General Notes

Helsine was the young mother of five and the wife of a seaman when her husband was drowned at sea, Her circumstances were immediately reduced. In 1845, she, her husband and one child were living in a single family dwelling. In 1855, she and the children are living in what appears to be an apartment or other communal dwelling.

[From Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude:]

"Svend Larsen and his family had been baptized members of the L.D.S. Church. He was a wealthy sea captain who owned his own boat. He used it to assist the missionaries in getting about to further the work of the Lord in Scandinavia. In 1853, he, his wife, and their six children left Norway and came to America. As they were coming up the Mississippi River on a steamboat, Cholera broke out and took many lives. His wife and four children were among those who died. Svend went back to his homeland as a missionary and among his converts were some widows who had lost their husbands to the sea. Helsine Hjetting Bohn was one of those widows. After arriving in Utah in the fall of 1857, he followed the advice of President Brigham Young to marry the widows and provide care for them and their children. He married two widows and was sealed to his first wife on January 11, 1858. (There is IGI information to indicate that Helsienne married Sven Larsen in January, 1858.) In 1861, Sven also married Helsine's sister, Mette Marie, who gave birth to a daughter and died when her daughter was one year old. Helsine took care of her. She also had two children by Sven." (This report lends some support to the possibility that Sven was the father of the last child, Joseph.)

Helsienne Bohna, her children, Hendrik Morten (11), Jens Carl J. (13), Joseph Smith (2), Sophus Morten (8) and Anna Sophia (5), and her sister are listed as passengers on the Westmoreland which left Liverpool on April 25, 1857. The spelling of the last name does end in "A". (The ages do do exactly match those given later in Pioneer Women.)

From "Immigration Narratives" http://www.vii.com/~nelsonb/enarrative.htm#1857) and from "Handcarts to Zion," the following information is available.

On Friday, April 18, 1857, a company of emigrating Scandinavian Mormons, numbering 536 people, bound for Utah, sailed from Copenhagen on the steamer "L.N. Hvidt." The ship arrived at Grimsby, England, April 21, 1857, in the afternoon. The journey continued from there by rail to Liverpool where they boarded the Westmoreland, which sailed on the 25th of April.

During the voyage, "The emigrants went to bed between 9 and 10 o'clock in the evening and arose about 5 o'clock in the morning. Prayers were held morning and evening and, as far as possible, also at noon. The Sundays were occupied with fasting, prayers and preaching. Schools were also organized in each district (4) for the purpose of giving the Scandinavian Saints instructions in English. A musical company was organized and the Saints frequently enjoyed themselves in the dance and other innocent diversions."

The voyage lasted 36 days, arriving in Philadelphia on May 31, 1857. On June 2, 1857, the group continued by rail from Philadelphia to Iowa City by way of Baltimore and Wheeling. They arrived in Iowa City on June 9, 1857, where they emigrants were normally outfitted for the journey west. "Upon arrival at Iowa City on June 9, the emigrants were taken to the camp grounds, about three miles from town. Here large round tents, held up by a center pole, and capable of holding about twenty persons, awaited them." They were divided into two groups, ox-cart expedition and hand cart expedition. The passenger list for the Westmoreland indicates that Helsienne and the rest of her party would be part of the hand cart expedition. Unfortunately for the immigrants, when in Denmark, they had been led to believe that they would be allowed fifteen pounds of clothes per person. In Iowa City, however, they learned that the fifteen pounds included everything. Three days were allowed for disposing of beds, dishes, books and clothing.


On June 15,both groups left Iowa City.  The (Seventh) Hand Cart Expedition arrived in Florence, Nebraska on July 3, 1857. Many were sick due to the change of food and climate, as well as overexertion. Despite that, the group voted unanimously to continue without the sick. Thus, on July 7, 1857, 330 people, with 68 handcarts, 3 wagons and 10 mules continued westbound. They arrived at the same time as the ox-cart expedition, September 13, 1857.

Among the problems on the expedition was the fact that the leader was a Scotsman, James Park, who spoke no Danish. Ultimately, he was replaced by Elder Christiansen who consented to leave the wagon train in order to assist.

The daily routine was much the same as aboard the ship, rising at 5 o'clock to a whistle for breakfast and an assembly for song, prayer and instructions.

"On reaching the Loup Fork, July 16, some Indians familiar with the river crossing, were hired to help the company ford the stream. Provisions and goods were hauled across in the wagon, pulled by double teams. The emptied handcarts were then taken across by the strongest men; some women rode on horseback, clinging to the almost naked Indians who guided the horses"

"The caravan reached Fort Laramie on August 9. Approaching now the country known as the Black Hills, they found the road more rough and hilly, wood more abundant, and the nights cool. But their supply of food dwindled, and had to be rationed.

One bit of food came from an unexpected quarter. A detachment of the 'Utah Expedition,' the army going west to discipline the Saints, was traveling near the Danish handcart train. An ox, belonging to the soldiers, was disabled when a heavy wagon ran over and crushed its foot. The military captain came over to the hungry emigrants and said, 'You may have the ox, I guess you need it.' The fresh meat was gratefully devoured."

The next offer, however, was not. "An old man devoid of a sense of smell was walking some distance from the handcarts, when he saw an animal that might be suitable for food. Creeping cautiously upon it, he proceeded to lambaste it with his cane until it was lifeless. Then he threw the little striped animal over his shoulder and headed for the handcart caravan. As he approached, his friends retreated. The gift was vociferously declined, and even the giver was considered unbearable. With no change of clothing available, the kind man was ostracized. Happily, the company soon reached Deer Creek Station, where the emigrant's son was located."

"As the emigrants neared South Pass, the great divide between the Atlantic and the Pacific drainage, they met wagons loaded with flour. By giving promises or some handcart equipment as security, they were able to purchase enough for their needs. At Fort Bridger further supplies were procured. And some miles out from Salt Lake City, they were met by friends laden with fresh bread, cake, and fruits.

The final stages of the journey furnished a test between the endurance of men and mules, both groups having been on short rations through miles of heat and sand. Feed on the trail was especially scant this year for mules. Some 50,000 cattle were being driven to California along this route, besides the oxen of the huge freight trains of Johnston's army." One of every ten of the mules died; many were helped up the mountain by the emigrants.

In anticipation of the arrival of "The Utah Expedition," Brigham Young sent out a band to burn down Fort Bridger so the mention of supplies there is interesting. 1857 was the same year as The Mountain Meadow Massacre of numerous westward bound non-Mormons by a band of Mormons dressed as Indians.

Helsienne died in January 1890. While there was no obtiuary for her, it is ironic that the news of the days was not about the Mormons but whether the death of a young woman under the care of Christian Science practitioners was the result of crime or faulty science.