Church leader on the journey was Dan Jones know as Dan Jones

Link to Passenger List

Ships Log

Autobiography of the journey written by Priscilla Merriman Evans

. . . After visiting with our friends and relatives a few days, we took a tug from Pembroke to Liverpool, where we set sail on the 17th April, 1856, on the sailing vessel Samuel Curling. Captain Curling said he preferred to take Saints aboard his ship, as he always felt safe. We learned that later his ship went down, with all on board, but there were no Saints on board. We were on the sea five weeks and lived on the ship's rations. I was sick all the way, and had a miserable time. We landed in Boston on May 25. Then [p.38] then [SIC] traveled in cattle cars, three hundred 30 miles to Iowa City, where we remained three weeks, waiting for our handcarts to be made. We were offered many inducements to remain there. My husband was offered ten dollars per day to stay and work at his trade of iron roller. But money was no inducement, as we were anxious to get to Zion. Many who stayed to better their circumstances died of cholera and many apostatized from the church. When the carts were ready we started on a three hundred & 30 mile "walk," to Winter Quarters on the Missouri River. . . . [p.39]

. . . Edward Bunker was the captain of our company. . . . [p.40]

. . . We reached Salt Lake City Oct. 2, 1856.

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

"DEPARTURES. -- The ship S. Curling cleared on the 18th of April, and sailed for Boston on the following day, with 707 souls of the Saints on board, under the presidency of Elders Dan Jones, John Oakley, and David Grant.

In the company were a goodly number of elders, who have for some time been laboring in the ministry in this country. In addition to the presidency of the company, were the following ex-presidents of conferences -- William Woodard, president of the Dorsetshire, Job Welling of the Southampton, Thomas D. Giles, of the Monmouthshire, John Parry, of the Denbigshire, John Price of the South Pembrokeshire, Thomas Morgan, of the Brecknockshire, Willaim Lewis, of the Dyffryn Conway, and Anglesea, Thomas Jenkins, of the Caermarthenshire, and Thomas D. Evans, of the North Pembrokeshire Conferences. Elders John McDonald and William Butler, from the Valley, who have for a long time labored faithfully in this country, also sailed with this company. President Dan Jones has, during his mission in Wales, succeeded in emigrating about fourteen hundred of the Saints from the principality, of whom about 550 accompany him on the S. Curling. . . ."
MS, 18:18 (May 3, 1856), pp.282-83
"NINETY-FOURTH COMPANY. -- Samuel Curling. 707 souls. The ship Samuel Curling cleared the port of Liverpool, on the eighteenth of April, and sailed for Boston the following day with seven hundred and seven British Saints on board, under the presidency of Elders Dan Jones, John Oakley and David Grant. There were quite a number of elders who had labored in the ministry in Great Britain, including William Woodard, (Utah elder) Job Welling, Thomas D. Giles, John Parry, John Price, Thomas Morgan, William Lewis, Thomas Jenkins and Thomas D. Evans. Also John McDonald, a Utah elder, sailed with the company. About five hundred and fifty of the emigrating Saints were from Wales. As soon as the ship was fairly under way, the usual organizations were effected; several severe storms were encountered, and on several occasions the brethren assembled for prayers and curbed the fury of the winds and waves by the power of the holy priesthood. During the passage six children died, and two were born. One of the little arrivals was named Dan Curling Dee, and the other Claudia Curling Reynolds, in honor of Dan Jones, the president of the company, and the ship.

On the twenty-third of May the Samuel Curling was towed to quarantine ground, at Boston. In a few hours the inspectors came on board welcomed by the spontaneous three cheers of seven hundred people, 'and strange as it may seem,' writes Elder Dan Jones, 'called the names of all and passed them in less than one hour and a half without any further complaint than that "I was taking all the handsome ladies to Utah." The passengers were all remarkably clean, as well as the ship, which commanded the admiration of all. In proof of the latter I would say, that I had made a wager with Captain Curling, upon leaving Liverpool, that the Lower decks would be whiter than his cabin floors, and the quarantine doctor decided in my favor.'
On the twenty-fourth of May, President Jones contracted with the railroad officials to take about four hundred of the passengers to Iowan City, for $11.00 per adult over 14 years old, children half price. The kind-hearted captain allowed the passengers to remain on board the ship till Monday the 26th of May, when the journey was continued to Iowa City. (Millennial Star, Vol XVIII, pages 283, 411, 426, 542. Deseret News, Vol. VI, page 160)"
Cont., 14:1 (Nov. 1892), p.20
"Sat. 19. [Apr. 1856] -- The ship Samuel Curling sailed from Liverpool with 707 Saints, under the direction of Dan Jones; it arrived at Boston May 23rd. From that city the emigrants traveled by rail to Iowa City."