John Thomson (1805 -1867) Margaret Ballantyne (1800-1843)

John and Margaret Ballantyne Thomson, my great, great, great, great grandparents through Grandpa Byron's maternal grandmother. Similar to the last post, there is very little info about them. The information I did find is primarily out of the journal of one of their daughters, Hannah. 

I found John's grave on one of my visits to Richmond Cemetery shortly after starting this adventure. He is buried with his daughters, Margaret and Hannah Thomson Brower. They were both polygamous wives to Ariah C. Brower. Hannah is my 3x great grandmother. John and Margaret are the grandparents to Fannie Brower Boman. 

It was very interesting to read about John and Margaret. I kept picturing their family similar to those that were portrayed in the TV series "Downton Abbey." Do you think he was like Mr. Carson or Mr. Bates? I imagine they were like Mr Bates and Anna haha.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures that I was able to find of either John or Margaret.

Over the last few weeks, I have not been doing much as far as this blog goes. Started a new job and by the time I am home, the computer is the last place I want to be. However, I do have to say that I missed reading the histories. I missed searching and trying to find information and learning new things. 

There isn't mention of John moving to Richmond, but likely it is because his daughters and their husband moved there to help with the settling of Richmond. The home behind Big J's, at approximately 250 W 200 S was his son-in-laws home, where his daughters Hannah and Margaret lived. I do not know if John lived with them or even near them. That is just likely why he ended up in Richmond. 

Also, as a side note. The Scottish spelling of the sir name is Thomson. When emigrating to the US, the name was changed to Thompson.

John Thomson's Personal History

John Thomson was born on May 5, 1805, in Markinch, Fife, Scotland. He was the second son of Alexander Thompson and Mary Low, of Markinch, County of Fifeshire. There were twelve children in all, eight sons and four daughters. They were honest people, but not religiously inclined. They were farmers.

Margaret Ballantyne was born July 11, 1800 and was the first daughter of David Ballyntine and Cecelia Wallace. They had two sons and one daughter, William, Henry and Margaret. Her mother died leaving her three small children with their father. A second daughter, Cecelia, was born and died near the time of her mother’s death. David soon afterward married a young girl, Annie Bannerman. Ann Bannerman was 19 at the time of her marriage to David Ballantyne, who was 60 years of age. They had four sons and three daughters. She had two sons and three daughters, and although young, did pretty well. Margaret used to say, though, it wasn’t her mother.

When Margaret was old enough, she went out to serve among the higher class of society, where there were many servants. After a while she chose the place of Laundrice maid, and while in this occupation got acquainted with the Baker, who done the baking for the family, who afterward became the Butler, whose name was John Thompson. The acquaintance grew into friendship and later they became lovers and were married.

Father continued to follow the service as butler in Noblemen’s families, and in the way made a comfortable living for his family. He rented a house for mother in which she was comfortably situated, yet left alone much of the time, on account of his occupation requiring him to be at the Master’s beck and call, and to be away from home traveling in Scotland, England, and France.

John and Margaret had one son and four daughters: Alexander, Cecelia, Mary and Margaret and Hannah, the author of this sketch. I do not remember my sister Mary, as she died at six years of age, and I was but a babe. Have heard that she was a lovely child and kind.

My brother and the other two sisters grew up together at home with Mother. She taught us early piety, she being of a religious turn of mind, having inherited and received it from the teachings of her father.

She taught her children to be strictly honest and truthful. Her home was always a place of peace and order. She had a strong power of government and was very decisive, I can remember quite well from the age of four years, at that age she took me to school, which always seemed like a very prison to my soul, but finally I got better used to it, and did very well and learned when very small to read in the Testament. Another particular incident, which marks that epoch of time, the year 1839 or 1840, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was brought to our native town by Elder Orson Pratt and George D. Watt. Among those who were earnest listeners was my mother, whose heart was honest and testimony of the truth was born to her. I well remember that time, as the traveling Elders were preaching the gospel without purse or scrip, often came to our home for rest, and there they found her hand and heart open to give them food and lodging, and her heart was prepared to receive the glorious truths of which they bore record. I can still see that little home which was my birthplace. It looms up in my mind where we spent sweet childhood hours. From my being four years of age to eight years, my days to look back seem like an even spun thread. I, being the youngest, was generally favored, and when Mother went to see a friend, I went with her, and many dear kind friends I can remember well, (altho I am now 76 years), they used to be so kind to us, while Mother lived and after.

When the Elders brought the Gospel to Edinburgh, Mother’s brother Henry was the first to receive it and yield to baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Mother was the next candidate, and embraced the principles that were taught, with her whole soul, which brought her joy. The gospel was meat and drink to her, and she also had her children baptized, who were old enough to become members of the church.

My sister Margaret and I were blessed under the hands of those having authority from God, and our names were recorded in the Church. When we reached the age of accountability, we were baptised.

When Henry and Mother joined the Church, they labored hard to convert the other members of the family, who lived in Earlston, who, after investigation, joined the Church.

Edinburgh was a lovely place, where I spent my childhood days, with my brother and sisters, who were ready to look after me; pretty walks and parks where we used to play, which loom up in mind today, where days and weeks and years went bye pleasantly.

Our home was always kept clean and neat, and mother with her clean pretty caps, that she always wore in those days, seemed to make home look more sacred. Until I was seven years old, no change seemed to take place, only that Mother grew feeble, and was often confined to bed. At such times I would read to her many chapters of that sacred book, the Bible. My sister Cecelia, with the assistance of Margaret, was amply able to attend to the house work. My brother Alexander was then learning to be a printer, and was a very steady youth. Mother’s affliction was in her lungs, from which she continued to grow weaker, until the year 1843, in the month of December, when death claimed her. I was then eight years and two months old, and I well remember that night, when told she was dead.

All this time, father had not interested himself in the Gospel, which was very trying to us children. We had always been taught to believe whatever mother did was right, and she had raised us by her own kind of government, but he had not changed from his high spirited proud way, and was too high minded to embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ , as had been revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet. His pursuit in life had always taken him away from home, and he mingled with a class of people whose mode of living was very different to that of Latter-day Saints. He had always provided for us, but as soon as we each got old enough, he thought we should assist in earning the living, which was all right, but Cecelia’s health would not admit of her working out any length of time.

Uncle Richard Ballantyne, at the time of emigrating from Scotland to America, had promised Mother that he would not forget her children, when he bade her goodbye as she lay on her death bed, but was as good as his word. In 1852, He arranged for our (the children) transportation, by borrowing money form the Perpetual Emigration Fund, and mortgaged his possessions in order to secure the means.

