Saints on the Seas : A Maritime History of Mormon Migration, 1830-1890 Conway B. Sonne Published by University of Utah Press (Paperback)

The maritime tradition is particularly important to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- the Mormons. Although fewer than 700 Mormon missionaries traveled to foreign lands to proselytize during the nineteenth century, their energetic activities garnered some 85,000 converts, most of whom emigrated to America. In this fascinating narrative Sonne details the long and often dangerous voyages required of the emigrants to reach American soil, where they began their overland trek to help build the "Kingdom of Zion" in the West.

Sonne chronicles the vital statistics and voyages of approximately 300 American, British, German, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, and French ships involved in the arduous emigration. Saints on the Seas is based on extensive research of both federal and foreign government documents, as well as Mormon Church archives, newspapers, journals, personal letters, and other primary source materials.

Numerous appendixes present a wealth of information, including statistics on vessels, their owners, number of passengers and voyages, and passage times, as well as data on ship captains, emigrant company leaders and maritime disasters. For maritime buffs, historians of the Mormon movement, and genealogists, this book provides a unique source of previously uncollected material.