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My
Great
Grandfathers
Diary
My Great Grandfather, William Blakesley Walton and his
wife Sarah Jane (Butler) and two children departed from Birmingham
England
for America May 8th, 1856. According to this diary they
first went from Birmingham to Liverpool and after two days stay there,
they
sailed on the Steam Ship Canada the 10th of May en-route to Boston USA.
This
is when I have commenced recording his Diary..Some of his words may
seemed mis-spelled but are recorded as he wrote them. The Journey ends
at
Sarah Janes family Mr and Mrs William Butler who "came over" in 1854.
The
Butlers resided in Haverhill Ma. a suburb of Boston Ma.
At
that time William was 30
years of age, Sarah Jane his wife was 28 years old, Elinor the oldest daughter was 4 and Caroline
or Carrie as
he refers to her
in this writing was 2. Sarah was also 4 months pregnant, the first born son William
Frederick being born in
September 23, 1856 at Madison Wi. The following excerpt is taken from the
History of Crawford County book published 1884. W.B. Walton of Wheatville, is an English man
by nativity, born in Birmingham in 1826, and there received a common
school education. After emigrating to this country he studied law in
Madison, Wi; was admitted to the bar in circuit court of Crawford
county in 1877, in Praire du Chien. In 1868 and 1869 he held the office
of county surveyor in Crawford county. In 1876 and 1877 he served as
deputy clerk of the circuit court, and in 1877 filled the office of
court commissioner.
Saturday May 10th,
1856
.....William writes: (Click HERE to see a
sample of his writing of this first page)
So went with my luggage
to St.
Georges Pier Head to go on board the Steam Tender Sattelite that was to
take us up the river about two miles to the Canada. It was suprizing to
see with what ease the porters ran down the pier with the heavy boxes
One
of them ran down with my large chest on his shoulders and another with
my tool chest with as much ease as I should carry a bucket of water.
Got
board the Canada about half past 12 and as soon as the luggage was
taken
on board she loosed from her moorings and started down the river and as
soon as the mail came, as she was going down, she got up steam and
started
on her voyage. Then I found my cabin out and got two of my boxes down
to
it, a very nice place. It was a little square room about three yards
square
with top and bottom berths on one side, a horsehair seat all along
another
side, on the oposite side two wash stands with a small seat between.
The
stands got marble tops with Basons and Joys and every requisite for
personal
comfort. Between the washstands there was a large looking glass skrewed
to the partitions and one on the opposite side. The other side was
occupied
by the door. In one corner near the door there is a triangular small
glass
chamber for a lamp, when it gets dark, that lights that and the next
cabin
so one lamp does for 2 places by a little contrevance. Carpeted floors
and nice bed clothes and 3 stewards to attend to your wants. So much
for
the house that was to serve us for home for 12-14 days. As soon as we
got
out of the river about 2 or 4 oclock, dinner bell rang in the 2nd cabin
saloon. Roast beef , Mutton, ash soup ect. Then we first found out who
our fellow passengers were; young men from England going out on (?) ;
as
well American young miss returning home ; Frenchman and Germans, the
nicest
fellows you could meet. Went down to the cabin and arranged other
baggage;
two boxes in the cabin, 3 in the hold. Went up on deck til ten then
returned.
We walked the main deck til sun dark. then turned in, had little
sleep.....
Sunday Morning May 11,
1856
Rose at 5 Sunday morning, went
on deck. Thick misty and rainy morning. Walked the deck till breakfast
in my waterproof. Devine service in the main saloon; few attended and
many of those were taken sick after coming out. Sarah began to be sick
about 9 o'clock am. Weather cleared up and sun shone; showered to the
North of Ireland. Went through the north channel 60 miles shorter. The
Captain thought by going to the north more, he should avoid the ice as
it would by this time have got more south. Ship course N. West. Walked
the deck till 11 o'clock, then got a little more sleep. Monday morning
got up about 6. Sarah about the same. A strong swell came on causing
the ship to roll but I began to get my sea legs got on very well.
Walked the deck for exercise. Eat breakfast, went without dinner, had
tea----passed the days comfortable.
Tuesday Morning, May
13th.