Alexander's health was very poor that winter, and on account of his poor health, he had no desire to emigrate. He took furnished lodgings where he was very comfortable. He had some money saved to help himself, in time of need, and Father was strong and healthy and could see to him, if need be. They accompanied us to the train, where they bade us goodbye and parted with us without conversation, or much demonstration, and seemed to be rather low spirited because of the separation.

Brother’s faith had also grown weak in the Gospel. He coughed all the way to the station. I cannot tell what peculiar feelings must have prevailed in his soul. His faithful mother was gone, who used to admonish him in the Gospel, when she sometimes saw slackness in duty, his three sisters were leaving him, not expecting to see him again in the flesh, with Father who had not yet seen the necessity of embracing the Gospel.

Father went with us on the train to Glasgow, where we took the steam boat to go down the river, but when we reached there we went to a Public House for refreshments, where we met with some of the Brethren of the Mormon Church, one of whom was Robert Campbell, who asked Father if he was willing to let his three daughters go so far away from him, and he answered “Yes”, I don’t know why I am willing”. Brother Campbell eyed my father very closely for a moment and rose to his feet and said in the spirit of Prophecy: “Mr. Thompson, you will yet go”. Father said, “Do you think so?” “I know it”, said Brother Campbell, which afterward came to pass.

Father saw us safely aboard the steamboat and gave us into the care of those “terrible deluded people” as he had formerly classed them, and affectionately kissed us goodbye. Margaret went and would be the last to wave a last farewell to him.

It must have been a very great trial for him to part with the three daughters, his wife dead, and left with an only son in poor health. He met a dear good sister at Glasgow, and her little daughter, who were going with the company, a Mrs. Mustard, from Fifeshire, whose husband had already emigrated to Zion, and they were going to join him in his new home so he entrusted us into her care as chaperone, and we traveled together part of the way.

In May of that year, while camped near the Missouri River and Kansas City, Kansas, Cecelia married a young man named John Taylor. Tragically, the next night she died of cholera.

Our aged father received our letter, informing him of Cecelia’s death, in the latter part of June. It took letters then a long time to go, and a long time to come, as sailing vessels on the ocean, and mule speed on the plaines.

It may be remembered, in my narrative, that Father saw us safely on board the steamer at Glasgow for Liverpool, and he went back to Edinburgh to my brother, whom he left sick, February 3, 1852. Brother had a bad cough and his lungs were effected, and after reaching home he daily grew worse, and Father found him in that condition when he returned. He took him to the Doctor for examination and found his lungs were very badly effected, and was advised to take him to the country where he could have a change of air, but alas, no. He kept gradually growing worse till he succumbed to consumption.

Father’s letter informing us of this sad news reached us in September, and stated that he had just returned home, from burying him, when he received our letter informing him of Cecelia’s death. It must have been the latter part of June, or July, the time of brother’s death. There he was now doubly saddened, and left alone without one of his children in Scotland. He became restless, although he had five brothers and three sisters still living in that country, he was going from pillar to post, seeking a comfort and rest from his loneliness and sorrow, and for the next three years, we girls continued to write to him, offering all the comfort we could, and at the same time reminded him of the blessings in store for him by obedience to the gospel.

We kept him informed of our experiences, and what was transpiring in Zion; with whom were were living; now employed, which family, aroused within him a desire to come to America. No doubt that the news of Margaret’s marriage to Ariah C. Brower and that she had become his third wife, and that on the 17 February, 1854 a baby girl had been born to them, was most responsible in having him make up his mind to emigrate to Utah.

A strange coinsident occurred while on his journey. When he reached Atchison, Kansas, he had previously arranged to meet a company of Saints at that place, with whom to cross the plains, and to his great surprise he met his own brother-in-law, Richard Ballantyne, who was in charge of the Emigrants, with whom he was to travel and to be escorted right to the homes of his two daughters.

Elder Ballantyne had been gone on his mission to India for two years and was now returning home. It was a glorious time in their lives, to have met under such circumstances. They had not seen each other since before Uncle Richard had emigrated from Scotland at the time he bade Mother goodbye, and had promised her on her death bed he would remember her children when he reached Zion. At the time he met Father, he was very busy arranging emigrants affairs, and their transportation, and for the moment had to be excused; after the first greeting, but were met again and rejoicing in each others company. Richard exclaimed “God bless me, Father Thompson, Is this you?” Then they greeted each other affectionately. They went to the abiding place where Father was staying and had refreshments together and talked over commonplace things and family affairs recalling the incidents of the past with all its joys and sorrows, etc.

It was then Father had a tender heart and was humble, and Uncle Richard was enthused with the spirit of the Gospel and his mission and taught him the importance of baptism, and of becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he baptized him before leaving Atchison. Thus the prophecy of Elder Robert Campbell was fulfilled, when Father had been told by him, that he would yet go to Zion.

Father’s means were getting low, and was becoming anxious to know how he would be able to meet all the expenses crossing the plains. He had many bills to pay before leaving Scotland, besides his transportation. Some of our expenses and brother’s funeral and doctor expenses. Uncle was able to figure out a plan to help him, and when he asked him, “Do you think, Father Thompson, you can drive the baggage wagon?” Father hesitated a moment – “Yes, sir” was his reply. He got the job. It paid the balance of his expenses to the Valley. O how wonderful are the ways of the Lord.

Father was pleased to keep the little money he had, which he found to be very much needed after reaching his new destiny.

One day while wiping perspiration from his face, Uncle asked him if he should release him from his task, and he straightened himself up and said, “No, sir! No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God. I’ll drive it through to the Valley.” Sufficeth to say he reached his destination safely and without harm or accident. Early in September we all were looking forward with anticipation to the arrival of the company of emigrants, when we could have the joy of meeting, greeting and welcoming them to the Valley. It was greater joy to us than when we ourselves arrived. We were to meet our dear Father and dear Uncle Richard. A meeting of father and his two daughters, and a husband to meet his dear wife and sweet little children. We met them with picnic party and a Brass band and escorted them to the City.

Early in September the company arrived, and Brother Winder took me to meet Father, which was a never to be forgotten day and occasion. It was a joyous time, even more pleasant and thrilling than when we two girls arrived and had been met by our kindred two years previous and welcomed to their homes. Brother and Sister Winder had prepared picnic, and he took melons and cantaloupes and good things. His wife had gone on a visit to Salt Creek for a change. She had buried a baby girl not long since, and left the children with the girl.

Father was delighted with the reception and warm welcome, by which they had been received, and he couldn't help being pleased with Brother Winder. So we came down the Canyon together.

There had been another fellow out to meet the company the night before, and talked with Father. So when in conversation he said: "What about Brother Merick?" I said: "He was no account." So while we were all happy and the band played lovely strains, we soon reached Aunt Maria's and found everything in readiness for a cheerful homecoming. My sister Margaret and baby were there and Father was delighted to meet them and hold them in his arms, his first grandchild.

