Jones, Henry - Journal 2
DIARY OF HENRY JONES
Note: Part of this journal was written in Welsh. The Welsh portion was
translated into English by Professor Samuel Powell of Malad, Idaho around 1955.
The journal Henry wrote in was "bought in the town of Llanelly on the 15th Day
of April, 1868." Henry was 19 years old when he emigrated to Utah. Relatives
traveling with him were his mother, Rachel Stephens Jones, his mother's
brother, John Stephens, and his mother's sister, Ann, and Ann's two
children--David and Mary.
May the 25th, 1868, I came from Llanelly to prepare for emigrating this
season. June the first I went to Pencader Station to see Isaac Jones and his
family going to Liverpool and David Owen (?) and Galch and his family, both of
them was going to Utah on the sailing ship JOHN BRIGHT which was going out on
the 4th of June, 1868. I was born at Pencader on the 13th Jany 1849 and was
baptized to the Church of Latter Day Saints on the 17th of August 1866 by Elder
De Stephens, President of the Pencader Branch. I am the son of David and
Rachel Jones; College, Pencader in the Parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth in the
county of Carmarthen, South Wales, Great Britain. My father David Jones was
born near to Pencader in the said Parish on the _____ day of _____ 1775 and
died on the 3rd of Nov. 1861, without yielding obedience to the Gospel. My
mother was born at Blanpant in the same Parish on the 25th of Feb 1805 and was
baptized to the Church of Latter Day Saints on the 17th August 1866 by Daniel
Stephens, Pencader.
June 9, 1868 We had our notifications from Liverpool to go with the
American ship called CONSTITUTION which was to go out from Liverpool for New
York on the 24th of this month with a load of passengers.
June 10 - Sending half of our notifications back to the office.
June 22 - Started from Pencader at 7:30 in the morning, reached
Carmarthen at 8:10, getting tickets from there to Liverpool by the Glandilo,
changing train five times. Arrived in Liverpool about quarter past seven
afternoon. Slept at Mr. Wales house, 46 Ct Cross Hall Street.
June 23 - Tuesday - Had our breakfast at Wall's and then went down with
our luggage to get on board the CONSTITUTION. Slept this night in the ship.
June 24 - Rose this morning about half past five. The inspector boarded
the ship about 11 AM. We had a few remarks by President Franklin D. Richards
concerning the journey. (Note: at this point in his journal Henry began to
write in Welsh.) About one o'clock we sailed. Another ship, Agefraid,
sailed with our ship for about 20 miles beyond Liverpool and returned about 12
midnight.
June 25 - We were on guard from 12 midnight until morning. David and
Mary were ill all day. The ship was hardly moving at all. We had a prayer
meeting at 10 A.M.
June 26 - This is a very stormy day again. Ireland is seen in the
distance today. Mary does not feel so well today again.
June 27 - Very stormy again today. We shall travel many miles today.
The passengers feel very well today. Past Ireland now which is out of sight.
June 28 - Sunday - Very stormy, terrible wind today. Ship traveling
only 8 or 9 miles an hour since yesterday. We shall meet with President Harvey
H. Cluff who first spoke to the Saints in English, advising them to have
courage. Following him President Joseph S. Horne of the German Mission spoke
in German. He was followed by C. P. Liston. In the afternoon the storm
ceased. The ship did not seem to move. On the surface of the ocean there
appeared 5 or 6 large fish, the sailors called them porpoise.
June 29 - Monday - We rose at 6:30 a.m. We sought for water as the
first thing. Breakfast followed, a 9 a.m. prayer meeting. The ship traveling
about 4 miles an hour. The ship was heaving, that made many sea sick. Some
were very sick, especially little Mary and David. John is also sick but he
won't admit that it is sea-sickness. It is awful the way the ship is heaving,
up and down, backward and forward. This makes almost everyone sick. About 8
a.m. we sighted a whale. The captain stated it was a young whale. It was
spouting water to a height of about 18 ft. upward.
June 30 - Tuesday - This morning the weather is foggy. The ship is
traveling only 2 miles an hour. As night falls the fog is getting more dense.
They blew the fog horn all night in fear that a collision should happen.
July 1 - This morning it is very foggy and the fog horn still sends
forth the danger signal. The ship is traveling about 2 miles an hour as a
precaution. At 11 AM the fog seems to be lifting. Most of the passengers are
on deck and their children are playing on deck. German and English children
playing together although they could not understand each others language.
