Mormon Emigration.
Liverpool was the European HQ for the transportation of Mormon emigrants to the US, up to 1868.
Liverpool was described at that time as ‘The Springboard to Zion -Utah, USA’ Of 333 ships chartered to sail to US East coast ports, 209 began their journey in Liverpool, between 1840 and 1890.
During the period 1847-1853, at least 59 emigrant ships sank during their Atlantic crossing.
As noted in Seven Trails West, "the Mormon Trail of those years stretched all the way from Liverpool to Salt Lake City, making it by far the longest of any trail west"
John Taylor, born in Liverpool in 1808, was converted to Mormonism in Canada, and quickly became a key leader, active in organizing the astonishing successful Mormon mission to Great Britain.
He was present at all the crises of Mormonism: the financial ruin in Kirtland, Ohio; the ugly expulsion from Missouri; the mob murder of Joseph Smith (Taylor took four musket balls in his own body trying to protect his prophet); the exodus west; the coming of the federal army to Utah; the death of Brigham Young.
More than that, he was an intellectual, an able editor, as well as a missionary organizer, and was respected by Brigham Young as "a mighty man."
Liverpool served as the European headquarters of the Mormon Church from 1855 – 1904.
During that period, the Mormon Hall was situated at 15 Wilton Street Liverpool during the years up to 1857, then relocated to 42 Islington Liverpool. ( seen here on the right )
( Information taken from the archives of Pioneer History Museum In Salt Lake City, Utah. )
Elder John Taylor was the first Mormon missionary to preach in Liverpool. He arrived on 11 January 1840 Elder Taylor first preached in churches or buildings as offered to him, but soon determined to hire the Music Hall on Bold Street for his own series of lectures and for Church services after a branch was established. The Music Hall was soon filled to capacity with members and investigators.
Following Elder Taylor's return to the United States, the hall continued to be used by the Church for meetings and conferences. A gala farewell for Brigham Young and the members of the Council of the Twelve returning to the United States was held here in April 1841.
In succeeding years when the headquarters of the Church was in Liverpool, the Music Hall served as the site for mission conferences and large meetings.
Today the Music Hall is Bar called Edward’s Bar - a commercial business. It is on the corner of Concert Street and Bold Street, occupying several floors. The great hall where Church services and Elder Taylor's lectures were held is one floor above ground level, and was used for several years to store merchandise.
The Mormon European headquarters at Islington in Liverpool ( seen here on the right ) was the place where the journey began. Everything for the journey to Utah was bought here, the payment for the transatlantic ship journey, provisions, and even payment of £75 for four Oxen and the special wagons, known as the Conestoga Wagon for the 1300 mile trek across the plains from Nauvoo Illinois, through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming to the Rocky Mountains and eventually, to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Next P8
Painting of the ship Ellen Maria leaving Liverpool in 1853, carrying Mormon converts on the first leg of their epic journey to Utah.
The Music Hall in Bold Street Liverpool
Mormon Headquarters at42 Islington Liverpool.
Page 7.
Liverpool's Historic Connections to America.
Discover the connections between the City of Liverpool and America,
which have existed from the sixteenth century, right up to the present time.
Discover the connections between the City of Liverpool and America,
which have existed from the sixteenth century, right up to the present time.