In the mean time the Browers had located and taken up land at Grantsville, and moved there. Margaret had come back to meet Father. She had a husband and home and they at once planned for his comfort and welfare, and concluded he would be more satisfied if he could be employed at something which would earn his living, and he went to live with them. They had cows and sheep and needed a herder, and he occupied his time looking after them. He had read of the shepherds of old and the great men who followed that pursuit for a living, and was satisfied with his situation.

Margaret died November 1843, aged about 43 years 3 months. She is buried near Edinburgh, Scotland. 
John died August 1 1867, aged 62 years, 1 month, and 2 days. He is buried in the Richmond City Cemetery. 

John's Ordinances In Progress
Baptism - 29 March 1991, Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
Confirmation - 13 May 1855
Initiatory - 30 May 1860, Endowment House
Endowment - 30 May 1860, Endowment House
Sealing to Parents -16 October 1914, Salt Lake Temple*
Sealing to Spouse - 24 August 1861, Endowment House

*Apparently there had been a mix up with the names of John's parents. His correct parents have recently been discovered and has been reserved to do the ordinance.

Margaret's Ordinances Complete
Baptism - 30 June 1840
Confirmation - 30 June 1840
Initiatory - 6 August 1884, Logan Utah Temple
Endowment - 6 August 1884, Logan Utah Temple
SPSealing to Parents - 8 October 1895, Salt Lake Temple
Sealing to Spouse - 24 August 1861, Endowment House



***To see the purpose of starting this blog, please click here.*** 

William Lyon (1793-1878) Mary Cragg (1796-1873)

William and Mary Cragg Lyon. My great great great great great (yes 5!) grandparents. They are through Grandma Webb's paternal grandmother.

Very little is known about William and Mary Lyon. There is no written history that I have been able to find. Just pieces of documentation. I have compiled what I could find.

One interesting thing I came across while researching William and Mary, was when they sailed to America on ship Juventa. At the time, another ancestor, my 3rd great grandfather, William Glover was returning from his English mission. He also sailed on the ship Juventa, as the presiding LDS authority.

Elder Glover was appointed as the presiding authority by yet another ancestor, my 3rd great grandfather, Franklin Dewey Richards. (Grandma Webb's maternal grandfather's father.) President Richards was a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles starting in 1849. He was requested by President Brigham Young to serve a mission to England. On June 4, 1854 he reached Liverpool, England and according to his letter of appointment from the First Presidency, he was "to preside over all the conferences and all the affairs of the Church in the British Islands and adjacent countries."

So, my 3rd great grandfather through grandma Webb's father, ordained my 3rd great grandfather through grandpa Byron, to lead the ship that brought the family of my 5th great grandfather through grandma Webb's mother. Ha! If you can follow that. 

William and Mary are buried in the Hyde Park City Cemetery. I have been past many times, but never knew any of my ancestors were buried there. I went after work today, it was hot, but peaceful. I have been trying to get to this cemetery for almost 2 weeks. With the new job, I just kept forgetting to stop. Finally, I wasn't so brain dead and remembered. I love that these are the old stones. Unfortunately they have broken off, but have been cemented back. I also did notice that Mary has a pioneer emblem on it, but William's does not. They both should have it, not sure why William doesn't. Or even who to contact to put one on?

Hyde Park City Cemetery

William and Mary's Personal History

William
No known picture exists of Mary.

William Lyon was born on April 10, 1793, in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. The son of Daniel Lyon and his mother was Jane Wing Lyon. He was the third child of seven; five males and 2 females.

Mary Cragg was born April 5, 1796, in Rutland, England. The daughter of and Thomas Cragg and Susanna Blake. She was the second of four children; 3 female and one male.

William and Mary were married about 1815 in Lincolnshire, England. They had 12 children; 6 male and 6 female. William Cragg Lyon (1816–1873) Ann Jane Lyon (1819– unknown) Thomas Lyon (1821–unknown) John Lyon (1823–1891) Mary S. Lyon (1825–1892) Susan Lyon (1826–1883) Jane Lyon (1830–1880) George Lyon (1833–1921) Joseph Lyon (1834–1913) Amos Cragg Lyon (1838–1855) Emma Lyon (1838–1913) Charlotte Lyon (1840–1912). William and Mary also raised their grandson, Charles (Tyers) Lyon (1845–1935), illegitimate son of their daughter Susan and Thomas Tyers, from the time he was seven years old. Susan and Thomas later married 23 May 1848.

They left England on the ship Juventa. Sailing from Liverpool England on 31 Mar 1855 and arriving in Philadelphia, USA on 5 May 1855. Presiding Elder in charge being Elder William Glover. There were 573 passengers on board, none of them perished. On the Ships manifest has the Lyon family listed as:
Lyon, William (Age: 58)
Lyon, Mary (Age: 55)
Lyon, Emma (Age: 13)
Lyon, Charlotte (Age: 12)
Lyon, Damsel (Age: 10)
Lyon, Charles (Age: 9)
Lyon, Mary (Age: 28)
Lyon, Amos (Age: 18)
Lyon, Thomas (Age: 1)

Once arriving in Philadelphia, it says that many of the saints then headed west to start across the plains. However, according to the 1860 United States census, William and Mary and their grandson Charles lived in St Georges, New Castle, Delaware.

On 5 or 8 August 1862 the Henry W. Miller Company with 665 individuals and 60 wagons began its journey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha). Among those that left were

Lyon, William 69 (10 April 1793 6 June 1878)
Lyon, Mary Cragg 65 (5 April 1797 4 May 1873)
Lyon, Charles 14 (5 December 1847 15 August 1935)
Lyon, Charlotte 21 (26 Mar. 1841 29 June 1912)
Lyon, Damsel 17 (September 1844 22 January 1865)
Lyon, Emma 23 (12 September 1838 7 April 1913)
Lyon, George 4 (12 April 1858 20 September 1938)
Lyon, Joseph 28 (15 July 1834 7 April 1913)
Lyon, Mary 38 (3 February 1824 22 August 1892)

In Charles' history it states,

...an ox team was secured and the trek across the plains begun. Charles was 14 yrs. of age at this time. Captain Miller, who was the company leader, told them that everyone would have to walk since there was no room for them to ride. This meant that Charles and his grandparents would have to do the same. There were 665 members and 65 wagons in the company. Charles' grandparents were 63 and 67 years old at the time they crossed the plains. There were 12 other passengers and their possessions besides his family and what they were taking, hence all walked most of the way. While crossing the plains, the company buried 28 people between Aug. 8th and Oct. 12th. When they reached Parley's canyon on Oct. 15th they rested for one day and then journeyed on, arriving in Salt Lake City on Oct. 17, 1862. This was their temporary home for a while.

