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Mormon Immigration Index - Personal Accounts

Josiah Bradlee (February 1850)

Early Scenes in Church History

. . . While crossing the sea in 1850, emigrating to Utah, a number of remarkable cases of healing occurred under his administration. One was that of a young girl who was terribly afflicted with evil spirits, and who was entirely relieved when he placed his hands upon her head. Another was that of a little boy who fell through the hatchway of the vessel, alighting upon his head on the ring and bolt of the lower hatchway. When he was picked up it was found that the force of the fall had driven the iron upon which he struck into his head, and within a minute afterwards the injured place puffed up like a distended bladder. Of course, he was knocked insensible and apparently lifeless, but Brother Evans and one or two other [p.39] elders immediately administered to him, and while their hands were upon his head the swelling entirely disappeared and he was restored to consciousness and to health. This was witnessed and marveled at by a number of persons who were not in the Church as well as a great many of the Saints who were on board.

When Elder Evans was crossing the Atlantic in charge of a company of Saints emigrating to Utah, a terrible epidemic in the nature of a fever broke out on the ship, and threatened the destruction of all on board. He felt that their only hope lay in securing the favor of the Almighty, and determined to muster all the faith he could in appealing to the Lord. He called together four elders of experience who were on board, and asked them to retire with him to the hold of the vessel and unite in prayer. They did so again and again without any apparent good result, and Brother Evans marveled at the cause. It was such an unusual thing for him to fail to have his prayers answered, that he was surprised that it should be so in that instance, and he could only account for it by lack of union or worthiness on the part of the elders. He therefore called the four elders again to retire with him to the hold of the ship, and took with him a basin of clean water. When they had reached a secluded place where they were not likely to be overheard or disturbed by others, he talked to the elders about the necessity of their being united in faith and clear of sin before God if they desired to call upon him and receive a blessing. "Now," he said," I want each of you elders, who feels that his conscience is clear before God, who has committed no sin to debar him from the enjoyment of the Holy Spirit, and who has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ sufficient to call upon the Almighty in His name and claim the desired blessing, to wash his hands in that basin!" Three of the elders stepped forward and did so; the fourth could not - his conscience smote him. He was therefore asked kindly to retire, and the four others joined in earnest prayer before the Lord and rebuked the disease by which the people were afflicted. The result was that the epidemic ceased its ravages and the sick recovered from that very hour, much to the surprise of the ship's officers and others on board who knew nothing of the power by which such a happy result was accomplished, [p.40]

BIB: Early Scenes in Church History, Eighth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series, (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1882), pp. 39-40. (HDL)


Josiah Bradlee (February 1850)

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

"The ship Josiah Bradlee, sailed from this port (Liverpool) for New Orleans, carrying 263 souls of the Latter-day Saints, under the presidency of Elder Thomas Day. Their ultimate destination is the Salt Lake Valley. This ship was detained in this port some eight or ten days by contrary winds. ..."

"FORTY-SEVENTH COMPANY. - Josiah Bradlee, 263 souls. The second company of Saints that left the shores of England bound for the Rocky Mountains in 1850, consisted of two hundred and sixty-three souls, who sailed from Liverpool, February 18th, under the presidency of Elder Thomas Day. After a fine and pleasant passage of eight weeks and four days, the company arrived in New Orleans on the eighteenth of April. ..."

"Mon. 18. [Feb. 1850] ~ The ship Josiah Bradley sailed from Liverpool, England, with 263 Saints under the direction of Thomas Day. It arrived at New Orleans April 18th."

ship - Josiah Bradlee (February 1850)

REES, William <1801>

Age: 49 Origin: Wales Occ: Boiler Maker

Note: BMR, p. 35

REES, Maria <1831>

Age: 19 Origin. Wales

REES, John <1835>

Age: 15 Origin: Wales Occ: Iron Roller

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