURBOT, Catherine <1839>
TURBOT, John <1841>
TWENTYMEER, John <1821>
WARDLE, Harriet <1815>
WARDLE, John <1816>
WARDLE, Alice <1840>
WARDLE, Thomas <1841>
WARDLE, Margret <1842>
WELLINGTON, Margret <1822>
WILKIN, David <1821>
WILKIN, Isabella <1821>
WIN, Margaret <1817>
WOOLSTON, Hannah <1813>
WOOLSTON, Hyrum <1813>
A Compilation of General Voyage Notes
"NINETEENTH COMPANY. -- Swanton, 212 souls. On Monday, January 16th, 1843, season [UNCLEAR] sailed from Liverpool, Captain Davenport, with two hundred and twelve Saints aboard, bound for Nauvoo, via New Orleans, under the direction of Elder Lorenzo Snow.
During the first four weeks of the voyage, continued head winds prevented the ship from progressing very fast, but on the seventeenth day of February the wind became fair, and continued so during the remainder of the voyage. A few days after leaving Liverpool, the company was more fully organized by the appointment of Elders M. Auley and Robert Reed to act as counselors to Lorenzo Snow. The emigrants were also divided into two grand divisions, and twelve officers appointed to attend to the comfort and cleanliness of the Saints. At six o'clock every morning the bell sounded for all to arise; prayer meetings were held every night at seven o'clock; there was preaching every Tuesday and Thursday nights and twice on Sunday. Peace and health prevailed among the people, though some were disposed to murmur a little. Much of the power of God was manifested in the restoration of the sick by anointing with oil, and through the prayer of faith. The following is from the Biography of Lorenzo Snow, written by his sister, Eliza R. Snow, (page 65):
'The commander of the ship Swanton, Captain Davenport, and officers of the crew, were kind and courteous, which contributed much to ameliorate the discomfort incident to life on the ocean. The steward, a German by birth, was a young man, very affable in manner, and gentlemanly in deportment -- a general favorite and highly respected by all. During the latter part of the voyage he took sick, and continued growing worse and worse until death seemed inevitable. All means proved unavailing, and the captain, by whom he was much beloved, gave up all hope of his recovery, and requested the officers and crew to go in one by one, and take a farewell look of their dying friend, which they did silently and solemnly as he lay there unconscious and almost breathless on his dying couch.
Immediately after his sad ceremony closed, one of our sisters by the name of Martin, without my brother's knowledge, went to the captain and requested him to allow my brother to lay hands on the steward, according to our faith and practice under such circumstances, saying that she believed that the steward would be restored. The captain shook his head, and told her that the steward was now breathing his last, and that it would be useless to trouble Mr. Snow. But Sister Martin was not to be defeated; she not only importuned, but earnestly declared her faith in the result of the proposed administration, and he finally yielded and gave consent.
As soon as the foregoing circumstance was communicated to my brother, he started toward the cabin where the steward lay, and in passing through the door met the captain who was in tears. He said: 'Mr. Snow, it is too late; he is expiring; he is breathing his last!' My brother made no reply, but took a seat beside the dying man. After devoting a few moments to secret prayer, he laid his hands on the head of the young man, prayed, and in the name of Jesus Christ, rebuked the disease and commanded him to be made whole. Very soon after, to the joy and astonishment of all, he was seen walking the deck, praising and glorifying God for his restoration. The officers and sailors acknowledged the miraculous power of God, and on landing at New Orleans, several of them were baptized, also the first mate, February 26th, 1843.'
At New Orleans the emigrating Saints left the Swanton, and, on board the Amaranth, wended their way up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where they arrived Wednesday, March 29th, 1843. There they had to remain a few days, laying in a boat, waiting for the river to open, before they could continue the journey to Nauvoo.
Descriptive of the arrival of the company at Nauvoo, the following occurs in the History of Joseph Smith, under date of Apri12th, 1843:
'Before the elders' conference closed, the steamer Amaranth appeared in the sight of the [Nauvoo] Temple, coming up the river, and about noon, landed her passengers at the wharf opposite the old Post Office Building, consisting of about two hundred and forty Saints from England, under the charge of Elder Lorenzo Snow, who left Liverpool last January, after a mission of nearly three years. I, with a large company of the brethren and sisters, was present to greet the arrival of our friends, and gave notice to the newcomers to meet at the Temple tomorrow morning at ten o'clock to hear instructions. After unloading the Saints, the Amaranth proceeded up the river, being the first boat up this season.'