Later on he (Charles) built a house of willows for his grandparents, who were very happy to have a bed of willows and thistles. Charles and his grandfather made a living by getting wood from the canyon and hauling it into Salt Lake City. There they traded the wood for the food and clothing they needed. A trip of this kind took from one to two days and in winter often it was so cold their clothes would freeze to their bodies after fording streams and working hard to get the logs out.

By the 1870 Census it shows William and Mary residing in Hyde Park, Cache County, Utah.

William died on June 9, 1878, aged 85 years, and was buried in in Hyde Park, Utah.
Mary died on May 4, 1873, aged 77 years, and was buried in Hyde Park, Utah.


William's Ordinances Complete
Baptism - 2 January 1849
Confirmation - 2 January 1849
Initiatory - 13 December 1865, Endowment House
Endowment - 13 December 1865, Endowment House
Sealing to Parents - 23 February 1952, Logan Utah Temple
Sealing to Spouse - 13 December 1865, Endowment House


Mary's Ordinances Complete
Baptism - 5 December 1848
Confirmation - 5 December 1848
Initiatory - 1 December 1865
Endowment - 13 December 1865, Endowment House
Sealing to Parents - 30 June 1960, Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
Sealing to Spouse - 13 December 1865, Endowment House




***To see the purpose of starting this blog, please click here.*** 

John Pinnock Thirkell (1814-1884) and Mary Baynes Brown (1815-1881)

John and Mary Thirkell, my great great great great grandparents through Grandma Dean, on her fathers maternal side. I'm not sure why I chose to do this couple next. I had intended to do one on the Maughans, perhaps Peter Maughan, who settled Cache Valley, or his son, Willam H. Maughan who was the first bishop. For some reason though, things gravitated toward the Thirkell's, whom I knew absolutely nothing about.

It just felt right. Once I started reading the history, like always, it was just right.

Honestly, I do not really have any rhyme or reason to who I write about, and when. I do cycle through each of my grandparents lines in the same order (Geniel, Byron, Leon, LuDean), otherwise there is no order. Might be through their maternal side, might be through their paternal side. I just go with where I am lead.

Sometimes I think that I should start with the oldest ancestor in that line and move closer to me, or vice versa, just to keep it in order (and honestly it would probably be simpler for me, and make more sense for those that follow this blog), but something stops me from doing this. It may sound corny, but when I write each post, I feel like I was guided to do that particular one. When I am done, I know I was guided to them. If I go in order, it seems that I will ... miss something. I know that sounds odd, but do not know how else to explain.

Someone once said to me that our ancestors want us to read and know about them. Since starting this project, I have come to firmly believe this. I feel that things have been opened and showed to me, that otherwise may not have been. I feel that after I clean their grave and stand and talk to them, they are there. They hear me. I just wish I could hear them ... clearer. 

I guess because it is just habit, usually the first thing I say when I am cleaning the grave, is to introduce myself. Then I feel completely silly because they know who I am. I have no doubt each one would call me by name and give me a giant hug as I walked up to them and their grave site, even without any introduction. I ask them questions. Every time I ask them if they could tell me anything, what would it be? What stories would they share with me about their selves and their families? Always, always, I ask them to help me in my search.

Each time I go to the Richmond Cemetery, I stop and talk to Grandma and Grandpa Webb. Mostly Grandma. I know she would have LOVED this project. And not just the Hymas' or Webb's, but my Glover side as well. I tell her about what and who I'm working on and things I have learned or found. A few days ago, I posted on Facebook about how I have really missed her since working on this because I knew she would love it. But like my mom said, yes she would, but she is probably helping me. I do believe this. Not that it is only her, or the particular ancestor I am working, helping me, I believe it is a multitude of them, at various times, that are helping.

There are things I have found, that are not in their histories. For example, this particular history, in other stories and memoirs that have been written and posted there is no mention of financial hardships in England. However, I have found documentation showing this to be the case (it is discussed and cited below in the personal history). Am I really the only one that has searched in that direction? Probably not. For some reason, it just wasn't the time to have that piece of information revealed.

During the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference, April 1999, Dennis B. Neuenschwander of the First Quorum of the Seventy discusses doing genealogy and building a bridge in the talk, Bridges and Eternal Keepsakes. After talking about how we each have intangible keepsakes or momentos from our ancestors, that often include stories, histories or traditions, he states "These eternal keepsakes also form a bridge between past and future and bind generations together in ways that no other keepsake can." He goes on to say, "Knowledge of our ancestors shapes us and instills within us values that give direction and meaning to our lives. (And that) family history research provides the emotional bridge between the generations."

In my very first post, It all started with Grandpa Sam, I reflected "So, the more I look and read, the more I want to know them. Who were these people, that got together to create the world I now know?" This is still true. Who were these people? The more I read, the more I search, sometimes in the most random direction. The above mentioned information about financial hardships was found because I was looking for information on the estate that John worked at. I was curious to see if I could find the location. I not only found the location, but found other information as well.

It is also fascinating to me how each of my family branches are so intricately entwined with the other and with the LDS church. When I started this, I did not realize (although I should have!) that I would be researching into the church's history as well. I thought it would simply be the personal histories. Yet, in researching this ancestor, I discovered the random fact of how much the church paid for the ground where the Logan Temple now stands. Who would have known!? (Yes it is discussed below!)

An Ancient Chinese Proverb says, "An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, and circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break." With this researching and looking at information, its never been more clear to me that everything happens for a reason and more importantly, everything happens in God's time. It is not always mentioned how each husband and wife met, but it is still clear that 100s of millions of things had to fall into place for them to get together. 

In the following personal histories, there is mention of a William Frederick Darley that traveled with the Thirkell's to Utah. Not only was this likely a huge help to John because he had all daughters at the time, but William later married one of those daughters. Having that link between William and his wife Jemima likely helped in more ways than we can fathom.

Everything happens for a reason and in Gods time.

Including each of my posts. Often, there are times I read something or find something, that speaks to me. Such as another ancestor, Gunild Kirstine Hansen, being a single mother of 3 for almost 33 years! Even though this was at the height of polygamy, she remained single. She brought her children to a new world, for a better life. She had nothing but her family. Or likewise, the Thirkell family, overcoming financial ruin, and insurmountable odds, to follow through with what they firmly believe in and also immigrate to a new world.

If they can overcome these things, in the 1800s, I have no excuse. If they can do it, so can I!

John and Mary Thirkell are buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery. I found them fairly easy, I had them mapped out, but I also noticed the name as I drove through the cemetery. They are near many other old grave stones. I pulled some long grass that was around the stones and then scrubbed them, talking to them the whole time. This couldn't have taken more than 10 minutes, it was a hot day and by the time I was done I was pretty sweaty. I was glad that I had had the foresight to go and get a drink from the gas station down the road first and even more glad to get back into my air conditioned car. I often thank the Lord that I did not live back then, simply because of the modern conveniences we now have.

