Celia Marsh came from a Boston mercantile family. Her brother John moved to England and was apparently acquainted with Luther Briggs. After a visit in England, Celia and her sister Sarah Ellen sailed back to the United States on Empire State in June of 1857. Celia wrote a diary during the trip. Being the only cabin passengers on a ship intended for transporting poor immigrants and cargo, it isn't surprising to find that Luther and the Marsh sisters socialized. Here are several typical encounters:
May 19th 1857...after tea played backgammon with Capt Briggs beat him - after we had finished he read to us a little while in "Byron" - then he made himself comfortable and Ellen read to us a little - and we talked till twelve and retired.
May 20th 1857...went to Capt Briggs room - read and sewed - and talked - after dinner - Capt. B_ laid down and took a nap - Ellen went to sleep in the armchair, and I on the couch - when Capt Briggs got up we played backgammon - talked this evening till one oclock then went to bed.
They soon bonded, and Celia expressed a definite infatuation with Luther:
May 25th 1857...We had a nice talk till one oclock, then retired. I wish I could be so fortunate as to find a second Capt Briggs - so kind, affectionate, and good - and one who would be as kind to me as he is - but I fear I never shall meet with one like him.
There was an intimacy among the sisters and the captain that they were comfortable with, but are a little eye-raising to read about:
May 27th 1857...had the blues this afternoon - took a nap - did not go down to tea - had the headache this evening - and Capt put bay rum on it and I laid on his shoulder and Ellen and he entertained me with their conversation till half past twelve.
June 11th 1857...wrote some poetry I copied from "Byron" till dinner time - afterwards went to Capt's room - we talked till four when he and Ellen laid down for a nap, combed his hair till he fell asleep which was in two minutes - at half past five woke Ellen and then the Capt after tea went on deck for an hour heard Capt Briggs talk this evening - was giving advice to Ellen - he spoke plainly which I admire in him - and like him better for it - I sincerely believe he thinks a great deal of us - at twelve started for bed - but sat at the window for a few moments looking into the water and at the sky - Capt saw us safely in our rooms then he went on deck - and soon heard his footsteps overhead - at one oclock we were in bed - and soon Morpheus claimed us for his own
June 13th 1857...after dinner Capt and Ellen went on deck - and I put flour on his pillow - he came down and talked awhile - till four oclock, when he went to bed - after he went to sleep - I put flour on his hair and whiskers - when he awoke he was a beautiful sight - and we both had a good laugh - I combed and brushed his hair - after tea I read till I could see no longer - was quiet did not feel much like talk, but listened - at twelve bid Capt good night - and went to bed
June 14th 1857...Not on deck all day - amused Ellen and Capt Briggs awhile this morning with old letters - this afternoon Capt and Ellen had their naps - I read awhile they were on deck this evening - and wrote a little note to amuse Capt Briggs with - perhaps he may find it tomorrow morning - I hope he may - I have felt very happy all day - and hope it will last - "Happiness is of short duration" - all have our sad days and it is best we should - Soon we reach our dear home and then must say farewell to our dear Capt Briggs - who has been so kind to us - but farewell must be spoken and we shall look forward to meeting again with very much pleasure
June 17th 1957...this afternoon sat and laughed at Capt Briggs and Ellen - for I was amused - to watch him - as he turned hair dresser
June 19th 1857 - Friday - Thick this morning - dined at quarter after seven - was awoke by hearing Capt Briggs at play on his flute - came up and gave him his morning greeting...Went on deck this evening for a few moments as Capt Briggs sent up rockets & blue lights - to get a pilot - at half past ten we had something to eat - talked a little while and at quarter of twelve they
said they saw a light - sent up one [more?] blue light - and soon a boat was along side of us, and a pilot on board - Capt Briggs came down very much pleased - and we talked till half past one - and Ellen and I talked till three then went to sleep - but I was not inclined for sleep
June 20th 1857...Read awhile this morning also took a nap - after dinner Ellen laid down and also Capt Briggs. I tried to talk him to sleep but could not - after tea Ellen and I had three games at backgammon - I won two - I slept most of the evening, had the blues rather badly - It was very thick all day - and this evening kept the bell going all the time came very near running into a ship - Capt Briggs said his heart was in his mouth when he went on deck - to think we were so near
June 22d 1857 - Monday - Rose at half past five this morning - Capt Briggs came down and told us that we had a steamboat side of us - I came up to his room and combed his hair for him - wrote a few lines in Doesticks and gave him as a remembrance - The custom home officer came on board and examined our trunks, and at one oclock we left the "Empire State" with Capt Briggs, was lowered down to a little boat in a chair, soon we landed on shore - took a carriage drove to Mrs. Scudders, then bid Capt Briggs good bye with the hopes of meeting soon
Luther took the diary at some point during the trip and made his own contributions to it:
