Historical Vignette: Travel on the Hudson in 1864

Note:
The John Sears family immigrated to America in 1864 on the Hudson.  They arrived in Castle Garden.  The following is a description of the ship they traveled on the...

HUDSON
Ship: 1618 tons: 208' x 41' x 29'
Built: 1863 by J. A. and D. D. Westervelt at New York City, New York Captain Isaiah Pratt, a mariner who had as early as 1852 skippered the ship Margaret Evans in the Black X Line, was in command of the large packet ship Hudson on both of her voyages with Mormon emigrants.

On 3 June 1864 the first passage began at London with 863 Saints from the British Isles, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. Elder John M. Kay presided over the emigrant company. His counselors were George Halliday, John L. Smith, and Matthew McCune. Other returning missionaries were Elders Louis A Bertrand, Samuel Neslen, and Thomas O. King The crossing was unusually slow-forty-six days, but the "kindness of Capt. Pratt did much to alleviate the fatigue of the journey."

Measles broke out among the children, and nine died and were buried at sea. Soon after landing, another child died at Castle Garden. One woman from Switzerland also died. There were three births. The vessel arrived at New York on 19 July.

Three years later - 1 June 1867 - the Hudson sailed from London with twenty Saints aboard, arriving on 19 July after a forty-eight-day passage.

This full-rigged packet had three decks, a round stern and tuck, and a billethead. Captain Pratt was listed as owner in 1868. Her registration was surrendered 30 September 1878 because the vessel had been sunk sometime earlier.