Robinson Family- Oregon
10 years ago
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Forbush Family Info
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=ldshistorical&id=I117428
Thomas B Graham
Her great-grandfather Thomas B. Graham lived in this Fort Union after crossing the plains in 1848. His wife was Sarah Ann McCroy, who died and was buried on the plains in Iowa with their new newborn babe, after being forced out of Nauvoo by mobs. His son John Duren Graham was about 17 at that time. He crossed the plains 3 times helping the saints get to the new Zion in the Salt Lake Valley. His son Hyrum Henry Graham was born Oct. 23, l867 in Union. (The father of Mary
Alice, the mother of Carol Emma).
Thomas Graham (born 1807) and family were in the Pioneer Company that came in 1948. President Young organized the saints in 3 companies. 1st Company led by Brigham Young with 1229 souls, 2nd Company lead by Heber C. Kimball with 662 souls , and 3rd Company lead by Willards with 526 souls.
Some interesting notes about that company are:
3rd Company was comprised of: 526 white people
24 Negroes 169 wagons
50 horses 20 mules
369 sheep 63 pigs
5 cats 170 chickens
4 turkeys 515 oxen
426 cows and loose cattle 4 turkeys
7 duck 5 doves
This division left Winter Quarters, Elkhorn River, July 10, 1848, arriving in Oct 19, 1848.
These people were strong a hardy and very determined. I guess this determined attitude trickled on down to Mom. She is head-strong, wanting what she wanted!
Anyway, on this map of the Fort, we can see just where John Graham’s family lived, as well as his father Thomas B. Graham. It is amazing to see Union now, the Fort being in the creek bed, with literally no sign of the original! Even the Burgon House, Union School, Brimhall house is a thing of the past.
1918 was the year of the terrible and devasting flu that killed so many people. Mary Alice was helping her grandmother take care of so many sick people. She was pregnant with Carol Emma. Mary Alice eventually took sick. She got so sick that all around her took her for dead. As they were putting the sheet over her face, a TEAR came from her eye. She was alive! Carol Emma was born one month later. Her hair was dark, almost black with a strick of gray on both sides of her head! What a miracle that she would evolve out of such hard times!
http://www.happynana.org/?page_id=19
Alice, the mother of Carol Emma).
Thomas Graham (born 1807) and family were in the Pioneer Company that came in 1948. President Young organized the saints in 3 companies. 1st Company led by Brigham Young with 1229 souls, 2nd Company lead by Heber C. Kimball with 662 souls , and 3rd Company lead by Willards with 526 souls.
Some interesting notes about that company are:
3rd Company was comprised of: 526 white people
24 Negroes 169 wagons
50 horses 20 mules
369 sheep 63 pigs
5 cats 170 chickens
4 turkeys 515 oxen
426 cows and loose cattle 4 turkeys
7 duck 5 doves
This division left Winter Quarters, Elkhorn River, July 10, 1848, arriving in Oct 19, 1848.
These people were strong a hardy and very determined. I guess this determined attitude trickled on down to Mom. She is head-strong, wanting what she wanted!
Anyway, on this map of the Fort, we can see just where John Graham’s family lived, as well as his father Thomas B. Graham. It is amazing to see Union now, the Fort being in the creek bed, with literally no sign of the original! Even the Burgon House, Union School, Brimhall house is a thing of the past.
1918 was the year of the terrible and devasting flu that killed so many people. Mary Alice was helping her grandmother take care of so many sick people. She was pregnant with Carol Emma. Mary Alice eventually took sick. She got so sick that all around her took her for dead. As they were putting the sheet over her face, a TEAR came from her eye. She was alive! Carol Emma was born one month later. Her hair was dark, almost black with a strick of gray on both sides of her head! What a miracle that she would evolve out of such hard times!
http://www.happynana.org/?page_id=19
Maria Ann Gough
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Uintah_History&CISOPTR=3222
"family" photo
"family" photo
More on Richard Carlisle
Richard Carlisle
Richard Carlisle was born in the town of Riseholm, Lincolnshire, England, April 16, 1798, of goodly parents. He was the son of Thomas Jr. and Elizabeth Taylor Carlisle. Thomas Jr. was born in Millingham, Lincolnshire, England, November 19, 1754, and Elizabeth Taylor at Messingham, Lincolnshire, England on November 10, 1759. His paternal grandparents were Thomas Sr. and Mary Hollingworth Carlisle.
Riseholm, a St. Mary’s Parish, in the wapentake of Lawress, parts of Lindsey Union, and County of Lincolnshire. It is two and one half miles north by east from Lincoln; containing the extra-parochial district of Grainge de Ligne, sixty-two inhabitants.
How he spent his early life is not known, nor do we know how he and Jane Fields chanced to meet. But we do know that it was love at first sight with them both. Jane being a few years his senior, made it rather difficult for them to marry just at the time of his proposal, so he asked her if she would wait five years for him. She said, “Why certainly I will wait, and not only five but ten years, Richard, if you wish it.”
They were married June 27, 1822, at Willingham when he was twenty-four years old and she was twenty-seven. Jane was the daughter of Matthew Fields and Dinah Fish and was born at Millingham, Lincolnshire, England.
To them were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, among them a set of triplets. Triplets being somewhat unusual, they received many beautiful presents. The Queen of England sent them quite an amount of money. The children’s names in order of birth Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823; Mary, September 10, 1824; Joseph, July 21, 1826; Benjamin, May 10, 1828; Matthew, Richard and Jane (Triplets) born June 3, 1829; Martha, March 6, 1831; John, February 9, 1833; Alice, October 9, 1835; and Richard Matthew, June 21, 1840. This was a large family to support and care for, but five of them were called back as infants or young children. Benjamin was only a few months old when he died. Two of the triplets, Matthew and Jane, died at four months old, and Richard died at five years old. Martha was also five years old when she died. This was indeed a great sorrow to them, but they were certainly grateful for the six left in their care.
Richard worked in the Lace Mills of Nottingham for a few years, but as his boys grew older, he could see that this was not place for them. Returning to Lincolnshire, he was employed as a farmer and gamekeeper for a very wealthy English Lord, a brother to Sir Robert Peal of the English Parliament. This gave him a much better chance to give the children a little schooling, which was very hard to obtain at that time.
Richard and Jane were very refined and noble characters, so when in 1849, they heard the Gospel preached by Joseph Edward Taylor, they found a plan of life, which they had been looking for. They readily accepted the truth and were baptized, Richard on July 30, and she on August 11, 1849. Their son Thomas was baptized on July 30, 1849, with his father. Joseph, September 16, 1849; John November 5,1849; Alice November 16, 1849, and Mary, was baptized 26 Apr 1850. Richard Matthew was baptized in the Church, but no date was given.
A branch of the Church was organized and he was appointed presiding Elder. He kept an open house for the Elders who came that way.
Since joining the Church, they had a great desire to emigrate to Zion in America, and started to save for that purpose. This opportunity came much sooner then they had ever hoped for. With the help of two years wages donated by their eldest daughter, Mary, they were soon to start. Mary had been working as a cook for a lady not of their faith, but a very fine woman, who thought a great deal of Mary. Not long after Mary had joined the Church, this lady died and in her will she left Mary a year’s wages in advance. Then Mary, who had planning to get married, had saved a year’s wages, but when she joined the Church, the man she was to marry deserted her. She now felt that this was the most important step to take, to help her parents get the family to America.
They came across the ocean on the good ship “Ellen”, which sailed from Liverpool Monday, January 6, 1851, with J. W. Cummings as leader, and with 466 souls aboard. All the children came but Thomas Fields, the oldest son, who must have come later. This trip was a long and eventful one. The ship remained anchored for two days in the river opposite Liverpool awaiting favorable winds. Then on Wednesday it sailed for about twelve hours at a rate of seven miles an hour and at 11:00 p.m. struck a schooner during a fog. It was compelled to stop for repairs at Cardigan Bay, Wales. In few days the ship was ready to sail, but the very three weeks because unfavorable winds. Even though this seemed long, they were very grateful they were not out at sea and shipwrecked as so many were, losing their lives.
