At the end of April 1844, the "Independent Colony", 300 people in 72 covered wagons, crossed the Missouri River and started out on the journey along the Oregon Trail. The company was under the command of Captain William T. Shaw, a veteran of the war of 1812, who was traveling with his wife, Sally, and six children. The Sagers joined the wagon train at Weston, Missouri. After five weeks on the trail Naomi gave birth to their seventh child, a girl named Henrietta. Due to the delivery, she was weakened and only slowly regained her strength.