Thomas Richins was born 6 June 1826 at Sheepscombe, Gloucestershire, England, a son of Richard Richins and Charlotte Priscilla Wager. He had seven brothers and three sisters, one of which was his twin. Her name was Charlotte Priscilla, after her mother, but she must have died before she was christened, as there is no record of that event.

His sister, Hannah, died at age 19 in 1838. His brother, John Edward, died when about a month and a half old. Mary Ann died at a little over one year of age. Edwin lived about ten months, and William died at the age of nine years. George Thomas married Ann Pullum and stayed in England. The other four boys—Charles, John, Edward, and Thomas immigrated to Utah. Their mother died when they were young and so they had to leave home and go to work.

On January 1, 1850, Thomas was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder Charles Shill at Sheepscomb, and confirmed on 3 January 1850 by Elder William Davis. He was 24 years of age at this time. He worked at farming, blacksmithing, and as a Wagoner.

On December 15, 1853, Thomas married Harriet Deveraux, daughter of John Deveraux and Esther Cockshed. She was born December 29, 1833, at Eastnor, Herefordshire, England. She was the fourth of five children, having two sisters, Anne and Esther, and two brothers, Joseph and John. Her brother John, just older than her, died at age 14 months, the same year that Harriet was born.

Esther’s parents, John and Esther Deveraux, became dissatisfied with the Wesleyan Methodist Church to which they belonged and joined a group who called themselves the United Brethren. They were among the 600 members of this group who were baptized by Wilford Woodruff when he was sent by revelation to the Benbow Farm in 1840. Harriet was six years old at this time. She was baptized July 30, 1846, by William Webb and confirmed the same day by Thomas Price at Berrow when she was 13.

On January 30, 1855, a son was born to Thomas and Harriet. He was named Albert Franklin.

On 22 March 1856 they, with Harriet’s father and mother (John and Esther Deveraux) and many more saints embarked on the sailing ship Enoch Train at Liverpool, bound from Boston. The ship carried the first emigrants to come by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund. Those who had money put it into this fund to help those who had none. They were booked from the office of the headquarters of the Church in Liverpool. Henry P. Rich was captain of the ship. Elder James Ferguson was president of the company of saints, with Edmund Ellsworth and Daniel D. McArthur as counselors.

The company was organized into wards numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The ship carried 534 saints including 415 people age eight years and up, 98 children ages one to eight, and 21 infants under a year. They represented the following countries: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Denmark, America, Switzerland, Cape of Good Hope, and East India. There were 12 elders returning from missions. The ship’s company also included a band from Birmingham.

Harriet’s mother was in poor health when they left and had been advised not to start on such a long journey, but she said she would rather die on the way than not make the attempt. When the ship was about ten days out, she died and was buried in the ocean.

From the journal of Archer Walters, a saint who was on the same ship, we find these entries:

“April 1st: A sister died during the night named Esther Deveruth [Deveraux] from Herefordshire Conference, aged 60 years. A rough day. Ships rolled and boxes rattled. Bottles upset. Bedsteads broke down and cooking did not please all for the saucepans upset in the jelly. Some scolded and some fell and hurt themselves. A thing to try the patience of some. Went to bed, ship rocked and rolled about; did not sleep well but all night the President and Captains of the different Wards do their best for all and all good Saints feel well.

“April 2nd: The dead sister’s body committed to the deep. It was the first I ever saw buried in the sea and I never want to see another. A rough day all day.”

From the same journal we learned that trumpets blew at 6 a.m. for rising and again at night for prayers. Each man had to take his turn at standing watch. Rations of beef, pork, salt, sugar, vinegar, rice, potatoes, and peas were mentioned. The passengers did their own cooking. Babies were born, and at least one more died and was buried at sea.

Archer Walters’ journal entry for 25 April (1856) says:

“A very cold morning. A child died at 4 o’clock. A son of Sister…from…Conference. 12 o’clock the ship still. Quite a calm. The little boy committed to the deep. Brother Ferguson spoke before the plank was drawn. Quite a solemn time to the children and the parents as well; indeed all sailors looked straight down their noses.”

There was a great deal of seasickness on the ship and many grumbled about the food. Archer Walters says: “… if they grumble now what will they do before they get to the valley?” It must have been a hard voyage but they also had some good times on the ship.” Another entry from Walters’ journal says:

“A fine morning. Almost all on deck. Some few below sick…The band from Birmingham is playing merrily. The ship rocking now and then sends them sprawling and makes them laugh, if one fell on top of another or four or five together. 11 o’clock and then we are out of a day’s water and no extra water for cooking at all, but all night we are happy…”

They held meetings on board and some of the subjects of the sermons were obedience, tobacco smoking, and cleanliness. A committee was appointed called the “louse committee” at one meeting.

The Walter’s journal entry for 6 April reads:

“A beautiful morning. No cooking, only tea kettles boiled. Most all up 7 o’clock washing and preparing for a good time today. All my family are well and I thank my Heavenly Father for it. I do not know how to feel thankful enough. If I was a Methodist as I once professed to be, I should shout glory and hallelujah.

“Two porpoises were seen but they were thought to be whales. Soon a whale made its appearance and threw the water into the air at a great height, all eyes looking at it and my children all astonished and asking a thousand and one questions which I could not answer.

“The sea is very calm and the ship almost standing still and the sun shines with a beautiful clear sky. Water served out to the different wards. Two more fine whales were seen rolling about on the top of the water. Meeting called to order by President Ferguson and he said we might as well hold it as a conference as it is the 6th of April, as it is held this day in Zion. The Authorities were then presented and carried by their uplifted hands and we all said “Aye” at the same time.

“Brother McAllison opened by prayer. Band played “God Save the King.” Then Brother McArthur spoke on the Kingdom of God and being one law in all ages and His people one in all things and a song by the congregation then Brother Ellsworth spoke upon cleanliness. Song. Prayer. The children blessed that had been born on board. The first name David; the second named Enoch Train; the other a girl, Rebecca Enoch.

“Conference adjourned until the 6th of…next in Utah. A beautiful day. All retired to rest cheerful and happy. Trumpet sounded for prayers.”

After five weeks and five days on the ocean, they landed at Boston Constitution Wharf, on May 1, 1856. They went to New York by boat and rail, and by train to Rock Island, Illinois. They crossed the Mississippi River by boat and then went on to Iowa by railroad car. They arrived at 12 midnight and walked four miles to the campgrounds. They stayed there making handcarts and preparing for their trek across the plains, for something over five weeks.