The captain became very impatient and finally started out again on January 23, 1851, but the winds were blowing the wrong direction, so the progress was very slow.
On February 1, the winds changed and they enjoyed pleasant weather and fair winds the rest of the journey. They anchored in the Mississippi River off New Orleans, making the voyage from Cardigan Bay, which is a twelve-hour sail from Liverpool, in about eight weeks, (fifty seven days).
The measles broke out among the emigrants the day they left the docks and nearly every child on board had them as well as some of the adults. Measles, at best, at home with our modern conveniences, are bad, and so it must have been terrible out on that sailing vessel that depended on favorable winds to reach their destination, and also while fighting sea sickness.
When they left the port, the presidency, James W. Cummings, Crandall Dunard, and William Mose, divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting twelve births to each division and appointed a president over each. Then those twelve divisions were divided in two and a president appointed in the steerage with a president over the whole steerage.
The second-class cabin was organized like manner. The Priesthood was also organized. A president was appointed over them to see that they attended their duties. This was a great help in preserving peace and good will, and help and comfort to the saints. During the voyage, six marriages were solemnized and one birth took place.
They rode the steamer, “Alexander Scott”, to St. Louis, paying $2.50 a piece for adults and half fare for children with all luggage included. They left New Orleans on the morning of the March 19, 1851 and landed in St. Louis March 26, after a good trip.
While in St. Louis, his wife Jane died. She did a washing for a friend who had cholera and came home that night, took sick, and died, leaving the family without a mother. This was a great sorrow to the family and such a shock to Richard who loved her so dearly. They had made such plans together, when they should reach Utah with the rest of the saints. Now he must face the journey without her to help with the rest of the family.
They stayed in St. Louis a year and worked. Then leaving Mary, who had married in St. Louis, they came to Salt Lake with the Henry Bryant and Manning Jolley, Seventh Company. Arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 15, 1852. Richard was then fifty-three years old, Joseph twenty-five, John eighteen, Alice fifteen, and Richard Jr. eleven. Mary, age twenty-seven, came on to Utah soon after.
Richard first settled in Mill Creek or Cotton Wood, as it was then called. A short time after, his son Richard Jr., in visiting in the ward, met Mrs. Marie Crook Dunsdon, widow of Thomas Dunsdon, who had also died of cholera at Council Bluffs while immigrating to Zion. On returning home Richard Jr. told his father he believed she would make a good wife. Richard immediately went to see her. They talked things over and he proposed to her. She wished a little time, saying she would go up to Salt Lake and get the advice of Brigham Young. Later Maria Dunsdon consented to be his wife, but told him she wanted to be sealed to her husband, Thomas Dunsdon. Richard said he admired her much more for being loyal to her dead husband.
In 1869, they went through the Endowment House and had their endowments and the sealing done for their dead companions. They continued to do temple work for their kindred dead. Maria proved to be a very loyal, true wife to him, and the children loved her dearly. She was a very good mid wife and spent many hours caring for the sick.
A few years later they moved to Alpine, where they lived the remainder of their lives. This was a small community surrounded by high mountains on the north and east and low foothills on the west. This town was knows as Mountainville when it was first settled in 1850, and was six miles north of American Fork, in Utah County. It was a beautiful place and on a clear day one could see the beautiful Utah Lake eight miles to the south of them.
Richard opened the first store in Alpine. He had been working on the construction of the railroad and saved money, realizing the advantages of a store, as Alpine was six miles north of the railroad, and everything had to be transported here. He took the front room of the June home and used that for his store. It was located where the church park is today, on the south end on the roadway, the house or store facing south.
Richard was stricken with rheumatism and Bright’s disease, causing him to be a great sufferer for many years. Before being crippled so badly, he took great comfort in gardening. He would make leather pads for his knees and go on his knees to free his garden of weeds, but finally had to give up work entirely.
He held many important positions in the Church. He was a great Bible reader, not being able to work. He was always pleasant and happy and passed many pleasant hours in conversing with his friends who were so very kind and thoughtful of him, calling on him at his home.
Richard Carlisle was a wonderful man and loved by all who knew him. He told his granddaughter, Martha, who lived with him for some time taking care of him while his wife Maria went out nursing, that he did not want any costly monument, a good honest life was what he wanted to be remembered by. He died April 10, 1879, in Alpine, at the age of eighty-one. He had gone to join his Jane once again. May his beautiful life be a beacon of light for all of his children. He was survived by widow, Maria, and the following children: Thomas Fields, Mary Carlisle (Healey), Joseph, John, and Richard Matthew. His daughter Alice Wilkin Freestone preceded him in death in 1868. Thomas Fields married Fanny Hocquard; Mary married John James and later James Healey; Joseph married Isabella Sharp and Sarah Ann Lord; John married Elizabeth Hocquard: Alice married David Wilkin and George Freestone; Richard Matthew married Mary Hannah Wright.
Richard Carlisle was born in the town of Riseholm, Lincolnshire, England, April 16, 1798, of goodly parents. He was the son of Thomas Jr. and Elizabeth Taylor Carlisle. Thomas Jr. was born in Millingham, Lincolnshire, England, November 19, 1754, and Elizabeth Taylor at Messingham, Lincolnshire, England on November 10, 1759. His paternal grandparents were Thomas Sr. and Mary Hollingworth Carlisle.
Riseholm, a St. Mary’s Parish, in the wapentake of Lawress, parts of Lindsey Union, and County of Lincolnshire. It is two and one half miles north by east from Lincoln; containing the extra-parochial district of Grainge de Ligne, sixty-two inhabitants.
How he spent his early life is not known, nor do we know how he and Jane Fields chanced to meet. But we do know that it was love at first sight with them both. Jane being a few years his senior, made it rather difficult for them to marry just at the time of his proposal, so he asked her if she would wait five years for him. She said, “Why certainly I will wait, and not only five but ten years, Richard, if you wish it.”
They were married June 27, 1822, at Willingham when he was twenty-four years old and she was twenty-seven. Jane was the daughter of Matthew Fields and Dinah Fish and was born at Millingham, Lincolnshire, England.
To them were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, among them a set of triplets. Triplets being somewhat unusual, they received many beautiful presents. The Queen of England sent them quite an amount of money. The children’s names in order of birth Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823; Mary, September 10, 1824; Joseph, July 21, 1826; Benjamin, May 10, 1828; Matthew, Richard and Jane (Triplets) born June 3, 1829; Martha, March 6, 1831; John, February 9, 1833; Alice, October 9, 1835; and Richard Matthew, June 21, 1840. This was a large family to support and care for, but five of them were called back as infants or young children. Benjamin was only a few months old when he died. Two of the triplets, Matthew and Jane, died at four months old, and Richard died at five years old. Martha was also five years old when she died. This was indeed a great sorrow to them, but they were certainly grateful for the six left in their care.
Richard worked in the Lace Mills of Nottingham for a few years, but as his boys grew older, he could see that this was not place for them. Returning to Lincolnshire, he was employed as a farmer and gamekeeper for a very wealthy English Lord, a brother to Sir Robert Peal of the English Parliament. This gave him a much better chance to give the children a little schooling, which was very hard to obtain at that time.
Richard and Jane were very refined and noble characters, so when in 1849, they heard the Gospel preached by Joseph Edward Taylor, they found a plan of life, which they had been looking for. They readily accepted the truth and were baptized, Richard on July 30, and she on August 11, 1849. Their son Thomas was baptized on July 30, 1849, with his father. Joseph, September 16, 1849; John November 5,1849; Alice November 16, 1849, and Mary, was baptized 26 Apr 1850. Richard Matthew was baptized in the Church, but no date was given.
