John RILEY

                   HISTORICAL NOTES
    -Nancy was baptised by Heber C. Kimball Nov. 1837 in the Ribble River near Preston. She was 19 1/2 years old. In 1841 she sailed to the USA on the ship the Sheffield. With her family, John her father, Elizabeth her mother, Richard, Elizabeth, Ruth and Susannah her sisters. (Notes from unknown source)
    -Register of the ship Sheffield was located, showing the following occupants:
   Elizabeth, John, Nancy, Richard, Elizbeth, Ruth, and Susannah 
    -An account of the journey is included in the notes, taken from "Notes from the life of Alexander Neibaur," by C. Lynn, Hayward - http://www.neibaur.org/journals/alexnotes.htm


From "Notes on the life of Alexander Neibaur":
The story of Alexander Neibaur's journey to America begins with the first entry in his dairy, dated February 5, 1841. On that day he left his home in Preston with his wife and three children, Joseph William (age 6), Margaret (age 5) and Isaac( age 2). The Neibaurs had lost another son, also named Isaac, who died after one year of life, and about a month prior to their departure from Preston. At the time of departure from England, Alexander's wife Ellen was well along with another child, which was to be born soon after their arrival in Nauvoo.
The entry in the diary for February 6 tells of the preparations of a company of Saints at Liverpool to embark for New Orleans on the sailing ship Sheffield contained by one R. K. Porter. Alexander met a friend by the name of Hank who gave the family several gifts, including a muff for his daughter and a pair of fur gloves for himself. Among other articles to be taken on the voyage was a supply of lemons, which were for the purpose of preventing scurvy. Elders Young, Taylor, and Richards came to see the party off and to organize them for the journey. At this time Elder Hyrum Clark was appointed president of the voyage.
The party set sail from Liverpool, England, bound for New Orleans on February 7, 18941. The following day there was a heavy storm and much sea sickness aboard. One woman died and was bound up in a sheet and buried at sea.
Throughout the voyage from the day of sailing until March 28, when they anchored in the Gulf of Mexico, Alexander records a number of incidents aboard ship that were of interest. The cook neglected his duty because of too much liquor being given him by the company and he was "flocked 24 lashes." Brother Neibaur seemingly practiced his dental profession enroute, since he mentions "drawing a tooth" for the steward on March 2.
On March 4 they met an American ship with flag at half mast and the captain of the Sheffield thought at first that the approaching vessel was in distress. It was discovered, however, that the half mast was in honor of the new President of the US, General Harrison.
March 5, Alexander recorded: "In the course of the day some serious things took place, Elder Hyrum Clark being charged with behaving himself, unseemingly to Sister Maria Harmon and other females." However, at a sacrament meeting held on March 7, Brother Clark asked forgiveness and the incident was forgotten.
During the voyage Sister Neibaur evidently suffered much from sea sickness, for on March 5 Alexander recorded that his wife had missed having the sickness for the first time since the voyage began nearly a month before.
On March 17 there was a near mutiny on board and several of the saints, including Hyrum Clark, were asked by Captain porter to help capture the offenders. On March 20 there was a fire on board, but it was put out before it caused much damage, and on the same date the ship passed the island of Jamaica. During the night of March 25, the party sailed past the island of Cuba and on march 28 they anchored in the Gulf of Mexico.
The follow day steamships came out to meet their ship, and the pilot came on board to take them into the Mississippi River. Regarding this event, Alexander says, "we went up the Mississippi in grand style--past Fort Jackson about 10 o'clock at night." the day of March 30 was a "fine frosty morning" and many strangers came on board ship selling provisions. Men had to be set to watch hatchways that night.
On the first day of April hands of families were sent to the "Costume" (customhouse) to get permits signed and luggage inspected. On that same day the company boarded the steamer Moravian, which was to carry them up the Mississippi to St. Louis. Their quarters on this vessel were seemingly not very comfortable. Alexander writes "we had iron rails for bedsteads, all being huddled together, some slept in hammocks, others were forced to sit up all night, having no place, some 6 or 7 sleeping in a bett."
The journey up the Mississippi began on April 2, 1841, and the party arrived at Quincy, Illinois on April 17. In the course of this trip a number of incidents of interest took place. When they landed at Vicksburg n April 6, Alexander recorded that there were "numerous turtles on shore and of the company killed a serpent 2 yards long." Negroes came on board selling fresh vegetables and eggs. While they were at Memphis, there was a terrible storm which frightened all on board and did considerable damage to the boat.
On April 13 Alexander noted that he "cleaned four passenger's teeth," and that words were received of the death of President William Henry Harrison. At St. Louis, which was reached on April 15, "such a confusion was not on board, merchants clerks coming, inquiring for letters from their houses--Negroes on like business, boys with apples, fruit, hardware, eggs, etc." The company transferred to a new boat called Goddess of Liberty to carry them on their journey.
The arrival at Quincy was on April 17 and their boat was able to take them only as far as Warsaw. On the following day they were taken on to Nauvoo by the steamboat Aster. On arrival at Nauvoo, many of the company were taken in by the Saints, but Brother Neibaur and some others stayed with the luggage and kept a large fire burning throughout the night.
In his diary Alexander Neibaur does not make clear the occasion of his first meeting with the Prophet Joseph smith, nor does he comment in any way upon his impression of the man. He states, however, that on April 21, while Alexander was in company with a Brother Thompson, Joseph Smith came to "... order some false corals (curlers?) for his wife, asked about some land, if I had means could get plenty." On April 25 Alexander attended an open air meeting at a site near the temple. He comments that April 27 was a fine coal morning. got some pig heads from Brother Snider's smoke house."

From the Mormon Historic Sites Registry, describing the first baptisms at Ribble River, where Nancy Riley was one of the first members:
The first LDS missionaries to Great Britain arrived in England in July 1837 and felt prompted to first journey to Preston. While there, they preached three times in the Vauxhall Chapel and several individuals petitioned them for baptism. 
The first baptisms in England occurred on July 30, 1837 where nine individuals were baptized in the River Ribble in the presence of approximately eight-thousand onlookers. By August 6, nearly fifty individuals had been converted and Elder Heber C. Kimball organized a branch in Preston.1 
Heber C. Kimball described the first baptisms as follows:
"I had the pleasure, about 9 a.m., of baptizing nine individuals and hailing them brethren and sisters in the kingdom of God. These were the first persons baptized into the Church in a foreign land, and only the eighth day after our arrival in Preston.
A circumstance took place which I cannot refrain from mentioning, for it will show the eagerness and anxiety of some in that land to obey the Gospel. Two of the male candidates, when they had changed their clothes at a distance of several rods from the place where I was standing in the water, were so anxious to obey the Gospel that they ran with all their might to the water, each wishing to be baptized first. The younger, George D. Watt, being quicker of foot than the elder, outran him, and came first into the water." 2
Since those initial baptisms, the Preston area has remained an area of strength and the Preston England Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on June 7, 1998.