On To Zion

In 1863 William and Ellen decided that the time had come to gather to Zion with the other Saints. William sold all of his instruments except for his beloved violin to buy necessities for the journey to Zion. They bought sturdy shoes and clothes for the trip. Harriet was given long sleeve dresses and course shoes. Harriet's long curls were cut off. Florence's probably were too. A ship was chartered by a Latter-day Saint agent and the family went to the seashore (probably Liverpool )for leave taking.
However the ship was examined and found to be unseaworthy. Since they had sold all their extra things, settled their rent and William had quit his job,; they had no place to return to. They went by train to Ellen's parent's home and stayed with them, while another ship was being secured. They had a long last visit with her parents. This was a bittersweet time for Ellen since she knew that she would never see them again. After three weeks, word came that a ship was ready, 'Ellen bid her folks a very sad goodbye; and they headed to London where the ship 'The Amazon' was docked. Harriet writes, "It took us one day's ride on the train to go to where the ship was anchored. Mother's brother, James Bradshaw, accompanied us on the train” (Allen).
William took his brother Henry's wife, Martha, and their three or four children with them to Zion. His brother was filling a mission in England at the time. William had promised to care for Henry's family until Henry's mission was over and he could join them.
It was hard for Martha to come and leave Henry. The children too cried bitterly. Henry
would never see baby Kate again; she would die crossing the plains. Ellen would comfort and
assist her sister-in-law all she could.
There were fourteen people with the last name of Fowler listed on the passenger manifest including two William's one born in 1829 and another in 1839. Our William was most likely the one listed as being born in 1829, since that is the closest to his real birth date. William's wife, Ellen, was listed (born 1834) and his children: Harriet (1856), Henry A. (1858) and Florence (1861). Henry's wife, Martha (1829) is listed and his children Mary E. (1852) [Harriet called her “Emma”], John F. (1857) and Kate (1863)
Genealogist, Virginia Rogers, stated that William's brothers “John and George are presumed to have stayed in England, although at least one is known to have at least visited his mother's country, Ireland.”
William and his family boarded the ship, 'The Amazon' on the 2nd or 3rd of June. On the 3rd The company was seen by the “Government Emigration Officers who eulogized their order, harmony and general appearance, after which President [George Q.] Cannon. . . organized the company” (Mormon Immigration Index). William Bramall (Bramwell) was made the leader of the Saints with Edward L. Sloan and Richard Palmer as counselors. The 895 Saints on board were divided into 15 wards by what decks they were staying on. William Fowler was made president of the 10th ward.
The novelty of a ship full of Latter-day Saints leaving from the London docks excited a great amount of interest among strangers and officials in London. Usually the Saints chartered ships out of Liverpool, however there was an unprecedented scarcity of ships of the type they needed in Liverpool that spring. Years earlier while laboring in London Elder Eli B. Kelsey prophesied that a ship would leave from those very London docks loaded with Saints. The Saints did not know about this prophesy until after they had chartered it (Immigration Index).
While standing on the deck of the ship, Harriet remembered a particular incident, “when the large crowd of people were standing on the dock, some climbing the long ladder that was braced against the side of the ship. As they loaded in the Saints' baggage, the huge ship gradually settled lower. There were some among the crowd who were not Saints. Father caught sight of a man among the crowd whose right arm hung limp by his side, and called Mother's attention to him. It was a man by the name of Hepburn or Jorman—I do not remember which, as both had been very bitter opponents of the Church- apostates. I remember Father telling how his arm came to be useless.” (Story is written earlier in this history. )
On the 3rd Charles Dickens went “Down by the Docks” to see the Mormon immigrants that were leaving for America. He wrote about it in The Uncommercial Traveler: No Thoroughfare. It was a “hot morning” and the immigrants were swarming about the docks and the “gangways” were crowded with immigrants, most with children, carrying bread, cheese and other cargo onboard. Mr. Dickens had conversations with some of the immigrants and watched as the government officials checked the passengers. A doctor checked the passengers health (possibly checking for the plague or other communicable diseases) and all were allowed onboard. Dickens mentioned how orderly the people were and how they all had their papers ready. There is “no disorder, hurry, or difficulty.” He found himself surprised at the people. They were not what he expected at all. He wrote, "A few of the poor children were crying, but otherwise the universal cheerfulness was amazing.” Dickens called the immigrants “the pick and flower of England.”
