Seventy-Second Company "Windermere" 477 souls.

The ship Windermere, under Captain Fairfield, sailed from Liverpool, England bound for New Orleans, on the 22nd day of February 1854, with four hundred and seventy-seven (477) Saints on board, the company being in charge of Elder Daniel Garn.

Included in the company were seven ex-presidents of the conferences, namely, Abraham Merchant, Robert Menzies, Job Smith, John T. Hardy, John A. Albiston, L. V. Long, and Graham Douglas. The Windermere arrived at New Orleans on April 23, 1854. During the voyage contrary winds were encountered, arising at times to heavy gales, but at the end of five weeks a favorable wind set in and the ship made 1,000 miles in four days. After fifteen days sailing from Liverpool, the smallpox broke out on board and spread rapidly as the vessel approached the tropics, until 37 passengers and two of the crew were attacked, but at the crisis the malady was suddenly checked in answer to prayer. Six marriages were solemnized on board, and six births and ten deaths occurred.

On the morning after arriving at New Orleans, eleven persons suffering with smallpox were sent to the Luzenburg Hospital, agreeable to order from the health officers at the port; and Elder Long and five others were selected to remain at New Orleans to attend to the sick until they were sufficiently recovered to go forward. The rest of the company continued the journey from New Orleans on April 27th on board a steamship, and arrived in St. Louis a few days later, from whence the journey was subsequently continued to Kansas City.

Those of our direct ancesters were:

• Thomas Ransom, 42, Seaman
• John Ransom, 44, Laborer
• Caroline, 38
• James Ransom, 26, Laborer
• Elizabeth, 24
• Thomas Ransom, 6
• Frederick B. Ransom, 4
• William Ransom, 1½
• John Ransom, 71, Laborer
• Charlotte, 65.

For full roster of this Company, see British Mission History of Feb. 22, 1854 pages 7 to 20; (Millennial Star Vol. XVI, pp 140, 297, 345, 477)

The following is taken from the biography of William Watton Burton, found in the Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, pp 350-351, Vol 1

February 22, 1854, I sailed on the ship "Windermere" from Liverpool for New Orleans. We were eight weeks and five days on the way, and we encountered heavy storms. On the 18 of March we were in the same latitude that we were on the 8th. The weather was very rough, and the Captain of the vessel came to Elder Daniel Garn, who presided over the saints, and said, "Mr. Garn, I have done all I can for the vessel, and I am afraid that it cannot stand this sea. We are in great danger. I don't know whether there is a God or not. Your people say there is, and if there is God and He will hear you, you had better talk with Him." It was early in the morning, a fast was decided upon, and prayer meeting was held at ten a.m. The storm abated a little, enough to make us feel out of danger, but continued in considerable force until the 18th.

On the 14th of March smallpox broke out. There were forty cases on board and 13 funerals took place between Liverpool and New Orleans.. On the 17th the ship caught fire under the cooking galley, great excitement prevailed until the fire was extinguished. On the 27th the provisions and water supply failed and from that time until we reached New Orleans April 23, 1854, our ration was one sea biscuit a day. June 19th, we commenced our journey over the plains from our camping grounds near Kansas City. We arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 23, 1854.

The Church chronology says: (Of Ship Windermere) Many died on board from smallpox. It also gives Sunday, Oct. 1, 1854 as the day Daniel Garn's Company of emigrating Saints, including the Germans, arrived in Great Salt Lake City.