This page contains information about those Anderson family members (including Eliason and
Erickson) who immigrated to the United States. Information is arranged by family groupings 
including: relationship, date and port of departure, ship, port and date of arrival; extracts
from histories, and links to other immigration sites.

Johannes Anderson (age 36), His wife Johanna Olson Anderson (age 37) and their two children;
Anna Anderson (age 5) and Olof Anderson (age 2) left Sweden in the early Spring of 1859 for
America on the ship "William Tapscott.

Extract from Mormon Immigration Index
ANDERSON, Johannes <1823> Age: 36; Origin: Sweden; Occupation: Farmer
     Note: BMR, p. 129; SMR, p. 71; Skane Conference
ANDERSON, Johanne <1823> Age: 36; Origin: Sweden
ANDERSON, Anna <1855> Age: 4; Origin: Sweden
ANDERSON, Olof <1858> Age: 1; Origin: Sweden

Date of Departure: 11 Apr 1859
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
LDS Immigrants: 725
Church Leader: Robert F. Neslen
Date of Arrival: 13 May 1859
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Sources: BMR, Book #1046, pp. 102-130 (FHL #025,691)
              SMR, pp. 69-77
              Customs #367 (FHL #175,547
              SMR, 1859 (FHL #025,696



William Tapscott 

Ship: 1525 tons: 195' x 41' x 21' 
Built: 1852 by William Drummond at Bath, Maine 

In three voyages the square-rigger William Tapscott transported 2262 Mormon emigrants-the
greatest number of any sailing craft. Captain James B. Bell was master during these passages.
The first began at Liverpool on 11 April 1859. Under the presidency of Elder Robert F. Neslen
and his counselors, Henry H. Harris and George Rowley, the 725 Saints were organized
into five English and Swiss wards occupying one side of the ship and five Scandinavian wards
the other side. Each ward had a presiding elder responsible for cleanliness and good order.
Despite the fact that nine languages were spoken, there were harmonious feelings and unity
among the Saints. It was a pleasant and successful voyage. Morning and evening prayers were
held, as well as regular religious services. Entertainment consisted of singing, instrumental
music, games, and dancing. There was only one death, but two births and nineteen weddings
were recorded. After a thirty-three-day passage the emigrants landed at New York on 14 May. 

The following year---11 May 1860 the William Tapscott sailed from Liverpool with 730 Saints
from Britain, Scandinavia, and Switzerland on board. Elder Asa Calkin presided over the
company. His counselors were Elders William Budge and Carl Widerborg. The voyage was
stormy and unpleasant, and adding to the distress smallpox broke out among the Scandinavian
Saints. During the thirty-five-day passage there were ten deaths, four births, and nine marriages.
When the vessel arrived at the quarantine point in the New York harbor on 15 June, physicians 
came aboard and vaccinated most of the passengers and crew. It was not until 20 June that
the emigrants were permitted ashore. 

The third and largest company of 807 Saints sailed from Liverpool on 14 May 1862. Prior to 
the vessel's departure Apostles Amasa M. Lyman, Charles C. Rich, and George Q. Cannon
came aboard and organized the company. Elder William Gibson was appointed president, 
and his counselors were Elders John Clark and Francis M. Lyman. The Saints were then divided
into nineteen wards, and during the voyage prayers were held morning and evening. After a 
successful forty-two-day passage the ship reached New York on 25 June. 

The William Tapscott was one of the largest full-rigged ships built in Maine during the 1850s.
She was a typical "Down Easter"-sturdy, moneymaking, moderately sparred, and designed for
carrying capacity. She was a three- decker with a square stem and billethead. Among her
owners, including her namesake, were such well-known mariners as William Drummond,
Gilbert C. Trufant, and George B. Cornish. She hailed from New York. After plying the oceans
for about forty years the William Tapscott was lost in the English Channel in the early 1890s. 

Record of Voyage of the William Tapscott From Mormon Immigration Index CD ROM

Anders Peter Eliason (age 22) and Anna Marie Erickson (age 30) came to America from Sweden
as single young adults on the ship "B.S. Kimball."

Christina Eriksson (sister to Anna Marie Erickson) came to America about 1870 (age 39).  

Extract from Mormon Immigration Index
ERIKDOTTER, Anna Maria <1834> Age: 29; Origin: Sweden; Occupation: Single
     Note: BMR, p. 233; Gotheborg (SMR p. 180)
ELIASSON, Petter <1842> Age: 21; Origin: Sweden
     Note: "An adopted son" (European Emigration Card Index: 1849-1925. FHL #298431-298439)
     Grouped with the following individuals:
          ELIASSON, Andreas   Age: 57
          ELIASSON, Christine  Age: 37
          ELIASSON, Johan E. Age: 9
          ELIASSON, Anna Christine  Age 7
          ELIASSON, August    Age 5
          ELIASSON, Claus      Age 3
          ELIASSON, Joseph Oscar    Age: infant

Date of Departure: 8 May 1863
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
LDS Immigrants: 657
Church Leader: Hans Peter Lund
Date of Arrival: 15 Jun 1863
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Sources: BMR, Book #1047, pp. 225-253 (FHL #025,691
              Customs #581 (FHL #175,585

     B. S. Kimball
     Ship: 1192 tons: 184' x 38' x 19'
     Built: 1857 at Rockland, Maine

    Under the command of Captain Henry C. Dearborn the American Packet ship B.S.
    Kimball  sailed from Liverpool for the New  World on 8 May 1863.  On board were 657
    Mormons, principally from Scandinavia.  President George Q. Cannon of the European
    Mission organized  the company.  He appointed Elder Hans Peter Lund to preside over
    the emigrants, assisted by Elders Peter Beckstrom and Christoffer S. Winge as counselors
    and P. Wilhelm Poulsen as clerk. The emigrants were also divided into seven districts, 
    each with a president and captain of the guard.  Among the passengers was Lise Christiansen,
    a young Danish girl whose descendants  would include two general authorities of the church.
    Her recollection of the passage was unpleasant and at times frightening.  During the voyage
    there were four deaths, two births, and eleven marriages.  The vessel anchored in New York
    harbor Saturday evening, 13 June, but the passengers did not land until two days later -
    thirty-eight days after leaving England.

     The ship was built with two decks, a square stern, and a figurehead.  It was a three masted 
     vessel.

Record of Voyage from "Mormon Immigration Index (CD ROM)

LINKS