The Captain agreed, “most of these came aboard yesterday evening,” he said.” They came from various parts of England in small parties that had never seen one another before, Yet they had not been a couple of hours on board, when they established their own police, made their own regulations, and set their own watches at all the hatchways. Before nine o'clock the ship was as orderly and quiet as a man-of-war.” (Dickens).
They were assigned berths (sleeping places) on the ship. Harriet said they, “lived on the second floor” (Allen). Harriet found her little berth right beside the big “bung hole.” (The bunghole was a large square hole in the side of the ship where the trunks and bedding were brought in. ) She was scared of sleeping there. Ellen assured her that the thing was made very tight. Harriet asked whether a big storm might not push the plug out. “Oh No,” Ellen said soothingly.” We are going to Zion. God won't let anything hurt us.” Harriet said, “Father told us our bunks were on the place where the load had been taken through, but he had taught us that our heavenly Father was watching over his Saints. For instance, He prompted Brother Cannon, the agent, to investigate the condition of the first vessel and found it not good, though the owners must have known the condition of the ship when they hired it to him.” (Allen).
The next day, June 4th 1863 The Amazon departed from London, England and headed down the Thames River. John Watts Berrett, a passenger on board, reports that it was a “fine day.” That first day everyone was still settling in and checking for stowaways.
On June 5th nearly everyone became seasick.” After leaving the White Cliffs of Dover and getting into the English Channel, we began to get a little seasick” (West). Many people were afflicted for the entire voyage. Fortunately, William was unaffected and was able to help care for his family and the members of his ward. Harriet, who was seven at the time, was seasick most of the way. William would carry her up on deck for fresh air very often. (Harriet figured that her father did not become seasick, because he had been on ships before when traveling with his family growing up. )
As president of the 10th ward, William would have many responsibilities during the voyage. The presidents checked on all of the members of their ward daily. They attended to the sick and checked on the needs of all their members. They also checked on single sisters to make sure that no sailors had been bothering them.
Water was handed out beginning at 5:30 am every morning. The officer in charge would give out the word for each ward to receive their water. When he called the tenth ward for water William went for it.
Breakfast and cleaning were taken care of each morning. Prayer was at 7 a.m. every morning The wards took turns on which ward would get water and make breakfast first, second, third, etc.” it works very well considering the vast number of people there are to cook or be cooked for with our limited facilities” writes William Bramall. .
They had big cooking stoves on the upper floors, and water tanks. The women prepared the food and then carried it up to the top deck where the stoves were. There were men to do the cooking. After it was cooked the women would carry it down to tables below. One time Ellen started down the iron stairs with a steaming milk pan full of rice pudding wrapped in a new towel. Her hands were full so she could not hold onto the railing. The ship gave a lurch and she took a fall. The pudding landed on a dining table below where folks were eating. Ellen was badly hurt. She had to keep to her bed for a week or more and never regained her pan and towel.” Mother was so sick from the fall that Father did not go to look for the pan and towel, but the folks did not trouble to hunt them up and give them to us. We find even among Saints, some are selfish.” (Allen).
Evening prayers were at 8 p.m. every night.
Sacrament services and meetings were held on Sunday's often combining three or more wards. They were given instruction on what to expect on the journey ahead as well as regular sermon type subjects. Captain Hovey and other sailors stopped by to look in on the meetings. Before leaving London William gave a sermon and when the Saints saw the Captain they were afraid that they would be put off the ship. Some thought they should have waited until after they sailed. The Captain however reassured them that he had no problem with their preaching and that he was glad to take a group of Saints because he always had a safe journey with Saints on board (Cheney, H. ).
The Captain of the Amazon was H. K. Hovey. In a letter, William Bramall wrote, “The captain, hitherto, has proved himself to be a gentleman in every sense of the word, has been very kind, and has given me all I have asked of him for the comfort of the people-he is very kind indeed to all. He did not forget to drill the sailors, and give them their orders relative to insulting, or in any way interfering with the passengers; if they did, he told them what they might expect, which was something not very pleasant.”
The men in the company often took turns on guard duty. Mostly they stopped unruly behavior and kept the women from coming onto the hurricane deck after 9 p.m. at night and sailors from going below.
A brass band made up of Latter-day Saints from South Wales was on board. They played in the evenings and cheered the Saints on their journey. Shortly after they sailed a choir was organized. A William Fowler is recorded as being part of the choir and taking over for the director once when the director did not show up for practice. The passenger manifest lists two William Fowler's on board, but since our William was musically inclined and older than the other, it is likely to be our William. Everyone enjoyed the music provided.” All feel well; the music from the brass band, songs and hymns succeed each other to cheer the hearts of the saints and enliven the voyage, and the captain has often expressed his satisfaction with the people” (Bramall)
On June 7th the ship stopped at the Isle of Wight because of strong winds. On June 9th they were again underway.