A branch of the Church was organized and he was appointed presiding Elder. He kept an open house for the Elders who came that way.
Since joining the Church, they had a great desire to emigrate to Zion in America, and started to save for that purpose. This opportunity came much sooner then they had ever hoped for. With the help of two years wages donated by their eldest daughter, Mary, they were soon to start. Mary had been working as a cook for a lady not of their faith, but a very fine woman, who thought a great deal of Mary. Not long after Mary had joined the Church, this lady died and in her will she left Mary a year’s wages in advance. Then Mary, who had planning to get married, had saved a year’s wages, but when she joined the Church, the man she was to marry deserted her. She now felt that this was the most important step to take, to help her parents get the family to America.
They came across the ocean on the good ship “Ellen”, which sailed from Liverpool Monday, January 6, 1851, with J. W. Cummings as leader, and with 466 souls aboard. All the children came but Thomas Fields, the oldest son, who must have come later. This trip was a long and eventful one. The ship remained anchored for two days in the river opposite Liverpool awaiting favorable winds. Then on Wednesday it sailed for about twelve hours at a rate of seven miles an hour and at 11:00 p.m. struck a schooner during a fog. It was compelled to stop for repairs at Cardigan Bay, Wales. In few days the ship was ready to sail, but the very three weeks because unfavorable winds. Even though this seemed long, they were very grateful they were not out at sea and shipwrecked as so many were, losing their lives.
The captain became very impatient and finally started out again on January 23, 1851, but the winds were blowing the wrong direction, so the progress was very slow.
On February 1, the winds changed and they enjoyed pleasant weather and fair winds the rest of the journey. They anchored in the Mississippi River off New Orleans, making the voyage from Cardigan Bay, which is a twelve-hour sail from Liverpool, in about eight weeks, (fifty seven days).
The measles broke out among the emigrants the day they left the docks and nearly every child on board had them as well as some of the adults. Measles, at best, at home with our modern conveniences, are bad, and so it must have been terrible out on that sailing vessel that depended on favorable winds to reach their destination, and also while fighting sea sickness.
When they left the port, the presidency, James W. Cummings, Crandall Dunard, and William Mose, divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting twelve births to each division and appointed a president over each. Then those twelve divisions were divided in two and a president appointed in the steerage with a president over the whole steerage.
The second-class cabin was organized like manner. The Priesthood was also organized. A president was appointed over them to see that they attended their duties. This was a great help in preserving peace and good will, and help and comfort to the saints. During the voyage, six marriages were solemnized and one birth took place.
They rode the steamer, “Alexander Scott”, to St. Louis, paying $2.50 a piece for adults and half fare for children with all luggage included. They left New Orleans on the morning of the March 19, 1851 and landed in St. Louis March 26, after a good trip.
While in St. Louis, his wife Jane died. She did a washing for a friend who had cholera and came home that night, took sick, and died, leaving the family without a mother. This was a great sorrow to the family and such a shock to Richard who loved her so dearly. They had made such plans together, when they should reach Utah with the rest of the saints. Now he must face the journey without her to help with the rest of the family.
They stayed in St. Louis a year and worked. Then leaving Mary, who had married in St. Louis, they came to Salt Lake with the Henry Bryant and Manning Jolley, Seventh Company. Arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 15, 1852. Richard was then fifty-three years old, Joseph twenty-five, John eighteen, Alice fifteen, and Richard Jr. eleven. Mary, age twenty-seven, came on to Utah soon after.
Richard first settled in Mill Creek or Cotton Wood, as it was then called. A short time after, his son Richard Jr., in visiting in the ward, met Mrs. Marie Crook Dunsdon, widow of Thomas Dunsdon, who had also died of cholera at Council Bluffs while immigrating to Zion. On returning home Richard Jr. told his father he believed she would make a good wife. Richard immediately went to see her. They talked things over and he proposed to her. She wished a little time, saying she would go up to Salt Lake and get the advice of Brigham Young. Later Maria Dunsdon consented to be his wife, but told him she wanted to be sealed to her husband, Thomas Dunsdon. Richard said he admired her much more for being loyal to her dead husband.
In 1869, they went through the Endowment House and had their endowments and the sealing done for their dead companions. They continued to do temple work for their kindred dead. Maria proved to be a very loyal, true wife to him, and the children loved her dearly. She was a very good mid wife and spent many hours caring for the sick.
A few years later they moved to Alpine, where they lived the remainder of their lives. This was a small community surrounded by high mountains on the north and east and low foothills on the west. This town was knows as Mountainville when it was first settled in 1850, and was six miles north of American Fork, in Utah County. It was a beautiful place and on a clear day one could see the beautiful Utah Lake eight miles to the south of them.
Richard opened the first store in Alpine. He had been working on the construction of the railroad and saved money, realizing the advantages of a store, as Alpine was six miles north of the railroad, and everything had to be transported here. He took the front room of the June home and used that for his store. It was located where the church park is today, on the south end on the roadway, the house or store facing south.
Richard was stricken with rheumatism and Bright’s disease, causing him to be a great sufferer for many years. Before being crippled so badly, he took great comfort in gardening. He would make leather pads for his knees and go on his knees to free his garden of weeds, but finally had to give up work entirely.
He held many important positions in the Church. He was a great Bible reader, not being able to work. He was always pleasant and happy and passed many pleasant hours in conversing with his friends who were so very kind and thoughtful of him, calling on him at his home.
Richard Carlisle was a wonderful man and loved by all who knew him. He told his granddaughter, Martha, who lived with him for some time taking care of him while his wife Maria went out nursing, that he did not want any costly monument, a good honest life was what he wanted to be remembered by. He died April 10, 1879, in Alpine, at the age of eighty-one. He had gone to join his Jane once again. May his beautiful life be a beacon of light for all of his children. He was survived by widow, Maria, and the following children: Thomas Fields, Mary Carlisle (Healey), Joseph, John, and Richard Matthew. His daughter Alice Wilkin Freestone preceded him in death in 1868. Thomas Fields married Fanny Hocquard; Mary married John James and later James Healey; Joseph married Isabella Sharp and Sarah Ann Lord; John married Elizabeth Hocquard: Alice married David Wilkin and George Freestone; Richard Matthew married Mary Hannah Wright.
More on Jane Fields Carlisle
Jane Fields Carlisle
Jane Fields, daughter of Matthew and Dinah Fish Fields, Jr., was christened November 20, 1795, at Willingham, Lincolnshire, England, which is a small parish with 158 people in it. She was the seventh child and third daughter of eight children – three girls and five boys, all born in Willingham. They were in order of birth: Ann, christened February 20, 1780; John, christened December 15, 1781; Matthew, christened February 11, 1784; Joseph, christened May 21, 1786 and was buried May 14, 1790; Alice, christened November 25,1792; Jane, christened November 20, 1795; and Benjamin, May 5, 1799.
Nothing is known about her early life until she met and fell in love with a young man, somewhat her junior. It was love at first sight, and Richard Carlisle, as this young man was called, asked her to marry him, but as she was older then he, he asked her if she would wait five years for him. She loved him too, for she answered, “Why certainly I will wait, and not only five but ten years, Richard, if you wish it.” They were married June 27, 1822, at Willingham, Lincolnshire, England. There was no happier couple in the world than they.
To them were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, among them a set of triplets. Two of the triplets died at four months old and the other at five years old. Triplets being somewhat unusual, they received many beautiful presents. The Queen of England sent them quite an amount of money. Their names in order of birth were: Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823, Stew, Lincolnshire, England; Mary, September 10, 1824, Sturton, Lincolnshire; Joseph, July 21, 1826, Sherwood, Nottinghamshire; Benjamin, May 10, 1828 died, May 17 1828, Sturton, Lincolnshire; Matthew, Richard and Jane (Triplets) born June 3, 1829, at Sturton, Lincolnshire; Martha, March 6, 1831, at Sturton,and died April 8, 1836, age five; John, February 9, 1833, at Swinton, Nottinghamshire; Alice, October 9, 1835; and Richard Matthew, June 21, 1840, at Kenby, Lincolnshire, England.