There is a tall, old headstone that has John and Mary listed on the west side, and William and Jemima on the south side. Additionally, John and Willam have a newer monument that has been set up just for them. It tells a short history of their accomplishments (picture below). According to cemetery records, John, Mary, William and Jemima are buried next to each other, forming a square. After reading their history, you will see how close they were. Their burial plots (and singular headstone) continues this closeness in death as well. A true testament to all how important family is. 

John Pinnock Thirkell Personal History

John Pinock Thirkell was born the seventeenth of July, 1814, at Cranbrook, Kent, England, the son of Jemima Chantler and Nathan Pinnock Thirkell, the third of seventeen children, thirteen of whom grew to maturity. The name Pinnock came from a relative who went to Australia. He and his wife had no children, so they offered to leave their fortune to all of those named Pinnock after him. Many of the children were given the name, but no inheritance came to any of them. 

John's father, Nathan was a game keeper (2017: gamekeeper would be similar to what we would call a game warden or conservation officer. His job was to protect the wildlife of the estate from poachers.). This occupation at that time was very dangerous. Two sons, George and Henry, had been killed while occupied as gamekeepers; yet John started working with his father at the age of seventeen. One time when John and his father heard poachers in the forest, they called to them to come out of hiding. As two of them appeared, one of them shot John in the leg. It was at close range, and cloth from his trousers went into the wound with the shot, causing a great deal of trouble. John limped, and in later years, had to use crutches. On other occasions, John had a finger and eye injured by poachers. The eye was taken out, scraped and returned to the socket and he had good eyesight afterwards.

When John was twenty-one, he went to the north of England to be gamekeeper for Squire Oswald Eaton. His fame as a gamekeeper had gone before him, and the people, fearing that the pheasants would become too numerous and eat their grain, did not want him to come. When John took over as gamekeeper, he trapped rabbits which had been destroying their crops. On seeing his interest in the welfare of the country, people welcomed him into the vicinity.

While in Northern England, John met Mary Brown, daughter of William Brown and Sarah Baynes. The Baynes were textile designers and weavers. Mary was born the thirtieth of March, 1815, at Hutton Bushel, Yorkshire, England. John and Mary were married the twenty-first of September, 1836. Two children were born to them at Hutton Bushel, Sarah Ann being born the eighteenth of September, 1837, and Jemima born the eleventh of November, 1841.

(2017: I have found documentation showing that the Thirkell's had financial problems during this time. This information is according to the book The Bankrupt Directory; Being a Complete Register of All the Bankrupts from Dec. 1820 to Apr. 1843 compiled by George Elwick. The book was published in 1843. The original is found in The British Library and was digitized Aug 13, 2015. The Preface states that "The Bankrupt Directory will supersede the labor of traversing though other more elaborate publications ... by supplying an immediate and easy reference to the essential information so often required by Bankers, Merchants, Traders, Solicitors, and others: and may serve as a beacon to guide them in their future transactions." So this is essentially a old-fashioned way to credit check. In this book, it is listed "Thirkell John Pinnock, Cranbrook, Kent, farmer, July 12, 1842"

I was also able to find documentation of the charge in the London Gazette. Printing was July 12, 1842 and mentions John in the following,

WHEREAS a Fiat in Bankruptcy is awarded and issued forth against John Pinnock Thirkell, of Cranbrook, in the county of Kent, Farmer, Dealer and Chapman, and he being declared a bankrupt is hereby rerender himself to the Commissioners in the said Fiat named, or the major part of them, on the 25th day of July instant, at two of the clock in the afternoon, and on the 23d day of August next, at twelve o'clock at noon, at the Guildhall of the city of Canterbury, and make n full discovery and disclosure of his estate and effects; when and where the creditors are to come prepared to prove their debts, and at the first sitting to choose assignees, and at the last sitting the said bankrupt is required to finish bis examination, and the creditors are to assent to or dissent from the allowance of his certificate. All persons indebted to the said bankrupt, or that have any of his effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to whom the Commissioners shall appoint, but give notice to Mr. Bartlett, No. 9, Beck-street, Regent-street, London, Solicitor.)

John moved with his family to Northampton, where he was gamekeeper for the Earl of Cardegan. Here three more children were born, Caroline the seventeenth of February, 1844, at Eberston; Mary Agnes, the twenty-eighth of April, 1847, at Glaspshorne; and Rebecca, the twenty-eighth of August, 1852, at Brigstock Parks. An old account book used by John at this time is in possession of the family. "The Charge of the Six Hundred" was written of the soldiers that the Earl of Cardegan financed for the King of England.

(2017: James Thomas Brudenell, was the 7th Earl of Cardigan. Earl at the time John would have been gamekeeper. Through my research I have found that he worked at Deene Park near Corby. They do have a website dedicated to Deene Park. The Deene Park Facebook page has beautiful pictures of the gardens and is frequently updated.

In another account, it says that John was shot in the leg by poachers, also mentioned above. However, the alternate account goes on to say that the Earl visited John while he was recovering and gave him a large sum of money as compensation. Once he was better as could be, the Earl commissioned a painter to paint his portrait that hung in the lodge.

{7/27/2017} When I started this edit, I did not have definitive proof that John worked at Deene Park. While researching, I found that there had been a book made from John's daughter Sarah Ann Thirkell Pool's journal, titled, "But One Husband: The Truth about Mormon History by a Woman Who Lived It". I have read the first several chapters, but not the entire book yet. In the beginning of this book, she does confirm that the place John was employed was Deene Park. So, with this confirmation, I took a shot in the dark and sent an email to the listed email from the Deene Park website last week. I explained who I am, and what I am doing as far as this blog. I told them the information I had about John and asked if they had any documentation or anything they may be willing to share. I figured worst case scenario I would get a no, or just simply no reply. I really did not get my hopes up.

Today I was so excited to see a reply! Deene Park is currently owned by Robert and Charlotte Brudenell and the reply came directly from Mrs. Brudenell. The email I had reached out to was info@deenepark.com, however the reply came from Mrs Brudenell's personal email. I am unsure if this email is public info, so I will not include her direct email address.

Her response was as follows:

Dear Holly
What a interesting research you have done and I am so impressed that you have managed to dig out what you have.Very, very sadly we do not have records from about 1800 to around 1900. The 7th Earl of Cardigan’s beautiful wife and merry and profligate widow for 48 years was not much of a custodian and I suspect that the records were either destroyed or not kept at all. Horrid for you and really rotten for us as we are constantly asked if we have them!
If, by some miracle, I do come across anything I would be delighted to let you know.
With many thanks 

Charlotte Brudenell

Deene Park
Corby
Northants
NN17 3EW

Sad! However I was absolutely thrilled she took the time to reply. I did find information that her husband's parents, Edmund Brudenell and Marian Brudenell were responsible for restoring Deene Park to its current grandeur.)