There are many Germans on the ship. The fog is thickening. As night falls and
the fog horn blowing the danger signals.
July 2 - Thursday - Rose about 7 a.m. The first task is to get water,
afterward breakfast. Fog is still dense, visibility not beyond 100 yards. It
seems to be clearing a little. The ship has increased speed to about 4 miles
an hour and is still heaving, but the weather is calm. Mary is ill today.
Have not seen any fish for the past few days.
July 3 - Friday - The ship is heaving terrible today. There is not much
wind but the waves ahead seem like mountains in height. Speed still making 4
miles an hour. Now it seems there are hundreds of porpoises following each
other. In appearance they seem like hogs.
July 4 - Saturday - Rose about 7 a.m. The ship's speed about 5 miles an
hour at 9 a.m. Hardly any wind blowing. About 3 p.m. another school of
porpoises appeared.
July 5 - Sunday - Two religious services on the ship's desk, one at 11
a.m., one at p.m. The speed was so slow, almost to a stand-still.
July 6 - Monday - Ship's speed very slow. About one o'clock the wind
began to blow. From then until evening it blew most terrible. The ship at
times seemed to plunge beneath the waves and the water on deck was knee high.
Many were ill especially little Mary and David's mother and John is very ill.
It was a terrible stormy night. No one could even stand or walk without laying
hold of something to keep them from falling. Schools of porpoises were seen.
It is an indication of a coming storm at sea, so the sailors say.
July 7 - Tuesday - Again rather stormy although less in fury. Man, Mary
and David have been very ill all day and most of the passengers are ill. The
ship's bell has stopped, owing to the wind.
July 8 - Wednesday - A fine day. The men passengers are a little better
in health today. We are 910 miles from Liverpool.
July 9 & 10 - Thursday & Friday - It is raining today, the ship is
moving very slowly. Nothing in particular to write of.
July 11 - Saturday - A rainy day, ship moving very slowly. More
porpoise appear, we have a better view of them. Also some very strange fish
much like geese on the surface of the water. I think they are wild geese and
must live on the surface of the ocean.
July 12 - Sunday - A very peaceful morning and a meeting is called for
12 a.m. on the deck. The wind started blowing about 1 o'clock which helped
the ship to make 6 miles that afternoon. We had another meeting at 6 p.m. on
the deck.
July 13 - Monday - Rain was pouring. Ship traveling 8 to 9 miles an
hour.
July 14 - Tuesday - A fine day. The ship traveling very slowly all day.
July 15 - Wednesday - Another fine day, ship traveling only 4 miles an
hour.
July 16, Thursday - Very little to write about. Ship traveling very
slowly.
July 17 - Friday - Strong winds, growing stronger in the night. The
waves dashing against the sides, so terrific that one man was thrown out of bed
and stating the ship must have struck the bottom of the ocean.
July 18 - Saturday - The wind had lessened its fury today. With the aid
of a tail wind, the ship was traveling 1 ½ miles an hour at 5 p.m. The wind
not so strong as yesterday.
July 19 - Sunday - It is rather cold today. The ship is traveling very
slowly. We were allowed to be on the deck about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
July 20 - Monday - Passing over the banks of Newfoundland today.
Traveling was very slow - about one mile an hour. The weather is rather cold.
Fog clearing about 6 o'clock. About 8 o'clock we sighted a fishing boat.
July 21 - Tuesday - A foggy day. Our ship sailing and traveling fairly
fast by comparison with other days on this journey.
July 22 - Wednesday - The first thing that came to view was a boat
fishing for codfish. There are scores of fishing boats along the banks. Many
ships lying at anchor waiting the return of the fishing boats. I saw them
raising anchor which registers 29 fathoms deep.
July 23 - Thursday - A very calm day. The sea seemed like a sea of
glass. The ship hardly moved all day. Ships travel faster by night. This
ship averages 3 miles per hour in the night. We are 732 miles from Liverpool
at 12 noon.
July 24 - Friday - Ship traveling between 3 and 4 miles an hour. We had
a meeting on the deck today.
July 25 - Saturday - A calm day. The night is stormy and lasted all
night.
July 26 - Sunday - I was awakened this morning by the tin pans and
dishes crashing on the floor. This was the most awful morning I can ever
remember. The ship was heaving so terrible the dishes and boxes following in
the same direction, making it dangerous to be in their course. We could not
walk or stand erect on the deck, the ship heaving and trembling so terrible.