Jane found herself very busy trying to care for the large family, however five of them died as infants and small children. This must have been a very hard ordeal to go through.
Her husband worked in the Lace Mills of Nottingham for a few years, but as his boys grew older, he could see that this was not place for them. Returning to Lincolnshire, he was employed as a farmer and gamekeeper for a very wealthy English Lord, a brother to Sir Robert Peal of the English Parliament. This gave Richard and Jane a much better chance to give the children a little schooling, which was very hard to obtain at that time.
Jane was a very refined and noble character. She always loved those things in life that would make her a better person, so when Elder Joseph Edward Taylor preached the gospel to them, they readily accepted it and were baptized by him. Richard was baptized July 30, 1849 and Jane on August 11, 1849.
A branch of the Church was organized and her husband was appointed Presiding Elder. They kept an open house for the Elders who came that way. Jane was a good cook and always made the elders welcome.
They had a great desire to save their money and emigrate to Zion. In January 1851, she, Richard, and five of their remaining children left for America, the oldest boy, Thomas was married and did not come with them then.
Their oldest daughter, Mary, had been working as a cook for a lady not of their faith, but a very fine woman, who thought a great deal of her. Not long after Mary had joined the Church, this lady died and in her will she left Mary a year’s wages in advance. Mary had been deserted by her former lover when she joined the Church. She was thinking she was soon to wed and saved a years wages for her trousseau, which proved to be a great blessing to the family, for with the little amount Richard could save and these two years wages, the family was able to come to America.
Perhaps that day as she said goodbye to loved ones and left her home, she was somewhat confused, happy with the thought of going to Zion, where they could worship as they so desired, and yet sad with the thought of leaving her home and all her ties there.
The Millennial Star listed the family as: Richard Carlisle, age fifty-two; Jane (Jenny) Carlisle, age fifty-five; Joseph, son, age twenty-four; John, son, age seventeen; Mary, daughter, age twenty-six; Alice, daughter, age fourteen; Richard, son, age ten.
They sailed on the ship “Ellen”, from Liverpool, Monday, January 6, 1851, having on board a company of Saints consisting of 466 souls, who were under the presidential care of Elder J. W. Cummings, Crandall Dunnard, and William Mose. The ship remained anchored in the river opposite Liverpool, waiting for favorable winds, until Wednesday, January 8, about 11:00 A.M., when anchor was weighed and the Saints were soon under way with a fair wind. These two days in the harbor, must have been trying ones as they were so anxious to be on their way. The ship ran at a rate of seven miles an hour until 11:00 p.m. when it struck a schooner in the fog and was compelled to stop for repairs.
The following day the captain put into Cardigan Bay, North Wales for repair. In a few days the ship was ready to sail again. On the very day the big vessel put into port, the wind changed and they were forced to stay there for three weeks. They were very grateful for this, as outside the port was a bad storm which wrecked many vessels and many lost their lives.
Finally the captain became impatient, and although the wind continued unfavorable, the “Ellen” again weighed anchor on January 23, and put to sail, but the wind was blowing the wrong direction so they made very little progress for several days. Finally on February 1, the wind changed and the passengers soon lost sight of the Irish coast. From that time they enjoyed pleasant weather and fair winds. On the night of March 4, they anchored in the Mississippi River off New Orleans, making the passage from Liverpool, in about seven weeks.
The measles broke out among the emigrants the day they left the dock and nearly every child on board had them, besides some of the adults.
During the voyage, six marriages were solemnized and one birth took place. When they left the port, the presidency divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting twelve births to each division and appointed a president over each. Then those twelve divisions were divided in two and a president appointed in the steerage with a president over the whole steerage.
The second-class cabin was organized in like manner. The Priesthood was also organized. A president was appointed over them to see that they attended their duties. This complete organization helped a great deal in preserving peace and good will, order and comfort to the Saints on board. Men were appointed to visit every family twice a day and administer to the sick and report any troubles.
At New Orleans they boarded the steamer, “Alexander Scott”, to St. Louis, which was chartered by the company. They paid $2.50 a head for adults and half fare for children with all luggage was included. The company left New Orleans on the morning of the March 19, 1851 and landed in St. Louis March 26, after a good trip.
While in St. Louis, Jane did a washing for a friend who had cholera and came home that night, took sick, and died, leaving the family without a mother. She passed away on June 24, 1851, age fifty-five years, and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Richard and the children were greatly grieved at the loss of their wife and mother. They stayed in St. Louis a year to work then came on to Salt Lake with Henry Bryant’sand Maning Jolly’s Seventh Company, arriving in Salt Lake City on September 15, 1852. He first settled in Mill Creek.
Jane Fields, daughter of Matthew and Dinah Fish Fields, Jr., was christened November 20, 1795, at Willingham, Lincolnshire, England, which is a small parish with 158 people in it. She was the seventh child and third daughter of eight children – three girls and five boys, all born in Willingham. They were in order of birth: Ann, christened February 20, 1780; John, christened December 15, 1781; Matthew, christened February 11, 1784; Joseph, christened May 21, 1786 and was buried May 14, 1790; Alice, christened November 25,1792; Jane, christened November 20, 1795; and Benjamin, May 5, 1799.
Nothing is known about her early life until she met and fell in love with a young man, somewhat her junior. It was love at first sight, and Richard Carlisle, as this young man was called, asked her to marry him, but as she was older then he, he asked her if she would wait five years for him. She loved him too, for she answered, “Why certainly I will wait, and not only five but ten years, Richard, if you wish it.” They were married June 27, 1822, at Willingham, Lincolnshire, England. There was no happier couple in the world than they.
To them were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, among them a set of triplets. Two of the triplets died at four months old and the other at five years old. Triplets being somewhat unusual, they received many beautiful presents. The Queen of England sent them quite an amount of money. Their names in order of birth were: Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823, Stew, Lincolnshire, England; Mary, September 10, 1824, Sturton, Lincolnshire; Joseph, July 21, 1826, Sherwood, Nottinghamshire; Benjamin, May 10, 1828 died, May 17 1828, Sturton, Lincolnshire; Matthew, Richard and Jane (Triplets) born June 3, 1829, at Sturton, Lincolnshire; Martha, March 6, 1831, at Sturton,and died April 8, 1836, age five; John, February 9, 1833, at Swinton, Nottinghamshire; Alice, October 9, 1835; and Richard Matthew, June 21, 1840, at Kenby, Lincolnshire, England.
Jane found herself very busy trying to care for the large family, however five of them died as infants and small children. This must have been a very hard ordeal to go through.
Her husband worked in the Lace Mills of Nottingham for a few years, but as his boys grew older, he could see that this was not place for them. Returning to Lincolnshire, he was employed as a farmer and gamekeeper for a very wealthy English Lord, a brother to Sir Robert Peal of the English Parliament. This gave Richard and Jane a much better chance to give the children a little schooling, which was very hard to obtain at that time.
Jane was a very refined and noble character. She always loved those things in life that would make her a better person, so when Elder Joseph Edward Taylor preached the gospel to them, they readily accepted it and were baptized by him. Richard was baptized July 30, 1849 and Jane on August 11, 1849.
A branch of the Church was organized and her husband was appointed Presiding Elder. They kept an open house for the Elders who came that way. Jane was a good cook and always made the elders welcome.
They had a great desire to save their money and emigrate to Zion. In January 1851, she, Richard, and five of their remaining children left for America, the oldest boy, Thomas was married and did not come with them then.
