Size of the Lehi Colony

Scriptures indicate that the family that arrived in Bountiful had at least the following members:
Lehi
Sariah
Laman
Lemuel
Sam
Nephi
Jacob
Joseph
2 sisters
Zoram
Ishmael
Ishmael's wife
5 daughters
Ishmael's first son
Wife of the first son
Ishmael's second son
Wife of the second son

This totals 22 people.

In addition, we can say that Ishmael’s two sons may have had upwards of six children between them before leaving Jerusalem. In addition, Nephi says their women gave birth while in the wilderness, and did not have trouble nursing them despite having to eat raw meat. This means that each of the five newly married couples (married in the Valley of Lemuel after Ishmael's family joined the Lehi Colony) may well have had children in the 6 to 8 year trek to Bountiful. Considering an average of one child every two years for 7 families, it is possible there were twenty-one children produced by these couples.

This totals about 43 people.

While at Bountiful, it would have taken some time to rest up, build a ship, and prepare for a 7,000 mile ocean voyage. If the colony stayed at Bountiful for two years while building a ship that could carry a large number of people, this would probably add one more child to each of the seven couples, for a total of another seven children.

This totals 50 people.

Thus, the ship Nephi built would have to be large enough for upwards of 50 people. In addition, it is possible that more children could have been born to each couple given the lack of birth control methods in 600 B.C., and also that Nephi had more than two sisters.

Lastly, given Lehi’s extreme wealth as mentioned in scripture, it is very likely that he had servants and their families living within his property as was the custom at the time. And since Lehi and Ishmael were friends, it is likely he, too, had wealth, and had servants in his household. And given the need for secrecy of the families leaving Jerusalem (1 Nephi 4:36), it is likely Lehi would have taken the servants with him into the wilderness, especially since the land owners employing such servants would have felt some concern and responsibility for them under Jewish law at the time. Thus, we could be looking at as much as 100 people leaving Bountiful on Nephi’s ship.