Category Archives: My Projects

25 May 1856 – Towed 20 Miles to Open Sea – Mary Taylor

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From Diary of Samuel Openshaw:

May 25 – Sunday. This morning about 10 o’clock the steamer came and tugged us away out of the river. Very calm.

From Journal of Henry Hamilton:

Sabbath, 25th – President F. [Franklin] D. Richards, C. [Cyrus] H. Wheelock, & a few others came on board. We then sailed out. F.D.R. [Franklin D. Richards] & C.H.W. [Cyrus H. Wheelock] spoke to our instructions & desired God to bless us on the voyage. I sent a letter or 2 Dundee.

From Journal of Joseph Beecroft:

Sunday 25th I arose as usual and on going on deck, I found the seamen preparing for weighing anchor. The day was beautiful. There was but little wind. The sun shone in its strength and made all things look gay. A little after 9, we were all ordered on deck, about which time the steamtug came alongside bring a number of Saints with Franklin D. Richards. We were all told of in families and passed the doctor and in a while was called together [p.9] and was addressed by Franklin D. Richards in a feeling manner. Also by Elder Wheelock and [-].

From Life History of John Jaques:

Sun. 25: J. [Jospeh] A. Young had stayed all night on board. About 9 a.m. the steamship, “Great Conquest”, came alongside bringing the captain, President F.D. Richards, Elder C.[Cyrus] H. Wheelock, Thomas Williams, George Turnbull , W. [William] C. Young and others, and took us out to sea about 20 miles. During this time two marriages took place–Elder F.C. Robinson, late of Bradford Conference and Sister Elizabeth Gambles of Sheffield by Elder Josph [Joseph] Young; and Brother Thomas Smith, age 21, of Pillary, Yorkshire and Sister Mary Jackson, 19, of the same place, by Elder William C. Young [p.83] President F. [Franklin] D. Richards and Elder C. [Cyrus] H. Wheelock addressed and blessed the company on board, and later stated that we had on board the persons who had given the first sixpence to the elders when they first came to England. Their names were Brother Purcell and family. The trip with the tug was quite a pleasure. It left us in the afternoon of course taking back those who came to see us off, also our river pilot; but leaving with us a channel pilot. Day fine. Sea calm. Lashed our boxes and tinware. The company was organized into nine wards, No. 7 being committed to my care. Forward with a stiff but contrary breeze.

24 May 1856 – Clearance Granted to Leave – Mary Taylor

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From Diary of Samuel Openshaw:

May 24 – Continued in the river.

Journal of Henry Hamilton:

Saturday, 24th- Lay at anchor all day.

From the Journal of Joseph Beecroft:

Saturday 24th I arose as usual and attended to the getting washed in water boiling for breakfast, and then spent the day as usual. Wrote letters and spent the day in looking about wishing the time to come when we should set sail.

From Life History of John Jaques:

Sat. 24: In the morning the ship cleared. The berths for two passengers are about six feet long by four feet four inches wide, lined up like horses’ mangers, two in height, with about two space underneath the lowest. The ends to the side of the vessel. O, the awful siege of the cooks galley, for the first day or two. Sebastapool could hardly compare with it. Two cubic feet more space to each passenger on the lower deck than the higher. This combined with the fact of the heated air ascending, caused the lower deck to be much cooler and more roomy and pleasant, though it wasn’t so light.

23 May 1856 – Cast off from Liverpool – Mary Taylor

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From the Diary of Samuel Openshaw:

May 23 – About two o’clock we were tugged out into the river. The rain poured down pretty freely.

From the Journal of Henry Hamilton:

Friday, 23rd – I commenced to work in the galley. This morning got the fire started &c but it was very smoky. I was over with just as if I had been the funnel myself. We sailed out of the docks.

From the Journal of Joseph Beecroft:

Friday 23rd The day appointed for our sailing. I arose about 4. The seamen were early at work getting the vessel out of dock. At about half past 9, we were getting into the river and before noon we were at anchor opposite Liverpool. We enjoyed ourselves here in getting our food and in passing up and down deck looking at one another and the different vessels that crossed the river. Retired early to rest.

Letter from James and Elizabeth Bleake:

Ship Horizon Liverpool

May 23rd/56

Dear Father and Mother:

We have arrived safely and are all well so far. We have a very comfortable place on board and go out of dock today. Liverpool is the dirtiest place we ever saw. London is exceedingly clean in comparison.[p. 1]

Provisions on board are of first rate quality and plenty for us but we have 15 pounds of Indian meal, 10 pounds of flour, 4 quarter loaves and cheese, raisins, spice, etc. etc. besides. So we have not faith to starve.