One day John encountered a local L.D.S. Elder cutting timber. This man told him about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Elder talked with him a long time, quoting and explaining scripture from the Bible to him. When John arrived home, he looked in the Bible for these passages of scripture and was surprised that he had not understood them before. John prayed that he might know whether or not they were true. Shortly after this incident he became seriously ill; never before nor after had he known such illness. His wife suggested that the Elders be called. They came and administered to him, and he was healed. He felt that his prayer had been answered. Following this event the Elders met often with the Thirkell family.

Believing strongly in the new religion, John joined the Church and was baptized the sixth of October, 1850, by John Kimber and confirmed by Thomas Smart on the twentieth of October, 1850. Mary, his wife, was baptized the twenty-second of October by John Kimber and confirmed the twenty-eighth of October, 1850 by Thomas Smart. Two children, Sarah Ann and Jemima, were baptized the twenty-eighth of December, 1850, by Thomas Smart. John's brother, Henry, was baptized the eighteenth of October, 1851. 

The parish minister objected to the Thirkell family joining the “Mormon Church” and complained to the Earl so forcefully that the Earl gave John notice to leave his employ in 1 month. A neighbor, Robin Brown, gave the family shelter until John found another job. After a short time John did find another job as gamekeeper for a Mr. Goodman at the Brigstock Lodge. (2017: Most likely now named the Brigstock Manor House.)

At a branch meeting, John prophesied that he and his family would go to Utah and that they would experience hunger. The people were amazed that he would consider going to America. Just before sailing to America John and Mary heard about polygamy; Mary wanted none of that and objected to their going; but John knew the Gospel was true and wanted to go to America; therefore he promised that he would not enter into plural marriage. This promise he faithfully kept.

John and Mary with their 5 daughters, Sarah Ann (15), Jemima (11), Caroline (9), Mary Agnes (6) and Rebecca (6 months), sailed from Liverpool. While on board the ship Ellen Maria, a fire broke out, causing much excitement among the passengers. Shortly after the fire was controlled, they found themselves stranded on a sand bar. Here they remained for 2-3 days while a strong wind and high waves rocked the ship until it was thought that they would never reach America. John assisted the crewmen in lowering the anchor and drawing in the sails. He was a very strong man and helped while the wind whipped him from side to side. After many hard and anxious hours the men succeeded in freeing the ship, which was still in good condition to continue the voyage. When John boarded the ship, he brought with him a large teakettle and a bottle of gin. The gin was for treating the cook so that he would be able to get hot water while on the voyage. He shared the water with others on the boat and became known as the big man with the big teakettle.

After a strenuous voyage with its many obstacles conquered, they arrived at New Orleans on the seventh of March, 1853. As soon as the landing formalities were attended to, they proceeded up the Mississippi River to Keokuk, Iowa, where they encountered wind storms, floods and rain, all of which added to the delay.

John Thirkell had prepared for the trip across the plains by sending money ahead to buy supplies. He had sent enough to purchase three oxen and one and one-half wagons; the other oxen and one-half wagon was owned by a Mr. Wilson. They also purchased two milch cows.

The Thirkell family was assigned to travel with the Jacob Gates Company, and John was chosen to be a captain of ten. About this time a young man William Frederick Darley, arrived from England and wanted to travel to Salt Lake Valley with the Saints. He met John Thirkell and asked if he could work and travel to the valley with him. Since John Thirkell liked the young man. He accepted his offer, and they traveled across the plains together.

The supplies were loaded into the wagons, and early in June, they started the long trek toward the West. As the journey progressed, one of the milch cows was used for food; but they still had one left to supply milk and butter for the family and others of the company. The cream was put into a container and hung on the back of the wagon so that the swing and sway of the wagon churned the cream to butter. The cow they had saved for milking had twin calves one of which was traded to a settler for supplies. Because its mother kept returning to it, they killed the other calf and hung its hide on the rear of a wagon; thereafter the mother followed along without further trouble.

The Indians on numerous occasions visited the company but were friendly, because John's attitude was to feed rather than fight them.

Two of the daughters became very ill and died; Rebecca, one year old, the third of August, and Mary Agnes, six years old, the tenth of August, 1853. The family possessions had been packed into five large boxes; two of these were emptied and used as coffins for burying the children.

After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on the twenty-sixth of September, 1853, they were advised by President Brigham Young to continue on to Grantsville; this meant twenty-seven more long miles for the weary Saints to travel.

The family settled in Grantsville, living in tents and the wagons. William Frederick helped them build a two-room log house; then he left to work in the salt plant. About two years later William Frederick returned and help John Thirkell clear another ten acres of land of greasewood. On this land they planted grain, but the grasshoppers were numerous; consequently their crop was very poor. They had no wheat bread for three months; only bread made from musty corn. Their grain ripened the first in town because they had no irrigation water for it, and the lack of water forced early ripening. Of course John divided his wheat with every one else and had only a pan full left for his family after it had been ground in a coffee mill.

While the family lived in Grantsville, John became water master. Sarah Ann, the eldest daughter, taught school in one of the rooms in their little log home. The house was built inside the fort and that winter a high wall was built around the fort. This wall had four doors, each of which had to be guarded. The cattle were kept inside of the wall at night.

Two more daughters were born to John and Mary while they lived in Grantsville; Emily Alice, the sixteenth of August, 1854, and Henrietta, the twenty-second of October, 1857. The latter one died the twenty-second of March, 1861, in Wellsville, Utah.

In 1857 a group left Grantsville to go north to settle in a new location called Cache Valley. John Thirkell with William Frederick Darley and his wife Jemima Thirkell accompanied this group. Mary Thirkell and four daughters stayed in Grantsville, the eldest daughter Sarah Ann had married John Pool.

After the company arrived in Cache Valley, John and William Frederick cleared some land and planted grain. In the fall they harvested a good crop, more than they could take with them when they returned to Grantsville for the winter. In anticipation of this situation, William Frederick built a log room in which to store the surplus.

While in Grantsville in 1858, they were directed to go to the south of Utah, because the United States soldiers were coming. They lived in the same wagons in which they had crossed the plains, but the tent had been used to make trousers for William Frederick, so they had none for this trip.