July 27 - Monday - A very calm day. Nothing of importance to record.
July 28 - Tuesday - A very fine day. The ship is hardly moving.
July 29 - Wednesday - The ship is sailing well today, traveling between
6 and 7 miles an hour to midday, continuing until 10 p.m. at night.
July 30 - Thursday - A very calm day - ship traveling about 3 miles an
hour.
July 31 - Friday - Fairly calm day, traveling about the same as
yesterday.
Aug 1 - Saturday - Rough weather all day.
Aug 2 - Sunday - Rough weather again today.
Aug 3 - Monday - this is the best day yet. The pilot came on deck
today, but we are not in sight of land yet.
Aug 4 - Tuesday - Saw land today about 1 o'clock. Ships passing us all
day long.
Aug 5 - Wednesday - Entering the Hudson River, New York today. We were
kept on the ship until six o'clock next morning, writing health inspection and
other matters.
August 6 - Thursday - Sailing into Castle Garden where they weighed and
inspected our luggage before we were able to proceed to our destination.
August 7 - Friday - Slept in the open last night in a shed in New York.
The boat started from there at 1:30 p.m. for Albany, N. Y. We arrived at
Albany at 5 a.m. next morning. Then waited there for five hours for a train
according to schedule which did not arrive until 10 p.m. that night.
August 9 - Sunday - Arrived in Rochester and waited there for a few
hours. Arrived at Niagra Falls about 2 p.m. We had an hour before leaving and
went to see the Falls. Niagra Falls is about 460 miles from New York City by
railroad.
We left Niagra Falls for Windsor, Canada and arrived there on Monday the 10th.
There we crossed the Detroit River that separates the U.S. from Canada. We
left Detroit about 11 o'clock for Chicago. We left Chicago for Council Bluffs
about 1 p.m. traveling through Iowa all day 12th of Aug. Iowa is a beautiful
state. We arrived in Council Bluffs on Thursday, Aug 13th at 10 a.m. and
crossed the Missouri River to Omaha. We were there until 7 o'clock that
evening.
August 14 - Friday - On our way all the day through Nebraska.
Aug. 15 - Saturday - Arrived at Laramie at nightfall.
Aug. 16 - Sunday - Reached Cris Burton at noon where the railroad ended
and about 130 miles from Laramie. At this place the wagons were waiting our
arrival and proceeded toward our camp on the banks of the River Platte. We had
to wait there for the arrival of our luggage. We slept in our wagons this
night.
Aug. 17 - Monday - Still in our camp today.
Aug. 18 - Tuesday - Part of our luggage had come along with us, and we
set out to find the remainder.
Aug. 19 - Wednesday - We waited all day in camp waiting the wagons to
arrive with the luggage.
Aug. 20 - Thursday - Went up to the station to get the remainder of our
luggage which as yet had not arrived.
Aug. 21 - Friday - Stayed in camp all day.
Aug. 22 - Sat. Still in camp.
Aug. 23 - Sunday - Continuing our journey over the plains. Traveled
about 18 to 20 miles and arrived in camp about 8 p.m. along the side of a lake
into which a small creek was running. Its water is bitter. We are staying
here Monday and Tuesday waiting the luggage wagons to arrive.
Aug. 26 - Wednesday - Starting very early today and we traveled about 14
miles and camped near a creek where the water was pure.
Aug. 27 - Thursday - Starting today again very early. Approaching very
rough roads, which made it very hard and difficult for the cattle (oxen) to
pull the wagons. We are approaching a place which is called Whiskey Gap where
we shall camp. There are scores of Indian graves here. Two Indian tribes met
here in battle. Here they buried their dead, and placed huge stones as markers
above the graves.
Aug. 28 - Friday - Drawing near the Sweetwater River. Nearby is the
spot where a wagon stopped and the driver was killed by Indians; and where a
company of Saints buried him 11 days before. After plundering the provisions
and all else, the Indians had left the corpse where they had slain him.
Aug. 29 - Sat. - Traveling is very difficult again and we are camping
near the same river.
Aug 30 - Sunday - Traveling again difficult. We came upon a spring of
very foul water, very bad to the taste. We traveled about 15 miles from where
we camped yesterday. We saw some antelope for the first time.
Aug 31 - Monday - We are camping tonight on the top of a mountain. Here
the springs are very good and pure.
September 1 - Tuesday - We shall arrive near the River by this evening.
