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Kie ship Samuel Curling cleared port at Liverpool on April 18, 1856, with 707 passengers, mostly Welsh Saints, Among them were some of Loueda's ancestors, Samuel Brooks and his family* For seven daya they had gentle breezes and then storm and adverse winds for the rest of the journey. On May 23rd the ship was towed into Boston Harbor and placed under quarantine until the inspectors came aboard. The passengers and living quarters were all found remarkably clean and commanded the admiration of all. The pioneers lived aboard ship for a few more days, then traveled by cattle car to St. Louis where they boarded a steamboat for the trip up the Mississippi River to Iowa City. Here Rees learned they would have to make the journey across the plains to the Land of Zion by handcart and built his own. Rees was chosen as clerk of the company and kept a daily record of the trek. Before departing on June 28th, Rees buried shoes, china and other possessions in order to lighten the load. Rees promised the tearful Ann that he would return and retrieve her treasures. Some years later he did but was not able to find them. He returned to Wales on a mission for the church and bought Ann china and a lovely paisley shawl to replace the ones she'd lost. Aim did manage to bring a few of her pretty things with her. When Grandma was about five years old, Ann gave to her a little gold pitcher that she'd brought across the plains. Ann was ill during the trip. More than once, heartsick and weary, she became balky and refused to go any further. She sat down on the trail and refused to go another step. She said she didn't care if the wolves and mountain lions ate her and wished she was back in Wales, As Grandma told me this story about her grandmother, I imagined little Aim huddled beneath a lone tree out on the dry prairie, clutching her little gold pitcher. Rees had to keep up with the company so he left her where she sat. Her tears would fall as ahe 120 |
