7 Apr 1845 - 15 July 1845
At age 11 years, John sailed with his parents and 5 younger siblings from Porsgrunn, Norway to New York aboard the bark Salvator. They traveled steerage.
They departed Porsgrunn, Norway 7 Apr 1845 and arrived in New York 15 Juy 1845.
The vessel belonged to the merchant Jacob Müller from Porsgrunn. It was built in Porsgrunn in 1839 and its gross tonnage was 157.1/2 kommerselester, which equals 326 gross register-tons. The captain, Johan Gasmann (1789-1878), was also the constructor of the vessel.
Ingebrigt and Helene might have seen an announcement of the voyage in a newspaper, such as this one for the year before, found on Norway Heritage: Hands across the Sea.
From the newspaper "Skiensposten Oct. 17, 1843, this announcement states that the Salvator crossed to New York from Porsgrund using 46 days, and that it would make the same crossing the year ahead. "The ship is said to be solid and good, and all of the passengers on the 1843 crossing had been very satisfied with the conditions aboard. The cargo on the next crossing will be iron. Special cabin arrangements will be made upon request for families".
From Karen Hulford's A Johnson Family History:
Cooking was usually allowed on deck with people waiting in line to use the galleys. Sanitary conditions aboard these ships were abominable during these times. Often there were only one or two primitive toilet facilities for all steerage passengers. The stench of the lack of sanitary facilities and/or seasick passengers could be overwhelming. Disease was rampant and often claimed the lives of the young or the old and weak. Surviving the trip was an ordeal.
.....Our Johnson family aboard the Salvator, under the command of Captain Johan Gasmann, was scheduled to sail February 27 but was delayed due to heavy ice in the fjord. Finally, it departed on April 8 with 110 passengers and a cargo of iron. Unfortunately, the ship was overloaded and had to stop in Portsmouth, England, on April 17 to off-load some of the cargo. The Salvator resumed her travels and slowly sailed west toward America. On July 9, she encountered a severe storm and the crew had to heave more cargo overboard.
We're fortunate to have a record on John Johnson's voyage, as described by his father, Ingebrigt Johnson, and found in Ron Larson, "McFarland's Norwegian Heritage" (1991), and also found on findagrave.
The voyage across the Atlantic was not an easy or quick journey....Besides sickness, another danger of the voyage was fierce storms. One such account is detailed by Ingebrikt Johnson Helle [father of our John Johnson] from Kragero whose destination was the town of Dunn. [quote from article published in "Billed-Magazin," 1870, follows:]
"I left Norway in April, 1845, crossing the ocean on a ship [the "Salvator"] from Porsgrunn. There were, all told, 140 emigrants aboard. Many of us had received letters from friends who had left earlier, and since they praised America we also decided to look for homesteads beyond the big waters. As far as I could gather, it was these encouragements from America that had persuaded most of the emigrants to bid old Norway farewell.
The trip across the ocean was full of dangers. The fierce gales that we encountered on the Atlantic threatened us with death and destruction. The boat was loaded with iron, and during one fearful storm the cargo got displaced, which nearly caused the ship to capsize. Even our experienced captain gave up hope of rescue. The terror and the cries of distress among the passengers were indescribable. After being tossed about on the ocean some 14 weeks, we finally reached New York harbor in a miserable condition. Then our immigrant group began the trip inland."
- Ingebrikt Johnson Helle
[father of our John Johnson]
A summary and log of the Salvator’s voyages confirm the difficult voyage:
Captain Johan Gasmann from Porsgrunn Apr. 7 to New York July 15:
In 1845 she departed from Porsgrunn Apr. 8th, and arrived at New York July 15th. She was carrying 111 steerage passengers and a load of iron. On the way she called at Portsmouth, England. On July 9th, experienced a severe gale, causing the crew to heave overboard some iron.
Feb 27, delayed departure cause to heavy ice in the Frierfjord
Apr 8, leaving Langesund with some 110 passengers and iron
Apr 17, Portsmouth, England to unload some cargo due to overload
Further cargo had to be thrown overboard in storm, 360 Ton iron delivered in
New York
The typical voyage from Porsgrunn to New York took 53 days. This voyage of the Salvator took 99 days!
Norway Heritage website offers several drawings and photos of a voyage for emigrants traveling steerage.
Steerage is between decks.
Life in steerage.
Everything was auctioned before the trip.
Eating in steerage.
Beds in steerage.
NEW YORK
John Johnson and his family arrived in New York 15 July, 1845, before the United States had an official immigration center (Castle Garden 1855 – 1890, followed by Ellis Island 1892 - 1954).
John Johnson and his family arrived in New York 15 July, 1845, before the United States had an official immigration center (Castle Garden 1855 – 1890, followed by Ellis Island 1892 - 1954).
As far as I’ve been able to learn, they would have simply disembarked and started the next part of their journey.
John Johnson's obituary indicates that the family lived in New York for about four years before traveling to Wisconsin.
John Johnson's obituary indicates that the family lived in New York for about four years before traveling to Wisconsin.
Accounts of other emigrants indicate they traveled from New York to Albany by steamboat, then from Buffalo, New York across the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin by steamboat.