Coincidences with Family Roots

Christianna Gregory Reed, a midwife and child caretaker sailed with her family on the ship Brooklyn from New York to California in 1846.

[Image from: “Gather Up a Company. Saints, Volume 2” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] February 4,1846, 238 pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints boarded the Brooklyn for an extraordinary journey. Their mission? To sail 24,000 miles, a journey that would take them around South America’s Cape Horn, stopping at Selkirk Island (now called Robinson Crusoe Island), to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and then onward to California, crossing the equator twice along the way before reaching Yerba Buena, California, July 31,1846—now San Francisco—one of the longest religious sea pilgrimages ever undertaken. Over six grueling months at sea, they laid the foundation for the first Latter-day Saint colony in the West, shaping the future of San Francisco, especially during the California Gold Rush.

Fellow church member Robert Burr shares family story about an ancestor born at sea on the Brooklyn

One Sunday, while attending a lesson given by Robert Burr at church, he shared a volume from his family history. His ancestors had sailed on the Brooklyn, and he told the fascinating story of a baby born on the Atlantic during the voyage, named John Atlantic Burr. Intrigued, I knew the Brooklyn was part of my own family history. My fourth great-grandmother, Christianna Gregory Reed, was a midwife who also sailed on the Brooklyn. It made me wonder—had she helped deliver baby Burr?

While I haven’t yet found a source to confirm this, it seems likely that Christianna helped with this birth. To add to the coincidence, I discovered that two years after arriving in California, the Burr and Reed families traveled together in a small wagon train to Salt Lake City. The Burrs and Reeds of the past were clearly well-acquainted, and now, here I was, sharing a ward with a Burr descendant. This unexpected connection inspired me to dive deeper into the incredible story of the Brooklyn and the pioneers who sailed off from New York to make history.

Come to America! The Pursuit of Religious Freedom

On November 8, 1845, Latter-day Saints in the Eastern States gathered at American Hall in New York City to hear Apostle Orson Pratt deliver a passionate call to action:

“Brethren, Awake! Be determined to get out of this evil nation by next spring. We do not want one Saint left in the United States by that time. Let every branch in the north, south, east, and west be determined to flee Babylon, either by land or by sea” (Times and Seasons, Dec. 1, 1845).

Pratt reminded them of 16 years of persecution, including recent months when mobs had burned Latter-day Saint homes near Nauvoo, Illinois. Tensions were high, and pressure to expel Latter-day Saints was growing. On September 16, Brigham Young announced the decision to abandon Nauvoo, and preparations for a massive westward migration were underway. While Brigham Young considered upper California—then Mexican territory—as the destination, he directed Pratt to announce that Samuel Brannan would lead the first group to journey by sea, sailing from New York around Cape Horn to California. On February 4, 1846, after significant preparation and renovation of the selected ship Brooklyn, through the same harbor that had seen immigrants arriving daily from the Old World for over 200 years in search of religious freedom, political liberty, and economic opportunity now witnessed a reversal of that journey. Here, Latter-day Saints—men, women, and children—set sail for similar reasons but away from the United States of America.

Leaving behind their homes, families, friends, and country, they embarked on a voyage five times longer than the Mayflower’s, determined to start fresh in an unknown land. Coincidently, and without coordination, Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo begin their westward journey on this very same day.

War with Mexico makes California a U.S. Territory

During their voyage, the United States declared war on Mexico, and California became U.S. territory. When the Brooklyn arrived in Yerba Buena Cove (now San Francisco Bay) on July 31, 1846, they were met by the U.S.S. Portsmouth and officially welcomed to the United States. A uniformed sailor greeted them, announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to inform you that you are in the United States of America.”

They had crossed an ocean in search of religious freedom, only to find themselves once again under U.S. rule. In the end, this unexpected turn of events worked in their favor, as the California Gold Rush a few years later sparked an economic boom that benefited both California and Utah.

The Ship Brooklyn

The Brooklyn, an aging 125-foot, 445-ton merchant ship, was an unlikely choice for the Latter-day Saint voyage to California. By 1846, it was outdated and inexpensive to lease, yet it was quickly remodeled with 32 small staterooms, a communal table, and a deck galley to accommodate nearly 400 passengers. To lower leasing costs, the Saints agreed to transport freight to Hawaii, reducing their own cargo.

Described as “the ark of Noah,” the Brooklyn carried supplies essential for survival and settlement, including livestock, provisions, and tools. Among its freight were 800 pounds of cargo for Hawaii and firearms that helped fund the journey. Upon arrival in Yerba Buena, sailors from the U.S.S. Portsmouth assisted in unloading. One observed:

“The cargo of the Brooklyn consisted of the most heterogeneous mass of material ever crowded together. In fact it seemed like the ark of Noah. It contained representation of every living thing the mind of man had ever conceived of: agricultural and manufacturing tools in profuse abundance, dry goods, hardware, groceries, candles, seed wheat…truck, garden, and grass seed; a printing press, type paper and all appurtenances, Bibles, school supplies, a library of 179 volumes… sawmill irons, two gristmills, blacksmith tools, carpenter tools, and small stores too numerous to mention were dug out of the hold and scattered along the beach.” (Patton, Annaleone D. California Mormons by Sail and Trail)

My Reed Family Passengers

Passengers from my family included my 4^th great-grandmother, 51-year-old Christianna Nixon Gregory Reed, along with her three children: my 3^rd great grandmother, 25-year-old Hannah Tucker Reed Jamison (who was hiding her young son from her estranged sea captain husband), 18-year-old John Haines Reed Jr., and 15-year-old Rachel Christianna Reed.