<Cont., 12:12 (Oct. 1891), p. 446-48>
"Mon. 16. [Jan 1843] -- The ship Swanton sailed from Liverpool with 212 Saints for New Orleans, led by Lorenzo Snow. The emigrants arrived at Nauvoo April 12th."
<CC, p.22>
Autobiographical Sketch of William Fawcett
. . . I an my wife Jane left England on the 17th Jan 1843, in the ship Swanton and landed in Nauvoo April 12th 1843, in good health and without a cent, we had 2 sons, one of which died in Nauvoo. Brother Lorenzo Snow was the President of the ships company of about 300 passengers. . . . [p.1]
BIB: Fawcett, William, Papers of William Fawcett. [Autobiographical Sketch] (Special Collections & Manuscripts, MSS Sc 2690); p.1 (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah)
Autobiography of John Nelson Harper
. . . On the 6th of April I went to Liverpool and stopped for one month, I then came home and went to Hillsboro and in the summer I went to Lerchfield to Mr. Mussentines to do work for Richard Akin. He violated his contract and I had no witness to prove my contract so he rouged me out of 8.19 pounds; so I then left and went into Belfast and commenced to work for William. Low and he sent me down to learn to work for him, and on the 5th of Nov. I came home and Sister Margret Leach, daughter of Hugh and Ann Leach was joined into the holy bands of wedlock by Brother Andrew Hennyy, and elder in Israel, we being the first that was married in Ireland by the holy priesthood on the 7th Nov. 1842 in Hillsboro. Then after we was married decided to gather with the Saints in the land of America so we left Hillsboro and on the 31st of Dec. we sailed from Belfast in the “Mibernia” at 9 o’clock in the evening, and after 22 hours sailing we arrived at Liverpool at 7 o’clock in the evening. 8 hours of the time was spent in sickness.
We landed in Liverpool on the 1st of Jan. 1845. We then proceeded to Mr. Thomas Carrelle who lived on Milton Street. We stopped there until the 3rd then we went on board the Swanton and on Sunday the 8th we had a meeting on board. Prayer by Brother Lorenzo Snow, preaching by Elders Filding and Clark. In the afternoon we went to the music hall where we heard Elders Ward and Mitchlson and partake of the sacrament and we saw four confirmed. During our stay in Liverpool there were 6 of the passengers embraced the fullness of the gospel, we wrote home on the 4th, 7th, and 9th of Jan. from Liverpool, and on the 12th of Jan we had a pleasant walk to George’s monument and James’s Cemetery and seen the statue of Mr. Huskison M. P. and Engineer.
On Sunday the 15th we had a meeting in the ship where there was four confirmed and one child blessed. We went to the hall and attended Sacrament and in the evening we heard Brother W. Anley give a fine lecture followed [p.6] by Brother Wilkie. We wrote home on the 16th the day we sailed from Liverpool. There was nothing particular occurred for some time. The most of the time the passengers spent the first week in sickness. We had one birth on the 15th and died on the 24th.
On Friday 20th we passed by the Wicklow mountains.
On the 22nd we passed by Cape Clear, and Monday 23rd we had a great squall of wind in the morning that was very alarming and caused great confusion with the luggage.
On the 25th of Jan. we had a fine day and calm day.
On Friday 27th Elder Howard’s [Samuel Howard] child arm was broken by fall down in the hatch, and on Sunday 29th we had a fine day and good meetings. The weather in general was calm but the winds kept contrary to us.
On Sunday the 5th we had our morning meeting on deck and our afternoon and evening below. Elder [Lorenzo] Snow gave us a fine lecture in the evening.
On Wed. 8th we had a very rough sea and some heavy squalls that lasted to Thur. night. There was through the day a great surge came over bulwarks and wet a number of the Saints. There were a great many sick that day, we were of the number.
We are now on the 9th of Feb. through the Barbary and Canary Islands and in the Trade winds. Sunday at 12 we had our morning and Sacrament meeting on deck. The day being very hot the Captain caused a canopy to be erected to shade us from the sun. Preaching by Elder [John] Sheffield and MacCauley [McAuley].
Thursday 14 Brother Charles Smith and Reves [William Reeves] bore their testimony. On the 19th we had a fine meeting on deck.
On the 16th of the winds turned favorable to us.
Tuesday 21st Brothers [Thomas] McCann and [John] Charleston bore their testimony.
Thur. 23rd Brother Night [William Knight] gave us a fine discourse.