Siblings' voyage from Sligo, Ireland to Essex County, Ontario, Canada
May 11-June 6, 1850
Richard Jasper Golden and Ann Black had 8 children. John, the youngest is mentioned on other pages. The 3 oldest, Jasper, Sarah and Marie, journeyed first, with the parents and remaining siblings following 2 years later in May, 1852. Jasper kept a journal of their voyage, with daily entries. The ship was a 'sailing' ship, therefore totally dependent upon the weather. Some days were beautiful, while others were fraught with high winds, blowing rain and voracious thunderstorms.
Meals were usually prepared on the deck of the ship, where fires could be used for cooking, when possible.
Although the passengers boarded the ship in Sligo (city) on Friday, May 8th, bad weather held in port until Monday, May 11th. The ship was towed to Oyster Island by a steamer. The ship was then anchored at Oyster Island until Sunday, May 19th, again due to inclement weather.
Due to high and cold winds, and the constant rocking of the vessel many of the passengers were seasick, which lasted for days.
Friday, May 31st, excitement and fear plagued the passengers, being awakened to cries of "fire" when a fire broke out below the deck, and the steerage filled with smoke. Thankfully crew members were able to quickly extinguish the flames.
The passengers spotted the first signs of land, when on June 1st, they saw the distant shores of Newfoundland, Canada.
The crew did their best to keep the ship moving as close as possible to the shorelines, to prevent strong waves from carrying it back out towards the ocean.
By June 12th, they were sailing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, passing Cape Breton and St. Paul's Isle settlements along the Nova Scotia shores.
June 26th - they arrived at Grosse Ile, the required stop for the passengers to gain medical clearance in order to proceed.
June 27th - they arrived in Quebec (city), another required stop for Customs Officials
June 28th - arrived in Montreal. Changed to a smaller ship to continue the inward voyage through the canal and lochs (locks).
June 29th Reached Lachine, changed ships
June 30th - Sabbath, therefore there was no commercial travel movement
July 1st - Left Kingston for Toronto on Lake Ontario. Spent the next day with relatives who lived in Toronto.
July 3rd gained passage to Buffalo (New York), took the detour to the Niagra River and see Niagra Falls. They could not get a boat that went to Amherstburg, so had to travel to Detroit, Michigan. Travel was closed down on July 4th due to the Independence Day celebrations so they had to spend the night in the open air.
July 5th - Paid a small boat owner to take the family across the river to Windsor, Ontario. Spent their last night out in the open air, waiting for relatives to arrive later the next day with horses and wagons to carry them to their new homeland (July 6th) in the Sandwich, Essex, Ontario area.
Jasper built a fine 'stone' home(as it was called) in Kingsville, became a well known preacher and teacher.
His journal may be read on my cousin's site https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~goldenfamily/family/index.html We are grateful that he left his letters and journals for his posterity to read and for us to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the lives of our ancestors.
Meals were usually prepared on the deck of the ship, where fires could be used for cooking, when possible.
Although the passengers boarded the ship in Sligo (city) on Friday, May 8th, bad weather held in port until Monday, May 11th. The ship was towed to Oyster Island by a steamer. The ship was then anchored at Oyster Island until Sunday, May 19th, again due to inclement weather.
Due to high and cold winds, and the constant rocking of the vessel many of the passengers were seasick, which lasted for days.
Friday, May 31st, excitement and fear plagued the passengers, being awakened to cries of "fire" when a fire broke out below the deck, and the steerage filled with smoke. Thankfully crew members were able to quickly extinguish the flames.
The passengers spotted the first signs of land, when on June 1st, they saw the distant shores of Newfoundland, Canada.
The crew did their best to keep the ship moving as close as possible to the shorelines, to prevent strong waves from carrying it back out towards the ocean.
By June 12th, they were sailing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, passing Cape Breton and St. Paul's Isle settlements along the Nova Scotia shores.
June 26th - they arrived at Grosse Ile, the required stop for the passengers to gain medical clearance in order to proceed.
June 27th - they arrived in Quebec (city), another required stop for Customs Officials
June 28th - arrived in Montreal. Changed to a smaller ship to continue the inward voyage through the canal and lochs (locks).
June 29th Reached Lachine, changed ships
June 30th - Sabbath, therefore there was no commercial travel movement
July 1st - Left Kingston for Toronto on Lake Ontario. Spent the next day with relatives who lived in Toronto.
July 3rd gained passage to Buffalo (New York), took the detour to the Niagra River and see Niagra Falls. They could not get a boat that went to Amherstburg, so had to travel to Detroit, Michigan. Travel was closed down on July 4th due to the Independence Day celebrations so they had to spend the night in the open air.
July 5th - Paid a small boat owner to take the family across the river to Windsor, Ontario. Spent their last night out in the open air, waiting for relatives to arrive later the next day with horses and wagons to carry them to their new homeland (July 6th) in the Sandwich, Essex, Ontario area.
Jasper built a fine 'stone' home(as it was called) in Kingsville, became a well known preacher and teacher.
His journal may be read on my cousin's site https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~goldenfamily/family/index.html We are grateful that he left his letters and journals for his posterity to read and for us to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the lives of our ancestors.