“Sunday June 7th, Early this morning Sister Caroline Harris gave birth to a daughter at 4:30 am” (McLachlan). On June 16th “Heber Franklin Tavey aged 5 months, Child of Peter and Frances Tavey of London died of relaxation and diarrhea and was buried at 4 p.m.” (Sloan).
Harriet said, “ There was only one death in the company-a baby-and one birth-and oddly, both occurred in our ward. I remember Father carrying me up to the burial service. The body was firmly wrapped in a blanket, then a canvas, Then strapped to a board and a cannonball fastened to the foot of the board. After the services were over, it was let slip over the side of the ship”(Allen).
The journey was enlivened by whale sightings on June 27th and again on July 1st. Porpoises were sighted on July 2nd.
The ship had to work against headwinds for most of the way which tended to push it off course. On Sunday the 28th of June at 8 p.m. a sudden gale hit with approaching hurricane violence it was short lived but all the sails were furled except the jibs. The flying jib was torn to ribbons. The rain came down hard. Some sailors heard some of the Saints singing and thought that they didn't take the storm seriously. Anyway the storm was short lived and everyone went to sleep fine. (Sloan).
Many women brought sewing and needlework to help pass the time. William was very busy caring for his family and his ward. If he did have any free time he might have used his time to read, or practice his violin.
On the 3rd of July the ship had been stopped in a calm for some time. The captain lowered the water ration for adults from 3 to 2 quarts a day until they should get moving again. The captain promised plenty of water for washing up before the Saints left the ship however. It soon rained and many saints caught the water for washing. By the 6th the wind was blowing again and they moved more quickly (Mclachlan, Larkin and Sloan).
They celebrated the 4th of July by raising the flag of their soon to be home 'America. ' The band played the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Hail Columbia”. There was also dancing and merriment during the day and evening (Larkin).
On July 6th the ship ran into fog off the coast of New Foundland. They stayed in the fog for several days.
Harriet noted that “There were horses and chickens and hogs on the ship. There would be a great deal of waste from so large a company, so they could easily feed the creatures.” On July 15th she said, “One day when Father had taken me up, I heard the horses neighing. When Father asked the captain why, he said the horses could smell land and vegetation. That was three days before we landed” (Allen). The Amazon landed on the 18th of July 1963.
Florence Cheney says that, “Adverse winds hindered their progress, and then they would
stop in a calm. Because of adverse winds the journey across the ocean took seven weeks, [actually 6 weeks 2 days or 44 days].” Florence says that, “Sea biscuits were brought into use as they ran short of food. This bread is unleavened and baked very hard so it won't spoil, it has to be soaked in soup or water before edible” (Cheney 1). However, no account by others on board the ship say anything about running short of food. In fact potatoes were being handed out just a few days before they arrived in New York. There was no shortage of water either as the Captain let them have all they wanted just before leaving, so they could wash up (Larkin).

Figure 6 Castle Garden, immigration depot in New York
Although they were hindered some on the ocean, it wasn't an exceptionally long voyage. A ship that left several days before them arrived a few days after they did.
The Amazon arrived in New York, New York on 18 July 1863 after 44 days at sea. New York had become “the preferred port of entry. It served as the primary U. S. port of arrival for Latter-day Saint immigrants from 1855 to 1890. It was here that the immigration depot known as Castle Garden was located.” (Woods).
At this time there were “riots” going on in New York over “wages” and “4500 troops [were reportedly] already there to quell the riot” (Larkin). News of the riots “caused great excitement” but the Saints stayed on board ship until the riots were over.” The immigrants considered it providential that they were delayed on the ocean until after the riot had subsided”(Dowden).
On Sunday the 19th of July Elder William C. Stains came on board and gave the Saints some counsel as to how they should go on after leaving the ship (Berrett).
On the 20th of July people finished their packing and washing up and transferred to a “barge” and went across the river to “Castle Garden.” At Castle Garden there were already a great many immigrants camped on the westside, so the Saints camped on the other side (Larkin). While at Castle Garden the Saints exchanged their British money for American money (among other things). They only camped there one night; sleeping “on the floor” (McLachlan).