Hannah and her mother paid their way by taking care of Captain Richardson’s wife and her baby and doing washing and ironing. Hannah’s mother was blessed to be a midwife. One history I read described Christianna as ‘a doctor woman’.

For Hannah, the journey represented not just a spiritual pilgrimage but also an escape. Her husband, Alexander Jamison, had reacted with anger upon discovering her conversion to the Latter-day Saint faith, and she had been forced to hide their son John from him before embarking on this life-changing voyage. Alexander reportedly died in 1847 at sea, never seeing his wife or son again.

The journey around Cape Horn was no easy feat. Young John Reed Jamison was just four years old at the time of this perilous journey.

The Ship’s Captain

Captain Abel W. Richardson, the captain of the Brooklyn, was a highly skilled and experienced seaman with a reputation for excellent moral character. A part-owner of the ship, Richardson hailed from a devout Baptist family and upheld strict standards aboard his vessel. Passengers and crew alike noted the ship’s disciplined and respectful environment, with unbecoming language rarely heard, including the crew members. Richardson’s crew included his nephew, Joseph W. Richardson, as first mate, along with a second mate, steward, cook, and twelve seamen. Two additional cooks, both hired by the passengers, and two non-LDS cabin passengers traveling for business, rounded out the company. Richardson’s leadership and high standards contributed to the order and moral tone of the historic voyage. It was for this captain and his wife that Christianna and her daughter Hannah worked by caring for their baby and doing laundry.

The Ship’s Leader

Samuel Brannan, was chosen to lead the Latter-day Saint passengers on the Brooklyn. He then became an early Church leader in California and gained national fame during the Gold Rush for his business ventures. Prior to the voyage, he joined the Church in Kirtland, Ohio, he served as a missionary in New York and helped publish The Prophet.

In 1845, Brannan opened an emigrating office in New York to aid Eastern Saints in their westward journey. That summer, he met with Amos Kendall, a powerful Washington insider, and the Benson brothers, naval contractors who claimed to represent President Polk’s interests. Brannan warned Brigham Young that U.S. leaders allegedly planned to block the Saints’ migration, considering it illegal. The Bensons offered to prevent interference in exchange for half of the land the Church acquired in the West.

Young rejected the offer, but Brannan, possibly involved in a broader scheme tied to California’s annexation, exaggerated the government threat to encourage departure. He spread rumors of sailing to Oregon and even flew an “Oregon” pennant as a diversion. After delays, Captain Richardson insisted on departure, and the Brooklyn set sail.

In California, Brannan led the Church branches and urged Young to relocate the Saints there, but Young chose the Salt Lake Valley. Brannan prospered in the Gold Rush, becoming California’s first millionaire. However, accusations of embezzlement and vigilante actions led to his excommunication in 1851. Poor investments and a costly divorce drained his fortune, and he died near San Diego at 70—once California’s richest man, he ended his life in financial ruin.

Hardships at Sea

The Atlantic Storm

The Brooklyn’s voyage was a grueling test for the Latter-day Saints seeking refuge in California. Before departure, they sacrificed homes and families for an uncertain future. Soon after setting sail, a violent Atlantic gale struck, confining passengers below deck. Women and children were lashed to their bunks as the ship groaned under the storm’s force. The Saints found solace in song, their hymns rising above the chaos.

During the storm, Captain Richardson addressed the passengers:

“My friends, there is a time in every man’s life when it is fitting that he should prepare to die. That time has come to us, and unless God interposes, we shall all go to the bottom; I have done all in my power, but this is the worst gale I have ever known since I was a master of a ship.” (Hansen, Lorin K. “Voyage of the Brooklyn,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought)

Despite his fears, some remained steadfast. One replied, “Captain Richardson, we were sent to California and we shall get there.” Another added, “Captain, I have no more fear than though we were on solid land.” The captain, astonished, later remarked, “They are either fools and fear nothing, or they know more than I do.” (Hansen, Lorin K. “Voyage of the Brooklyn,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought)

The Pacific Storm

After rounding Cape Horn, the plan was to stop at Valparaiso to resupply their provisions. But,the Brooklyn never made it to Valparaiso. As the ship attempted to reach the port, another powerful gale forced it back toward the Cape. Once again, passengers were confined below deck. Though less severe than the Atlantic storm they had previously endured, the crew battled harsh conditions to keep the vessel afloat. Amid the chaos, a sailor was swept overboard but managed to cling to a floating board until the crew successfully rescued him.

