The Ship George Washington

SS George Washington

SS George Washington was 1534 tons, 198' x 41' x 29', and was was built in 1851 by John A. Taylor at Chelsea, Massachusetts. Square-rigged with 3 decks, square stern, and a billethead, she was owned by William Bramhall and others in the Boston area and sailed in the Williams & Guion Line, Train's Line, and Warren & Thayer's line of Liverpool and Boston Packets. On his return home to England, Charles Dickens preferred this sailing craft rather than undergo another experience on a British steamer. In 1867, the ship's registration was surrendered with no reason given.

British ports used in 1840 - 1900:
Liverpool, England 1840 - 1894, 1900
Glasgow, Scotland 1894 - 1900

Boston as a destination port: 1852, 1856 - 1861, 1864

The Voyage:

In 1857, SS George Washington sailed under Captain Josiah S. Comings (or Cummings), bringing 827 Mormons from Liverpool to Boston in 23 days. [Ed. Note: The ship carrying the ill-fated Willie company the previous year took 42 days for the journey.] The saints left from the Waterloo dock, at Liverpool, England where all the American sailing packets were stationed.

During the period of highest immigration, the Mormon Church often chartered an entire ship. While it is not known definitely, this appears to have been the case here.

	Ship name:	George Washington
	Port of Departure:	Liverpool, England
	Date of Departure:	25 (28?) March 1857
	L.D.S. Source:	These rosters are indexed in the European Emigration Card Index--025,691
	Company Leader:	J. Park
	Port of Arrival:	Boston, U.S.
	Date of Arrival:	20th April 1857
	U.S. Source:	These rosters are indexed in the Native Social History Index--419.943

	Name	Age
	George	34
	Ann	27
	George F.	10
	Ann Catherine	9
	Brigham	6
	Amelia	4
	Samuel	1

	Adults	696
	Children	95
	Infants under 1 year	36
	Total	827