Awoke about half past
six. Washed
and went up to saloon to breakfast. A strong North west wind blowing
causing
the ship to labour a great deal. A few of the passengers present. Eat a
good breakfast, beefsteak, ham, calfs liver, ect. Went on the main deck
to walk. Saw them heave the log--going at the rate of 9 and 1/2 knots.
Staid on deck about 12 hours till I got chilled; then went to a place
between
the first cabin saloon and the engine room where it is warm. A favorite
place for the smokers. Staid till dinner bell rang. As one of the
stewards
was taking a Tureen of soup, a heavy sea struck. This made boxes and
things
drop onto the stewards head; filled the tureen with water causing a
great
laugh amongst the company in the smoke room. Had for dinner Beef and
Mutton
and desert pomins, oranges and nuts. Wind blowing fresh from the N.
West
causing the sea to dash over her side, swelling the deck. No walking on
the windward side of the ship, so very wet. Wind changed towards
evening,
more ahead. Ship going at a rate of 9 and 1/2 knots per hour. A knot is
about 60 yards more than an English mile..........
Wednesday Morning May 14,
1856
Rose early walked til
breakfast, then had Carrie dressed and took her a walk on deck. Looks
well as she has not been sick; it takes no effect on her. Went down to
41 and 42; First cabin to see Mr and Mrs McCandy and Lady that went
from
the same house we was staying at in L. Pool (presumed Liverpool) A man
that has travelled much all over the states as an engineer on a
steamboat on the rivers and lakes, Erie, Michigan ect. and erecting saw
mills; had a great deal of conversation with him till dinner time. Went
to dinner. Sarah came up on deck first time since Saturday; revived her
much, walked the lower deck after dinner with and old man 75 years of
age, that is going to settle in America and who came out all alone,
going to join his children in the state of Michigan so you need not
think you are too old to come out. I found very little inconvenience
myself from crossing the mighty deep. Not been sick at all yet.. We had
a very fine day. We took tea at 1/2 past 6 oclock ship time but
according to your time about 8 or 1/2 past. After tea, a party of the
second cabin passengers got up a dance, some sailors
danced the hornpipe.
I forgot to tell you before that on
Sunday morning a man was found stowed away amoung the coals. He had
come on board and hid himself on purpose to get a passage across so as
they could not send him ashore; they set him to work amoung the coals
to feed the engine. Went to bed about 1/2 past 10 o'clock...
Thursday
Morning May 15,
1856
Rose at 7--Wind blowing
for
the ship rolling a great deal. Went to breakfast Tea and beefsteaks eat
heartly. Best beefsteaks I ever tasted. Not so many at breakfast, the
motion
of the ship making them sick. While writing this, the ship is going up
and down and though I am seated in the Saloon at the forepart of the
ship
where she goes the most, the ship being steadfast the most in the
middle
part, yet I write pretty well as I have become accustomed to the
motion.
It is like one of the swinging boats at the fair only with a sideway
motion,
when the waves hit her on the side, and a trembling of her timbers that
vibrate end to end caused by the oscillation of the engines. We burn
from
60-80 tons of Coak per day so that with the consumption of coal and
provisions
and water we get a great deal lighter an of course go along much
quicker.
They say by the time we arrive at Halifax we shall show 3 ft. less
water.
The sea keeps dashing over the saloon in which I write this journal.
Some
of the passengers are stretch out at full length on the cushioned seat,
some reading, some dosing, others talking and one party playing at
drafts.
I am just now going to take my morning walk for though the sea does
dash
over her side, it does not do to lose your exercise. Walked the upper
deck
till I was cold then went down to the smoke room over the engines and
sat
there till dinner bell rang. Fare; splendid Joint of Roast beef and
Plum
pudding, cranbury and other pies, mutton and other Joints; never
enjoyed
a better dinner. Adjourned to smoke room, passed the time reading and
talking
till 4 bells--6 o'clock. They measure time on board by half hours which
are called bells. Commencing at 1/2 12 o'clock--1 bell, 1
o'clock--2bells,
1/2 1 o'clock--3bells, 2 o'clock--4bells, 1/2 2 o'clock--5bells, 3
o'clock--6bells,
1/2 past 3 o'clock--7bells, 4 o'clock--8bells and then commence again.
Went to bed pretty early 10 o'clock, slept till just before daybreak.
It
gets light just before three o'clock. Dosed till half past six, very
heavy
sea rolling.
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