Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The shipboard death of young Thomas Peterson

From the Willie company journal:

May 30, 1856
With regret we have to relate that an accident occurred at 4 p.m. A Danish child, Thomas Peterson, fell through one of the hatchways to the second between deck, a distance of about 20 feet, and very much fractured his skull.

June 2, 1856
In anticipation of their arrival, they worked on sewing their tents. Death: Thomas Pederson, age 7 or 8 (Note: The company journal and Peder Madsen disagree on his age.)
With all the attention and care bestowed upon the young sufferer, Thos. Peterson, aged 8 years of Saland, Denmark, who fell through the hatchway on the 30th Ult., yet he expired this morning. At 3 p.m. his body was brought forward to receive its burial, prayer having been offered up to God by Prest. Willie, it was given to the great deep.

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