Remember us kindly to all inquirers. Farewell and may God our Father bless you both is the earnest [p.2] prayer of your son and daughter, James and Elizabeth Bleak [Bleake]. [p.3]

From Life History of John Jaques:

Fri. 23: About midday moved out of dock into the river. Fine morning . Stiff breeze. Soon after this a little belligerent display occurred between the mates and some of the crew. I did not see the commencement of the affair, but I learned that some of the crew had demurred to obeying orders, and a regular fist cuffing took place. Two or three bloody faces figured in the scene. I was on deck in time to witness a little not very civil jaw between the first mate and one or two of the crew. The mate paced the deck flourishing a Colt’s revolver, and swearing and threatening grandly but did not use the weapon. If necessary use them, and over with it. Threatening and bragging are the business of bullies. Several of the crew were sent ashore, and other men came on board in their place. The mate complained of the refractory ones that they were a set of “blacklegs,” and that they came on board to plunder the passengers and the rest of the crew. They charged him being drunk and “no man.” Meat, peas, biscuits, flour, oatmeal, sugar and tea were served out today.

21 May 1856 – Boarding the Horizon – Mary Taylor

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The Horizon by Kenneth L. Rasmussen

On May 21st and 22nd 1856 the passengers boarded the Horizon in preparation for sailing to Boston Harbor. This included my great-great-grandmother Mary Taylor, her husband, William Upton, her parents and an aunt. I’ll be posting info about her journey for the next 5 months.

From the Journal of Henry Hamilton:

Wednesday, May 21st – Landed at 11 a.m. As soon as we got upon the pier, there was men, lots of them that come to us, we’ll take your things &c &c. Aren’t you some of the brethren? What brethren say I. So they told me they would go on that way to get [-] boxes to carry. I & Joseph then went to see about the porter that Pastor Parks told us about, but could not find him. We returned to the boat, saw a Brother Jessie [Jesse] Haven. We then got a porter to take our chests off to the Horizon, the vessel that we was to go with. We then went & had some dinner & went to the office to see about our going away. We got that settled that I was to go as passenger cook. So we went & got mattresses bought &c. Slept on board the vessel all night.

From the Journal of Joseph Beecroft:

Wed. 22nd [May 21, 1856] We arose soon and I wrote and after breakfast we got our luggage [to] our office in Islington Street and got names signed to the ship and then the luggage to the ship in Bramley Moore Dock and our tickets for our certificates. [At] night I got my certificate for my birth and had a walk in Liverpool, retired to bed.

We came on board in the afternoon and of all the sights that I ever saw, it was the most astonishing. Luggage was piled on a piece of ground in front of the ship to a considerable, and hundreds were busy in getting in their [p.8] luggage. And about half past 10 or 11 I went to bed , where my wife and son already were, but I did not sleep until the noise of talking and laughing had subsided. I then slept better than I had done for some time and awoke refreshed in body and mind, grateful to my Father in Heaven for his blessings and favors.

From the Life History of John Jaques:

Thurs. 22: About 7 o’clock I sent my wife, her sister, Tamar, and my daughter, Flora, in a cab to the Horizon, 2/6. I went with our luggage in the cart 4/, and 6 demies to the man. Got Brother Thomas Dodd to assist me in getting our things on board. Paid him 1/0. We engaged berth number 401 for myself and wife, and the half of number 400 for her sister, Tamar, both on the second or lower deck. Ann Johnson, servant of Brother Linforth was to have the other half of 400. Brother W. Paul and wife engaged the berth next to mine. Brother William Taylor and wife from Stratfordshire had engaged one next to theirs. We did not get out of dock this day. The ship had 856 passengers on board, 635 of whom were P.[Perpetual] E.[Emigrant] Fund emigrants, 212 ordinary , and 7 cabin passengers. Elder Edward Martin, president of the company, assisted by Elder Jesse W. Haven and George P. Waugh; steward, John Thompson; cook, Henry Hamilton and Joseph Jackson; historian, myself; sergeant of the guard, Elder F.C. Robinson. We made our beds of our spare clothing, bought a pound of molasses 3 demies, a pound of marine soap 6 demies, some round lamp wick, six one penny packets of violet powder, and six one penny boxes of wax lights and six red herrings.

More info on the Horizon: Liverpool to Boston.

My Current Projects: Goals and Progress

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Evaluate Goals for last week:

+ Write blog posts ahead for Thursday, Friday and Saturday: I got Thursday and Friday done. Saturday’s post actually had to wait until I lived the week so I didn’t do it ahead. But it is now Monday and it still isn’t done. I have started it though.

++ Put Key West slides on to DVD for my dad: I got this done and even got it to my dad!

