Diana Wild (Part Two)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints features a Pioneer Database for 1847 to 1868; this is where Diana's record can be found. The website contains a wealth of information on Mormon migration and the Church which are of significant interest to family historians. Diana’s surname is shown as Walter in Missionary records.

The Hudson SSM

Diana’s journey began on the ship Hudson, captained by Isaiah Pratt, along with Church Leader Elder John M. Kay. The ship sailed from Shadwell Basin in London on 3 June 1864 and arrived in New York on 19 July 1864. They eventually landed in Nebraska, Wyoming on 2 August 1864 to begin the journey by wagon train to Salt Lake. There was a total of 1,038 passengers on board, and 863 were souls of the Latter-day Saints. The Mormon Migration website, Saints by Sea, lists the ships making this crossing between 1847 and 1927 listed by year, port, and ship. The site includes voyage notes, diaries and autobiographical accounts which are of profound interest to family historians searching for their Latter-day Saint ancestors. There are sixteen such accounts of the voyage giving an insight into how life was on board the ship.

The Latter-Day Saints Church introduced a Perpetual Emigration Fund to assist individuals from Europe and other parts of America to gather at the Church in Utah. Diana paid a deposit of £4 and 10 shillings with no balance showing and recorded as being from the London Conference.

Route of the Mormon Pioneers - Nauvoo to Great Salt Lake

On the 9th of August 1864, Diana began her journey by one of 62 wagon trains travelling across the plains with the William Hyde Company. Just one month later this is where Diana sadly died. A diary written by John Lyman Smith included an entry for Friday 9 September and reads ‘Moved Camp at 7.30 am. Sister Waller [Diana Waller or Walter] died this Evening.’ Another account of this overland journey was written by John T. Gerber. He gives a bleak account of the conditions suffered by the souls and of burying a ‘sister’ on the morning of September 10.

Diana’s death wasn’t the end of my connection with my ancestors of the Mormon Church in Utah. Ten years after Diana emigrated, on 2 September 1874, her daughter Mary Ann Mills and her husband William along with their children, sailed on the SS Wyoming arriving in New York on 14 September. They were followed in 1884 by Margaret Howlett, now widowed, and her children. Margaret’s journey is also mentioned on the passenger lists in the Deseret Newspaper for 24 September 1884.

SS Wyoming Passenger Register

The SS Wyoming sailed from Liverpool on 30 August 1884 with 496 saints. 193 of those were British and 33 were returning missionaries. The ship arrived at Castle Garden on the 10th of September where they embarked on a train journey to Ogden, Salt Lake City on 17 September 1884.

The British Mormons who migrated to Utah faced many challenges, including harsh weather conditions and the need to build homes and establish farms in a largely unfamiliar and remote area. However, through hard work and determination, they were able to create thriving communities and contribute to the development of Utah's economy and culture. Today, the legacy of British migration to Utah is celebrated and remembered through events such as the annual British Festival in Salt Lake City.

Margaret’s daughter, Alice, and her husband, William HARDING, lived in Granger, Salt Lake, Utah. I remember my father writing to family in America but I didn’t realise what an interesting story they could have told.

If you missed part one you can read it here.