The next seven years were hard. This was the period of time when England was exploiting "Child Labor", just prior to their industrial revolution. Many big industries would hire them for next to nothing. Samuel was only 7 and John 9, but they worked in a brick yard tramping mud, to be used for bricks. I would help the little fellows across a narrow dangerous bridge, to go to work at daylight and at night I would meet them and help them home. The girls, even 11 year old Elizabeth, worked late in the night making kid gloves, doing mock frocking and other needlework. We did this in our home. Then at the end of the week, I would take them to market, where they were sold to the gentry. Our savings were meager.
My desire became more urgent, for war broke out between England and Russia. John was now of military age and I knew we must leave at once, if he was to go with us.
With the perpetual aid fund, we were able to book passage on the sailing vessel the Charles Thornton Only one of my stepchildren sailed with us, Eliza, a sweet girl, with very frail health. All of my children came. There was Louisa 19, Elizabeth 17, John 16, Samuel 13, Richard 12, Thomas 10 and Jane 8. We left England with all its beauty 6 May 1856.
The sea voyage took 6 weeks and several deaths occurred and once the ship was in a calm and the Saints fasted and prayed and the Lord showed forth his power in our behalf. He also came to our deliverance in a terrible storm, when the ship caught fire and we called on Him for our preservation. Food was at a premium. One week was so stormy, the ship was driven back 500 miles. Six weeks was a long time to live aboard ship, in cramped quarters. However, our Captain didn't ill treat us, but he was a very cruel man and we were many times pained by witnessing his abuse to his crew. In a way, this experience strengthened us for our more severe trials ahead.
The ship entered the New York Harbor 14 June 1856, landing at Castle Gardens, we sailed again, up the Hudson River, to a terminal of the Rock Island Railroad, where we took the train to Iowa City.
BIB: Rowley, Ann Jewell, [Autobiography], IN Jones, James Albert, Some Early Pioneers of Huntington, Utah and Surrounding Area, (privately printed, 1980) p. 243. (CHL)
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