– Post to link to about each of my projects: no progress

0 Work on Mary text (take to Wood Badge): I prepped a half sheet booklet with the outline and space to write but there was no time at Wood Badge to work on it. They kept us very, very busy. So this was not a good plan.

Evaluate new approach at the end of the week: well it didn’t happen at the end of the week but I can do it now. I didn’t get my goals printed out. Total score +2 so not too bad considering the situation.

Progress on projects not on my goal list:

Talked with my dad about Kim’s current illustration. She will need some better reference material for the ship. Because my dad is a Navy man he noticed that she has some of the basic of the ship wrong.

Goals for this week:

  1. print goals for the week
  2. get 50 for 50 blog post caught up
  3. blog ahead for Thursday and Friday
  4. write 5 emails to family on Mary Taylor’s sailing on the Horizon
  5. figure out how to schedule emails to go off while I’m at Wood Badge
  6. rate my progress

I have so much to do in prep for the second half of Wood Badge that I’m not going to try to get anything but the basics done this week.

 

Tribute to Shadow

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This week marks five years since the passing of our pet dog Shadow. He was an important part of our family and it was so hard when we learned he had cancer. It was fast growing and the day we sent him over the Rainbow Bridge was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. As part of my grieving process I put together a little book. I want to honor his memory this week. Shadow was our first dog. One of the reasons I looked into puppy raising after he died was because I wanted to have a dog but wasn’t ready to face the end of life process again. So in some ways it is Shadow’s fault that we are puppy raisers. I wear a silver bracelet everyday in memory of this wonderful dog. Thanks Shadow for all you taught us and all the memories!

For more information on this little book, “Shadow’s Laws” I have several posts on how I put it together here. What have you done to help you move through the grieving process? With Memorial Day coming up in a few weeks is there someone who you want to pay tribute to?

My Current Projects: Goals and Progress

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I have decided that I need to reconsider they way I’m doing my Monday posts. First off there is just too much clutter. I think I’ll create a post of each project that I’ll link to for the basic information about my current projects. Then I think I’ll rate my progress with + for good, 0 for neutral, and – no progress. Finally I’ve got to be more focused on the goals I make. I’m going to try printing out my post and refer to it every morning. These goals and getting lost in the midst of my daily to do list.

Evaluate Goals for last week:

  1. Finish Mother’s Day Project: (0) my mom loved her “infographic”, Annette will gather info for me and then I will pick this project back up again. I already have her frame. This project on hold until I hear from Annette.
  2. Continue transcribing Key West audio tape: (-) no progress, procrastination troubles.
  3. Improvements to my Blog site: thoughts on this but no work. (0) I’m happy with the posts I’ve got done and I spent 2 hours helping my friend with getting her blog started.

Progress on projects not on my goal list:

  1. First illustration from Kim. (she is now working on the fog off Newfoundland image.
  2. Today finished the last edits for Martin’s Cove Journal

The harsh reality is that I’m not spending enough time working on my projects. I’m letting too many things distract me from what I really want to do. Even with a new puppy I’ve got to find a way to make this happen. Realistically the next two weeks are crazy. We are doing Wood Badge training all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week and next. So that takes half my week right there. The training is supposed to be really good and hopefully I’ll learn some thing that I can apply to being more effective with my time.

Goals for this week:

  1. Write blog posts ahead for Thursday, Friday and Saturday
  2. Put Key West slides on to DVD for my dad
  3. Post to link to about each of my projects
  4. Work on Mary text (take to Wood Badge)
  5. Evaluate new approach at the end of the week

Wish me luck. I’m going to need it.

My Generations Project – Mary Taylor

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Mary Taylor

The next step in My Generations Project as out lined by The Generations Project episode “Do Your Own Generations project”, is to populate my family tree. So I went to FamilySearch.org on the right hand side of the page is a link for “just getting started”. If you don’t have an account you can set one up there. Step one is to build your tree. Mine was already built so I went to the second step. Discover your fan chart. If you have an account for FamilySearch you can go straight to CreateFan.com and login there. Then just select create and it will create a pdf file ready to save to your computer or send it to one of four printing options.   It was really slick and easy. Here is how mine turned out.

There are several free downloadable genealogy charts through TreeSeek.com. One of the other options there is a cloud style tree. I picked the one that is just last names. Here is how mine came out.

