 Because of family circumstances and mounting debts, Johann faced charges that would have him placed in jail, so he decided to dodge trial and ventured to America; he styled his name as Captain John Augustus Sutter.In May 1834, he left his wife and five children behind in Burgdorf, Switzerland, and with a French passport, he boarded the ship "Sully", which travelled from Le Havre, France, to New York City, where it arrived on July 14, 1834.In North America, John August Sutter (as he would call himself for the rest of his life) undertook extensive travels.