June 15th 1857 - Wind West - can't be worse & and that is a consolation - Celia and Ellen still in bed, with night caps on head, and poor me - roaming round not content until they come up to my room and give me their morning's greeting - Miss Puss [the Marsh's cat] to teaze me a little of course LJB
My dear Celia, I claim a sisters love to its full extent, and will return measure for measure - Now remember one thing that not once have you been 'disagreeable' and that if you even think such things shall take a brothers license and scold you soundly - when we so separate as of course we shall, please do remember I give you a brothers love and thy never see any thing but good in sisters - you ask me to write a piece of poetry - why Celia you forget that 30 years of my short life has been spent by me in ploughing the Salt sea, and that us web-footed gentry can handle a marling spike better than we can a "gray goose quill" - LJB
"And I must bid adieu to thee good kind loving trusting Celia - one whose heart is a great deal larger than her body one who ought to go through life breathed on only by gentle zephyrs - kind to all loving all and yes loved by all - Shall we never meet again is constantly coming in my mind - now I so hope & pray from the inmost recesses of my heart that we may meet often and that you will continue to love me and I promise "upon my word" to love you evermore
why will you not go back to Liverpool and keep house for John and then I would show you how well I love you - its so seldom that we come in contact with those who are free of the worlds shackles, who have "heart on their lips & and soul in their eyes" that when we do we are constantly in fear that the Idol will fall and break to pieces - the world is cold, selfish & cannot appreciate your kind & loving heart, but in the end you will have your reward
"Though the desert should surround thee
It hath springs that may be won
Though the ocean roar around ye
It still may bear you on"
Well good bye Celia remember the passage we have made together across the "Atlantic" with pleasure and if you or "Puss" or both ever cross again I expect you to go with me if I am in the trade - I must say farewell for the present at any rate and will say god bless you evermore
Lute
PS Good long letters you must write me often
Celia and Ellen visited the Briggs several times at their home in Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights before going back to Boston. They became close to the rest of the family as well:
July 2d 1857...drove over to Brooklyn to "Jerry Lemon" [Jeralemon] street - Mrs Briggs and Bettie [Rebecca Russell Thornton] were anxiously awaiting our arrival - had tea - chatted all the evening - the boys were at the school exhibition - they came in at twelve. Thornton and Luther - very smart boys they are
July 4th 1857 - Saturday - Pleasant - When I went down stairs this morning found Capt Briggs in the parlour - sat in his lap chatting til bell rang for breakfast - at nine oclock - after breakfast - Bettie, "Puss", and I walked down to Montague St. with Capt Briggs and Thornton as he was going over to N.Y. on purpose to get oysters for me...the oysters gave me more pleasure as Capt Briggs got them for me...saw the fireworks in the neighborhood and Capt Briggs sent up a few. When they were all over the party went over on the Heights to see the remainder - leaving Mrs Briggs and I alone - we had a nice quiet time - on their return had ice cream - cake - port wine
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle had this to say of the day: " [The Fourth of July] was celebrated in this city in an orderly, quiet manner. There were no riots, and but one serious affray, which terminated fatally to one of the parties. There was very little drunkenness perceptable about the streets. Explosions of all sorts were put into requisition by men as well as boys and girls, and the Fourth was honored as could be by the aid of gunpowder."
July 5th 1857 - Sunday...Rose this morning a half past eight breakfast at ten - talked till after Capt Briggs had smoked then we all went up and laid on Bettie's bed - I commenced to read " Goethe's correspondence to a child" and Capt Briggs read to Bettie and Ellen - We laid on their bed til four, then dressed for dinner at five oclock - At seven - Capt & Mrs Briggs, Ellen and I went to church to hear Henry Ward Beecher - text in Proverbs 29th 27th verse - I like him very well for a weekly lecture but not for Sunday - the house was crowded - was out at nine oclock - came home had cake & ice cream - sat on the stoop awhile, to bed at half past eleven
The Briggs' house at 67 (originally 46) Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights
July 6th 1857...at four Capt Briggs got home he came up chatted with us a few moments then I put my little dog from my chain on his - for company to another trinket - we then changed our dresses and started for Greenwood - took cars then there a carriage and drove all over the cemetery - Niblos tomb is very handsome & expensive - is laid out in front like a little garden - cost of erection $1300 - we then saw the fireman's ground - one monument was very handsome a man lost his life in trying to save a child - he is on top of a column with this child in his arms - threw the child from him in the fire and lost his own life
The engraving above shows an elaborate fence surrounding the plot, now gone. The second photo is taken from the Green-Wood Cemetery webiste.
