Moore (William) Journals and Other Papers

box 1, folder 1

Wm Moore's Journal on board the Annie of Belfast bound for bound for N.Y., March 27, 1850-May 14, 1850

Physical Description: Bound. No cover. 45 pages.

Scope and Contents

Journal of William Moore's sea voyage from Belfast to New York on the clipper ship Annie. Moore left Belfast on March 27, 1850 and arrived at the Port of New York on May 14, 1850. Moore's journal includes preliminary pages listing "directions for various individals" in the United States, a recipe for a remedy for fever and ague, a list of "utensils required by passengers sailing from Ireland to America," and a list of "provisions required to be taken independent of the ship's allowance." The journal itself details Moore's experience on the voyage from he moment of being "hauled" out to Annie from the dock in Belfast. He describes his departing view of Belfast and the difficulty the Annie had in getting to sea (because of wind). He notes weather conditions, stormy conditions, and latitude and longitude positions throughout. He is particularly observant of the ship's course and the activities of the sailors. At one point, he observes that though the ship has been at sea a month, it has only had 5-6 good sailing days. He makes observations about the other passengers and their feelings and activities (including laundry, dancing and fiddle playing). He mentions wildlife encountered on the journey and discusses passing another ship going the same direction (the Prince of Wales sailing from Liverpool to Quebec). He closes the journal with observations on the ship's arrive at Staten Island.

box 1, folder 1

Diary or Journal continued from Book No. 1 by Wm. Moore, May 15, 1850-March 31, 1851

Physical Description: Bound. Loose pages, detached front cover, and missing back cover. Journal is written in a dark teal Irish National School Copy Book. 46 pages.

Scope and Contents

Journal documenting his arrival in New York, his activities during his short stay in New York City, and his travels (by train and ship) to Chicago, Illinois. He travelled up the Hudson River on a steamboat to Albany, on a train from Albany to Buffalo, and a Lake Erie steamer to Detroit, and on a train to a town near Chicago. He then travelled by horse-drawn canal boat to La Salle, Illinois, by Illinois River steamboat to St. Louis and then to Galena on the S.B. Danube. Moore's final destination was Rock Island, Illinois, where he met up with a Mr. Bailie (who was on the list of U.S. contacts in his journal documenting his voyage from Belfast to New York). Mr. Bailie referred Moore to a local farmer by the name of Daniel Egerton. After working for Mr. Egerton and another local named Dr. Bowman, on November 9. 1850, Moore traveled to an uncle in Ogdensburg, New York via Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit (remarking once upon the many travelers on the roads heading west and reflecting extensibly on Niagara Falls and briefly on his first encounter with snow in America). At the end of the journal (March 1851), Moore is planning to return west.

box 1, folder 2

William Moore's Memorandum Book. Rock Island, Ills. or West Buffalo, Scott Co., Iowa, May 2, 1852-August 19, 1852

Physical Description: Bound leather (in poor condition); written in pencil with some fading on assorted pages. 104 pages.

Scope and Contents

First volume of William Moore's journal documenting his overland journey from Buffalo, Iowa to Placerville, California in 1852. This volume covers the journey from Iowa through to the Humboldt Mountains in northwestern Nevada.

Topics mentioned: geography, vegetation (especially different grasses and trees), river and stream crossings (fords), Indians (sightings of and visits from Indians on the route); violence between settlers and Indians; guarding against Indians; episodes in which Indians were shot; sightings of dead cattle and horses; the presence and quality of water; the presence of "alkaline spots" in what would become the Nebraska Territory; views of Chimney Rock 40 miles in the distance (through a telescope; sightings of and interactions with other immigrants; buildings; illnesses (like smallpox, cholera, and diarrhea); the condition of roads; daily weather; wagon repairs; health of horses; weapons; frequent sightings of graves of "emigrants"; sightings of buffalo and buffalo chips; unting; soil conditions (sandy).

box 1, folder 2

William Moore's Memorandum, continued, August 19, 1852-December 30, 1852

Physical Description: Journal bound in leather (poor condition). Many pages loose with some crumbling on edges. Written in pen. 126 pages.

Scope and Contents

Second volume of William Moore's journal documenting his overland journey from Buffalo, Iowa to Placerville, California in 1852. The first 25 pages of this volume cover Moore's journey from northwestern Nevada to Placerville.

The remainder of the journal covers Moore's experience as a aspiring miner and as a canal laborer in Placerville.

Topics mentioned in the journal include: Chinese miners (near Placerville), gambling houses (500-600 people in each gambling house); the local Methodist Chapel, the "whorehouses", a detailed explanation of his first mining job and the processes of mining; his experience prospecting for diggings; getting work on the South Fork Canal (with many details on the actual work and Moore's co-workers on the canal including some Irishmen with whom he talks and reminisces; Moore's observations of the funereal rights of a local indigenous tribe after a member died of smallpox; and his advice to his brother Hugh not to come to California.

box 1, folder 3

Journal, January 1, 1854-August 28, 1854

Physical Description: Bound. No covers. Loose pages. Some brittle and torn pages at end. 116 pages.

Scope and Contents

Journal begins when Moore is living in Placerville working as a miner. The journal describes Moore's decision, in early January, to sell his claim and move back to what he refers to as "the States." He takes a stagecoach to Sacramento, and a boat (the "Confidence") from Sacramento to San Francisco. He spends a few days in San Francisco, which he describes in detail. He books passage to New York via Nicaragua on the Sierra Nevada clipper ship. He documents his journey on this ship and his crossing of Nicaragua via a boat across Lake Nicaragua and a voyage down the San Juan River to San Juan Del Norte. He then briefly details his voyage to New York on the Star of the West clipper ship. After some days in New York, visiting friends, Moore sets off back to Illinois. First, according to his journal, he takes the railroad from Jersey City to Dunkirk, NY and then from Buffalo to Erie, from Erie to Cleveland, from Cleveland to Toledo, from Toledo to Chicago, and finally from Chicago to Rock Island on the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. Moore describes this trip in detail and wonders at the fact that it took only three days to travel from New York to Rock Island. The remainder of the journal documents Moore's life in Rock Island (his work and his personal life).

box 1, folder 4

Book No. 2. 1854 William Moore's Memorandum, September 1, 1854-October 5, 1854 October 31, 1851-May 4, 1852

Physical Description: Bound volume. Some damage at bottom of pages. 18 pages.

Scope and Contents

The first three and a half pages of this journal (when opened from the back) are dated 1851-1852 and entries consist mainly of boarding information and some financials.

The rest of the journal documents Moore's life and farm work in Rock Island, Illinois.

box 1, folder 5

Book No. 3 1854 W. Moore, October 1854-December 1854

Physical Description: Small bound volume. 32 pages.

Scope and Contents

Journal document's Moore's daily farm work and personal activities in Rock Island County, Illinois.

box 1, folder 6

Wm Moore's Memorandum, December 6, 1854-May 5, 1855

Physical Description: Bound volume. Some pages loose. 74 pages.

Scope and Contents