As I explored TreeSeek.com I found a link on their about page to Misbach Enterprises. They have blank pedigree charts and some are free that you can download. One is a graphical family tree that looks interesting. A few weeks ago I found a bunch of blank free pedigree chart at ObituariesHelp.org. I really like an 8 generation fan chart that I have used for my puppies pedigrees.

family_tree        fan_chart         eight_generation_family_charts_fan_triangles

There aren’t too many blanks spots on my mom’s side of the family. My dad’s side has a lot more holes. Maybe sometime I’ll work on filling in those holes but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. I really like how compact and clear the fan charts are in organizing so much information.Have you used a fan chart?

Mother’s Day Project

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Mother’s Day Project for Iris

This is my version of an infographics inspire by Nicholas Felton‘s 2010 Annual Report. I’ve never done anything like this, so it was a learning experience and I enjoyed it. There are so many facts about a person’s life and this is a fairly simple one page project. I will print it out 8″ x 10″ and put it in a simple frame.

Iris – layer 1 – background

I did my layout in InDesign with five layers. The bottom layer just has the background.After I put in the background color in an 8 x 10 box, I locked the layer so I wouldn’t accidentally select it. The background color is a 25% tint of the main text color. This way when I go to make another version for Bill’s mom I can change the text color swatch and the background will change too.

Iris – layer 2 – lines

The second layer is just the lines. The default 1 pt stroke was too strong so they are .5 pt strokes. In case you don’t know, if you hold down the shift-key when you drag out a line with the line tool it will be perfectly horizontal or vertical.

Iris – layer 3 – text

The third layer is for most of the text. I used Myriad Pro in weights from light to black. I really like it when font families have such a contrast in weights.

Iris – layer 4 – photos etc.

The fourth layer is for the photos. After I picked the three photos I wanted to use I edited them in Photoshop using color matching to give them all an old sepia tone look. This layer also includes the brown lines on the residences “chart”. I drew these lines in InDesign with the pen tool. I started with a map of the United States and used that as a guide for drawing lines from Rexburg, where she was born, to each city she lived in. Then I deleted the map leaving the lines.

Iris – layer 5 – white text & lines (shown with layer 1)

The fifth layer is for all the white text and lines. I added white dots of various sizes for each city. Bigger dots for the cities with the most address. You see it here with the background layer so you can tell what is there.

I added a sixth layer to block out some of the more specific information on my mom for posting on this blog. No reason to risk identity theft. By putting it on a separate layer I can turn the blocked out areas on or off as needed for output.

I have learned over the last few years that it is very helpful to think through a project and create layers for different elements. It prevents lots of problems when it comes to editing and rearranging your design. For example with the residence chart, I can lock all the layers but the two involved in the chart and re-size or move it with accidentally selecting the text or other lines nearby.

If you would like an InDesign template of this project send me an email to raelyn@tellingfamilytales.com

My Current Projects: goals and progress

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Is it Monday already? Where did last week go? Oh, I know the new puppy (Zodiac) took all of it.

Mother’s Day Project: Infographic inspired sheet about the mother’s in my life.

Due Date: May 13th

I got one done for my mom. I’ll post about it this week, probably tomorrow.

  • 8 x 10 frames
  • info on Bill’s mom
  • print
  • frame
  • wrap

If I don’t get the info I need for Bill’s mom before Mother’s Day I think I could show her what I’m doing and she could help me figure out what she would like on her sheet.

In the Navy – Key West Chapter: project about my dad’s 20 years in the U.S. Navy. The priority is the chapter on Key West so he can pass it on to the Under Water Swimmer School website to include in their history page.

Due Date: asap but no hurry either

  • Listen to audio tape & transcribe

No progress here. Procrastination and Zodiac are my only excuses

Mary: a small (7×7) book about Mary Taylor’s childhood and her journey to the Salt Lake Valley with the Martin Handcart Company for children under 12 to learn about their pioneer ancestor.

Due Date: flexible – would love to have at least a draft for July Reunion

  • write text
  • get illustrations from Kim

I took a thumb drive to Kim but she was sick so I haven’t gotten the first illustration yet, but I did leave her a check. I figure it is good to pay her as she completes each illustration.

Journal for Martin’s Cove Reunion: a half sheet size journal to help make the trek experience at Martin’s Cove more meaningful. Have time line of handcart company with info about Mary Taylor and her family along with space for journaling and possible adding photos or sketches.

Due Date: July 2012

  • Decide on Binding – in process
  • Logo for Reunion
  • edits – waiting for mom to proof read

Still on hold. My mom is coming down this week so I’ll check with her on proof reading.

Goals for this week:

  1. Finish Mother’s Day Project
  2. Continue transcribing “Key West”
  3. Improvements to my Blog site

The big challenge I have this week is figuring out how to get things done with a new puppy on board. How do you deal with new changes to your life and still get things done? This is an ongoing struggle for me and I have to find better ways to tackle the goals and projects of my life.