- saw another monument of a sea captain, who stands on top of a column taking the scan - an excellent figure, all is so perfect - the man still lives - many monuments too numerous to mention"
Library of Congress photo of the ship captain's memorial. The sextant, with which Celia says he was "taking the scan," was done in bronze and has long since disappeared.
we drove to Capt Briggs lot saw where his two little ones he's buried - on the stones which stand at the head of their little graves is simply "Mary and Harry" [These stones are gone. They were buried in a plot Luther sold to the Gray family, and he then bought an adjacent plot, where stones mark Luther, Luther, Jr., Mary (Thornton) Briggs and Mariana (Bartlett) Briggs's graves, but there is no evidence there or in the cemetery records of Mary and Harry's burials]
July 8th 1857...Capt Briggs left for town at eleven - had a little chat in his room with him just before he left - after he left - made an apron for Mrs Briggs - had a lunch of cake & wine then Bettie, "Puss" and I laid down, and slept till John called at three oclock - he staid a little while - after he left I watched at the window till Capt Briggs came home at four oclock -I went down and let him in - he talked with us a few moments then we dressed for dinner, dined at five...we put on our bonnets for a walk, went to Court St took horse car to Clinton Ave, admired the beautiful houses - then turned on to Washington Avenue, walked down took car to Lafayette St, got out walked through State St - where Capt Briggs used to live - liked that street very much, so quiet and retired - we went to a saloon had ice-cream and cake - then walked home got in at ten - sat down visited awhile - then we all went down stairs had a sherry cobler
July 9th 1857...Mrs Briggs read me some letters she received from her husband and friends when she was mourning the death of her two little ones - at twelve Bettie "Puss" and I left here, took the South ferry to N.Y. where Capt Briggs met us he waited upon us to the Staten Island boat and a one we bid him adieu, he could not go with us as he was so busy
July 11th 1857 Saturday - Pleasant and warm - Rose at half past seven and heard Capt Briggs calling -"girls are you dressed " - I went down and sat in his lap talking till breakfast time - he left for town at half past nine - I finished hemming a dress for Mrs Briggs - then commenced to mend Capt Briggs socks - Mrs B_and I were busy talking till eleven when Capt Briggs returned with his sister-in-law Mrs Haskin - we talked with them awhile - and at half past eleven put on our bonnets and bid all good bye - felt sorry to leave them all
July 15th 1857 -Wednesday - Pleasant, little cooler than yesterday Sewing all the morning Willie came up to dinner at three oclock Bettie called brought a little note from
Capt Briggs asking us to come down to the ship, we dressed and Ellen & I with Bettie went down to the ship in the bus - found Capt Briggs waiting in the cabin - I tore my dress nearly off my back getting over the side of the ship - but soon sewed it up again - we had some wine which rested us a bit staid there talking with Capt Briggs - Bettie, "Puss", & and Thornton together - they saw us safely in the bus then said goodbye
July 20th 1857...found Mrs Briggs and Bettie at home they were very much surprised to see us - but very glad - gave Mrs Briggs a toilet cushion I worked, all in beads - Nellie gave Capt Briggs a watch case - I sat at the window and watched for him till six oclock - and we hid from him, then suddenly jumped out upon him, how surprised and pleased he was
July 21st 1857...When I went down this morning talked with Capt Briggs till breakfast time - he left for town at half past nine, the I sat down mended all his stockings - lunched at one - Mrs Briggs went out a little while - on her return I read to her - till I heard the bell ring and opened the door for Capt Briggs - at half past three - dined at half past five - after dinner Mrs Briggs and I went out to make some purchases - on our return, we all went out for an ice cream - Thornton and Lute went also - had the pleasure of walking both ways with Capt Briggs - sat at the table side of him - had an ice-cream - sherbet ice - and assisted him in eating a Roman punch after we got in had a nap on the sofa - sat on Mrs Briggs bed after I got upstairs - went to bed at quarter of twelve Bettie's and Puss tongues are going so fast that I stop
July 24th 1857...when twelve oclock arrived, brought Capt and Mrs Briggs and Bettie - they sat an hour with us - Capt Briggs brought up our journals - he has had this book in he desk since the thirteenth of June - they bid us adieu for a little while only - he sat on the sofa side of Ellen and I while he staid...took the bus down to the South ferry - walked a little ways then reached the boat - found Capt Briggs waiting for us - soon his wife and Bettie came - then Mr Scudder - we talked an hour together - then Mr and Mrs Scudder and Bell said adieu - and left us - the bell rang too soon for all to go ashore and we bid Mrs Briggs and Bettie good bye - last not least dear Capt Briggs said good bye to us - Willie also said adieu and we were left alone - they stood on the wharf and watched us out of sight - I wiped a few tears from my eyes - Capt Briggs and family felt very sad I thought at bidding us adieu I saw the tears in Bettie's eyes - and if the truth were told perhaps could see them choking in Capt Briggs throat...Capt Briggs [had introduced] us to Capt Breton and told him that "he had brought us across the Atlantic in the ship "Empire State" " and kept us to go home in the steamer "Empire State" and if he did not take good care of us he would whip him when he returned - Capt Breton said he would not know it - Capt Briggs said the girls would write him"
1. New American Standard Bible, "An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked."
all text and photographs © 1998-2020 by Doug Sinclair unless where otherwise noted