Their oldest daughter, Mary, had been working as a cook for a lady not of their faith, but a very fine woman, who thought a great deal of her. Not long after Mary had joined the Church, this lady died and in her will she left Mary a year’s wages in advance. Mary had been deserted by her former lover when she joined the Church. She was thinking she was soon to wed and saved a years wages for her trousseau, which proved to be a great blessing to the family, for with the little amount Richard could save and these two years wages, the family was able to come to America.
Perhaps that day as she said goodbye to loved ones and left her home, she was somewhat confused, happy with the thought of going to Zion, where they could worship as they so desired, and yet sad with the thought of leaving her home and all her ties there.
The Millennial Star listed the family as: Richard Carlisle, age fifty-two; Jane (Jenny) Carlisle, age fifty-five; Joseph, son, age twenty-four; John, son, age seventeen; Mary, daughter, age twenty-six; Alice, daughter, age fourteen; Richard, son, age ten.
They sailed on the ship “Ellen”, from Liverpool, Monday, January 6, 1851, having on board a company of Saints consisting of 466 souls, who were under the presidential care of Elder J. W. Cummings, Crandall Dunnard, and William Mose. The ship remained anchored in the river opposite Liverpool, waiting for favorable winds, until Wednesday, January 8, about 11:00 A.M., when anchor was weighed and the Saints were soon under way with a fair wind. These two days in the harbor, must have been trying ones as they were so anxious to be on their way. The ship ran at a rate of seven miles an hour until 11:00 p.m. when it struck a schooner in the fog and was compelled to stop for repairs.
The following day the captain put into Cardigan Bay, North Wales for repair. In a few days the ship was ready to sail again. On the very day the big vessel put into port, the wind changed and they were forced to stay there for three weeks. They were very grateful for this, as outside the port was a bad storm which wrecked many vessels and many lost their lives.
Finally the captain became impatient, and although the wind continued unfavorable, the “Ellen” again weighed anchor on January 23, and put to sail, but the wind was blowing the wrong direction so they made very little progress for several days. Finally on February 1, the wind changed and the passengers soon lost sight of the Irish coast. From that time they enjoyed pleasant weather and fair winds. On the night of March 4, they anchored in the Mississippi River off New Orleans, making the passage from Liverpool, in about seven weeks.
The measles broke out among the emigrants the day they left the dock and nearly every child on board had them, besides some of the adults.
During the voyage, six marriages were solemnized and one birth took place. When they left the port, the presidency divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting twelve births to each division and appointed a president over each. Then those twelve divisions were divided in two and a president appointed in the steerage with a president over the whole steerage.
The second-class cabin was organized in like manner. The Priesthood was also organized. A president was appointed over them to see that they attended their duties. This complete organization helped a great deal in preserving peace and good will, order and comfort to the Saints on board. Men were appointed to visit every family twice a day and administer to the sick and report any troubles.
At New Orleans they boarded the steamer, “Alexander Scott”, to St. Louis, which was chartered by the company. They paid $2.50 a head for adults and half fare for children with all luggage was included. The company left New Orleans on the morning of the March 19, 1851 and landed in St. Louis March 26, after a good trip.
While in St. Louis, Jane did a washing for a friend who had cholera and came home that night, took sick, and died, leaving the family without a mother. She passed away on June 24, 1851, age fifty-five years, and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Richard and the children were greatly grieved at the loss of their wife and mother. They stayed in St. Louis a year to work then came on to Salt Lake with Henry Bryant’sand Maning Jolly’s Seventh Company, arriving in Salt Lake City on September 15, 1852. He first settled in Mill Creek.
Jane Fields Carlisle
http://books.google.com/books?id=I8_-4doWWZQC&lpg=PA58&ots=ZzpCW2ynPE&dq=%22jane%20fields%22%20carlisle&pg=PA58#v=onepage&q=%22jane%20fields%22%20carlisle&f=false
Richard Carlisle- England
The History of Richard Carlisle
Richard Carlisle was born in the town of Riseholme, Lincolnshire, England, April 30, 1798, the
son of Thomas Carlisle, Jr. and Elizabeth Taylor.
At Willingham, Lincolnshire, on June 29, 1822, he married Jane Field(s). Jane was born
November 10, 1795 in Willingham, Lincolnshire, England, the daughter of Matthew Field(s) and
Theirs was a case of love at first sight. Since Jane was eleven years the elder, it was rather
difficult for them to marry just at the time of his proposal. So he asked her if she would wait five
years for him. She replied, “Why certainly I'll wait, and not only five years, Richard, but ten if
Their first child was Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823 in Stow Parish, Lincolnshire. 'Mary was
born September 10, 1824, at Sturton (in Stow Parish), Lincolnshire. Joseph was born July 21,
1826 at Sherwood, Nottingham. Benjamin was born May 18, 1828 but lived only seven days
Then triplets were born June 3, 1829: Matthew, Richard Jr., and Jane. Since triplets were very
unusual they received many beautiful gifts. Even the Queen of England sent them quite a sum of
money. However, on October 4, 1829 Matthew and Jane both died, being but five months old.
Little Richard lived to the age of five years and died on July 28, 1834.
Martha was born March 16, 1831. She lived not quite five years and died April 18, 1836. This
was a great sorrow to lose five of their children in so short a time. Then the family moved to
Swenton, Nottingham, where John was born February 9, 1833. Alice was born October 9, 1835
at Nottingham in the shire of Nottingham.
Richard worked in the lace mills of Nottingham for a few years. However, as his boys grew
older, he could see that it was not the place for them. They returned to Lincolnshire and settled at
Kexby where Richard Matthew was born June 21, 1840.
Upon returning to Lincolnshire, Richard was employed as farmer and gamekeeper for a very
wealthy English lord, brother to Sir Robert Peel of the English Parliament. This gave the children
greater educational opportunities - a real blessing - since schooling was difficult to obtain then.
Richard and Jane were refined and noble characters. When they heard the gospel preached by
Joseph E. Taylor, they were baptized. Richard was baptized July 30, 1849 by Edward Taylorl and
was confirmed the same day by William Laythorp. Jane was baptized August l1, 1849. Both
were re-baptized November 26, 1849 by Arza Adams and reconfirmed November 26, 1849 by
Isaac Houston2 (In the early days of the church the practice of rebaptism was common.) The
same day Richard was ordained an elder by H. F. Culler (the surname was some what illegible in
A branch of the church was organized and Richard was appointed Presiding Elder. Their home
was always open for lodging for the elders.
With acceptance of the gospel their main object was to save sufficient funds to gather to Zion.
With the help of their daughter Mary, who was working as a pastry cook, they were able to bring
their whole family with them. Mary had a generous employer in whose service she was able to
save a year's salary. Her employer died. In her will she left Mary a year's salary. This made it
possible for the family to leave for America. They sailed on the ship "Ellen".
"52nd company 'Ellen' 466 souls.
"The ship 'Ellen' sailed from Liverpool on Monday, January 6, l85l, having on board a company
of saints consisting. of 466 souls under the presidential care of Elders James W. Cummings,
Crandall Dunn, and William Moss.
