. . . My parents had joined the Church in 1841. At this time there were many Saints desirous of emigrating to Zion, and they were willing to accept any means of transportation to make the trip. Just then the handcart scheme had been adopted as a means of taking the great number of Saints across the plains.

We left England on the 4th day of May, 1856, sailing on the ship, Charles Thornton. Our experiences on the sea were varied. One storm was encountered that drove us back 500 miles in one week. However, we landed in New York on June 14, 1856. After landing at Castle Gardens, we sailed up the Hudson River to the terminal of the Rock Island Railroad. We traveled from there to Iowa City where we had to wait until our handcarts were made and our supplies gathered. The cattle had to be caught and broken, also. After waiting several weeks, we left the Iowa campground, with handcarts, bound for Salt Lake Valley which was 1,300 miles west. . . . [p.1]

. . . We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 6th day of November, 1856. . . . [p.2]

BIB: Rowley, Samuel. "A Biographical Sketch of the Life of Samuel Rowley, son of William and Ann Jewel Rowley" (Special Collections & Manuscripts, MSS SC 2764)," p.1-2. (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah)
(source abbreviations)