Bark Ellida, Jens H. Behr

Elida – Emigrant Voyage from Norway to New York, 1842

The bark Elida was a copper-sheathed Norwegian sailing vessel of 169 Norwegian commercial lasts, owned by Jens H. Behr of Flekkefjord. In 1842, she was chartered by the merchant C. M. Overwien to carry emigrants from Drammen, via Gothenburg, to New York. In a notice dated Drammen, 2 April 1842, Adolph Chr. Rodstou announced that the Elida was expected to arrive from Flekkefjord during the following month to embark passengers for America. The vessel was described as an entirely new bark belonging to Jens H. Behr.

According to Morgenbladet of 2 June 1842, quoting reports from Kongsbergs Adressetidende, the Elida was described as an entirely new and exceptionally handsome vessel, reportedly built at a cost of 14,000 Norwegian speciedaler. The ship had attracted additional passengers, apparently because the charterer had sent representatives directly into the rural districts to arrange passage contracts, and because the fare had been reduced to 25 speciedaler per passenger.

The Elida, commanded by Captain Jan G. Jansen, subsequently departed Drammen in June 1842 with 176 passengers, bound first for Gothenburg, where she was to call before continuing to New York. A contemporary newspaper report described the emigrants' departure from Drammen. At first, many appeared somewhat subdued, but after the vessel had proceeded about a mile, their spirits reportedly improved. Some of the women began occupying themselves with sewing, knitting, and cooking, while the men made arrangements for their own and their families' convenience. The newspaper also described the Elida as a comparatively spacious and well-fitted vessel, with four cooking stoves available for the passengers to prepare their meals.

Among the emigrants were approximately 70 persons from Telemark and 77 from Numedal. The voyage was part of the early Norwegian emigration to America, at a time when passenger transport was still largely undertaken by ordinary merchant sailing vessels.

A Tragic Atlantic Crossing

The Elida arrived at New York on 8 August 1842, following a voyage marked by serious illness and loss of life. According to contemporary accounts, the passengers were in a miserable condition when the ship reached port. Eight had died during the Atlantic crossing, including three infants born aboard the vessel. Another 30 passengers were so seriously ill that they had to be taken to hospital immediately after arrival. Their condition was described as extremely critical, and one of them died later that same day. The attending physician reportedly feared that several of the other hospitalized emigrants might not survive. The illness has been described as possibly involving cholera or typhoid fever, although the precise cause has not been established.

The contrast between the relatively optimistic newspaper description of the departure from Drammen and the distressing conditions reported upon arrival in New York is striking. The emigrants had begun their journey aboard a newly built vessel described as spacious and well equipped, yet the crossing ended with numerous passengers seriously ill and several lives lost. The Elida's voyage of 1842 illustrates the dangers faced by Norwegian emigrants during the early period of transatlantic migration, when long sea voyages, infectious diseases, and limited medical facilities could have devastating consequences for those travelling to America.