After the soldier scare was over, the Thirkell and Darley families moved to Weber Bottoms, north of Ogden, where they lived during the winter. When spring arrived, they moved to Wellsville, hoping to get the grain that had been left there. While traveling through Sardine Canyon, they saw a band of Indians. Quickly a corral was made of the wagons, and the oxen were driven into the center; but John Thirkell ordered the men not to shoot the Indians. The leader of the Indians, Weber Jack, recognized John, because they had seen and talked with each other in Grantsville while John was threshing wheat for a Mr. Martindale. The Indian called John "Marty Wheat." Because these two had been good friends in Grantsville, the settlers and Indians parted on friendly terms.

On reaching Wellsville they found the grain unmolested and a volunteer crop growing on the land from which it had been harvested the year before. They planted more crops and built more log houses. William Frederick Darley also built another room; this time on the Thirkell homestead. Then they moved the first room, built for the wheat in 1857, near the new one, leaving a space between which later was closed in to make a third room. The homes were built inside the fort with dirt roof and dirt floors. The beds were laid on the floor with straw underneath to keep the bedding clean.

Recreation in the little village in those days, or nights as the case may be, was to meet together and husk corn for drying or to peel squash for making pies and for baking.

On July fourth 1857, their first summer in the Valley, a meeting was held in the bowery. Many were discouraged because their fields of wheat had recently been frozen black while in the boot; and, during the winter of 1855-56, hundreds of cattle had died of starvation and cold. John Thirkell, filled with the Spirit, stood up and, pointing northeast toward where Logan now is, prophesied* that some day a Temple would be built on the east bench. He said that he could see it and many houses and thousands of people in them. He told the people to press on, be diligent, and faithful and that God would temper the elements for their good and that Cache Valley would be a fruitful land, a place to be desired.

* This prophecy is the first recorded mention of a temple to be built in Cache Valley. It is to be found in "The History of the L.D.S. Temple in Logan. Utah" by Larkin; and in "The History of a Valley" by Joel Ricks and the Centennial Commission.

Although it was frozen, a fair crop of wheat was harvested that fall (1857); and, as soon as the troubles with the United States Soldiers were settled, people did come to the Valley in great numbers.

John Thirkell was six feet tall and well built (One account says his nick name was "Tall John"); his arms were long, his skin clear, and his eyes and hair brown. His teeth were so strong he could swing by them, and they were still good until his death at age seventy. After coming to Utah he still wore the short buckskin breeches, as they were called, that he had worn as a gamekeeper in England. When dried and shrunken after the rains and the washings, they were halfway up to his knees. It was in this attire that he stood, pointing to the northeast of Wellsville, or toward Logan, when he made the above prophecy. Prophecy comes not by the will of man but only of God. This prophecy is on record in the Temple history in the Logan Temple and an account of it was published in the Improvement Era in May, 1959 (p331).

One day while still living in Grantsville, a man asked John why he still wore the short buckskin pants, his answer was, "For the same reason any man wears pants."

The first real bricks made in Cache Valley were made by John Thirkell and used to build an addition onto his home as shown in the picture. The first apples and black native currants in the valley were brought by ox team from the Salt Lake Valley by John Thirkell. There were twenty apples on the trees when President Brigham Young visited the valley. Two apples were given to him for tithing.

John Thirkell served as a Minuteman to fight the Indians, and also helped build the roads and public buildings in his vicinity.

Emily Alice and Lydia Baugh Larsen
John Thirkell home about 1910

The church membership records of the Thirkell family were received from Grantsville in April, 1857. John Thirkell was ordained a Priest in England in 1851, and a High Priest in Wellsville on the nineteenth of September, 1869. By counsel from the Latter-day Saint Church Authorities to the early Saints, he was rebaptized the sixth of July, 1875, by Thomas Leavitt and reconfirmed the same day by John Jardine.

(2017: I found a couple master thesis' that reference John's prophecy about Logan Temple. The first one is The Geographical Analysis of Mormon Temple Sites in Utah by Garth R. Liston from BYU, 1992. Starting on page 82 it talks about the geography of Cache Valley. On page 85 it talks of John's prophecy and William H. Maughan's reference later. On page 92, Mr Liston goes on to say,

From scant church historical documents and other records the Logan Temple site was publicly alluded to at least two times by different members of the church, before the site was actually chosen. On both of these occasions, those who proclaimed a temple site would be located in Logan were said to have declared such under inspiration of God. It is unknown whether the second individual, Wilford Woodruff, to declare this message, was aware of the previous prophecy of John Thirkill. As John Thirkill is depicted as a relatively obscure church member, and communication and recording means were very rudimentary during that time period, it seems probable woodruff was uninformed to Thirkill's earlier temple site announcement. Even less is known why Brigham Young chose the temple site, other than Young and other church leaders chose it on May 17, 1877. It would have been obvious to Young and other leaders, as it is to most people today, that the Logan Temple site is well suited to a large religious structure. Visibility of the temple site excellent, the site is large enough and geologically stable for a considerable building, and the site and temple constitute the central monument and theme of Cache Valley. Whether approaching Cache Valley from north, south, east, or west, the temple site, probably draws the attention of most visitors to the valley.

The second thesis is titled The History of the L.D.S Temple in Logan, Utah by Melvin A. Larkin from USU, 1954. In this thesis, it is stated that the prophecy was indeed made on July 4, 1857, just one year after the first settlement in Cache Valley (p.14). Official announcement for the temple was made on Oct 8, 1876, however there had been mentions by Brigham Young and other apostles (Franklin D Richards included) that the Logan Temple would be built. On May 17, 1877 the temple site was decided on and the ground was dedicated.

As an interesting side note, according to documentation in this thesis, dedication of the temple site was on May 1877, however the church did not actually purchase the ground until May 1878. They started construction before they actually owned the ground haha! Purchase price was $300, but was only for 6 of the 8 lots in that block. The other two lots, the southwest and northwest portion of what we now know as the current temple grounds, were owned privately. The northwest was deeded to the church Oct 1880, and the southwest in October 1884. It does not mention pricing associated with this (p.23).

I wonder how similar the valley is today compared to what he saw in his vision.)

John Pinnock Thirkell died 10 April 1884 in aged 69 years, 8 months, & 23 days and is buried in the Wellsville City Cemetery.

Monument in Wellsville City Cemetery

Monument engraving says,

"John Thirkell
Birth: Jul. 17, 1814 Cranbrook, Kent, England 

Death: Apr. 10, 1884 Wellsville, Cache, Utah, USA

Married Mary Baynes Brown-born March 30 1815, died Dec 7 1881. Children: Sarah, Jemima, Caroline, Mary, Rebecca, Emily & Henrietta

John & his family joined the LDS Church in England, & there prophesied that they would go to Utah & experience hunger. His prophecy was fulfilled soon after they arrived in Utah. After a bitter winter, discouraged saints ready to leave the Cache Valley met on the 4th of July, 1857, at the Wellsville Bowery. John stood pointing to the Logan East Bench & prophesied that a temple would be built there among many homes. He told the people to be steadfast & God would temper the elements in the valley. This is the first recorded vision of this temple, & he lived to see the prophecy fulfilled. He made the first real bricks in Cache Valley, using them for an addition to his home. The first apples & black native currants were brought to the valley by John. When Brigham Young visited, the trees had twenty apples, two of which were given for tithing."