"The ship remained anchored in the river opposite Liverpool until the 8th about 11 o'clock a.m.
when anchor was weighed and the saints were soon under way with a fair wind. The good 'Ellen'
ran at the rate of 7 miles an hour till about 11 o’clock at night when she struck a schooner
thereby breaking her jib boom and main fore-yards. The following day the captain put into
Cardigan Bay, North Wales, to repair and in a few days the ship was ready for sea again. But the
wind on the very day the vessel put into port changed to an unfavorable quarter and remained
there for three weeks. She remained in port and the saints considered the accident that had
happened a blessing to them as they were comfortable in port while hundreds of people were
being tumbled about on the face of the troubled seas. During the storm many vessels were also
wrecked and hundreds of human beings consigned to a watery grave. The captain at length
became impatient and although the wind still continued unfavorable the ‘Ellen’ again weighed
anchor on the 23 of Jan. and put to sea. But the wind blew a strong gale from the direction the
ship wanted to sail and consequently only a little progress was made for several days. On
February l, however, the wind changed to a favorable quarter, the 'Ellen' set out to sea and the
passengers soon lost sight of the Irish coast. From that time they enjoyed pleasant weather and
fair winds and on the night of 14 March the 'Ellen' anchored in the Mississippi River off New
Orleans, making the passage from Cardigan Bay, which is 12 hours' sail from Liverpool, in 7
"During the voyage 10 deaths occurred. Two adults, namely James Wright from Skellow and the
wife of William Allen from the Birmingham conference, the remainder were children. Brother
Wright and Sister Allen died of fever. Four of the children died with the measles. Three of
consumption and one of the inflammation of the chest. The measles broke out among the
immigrants the day they left the dock and nearly every child on board had them besides several
adults. Altogether there were about 70 cases. Many of the children also suffered from what Elder
Cummings terms the tropical cough which was something similar to the whooping cough.
“During the voyage six marriages were also solemnized and one birth took place. Immediately
after leaving port the presidency on board divided the company into 12 divisions or wards
allotting 10 berths to each division and appointed a brother over each; then these 12 divisions
were divided into two and a president appointed to preside over each 6. So that there were 12
companies in the steerage with a president over each and two to preside over the whole. The
second cabin was organized in like manner. The priesthood were also organized and presidents
Page 2 of 6
appointed over them to see that they attended to their duties. This company organization was
found to be of great utility in preserving peace, good order, and the health and comfort of the
saints while on board. President Cummings and his two counselors watched over their flock with
the utmost care and in meeting in counsel with the brethren who had charge of the smaller
divisions they could easily learn the condition of every saint on board. If any were sick or in
want or in transgression they were made acquainted with it and immediately adopted measures to
relieve the wants of the needy and to prevent iniquity from creeping into their midst. Many were
appointed to visit every family twice a day and to administer to the sick.
"In New Orleans the company chartered the steamer ‘Alexander Scott' to take the immigrants to
St. Louis, Missouri. They paid $2.50 per head for adults, all luggage included, and half price for
children. The company left New Orleans on the morning of March 19 and landed in St. Louis on
the 26 after a good passage. Two children died coming up the river and one child was born."3
A number of the immigrants who were not prepared to continue the journey right away found
employment in St. Louis while the others proceeded on their way to the Bluffs. The Carlisles
apparently remained in St. Louis until the following spring.
After reaching St. Louis, Jane was stricken with cholera and died an June 24, 1851.
Although a search of emigration records in the Church Historian's office has been made, the
writer has been unable to find a record of Richard Carlisle and family crossing the plains.
Therefore it is not known how many of his children accompanied him on the journey. Mary
secured employment and remained behind (Probably in St. Louis) where she married a fine
young man from the church. 4
Some time later (the exact time has not been ascertained) she traveled to Utah. Thomas came
with an independent company which brought the first sugar machinery. There is also a card in
the Emigration files stating that Alice Carlisle crossed the plains in company of Capt. David
Wilkins, leaving July 15, l853, and arriving in the Valley that fall. Richard’s daughter Alice
married a David Wilkins; so this is probably the same person.
At any rate there is a record of "John Carlisle and five persons" crossing the plains in the Seventh
Company under Capt. Henry Bryant Manning Jolley. John was one of Richard's children and
was an adult. Therefore, we assume this to be the rest of the Richard Carlisle family, with two
other people travelling with them. Captain Jolley’s company left Kanesville early in June of
1852 with a company of nearly 340 souls. The company arrived safely in Salt Lake City
When Richard reached the Valley he settled in Mill Creek or Cottonwood, as it was then called.
He was given a patriarchal blessing October 30, 1853 in Salt Lake City by the Patriarch to the
Church, John Smith, and it is recorded in Vol. 12, p. 553.5
Richard was ordained a high priest July l, 1860 by Reuben Miller.6
Page 3 of 6
Sometime following their arrival in the Valley, his son Richard M., in visiting in the ward, met
Mrs. Maria Crook Dunsdon, widow of Thomas Dunsdon. Her husband had also died of cholera
at Council Bluffs while immigrating to Zion. On returning home Richard M. told his father he
believed she would make him a good wife. Richard immediately went to see her. They talked
things over and he proposed to her. She wanted a little time to make up her mind, saying she
would go to Salt Lake and get the advice of Brigham Young7.
Later Maria Dunsdon consented to be his wife, but told him she wanted to be sealed to her first
Richard admired her for being loyal to her dead husband. On April 27, 1869 they went through
the endowment House and had their endowments, and the sealing was done for their dead
companions. Maria was proxy for Jane and Richard stood as proxy for Thomas. This sealing was
performed by Joseph F. Smith, who became the President of the Church8.
Maria proved to be a very loyal, true wife to Richard. They later had temple work done for quite
a number of their ancestors on both sides.
It is not known exactly when he moved to Alpine to make his home, but Journal History entries
would lead us to believe that he moved there about 1855, since there are a number of references
to Richard Carlisle from that time on.
July 24, l855, Journal History, page 3, records that during the big celebration at Alpine City, at
the afternoon meeting addresses were given by Isaac Houston, Morris Phelps, Thomas J.
McCullough, Richard Carlisle, Thomas Carlisle, and others, interspersed with very appropriate
singing by the choir, toasts, etc. music, dancing, comic songs, and other highly gratifying
performances enlivened the remainder of the day and evening. One of the many toasts was: "The
bee hive - may her honey increase and her drones depart." Committee of Arrangements: Isaac
Houston, Morris Phelps, Thomas J. McCullough, David McOlney, Richard Carlisle, John
Richard must have been well esteemed in the community as well as a good speaker, because he
also participated as a speaker .in other similar celebrations as recorded in the Journal History.
Together with a few of the leading citizens of Alpine he also signed a public proclamation
representing the people of Alpine, in support of President Young's address and public notice
protesting the government’s sending prejudiced and unworthy officials to administer the law in
the Territory of Utah. This proclamation was dated January 17, 1858.
A big territory wide display (probably the forerunner of the State Fair) was held October 9, l859
for the purpose of encouraging greater skill, ingenuity, and industry among the citizens. The list
of awards was published in the Deseret News. Richard Carlisle (along with a few others)
received top rating for “Specimen Mountain Wine”.
Page 4 of 6
He held many important positions in the church, but the early ward records did not have
information concerning calls to positions, etc.
Richard was stricken with rheumatism and Bright’s disease which caused him great suffering for
Before being crippled so badly he took great comfort in gardening. He made leather knee-pads so
that he could work on his knees to pull the weeds. Finally he was forced to give up his work
He was a great Bible reader, being of a very studious nature. Although he was unable to work in
later years, he was always pleasant and happy, and passed many enjoyable hours in conversing
with his many friends who called on him at his home.
Men with characters like Richard Carlisle will never be forgotten, for they have left landmarks
along the streams of time that cannot be hidden. He had often made the remark that he did not
wish any costly monument; because a good, honest life was the way he wished to be
He died April 10, 1879 in Alpine, being 81 years old at the time.
May his beautiful life be a beacon light for all his children and many descendants.
The original history by Martha Healey Strong stated he was baptized by Jos. E. Taylor,
but Alpine ward records gave Edw. Taylor. The name of the elder given in the history
took the gospel to them, was retained from the original history.
Alpine Ward Records.
Church Emigration files and Ships' Stories filed in Room 310 Church Office Building
From Martha Healey Strong's original history.
Patriarchal blessing file, Church Historian's Library.
The card giving this information was in "Early Church" files and the stake was given as
Cottonwood. This, however, conflicts with previous dates in Journal History, as related
beforehand, where we find Richard busy with affairs in Alpine as early as 1855.
This information was taken from Martha Healey Strong's original history and at this
writing it is not certain exactly where this incident occurred.