Robinson Crusoe Island – relief and grief

The storms were just the beginning. Poor ventilation and cramped quarters led to illness, claiming ten lives. Food spoiled, water turned slimy, and desperation grew. Instead of stopping at Valparaiso, they came to the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, a group of islands that included Robinson Crusoe Island where passengers found brief relief, washing clothes and gathering fruit. Previously known as Selkirk Island it was named after the true event explorer Alexander Selkirk who was marooned on the island. His experience inspired the fictional novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Some ventured into the ‘Robinson Crusoe cave’. Yet sorrow and grief was present also—Laura Goodwin, pregnant and injured in a fall on the ship had plead before dying not to be buried at sea. They held a gravesite service and buried her on Robinson Crusoe Island.

Another baby born at sea and yet another loss

Shortly before arriving in Hawaii, Phoebe Robbins, who had lost two sons, welcomed a daughter, Georgiana Pacific Robbins, likely assisted by “doctor woman” Christianna Reed. In Honolulu, Orren and Ann Smith stayed behind with their sick infant, who died soon after, the final casualty of the voyage.

Tensions with the leader, but alas arrival in California

Tensions grew onboard as leader Samuel Brannan enforced strict rules, fueling resentment. As war news reached them, fears of arriving in contested land mounted.

When the Brooklyn finally reached Yerba Buena, the relief was overwhelming. They had survived and would soon help shape California’s future, laying the foundation for growth, agriculture, and the Gold Rush. Their journey was not just one of endurance but of faith, sacrifice, and resilience—turning hardship into legacy.

Christianna Reed (My 4th Great-Grandmother)

Christianna was the eighth child of George Gregory and Hannah Mathews Gregory, born on March 19, 1795, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her education in Philadelphia County and worked as a seamstress and milliner. On February 17, 1819, she married John Reed, son of Joseph and Rachel Reed, in a ceremony officiated by Justice of the Peace William Moulder in Philadelphia County.

The couple settled in Burlington County, New Jersey, where they welcomed six children. Their seventh child, a daughter named Christianna Rachel, was born in Philadelphia. Tragically, John passed away on September 29, 1832, in New Jersey.

Following her husband’s death, Christianna embraced the Mormon faith in Philadelphia and prepared to embark on the journey aboard the ship Brooklyn.

Hannah Tucker Reed (My 3rd Great-Grandmother)

Hannah, daughter of John and Christanna Gregory Reed, was born on May 10, 1821, in Burlington, New Jersey. When she was just eleven years old, her father passed away, leaving her mother to support the family by working as a midwife.

By the time Hannah was twenty, she had been courting James McCowan for over a year, and the two planned to marry. However, her mother disapproved of James and persuaded Hannah to end the relationship in favor of a marriage to Alexander Jamison. On December 12, 1841, Hannah married Alexander in a ceremony officiated by a Baptist minister. The couple had one son, John Jamison.

Despite her marriage, Hannah struggled to forget her love for James McCowan. When her son was a year old, she separated from Alexander and returned to live with her mother. Around this time, Joseph Smith and his followers were actively preaching, drawing large crowds. Among those intrigued by the new faith were Hannah and her mother, who regularly attended the meetings led by LDS missionaries. Their growing interest eventually led them to join the LDS Church.

Family Roots

For more information about the Reed family please visit our family history tree:

Darrell & Rose Hansen’s Family Roots

Reed Family

Watch for future chapters of the Reed Family Story

Future chapters will include the discovery of gold and Latter-day Saint involvement including that of Christianna Reed weighing the gold, the Gold Rush, the care of a Donner Party survivor, the trip over the High Sierras to Salt Lake City by the Reed and Burr families. Look also for a chapter about Hannah Reed Jamison Graham who like her mother was a midwife and delivered hundreds of children in the Bennington, Bear Lake, Idaho region. And, I’ll also include a romance. Hannah was reunited with her love from yesteryear, James McGowan.

For a sneak preview of the romance story see:

James & Hannah Tucker McCowan Love Story

References

1. “Christianna Gregory.” FamilySearch.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJB-FQ6. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
2. “Gather Up a Company. Saints, Volume 2” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v2/part-1/01-gather-up-a-company. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
3. “James and Hannah Tucker Reed Graham and Christiana Gregory.” FamilySearch.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJB-FQ6. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
4. “The Life of Hannah T. Read.” FamilySearch.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LBJF-VVT. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
5. “Hannah Tucker Read.” FamilySearch.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LBJF-VVT. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
6. “John Reed Clark Jamison.” FamilySearch.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/9SQ6-GR3. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
7. Hansen, Lorin K. “Voyage of the Brooklyn,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
8. Patton, Annaleone D. California Mormons by Sail and Trail. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 1961.
9. “Robinson Crusoe Island.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoe_Island.
10. “Saints, Volume 2: No Unhallowed Hand.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v2. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
11. “Samuel Brannan.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/samuel-brannan. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
12. “Ship Brooklyn.” California Pioneer, californiapioneer.com/historic-events/ship-brooklyn/. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
13. “Voyage of the Brooklyn.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1997/07/voyage-of-the-brooklyn?lang=eng. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
14. “Voyage of the Brooklyn.” The Historical Marker Database, http://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=92760. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
15. “Voyage of the Brooklyn Saints.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Feb. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_of_the_Brooklyn_Saints.