John's Ordinances CompleteBaptism - 6 October 1850
Confirmation - 6 October 1850
Initiatory - 21 September 1861 Endowment House
Endowment - 21 September 1861 Endowment House
Sealing to Parents - 22 March 1918 Logan Utah Temple
Sealing to Spouse - 21 September 1861 Endowment House - Mary Baynes Brown

(2017: The spouses below are listed in Family Search. There is no marriage date for either. There is a document that shows a child, Alfred Amos Thirkell, was christened. The father is listed as John Pinnock Thirkell, mother Judith. This was in 1823 - our John would have been 9 years old. John's father, Nathan had a brother named John Pinnick. This is actually who is referenced in this documentation. Why they were sealed, I do not know.

There is no documentation for Margaret Cook. When I say no documentation, I mean nothing. The only thing listed for her is that she was sealed to John on 1 May 1873. Although, it is interesting to note that Mary's grandmothers maiden name was Cook. Perhaps that is where the information has crossed?)

Sealing to Spouse - 1 May 1873 Endowment House - Margaret Cook
Sealing to Spouse - 19 May 2016 Brigham City Utah Temple - Judith

Mary Brown's Personal History 

Mary was born on 30 March 1815 at Hutton Bushel, Yorkshire, England to Sarah Baynes and William Cook Brown. Her family was well established and had been blessed with many comforts of life, providing Mary with abundant opportunities. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many lovely clothes for her daughters. Her Baynes grandparents were designers and weavers of fabric, so Mary always had fine material available to sew. When she came to Utah she brought two large boxes of fabric with her; however, she ended up trading much of it for food rather than making it into clothes for her daughters.

Mary was a large woman and at times weighed as much as 200 pounds. Her hair and eyes were a very dark brown. She inherited a respiratory problem from her Cook grandparents and so suffered with asthma much of her life and died with it at age 66. Even though she had been used to an easier life in England, she was a very resourceful pioneer and seemed able to endure anything that came along. She was a loving mother and wife and did not complain about anything. However, when she heard the church was practicing polygamy, she told her husband she did not want to go to Zion. He promised her that if she would go that he would not enter into that practice and he never broke the promise.

Mary married John Pinock Thirkell. He was a gamekeeper for Squire Oswald Eaton in Yorkshire when Mary met him. They were married on 21 September 1836. John was born on 18 July 1814 in in Cranbrook, Kent, England to Jemima Chantler and Nathan Pinock Thirkell. His father was also a gamekeeper.

Two children were born in Hutton Bushel--Sarah Ann on 18 September 1837 and Jemima on 11 November 1841.

John moved his family to Northampton where he was gamekeeper for the Earl of Cardigan. It was here that Mary and John met the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mary was baptized on the 22 October 1850 by Thomas Smart. Following the conversion and baptism of John and Mary, the Earl of Cardigan became angry at their joining that church and fired John from his job. However, soon John had a job with a Mr. Goodman where he worked as a gamekeeper until they emigrated to Zion.

Mary had three more children born in Northampton. They were Caroline born on 17 February 1844, Mary Agnes born 28 April 1847, and Rebecca born 28 August 1852.

The Thirkell family left England for America on the Ellen Maria ship on 1 February 1853. The voyage was eventful because of the ship catching on fire out in the middle of the ocean. They were able to get the fire out, however, and complete the trip. They arrived in New Orleans on 7 March 1853. They went up the Mississippi River to Iowa and there prepared to go on to Utah. John had sent money ahead to purchase two wagons and teams of oxen. John could only drive the one team and had five daughters with no sons, so he had William Frederick Darley drive a team for him. William was also a recent convert from England, and was alone and wanted company to travel with.

The Thirkell family was assigned to travel with the Jacob Gates company. They left Iowa in June and arrived in Salt Lake City on 26 September 1853. However, the trip was very difficult and two of Mary's daughters died while they were crossing the plains. Her baby, Rebecca, died first on 3 August 1853, and a week later Mary Agnes died on 10 August 1853. Mary took the fabric from two boxes so they could be used for coffins for her children.

They arrived in Salt Lake City only to be sent right on another twenty miles to Grantsville to help settle that area.

Life in Grantsville was very difficult. Lumber was hard to come by for building and water was scarce. The grasshoppers ate most of their crops. They went months without any flour. A crop of wheat came earlier to them than anyone in Grantsville one year, so Mary shared the wheat with all. She ended up with only one pan of flour from the harvest.

Two more children were born to Mary and John in Gransville: Emily Alice on 16 August 1854 and Henrietta born on 22 October 1857.

In the spring of 1858 the Utah War was on and Mary and her family were told to leave and move south. They did so, and ended up living in their wagon that summer. Her daughter, Jemima, had married William Frederick the year before. William and Jemima traveled south with them. Jemima's first baby was born in the wagon while they were in the Sandy area. Jemima had a gathered breast and was unable to nurse her baby, so Mary nursed the new baby, along with Henrietta, until Jemima was able to nurse her son.

In the fall Brigham Young told the people they could return home. However, the two families moved to Weber Bottoms and stayed there rather than going to Grantsville. John and William had been to Cache Valley the year before and were impressed with that area. They had planted a crop of wheat there. John and William left the families to go to Cache Valley and harvest the crop. It was a big harvest, so they left some of it in the valley and brought some back to use over the winter. The next summer John and William returned to Cache alley to plant another crop and build houses for them to move into. They returned to Weber Bottoms for the winter and in the early spring of 1860 they moved to Wellsvillle to help settle that area.

In Wellsville Mary lost a third child. Her baby, Henrietta, died at age four on the 22 March 1861.

When Mary's grandparents Brown passed away, Mary was sent a large sum of money they had left for her. This was helpful in their efforts to survive and build up this settlement in Wellsville. Both Mary and John worked hard and were successful farmers, raising several different crops. They were the first to plant apple trees in that area. They enjoyed living in Cache Valley and stayed there until their death. Mary died first on 7 December 1881 in Wellsville and was buried in the Wellsville Cemetery. Her husband died only a few years later on 10 April 1884.


Mary's Ordinances Complete
Baptism - 22 October 1850
Confirmation - 27 October 1850
Initiatory - 21 September 1861 Endowment House
Endowment - 21 September 1861 Endowment House
Sealing to Parents - 22 March 1918 Logan Utah Temple
Sealing to Spouse - 21 September 1861 Endowment House

***To see the purpose of starting this blog, please click here.***