The David Hoadley was a packet ship that sailed mainly in the Antwerp to New York trade. Here is the report of her arrival on September 15, 1854 New York Times, September 16, 1854 Arrived New York, Friday, September 15 Ship David Headley [sic], [captain] Magna, Antwerp and Portsmouth 30 ds., with mdse and 397 passengers to [agents] E. D. Hurlbut & Co., and Post & Ryerson. The D. H. has had 2 births and 1 death on this passage. This looks like a normal voyage which took 30 days from a stop at Portsmouth, England. However the Montreal Gazette, August 1, 1854 noted: NEW YORK EMIGRANT SHIP PUT BACK The American ship David Hoadley of New York, Captain J. W. Magna, has put back into Southampton leaky, with 407 emigrants from Antwerp. The ship has sustained no damage, but a part of her cargo will have to be taken out to come at the leak. Allowing a minimum of two weeks for the news to reach the Montreal Gazette, the Hoadley must have reached Southampton before July 15. So she probably left Antwerp around July 1 if she passed Southampton and put back (possibly earlier). So what looks like a 30 day passage was probably nearer 75 days - but the arrival report doesn't say anything about it :-) -- Harry Dodsworth Ottawa Ontario Canada af877@freenet.carleton.ca ----------------------------------------------------------------