The Nightmare

In February 1849, never having been out of their tiny village, Katurah and William left the square at Llangyndeirn - little changed even today - to travel by horse-drawn cart to Swansea docks, some 15 miles away.

There, with many other newly converted Mormons from South and West Wales, they embarked on the small steamer, Troubadour, which would carry them to Liverpool, where they were to join the Buena Vista, the ship destined to take them to the New World.

The journey, lasting 36 hours, was rough and very stormy and almost all the passengers were violently sick, being totally unaccustomed to this form of travel. But this was merely a prelude to what lay ahead.

At Liverpool the Buena Vista was not yet ready for its human cargo and along with 247 other Saints, by which name all Mormons are known - the eldest being 92 years old - they were forced to stay for 11 nights in the Liverpool Music Hall, the only building large enough to accommodate such a great number of people, until the ship was ready.

They eventually set sail on February 26, 1849.

Ronald Dennis, noted American author and historian, in 'The Call of Zion' says, "This was a day of great significance in the history of the Welsh Mormons. Although a few had gone to America on an individual basis, this constituted the first collective emigration from Welsh converts."

Incidentally, one of those converts was John Parry, a Methodist lay-preacher from North Wales, who became the founder of the now world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The voyage across the Atlantic of more than 4,000 miles to New Orleans was rough, cramped, incredibly overcrowded and took almost eight weeks, during which time two of the passengers died and were buried at sea.

But this was only the beginning! From New Orleans they had to make their way, during eight days, 1100 miles up the Mississipi by riverboat, then, after a change of paddle steamer, endure 15 days travelling 800 miles up the Missouri to Council Bluffs, known as Winter Quarters.

On this epic journey of almost 2,000 miles a total of 44 more of the travel-weary converts died due to an outbreak of cholera.

One family lost three children in two days. Another lost three in three days.

Tragically, yet another victim was William, Katurah's young husband. Just 25 years old he was hastily buried in an unmarked grave on the east bank of the Missouri river.

Only 23, she was now a widow in a strange country - and pregnant. In four months she gave birth to a baby boy, William. A few months later he died also.

What could the future possibly hold for her now? The answer is amazing!

Pamela G Morgan