George was a laborer from England. He arrived to New York on June 14, 1856 via the ship Thornton. The ship passenger list indicates that he was 20 at the time of travel. He initially began his journey to the Salt Lake Valley with the John A. Hunt Company in 1856. He was among the small group of men who remained behind at Devil's Gate until spring to guard the personal belongings of the emigrants who had been rescued.