From Endowment House Records. Their civil marriage date is unknown. Because they
are listed in Alpine Ward records with Richard's children, it is assumed that they were
married and settled in Alpine long before they went to the Endowment House in 1869.
Page 5 of 6
This history was written in November, 1956, by Dora D. Flack (wife of LeGrand Flack) from the
original history written by Martha Healey Strong, to whom this writer is indebted: Additions and
corrections were made from the family group sheet, records in the Historian's Office and the
Church Records Archives, Alpine Ward Records, Early Church files.
Richard Carlisle was born in the town of Riseholme, Lincolnshire, England, April 30, 1798, the
son of Thomas Carlisle, Jr. and Elizabeth Taylor.
At Willingham, Lincolnshire, on June 29, 1822, he married Jane Field(s). Jane was born
November 10, 1795 in Willingham, Lincolnshire, England, the daughter of Matthew Field(s) and
Theirs was a case of love at first sight. Since Jane was eleven years the elder, it was rather
difficult for them to marry just at the time of his proposal. So he asked her if she would wait five
years for him. She replied, “Why certainly I'll wait, and not only five years, Richard, but ten if
Their first child was Thomas Fields, born April 10, 1823 in Stow Parish, Lincolnshire. 'Mary was
born September 10, 1824, at Sturton (in Stow Parish), Lincolnshire. Joseph was born July 21,
1826 at Sherwood, Nottingham. Benjamin was born May 18, 1828 but lived only seven days
Then triplets were born June 3, 1829: Matthew, Richard Jr., and Jane. Since triplets were very
unusual they received many beautiful gifts. Even the Queen of England sent them quite a sum of
money. However, on October 4, 1829 Matthew and Jane both died, being but five months old.
Little Richard lived to the age of five years and died on July 28, 1834.
Martha was born March 16, 1831. She lived not quite five years and died April 18, 1836. This
was a great sorrow to lose five of their children in so short a time. Then the family moved to
Swenton, Nottingham, where John was born February 9, 1833. Alice was born October 9, 1835
at Nottingham in the shire of Nottingham.
Richard worked in the lace mills of Nottingham for a few years. However, as his boys grew
older, he could see that it was not the place for them. They returned to Lincolnshire and settled at
Kexby where Richard Matthew was born June 21, 1840.
Upon returning to Lincolnshire, Richard was employed as farmer and gamekeeper for a very
wealthy English lord, brother to Sir Robert Peel of the English Parliament. This gave the children
greater educational opportunities - a real blessing - since schooling was difficult to obtain then.
Richard and Jane were refined and noble characters. When they heard the gospel preached by
Joseph E. Taylor, they were baptized. Richard was baptized July 30, 1849 by Edward Taylorl and
was confirmed the same day by William Laythorp. Jane was baptized August l1, 1849. Both
were re-baptized November 26, 1849 by Arza Adams and reconfirmed November 26, 1849 by
Isaac Houston2 (In the early days of the church the practice of rebaptism was common.) The
same day Richard was ordained an elder by H. F. Culler (the surname was some what illegible in
A branch of the church was organized and Richard was appointed Presiding Elder. Their home
was always open for lodging for the elders.
With acceptance of the gospel their main object was to save sufficient funds to gather to Zion.
With the help of their daughter Mary, who was working as a pastry cook, they were able to bring
their whole family with them. Mary had a generous employer in whose service she was able to
save a year's salary. Her employer died. In her will she left Mary a year's salary. This made it
possible for the family to leave for America. They sailed on the ship "Ellen".
"52nd company 'Ellen' 466 souls.
"The ship 'Ellen' sailed from Liverpool on Monday, January 6, l85l, having on board a company
of saints consisting. of 466 souls under the presidential care of Elders James W. Cummings,
Crandall Dunn, and William Moss.
"The ship remained anchored in the river opposite Liverpool until the 8th about 11 o'clock a.m.
when anchor was weighed and the saints were soon under way with a fair wind. The good 'Ellen'
ran at the rate of 7 miles an hour till about 11 o’clock at night when she struck a schooner
thereby breaking her jib boom and main fore-yards. The following day the captain put into
Cardigan Bay, North Wales, to repair and in a few days the ship was ready for sea again. But the
wind on the very day the vessel put into port changed to an unfavorable quarter and remained
there for three weeks. She remained in port and the saints considered the accident that had
happened a blessing to them as they were comfortable in port while hundreds of people were
being tumbled about on the face of the troubled seas. During the storm many vessels were also
wrecked and hundreds of human beings consigned to a watery grave. The captain at length
became impatient and although the wind still continued unfavorable the ‘Ellen’ again weighed
anchor on the 23 of Jan. and put to sea. But the wind blew a strong gale from the direction the
ship wanted to sail and consequently only a little progress was made for several days. On
February l, however, the wind changed to a favorable quarter, the 'Ellen' set out to sea and the
passengers soon lost sight of the Irish coast. From that time they enjoyed pleasant weather and
fair winds and on the night of 14 March the 'Ellen' anchored in the Mississippi River off New
Orleans, making the passage from Cardigan Bay, which is 12 hours' sail from Liverpool, in 7
"During the voyage 10 deaths occurred. Two adults, namely James Wright from Skellow and the
wife of William Allen from the Birmingham conference, the remainder were children. Brother
Wright and Sister Allen died of fever. Four of the children died with the measles. Three of
consumption and one of the inflammation of the chest. The measles broke out among the
immigrants the day they left the dock and nearly every child on board had them besides several
adults. Altogether there were about 70 cases. Many of the children also suffered from what Elder
Cummings terms the tropical cough which was something similar to the whooping cough.
“During the voyage six marriages were also solemnized and one birth took place. Immediately
after leaving port the presidency on board divided the company into 12 divisions or wards
allotting 10 berths to each division and appointed a brother over each; then these 12 divisions
were divided into two and a president appointed to preside over each 6. So that there were 12
companies in the steerage with a president over each and two to preside over the whole. The
second cabin was organized in like manner. The priesthood were also organized and presidents
Page 2 of 6
appointed over them to see that they attended to their duties. This company organization was
found to be of great utility in preserving peace, good order, and the health and comfort of the
saints while on board. President Cummings and his two counselors watched over their flock with
the utmost care and in meeting in counsel with the brethren who had charge of the smaller
divisions they could easily learn the condition of every saint on board. If any were sick or in
want or in transgression they were made acquainted with it and immediately adopted measures to
relieve the wants of the needy and to prevent iniquity from creeping into their midst. Many were
appointed to visit every family twice a day and to administer to the sick.
"In New Orleans the company chartered the steamer ‘Alexander Scott' to take the immigrants to
St. Louis, Missouri. They paid $2.50 per head for adults, all luggage included, and half price for
children. The company left New Orleans on the morning of March 19 and landed in St. Louis on
the 26 after a good passage. Two children died coming up the river and one child was born."3
A number of the immigrants who were not prepared to continue the journey right away found
employment in St. Louis while the others proceeded on their way to the Bluffs. The Carlisles
apparently remained in St. Louis until the following spring.
After reaching St. Louis, Jane was stricken with cholera and died an June 24, 1851.
Although a search of emigration records in the Church Historian's office has been made, the
writer has been unable to find a record of Richard Carlisle and family crossing the plains.
Therefore it is not known how many of his children accompanied him on the journey. Mary
secured employment and remained behind (Probably in St. Louis) where she married a fine
young man from the church. 4
Some time later (the exact time has not been ascertained) she traveled to Utah. Thomas came
with an independent company which brought the first sugar machinery. There is also a card in
the Emigration files stating that Alice Carlisle crossed the plains in company of Capt. David
Wilkins, leaving July 15, l853, and arriving in the Valley that fall. Richard’s daughter Alice
married a David Wilkins; so this is probably the same person.