Note: On Sept 2, Henry began writing in English.
Sept. 2 - Wed. - Started this morning again. Come to some against
diner. Got diner there. Started from there and camped in dry place.
Sept. 3 - Thursday - Started this about half past three. Walked about
15 or 18 miles before breakfast. We came to a river about half past ten and
got breakfast there. This river was called Little Sandy. An old lady 72 years
of age died here and was buried this day in same place.
Sept. 4 - Friday - Camped this night on the side of a river called Sandy.
Sept 5 - Saturday - Started this morning about 7 and reached Green River
against diner time. Started from there about 2 o'clock. Came about 7 miles
and camped in a dry place.
Sept. 6 - Sunday - Started from this place in the morning and came to
Ham's Fork against diner time and stopped there all day.
Sept. 7 - Monday - Started from this place in the morning and camped for
dinner at Flan Fork and started from there about 2 o'clock and camped on the
Muddy at night.
Sept. 9 - Wednesday - Started this morning about 7 o'clock in the
morning and camped about 100 miles from Salt Lake City at a place called
Quaking Asp Ridge.
Sept. 10 - Thursday - Came today about 10 miles, very wet in the morning.
Sept. 11 - Fri.- Camped last night 2 or 3 miles the other side of the
Needle Rocks. Came to Echo where the railroad is working under Brigham Young's
contract. John and me stopped there.
Sept 12 - Sat. - Building a little hut for us to sleep in. (This was
Henry's 19th birthday)
Sept. 13 - Sunday - Slept in our new house last night. Went down to the
bishop's camp to the meeting at eleven o'clock.
Sept. 14 - Monday - Commenced this morning on the railroad under Brigham
young's contract.
Sept. 15 - Tuesday - Working on the rail all day. Worked on R.R.
Sept. 20 - Sunday - Had meeting in our camp this morning at eleven
o'clock.
Oct. 1 - Working on R.R.
Oct. 4 - Sunday - Meeting at our camp 11 a.m.
Oct 29 - Thursday - Snow this morning.
Nov. 1 - Sunday - Had 5 dollars.
Nov. 2 - Monday - Working. Had pair of overalls
Nov. 22 - Sunday - Had a pair of shoes.
Dec. 3 - Thursday - Stopped in camp all day.
Dec. 4 - Friday - Started from there about 11 o'clock.
Dec. 7 - Monday - Came to Smith's camp.
Dec. 13 - Sunday - Had two shirts.
Dec. 17 - Thursday - Started home this morning and got there about 3
p.m. on Weber, Utah.
Dec. 18 - Friday - At home.
Dec. 21 - Monday - Came back today.
Dec. 22 - Tuesday - Making a dugout.
Feb. 13, 1869 - Sent a letter to the old country.
Feb 19 - Friday - Began the 1071 Station.
March 8 - Monday - Began the 1075 Station.
Mar. 12 - Fri. - Finished the station.
Mar. 29 - Mon. - Went to Promontory
Mar. 31 - Wed. - Began to work.
April 30 - Friday - Got paid in Ogden $12.00
May 1 - Sat. - Paid $4.25 emigration (to the Perpetual Immigration Fund)
May 11 - Tuesday - Putting corn in for Seph.
May 13 - Thursday - Working for Sephaniah (Note: This was probably
Zephaniah Jones, who later moved to Malad, Idaho but was no relation to Henry.)
May 24 - Monday - Went to Malad
May 25 - Tuesday - At the Dutchman's house at night
May 26 - Wednesday - Reached Malad this evening
June 1 - Tuesday - Malad
June 16 - Started for W City this morning
June 17 - Thurs. - Reached Willard
Jan. 6, 1870 - Paid tithing, 4 gal of molasses, 2 1/4 of corn, 2 ½ of
potatoes and 26 dol of labor tithing and 12 pounds of peaches.
Jan 10 - Mon. - Shelling corn on labor on tithing from noon Mon. till
Tues. evening
Jan. 26 - Sat. - Fetched a load of sage.
Mar. 1 - Tues. - Working on the meeting house
Mar 2 - Worked a 1/4 today
Mar. 3 - Worked 3/4 today
Mar. 5 - Sat. - Worked all day
Mar. 7 - Mon. - Working all day on the meeting house
Mar. 9 - Worked 7 ½ hours
Mar. 11 - Snowing and cold
Mar 21 - Working on the meeting house
None
Immigrants:
Jones, Henry
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