Dorsine crossed the Atlantic on the ship Emerald Isle in 1868 with her mother and siblings. Her mother died in New York and the kids seem to have split up, some going ahead. Jens and Dorsine remained behind in New York, possibly until their mother's death. When they continued on, it was with the Fred Anderson Company. Dorsine died before they reached the Valley.

Some sources spell her given name as "Dusine." The article in the Salt Lake Semi-Weekly Telegraph list her as Dorsina Phorsted.