Samuel Read was born 28 February 1807, at Stepney, London,
Middlesex, England. He was the son of Jacob Read and Elizabeth Carter, and
was the fifth child in a family of twelve children. We know nothing of his
youth. Samuel's parents lived and died in London, England.
Elizabeth Quilley was born 22 September 1805, just three
months before the Prophet Joseph Smith was born. She was christened at
Basing, Hampshire, England 29 September 1906 as the daughter of William Quilley
and Hannah Evemey. Elizabeth preferred being called Georgina or Georgiana
and added that to her name. History is silent about her growing up years
also. Georgina's parents lived and died in England too.
The marriage certificate for Samuel and Elizabeth Georgina has
never been found. The family calculates this marriage to have taken place
about 1836. Elizabeth was formerly married to James Dale in 1825.
The Read family experienced a major change in their lives when
they became acquainted with the missionaries and the members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Family records show Samuel was baptized
18 Aug 1854, and Georgina was baptized 16 Jul 1855. LDS Church Membership
records show Clara was baptized 10 September 1853, and Alicia was baptized 10
Sep 1853 by Elder E. C. Breind. Samuel Milford was baptized 11 Feb 1856,
and Thisbe was baptized 13 May 1855 by Elder John Rodwell. While living in
England, Walter was too young to be baptized with the other family
members.
John Rodwell and his wife Sarah were friends of the Read family. The
Rodwells sailed to America at the same time. John had been involved in the
teaching and conversion of the Read family. The Rodwells had six children,
three living at the time they set sail. Being mature in age, Elizabeth,
Rosina and Eliza Jane Rodwell did not emigrate with their parents to America at
that time.
Emigration to America
Following their baptism, the Read family was feeling the spirit
of Zion. Although they looked forward to joining the Saints in Utah, it
was with great difficulty that they bid farewell to their home land. They
left behind a large extended family and friends who probably wondered about
their new found "Mormon" religion.
The Read family boarded the ship 'Horizon' on May 22, 1856 at
Liverpool England. On May 25, 1856, the ship set sail for America.
Clara read, their oldest child, did not accompany the family; she emigrated to
Australia and lived with an uncle. During the three-day period between the
boarding and sailing, the ship Horizon was anchored in and then towed up the
river Mersey. Records tell us that there were 836 people on board the
Horizon, 108 of them being children.
The Read family, with the other emigrants, sighted land the
morning of June 28, 1856 and the ship anchored in Massachusetts Bay (Boston)
that day at about 4:00 p.m. From the passenger lists, the ages recorded
for the family are as follows: Samuel Read, 48; Elizabeth Read, 50; Elitha
[Alicia] Read, 15; Samuel Read, 14; Frisbea [Thisbe] Read, 9; and Walter Read,
6. The entire cost of their passage was $5,400
2. The corrected age
for Thisbe at the time of sailing is age eleven and Walter was the age of
seven.
John Rodwell and his wife Sarah were friend of the Read family. The Rodwells sailed to America at the same time. John had been involved in the teaching and conversion of the Read family. The Rodwells had six children, three living at the time they set sail. Being mature in age, Elizabeth, Rosina and Eliza Jane Rodwell did not emigrate with their parents to America at that time.
