On 20 April 1855 they went on board the "Samuel Curling" for New York.

They sailed on April 22, 1855. One month later May 22, 1855 they sailed past the Statue of Liberty and dropped anchor in the New York harbor.

Their luggage had been picked up, they hurriedly left the rail, where they had been breathlessly looking about them, and went to the cabin where the things they were to carry was left. They quickly gathered them together and went on deck again.

Their breath quickened with anticipation of new adventures to be met and conquered. Although seasoned travelers Hannah and George were strangers here. They stared about them at the wonder of this new land.

As they descended the gangplank their minds were full of questions. Here they were on the threshold of a new country and a new life was about to begin for them.

Fear and thankfulness battled in Hannah's breast as they approached the custom officers.

After a weary time the formalities were attended to and they stood once again on firm, solid land. How good it felt not to sway with the motions and rockings of a moving ship. How good to feast your eyes upon houses and people and grass, trees and flowers after the seemingly endless miles of rolling waves.

Everything looked different from what she was used to. But after a month on the ocean they all looked good and solid and permanent.

George purchased tickets for railroad fares to Pittsburg. As the train sped through towns and hamlets, past farms, and all the homey scenes, Hannah let the good- ness of the land seep into her. Cinders might fly and smoke belch forth from the engine but life seemed good to her as she relaxed against the red plush cushioned seats.

When Pittsburg was reached they found that the quickest and best way was by river boat to St. Louis. Once again Hannah found her little family about her as they floated on to their destiny in the west.

At St. Louis nothing seemed to go right for them, but at last after spending sixteen worry-filled days they finally made arrangements for the remainder of their journey to the last stop before starting across the plains. Little could they imagine what crossing the plains meant.

This last lap took them to Atchison, Kansas and on to Mormon Grove from which place they were to leave civilization for the rigors of the trail. Here at Mormon Grove they were confronted with the tremendous task of getting means of transportation across the miles between them and Utah.

It was now late in July and the many immigrants leaving earlier in the summer had taken most available wagons and teams. Finally they were fortunate enough to find a wagon and team for sale. But others were not so lucky. So they willingly offered to share their wagon with the Gowans family. This family consisted of Andrew Gowans and his wife, Annie. Hugh Gowans, his wife Betsy, and their little daughter Barbara together with Alick Frasiar, a young unmarried man and Grandma Gowans.

[Editor's note - Hugh S. Gowans addressed the General Conference of the Church in October, 1904 as president of the Tooele Stake. See http://www.ldsworld.com Infobases - Gospel Library/General Conference Reports/October 1904/18 Elder Hugh S. Gowans. He reported that at that time there were around 3,000 in the stake and the population hadn't changed since the 1880s. Many in the Tooele stake settled the Cassia, Idaho area - some of us can see the similarity of the two regions.]

This, with Hannah, George and their two children made seven adults and three children to use one wagon.

Of course, many of their lovely things such as clothes and furniture must be left behind. This was heart breaking for Hannah to leave them after bringing them so far.

How sad and lonely she felt as piece after piece of her loved furniture was left standing in the dust and confusion of the landing place. Her blue eyes filled with tears and her quivering lips were pressed into a firm line as only the most serviceable dresses in the solid dark wood of beds, tables and chests. When her full length French mirror was placed with the rest Hannah's heart felt as if it would break and she pleaded to go back home to Scotland but George's heart was set on things of greater value than the comforts of this life. He was determined to go on to gather with the Saints in Zion.

And although saying that Hannah could go back if she wanted to, he held fast to the fact that he and his children would go on and serve the Lord. So Hannah gave up her pleadings and prepared to face the future no matter what was required of her.

It was decided to take with them her prized marble topped dresser. The drawers were filled with a best dress or two and other treasured belongings.

Clothing and provisions all had to be of meager quantity and even then it necessitated that every member of the group must walk nearly every foot of the way across the long treacherous and trackless plains. Granny Gowans was permitted to ride sometimes and tend the little ones in the wagon.

The lateness of the season lent haste to their movements as they did their final packing.

Finally they were ready to join the Milo Andrus Company which was the last Emigration Company to leave Mormon Grove that year for the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. They started this long wilderness trek August 1, 1855.

Starting so late in the summer necessitated them pushing on as fast as possible.

Whips cracked, footsteps sounded, dust billowed and rolled back from turning wheels and plodding teams. Faces and clothes became encrusted with caked on dirt.

Throats became parched and still they must hurry on. Miles of grass waved and rippled on every side like the sea but no refreshing breeze rose to cool their burning faces.

The Burridge group was often foot sore and weary, none of them being accustomed to such strenuous labor. Poor Hannah found it particularly hard and wearisome as she was with child. She often felt that she had walked to the limit of her endurance and still she must go on as the weary miles stretched ahead to be covered.

[Editor's note - The 1997 re-enactment of the original pioneer trek was arduous for the participants, but our pioneer forebears had no Nike walking sneakers to ease their aching feet.]

The miles and days and weeks passed, the flat plains were falling behind, the wheels of the wagon cut deep into the sand and alkali, the horses strained and pulled and very slowly moved ahead. It was almost impossible to keep their place in the train even with the men pushing at the worst places.

As they neared the high land finally one day came when Hannah's marble topped dresser had to go. It was emptied and lifted out of the wagon and left to join other tolls of the demanding arduous trail. There it proudly stood in the hot and searing wind swept land with a brassy sky holding it encircled in its vast dome, a lonely sentinel by the rutted tracks.

The sun shone on the mirror and seemed to beckon Hannah to come back and join its solitary watch. But she resolutely tore her eyes away and turned her face toward the west unthinkingly putting forward one foot and then the other on the broken grass and prickly-pears. Her thoughts brought comfort to her as they told her that when they reached their destination she would again have a comfortable home with tenderly cared for furniture.

As they approached the up-lands they were surrounded with a gray desert of sage brush, dock and such plants that scented the air with a wild smell. She climbed steadily on, foot sore, with wind cracked lips and limp dress until at last the final top was reached and a glimpse of the Salt Lake Valley came into view. It was now the 24 of October 1855. A nip of frost was in the air, and the chill of winter swept over the mountains bringing more discomfort to the courageous travelers. After three long months, at last their thankful eyes beheld the chief city of the Saints.

[Editor's note - See the pioneer pages of my heartlinks site for pictures of the area that Hannah, George, Charlotte and Thomas passed through on their way to Utah.]