At any rate there is a record of "John Carlisle and five persons" crossing the plains in the Seventh
Company under Capt. Henry Bryant Manning Jolley. John was one of Richard's children and
was an adult. Therefore, we assume this to be the rest of the Richard Carlisle family, with two
other people travelling with them. Captain Jolley’s company left Kanesville early in June of
1852 with a company of nearly 340 souls. The company arrived safely in Salt Lake City
When Richard reached the Valley he settled in Mill Creek or Cottonwood, as it was then called.
He was given a patriarchal blessing October 30, 1853 in Salt Lake City by the Patriarch to the
Church, John Smith, and it is recorded in Vol. 12, p. 553.5
Richard was ordained a high priest July l, 1860 by Reuben Miller.6
Page 3 of 6
Sometime following their arrival in the Valley, his son Richard M., in visiting in the ward, met
Mrs. Maria Crook Dunsdon, widow of Thomas Dunsdon. Her husband had also died of cholera
at Council Bluffs while immigrating to Zion. On returning home Richard M. told his father he
believed she would make him a good wife. Richard immediately went to see her. They talked
things over and he proposed to her. She wanted a little time to make up her mind, saying she
would go to Salt Lake and get the advice of Brigham Young7.
Later Maria Dunsdon consented to be his wife, but told him she wanted to be sealed to her first
Richard admired her for being loyal to her dead husband. On April 27, 1869 they went through
the endowment House and had their endowments, and the sealing was done for their dead
companions. Maria was proxy for Jane and Richard stood as proxy for Thomas. This sealing was
performed by Joseph F. Smith, who became the President of the Church8.
Maria proved to be a very loyal, true wife to Richard. They later had temple work done for quite
a number of their ancestors on both sides.
It is not known exactly when he moved to Alpine to make his home, but Journal History entries
would lead us to believe that he moved there about 1855, since there are a number of references
to Richard Carlisle from that time on.
July 24, l855, Journal History, page 3, records that during the big celebration at Alpine City, at
the afternoon meeting addresses were given by Isaac Houston, Morris Phelps, Thomas J.
McCullough, Richard Carlisle, Thomas Carlisle, and others, interspersed with very appropriate
singing by the choir, toasts, etc. music, dancing, comic songs, and other highly gratifying
performances enlivened the remainder of the day and evening. One of the many toasts was: "The
bee hive - may her honey increase and her drones depart." Committee of Arrangements: Isaac
Houston, Morris Phelps, Thomas J. McCullough, David McOlney, Richard Carlisle, John
Richard must have been well esteemed in the community as well as a good speaker, because he
also participated as a speaker .in other similar celebrations as recorded in the Journal History.
Together with a few of the leading citizens of Alpine he also signed a public proclamation
representing the people of Alpine, in support of President Young's address and public notice
protesting the government’s sending prejudiced and unworthy officials to administer the law in
the Territory of Utah. This proclamation was dated January 17, 1858.
A big territory wide display (probably the forerunner of the State Fair) was held October 9, l859
for the purpose of encouraging greater skill, ingenuity, and industry among the citizens. The list
of awards was published in the Deseret News. Richard Carlisle (along with a few others)
received top rating for “Specimen Mountain Wine”.
Page 4 of 6
He held many important positions in the church, but the early ward records did not have
information concerning calls to positions, etc.
Richard was stricken with rheumatism and Bright’s disease which caused him great suffering for
Before being crippled so badly he took great comfort in gardening. He made leather knee-pads so
that he could work on his knees to pull the weeds. Finally he was forced to give up his work
He was a great Bible reader, being of a very studious nature. Although he was unable to work in
later years, he was always pleasant and happy, and passed many enjoyable hours in conversing
with his many friends who called on him at his home.
Men with characters like Richard Carlisle will never be forgotten, for they have left landmarks
along the streams of time that cannot be hidden. He had often made the remark that he did not
wish any costly monument; because a good, honest life was the way he wished to be
He died April 10, 1879 in Alpine, being 81 years old at the time.
May his beautiful life be a beacon light for all his children and many descendants.
The original history by Martha Healey Strong stated he was baptized by Jos. E. Taylor,
but Alpine ward records gave Edw. Taylor. The name of the elder given in the history
took the gospel to them, was retained from the original history.
Alpine Ward Records.
Church Emigration files and Ships' Stories filed in Room 310 Church Office Building
From Martha Healey Strong's original history.
Patriarchal blessing file, Church Historian's Library.
The card giving this information was in "Early Church" files and the stake was given as
Cottonwood. This, however, conflicts with previous dates in Journal History, as related
beforehand, where we find Richard busy with affairs in Alpine as early as 1855.
This information was taken from Martha Healey Strong's original history and at this
writing it is not certain exactly where this incident occurred.
From Endowment House Records. Their civil marriage date is unknown. Because they
are listed in Alpine Ward records with Richard's children, it is assumed that they were
married and settled in Alpine long before they went to the Endowment House in 1869.
Page 5 of 6
This history was written in November, 1956, by Dora D. Flack (wife of LeGrand Flack) from the
original history written by Martha Healey Strong, to whom this writer is indebted: Additions and
corrections were made from the family group sheet, records in the Historian's Office and the
Church Records Archives, Alpine Ward Records, Early Church files.
Richard Carlisle
Full Pioneer Story
RICHARD CARLISLE AND JANE FIELD
Submitted By: Angus H. Belliston (more stories by this author)
RICHARD CARLISLE AND JANE FIELD
By Angus H. Belliston
Richard Carlisle and Jane (or Jenney) Field were both born in England – Richard on 30 April 1798 in Riseholme, Lincolnshire and Jane on 18 November 1795 in Willingham,
Lincolnshire. The couple was married on 27 June 1822. By 1840, just eighteen years later, twelve children had been born to them. Only six lived to maturity. One of these was Alice Carlisle, who married George Freestone, my great grandfather.
Richard was dissatisfied with the Church of England and investigated several others. He affiliated with the Quakers, but still kept searching. Eventually, the family sought out the Mormon missionaries and were converted and baptized.
Members of the family were baptized at various times in 1849 and 1850. Richard
became the Presiding Elder of their branch. In 1851, on the “Good Ship Ellen,” they emigrated to America, except for their oldest son, Thomas, who came a year later. On their way up the Mississippi River, Jane died in St. Louis on 24 June 1851. She had done the washing for a woman afflicted with the dreaded cholera, so common among emigrants on that river. Jane caught the disease and died almost immediately.
It must have been very difficult for Richard to manage his large family during the years following Jane’s death. First he had to get the whole family across the Plains, then provide a home for them in a new land. The bereft father and his motherless brood stayed to work in St. Louis during the remainder of the first year. The youngest son, Richard, hired out to a Mormon family and came west with them, the first of his own family to arrive in the Valley. The oldest son, Thomas, had by then joined the rest of the family in St. Louis.
They were resourceful people and found work and homes with friends and other travelers. They came on to Utah in 1852 and settled in Mountainville (now Alpine), where Richard lived the remainder of his life. He received his temple ordinances in the Endowment House in 1854.
It was not until 27 April 1869, when Richard was turning seventy-one years old, that he married Marie Crook. Marie’s husband had also died of the cholera and the two shared a common loneliness. However, Marie wanted to be sealed to her first husband and Richard admired her faithfulness to him. So, according to the record, the two went to Brigham Young’s office and were married in a civil ceremony. Then the President performed the sealing of Richard and Jane -- with Marie, no doubt, standing as proxy for Jane. Then he performed the sealing of Marie and her first husband -- with Richard, no doubt, standing as proxy for him!
Richard Carlisle left word that when he died he wanted no costly marker on his grave – he desired that his good, honest life be his only monument. That kind of life he lived. And he died in Alpine, Utah on April 10, 1879, just before his eighty-first birthday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Elsie Maughan Belliston History (2005). Maughan Family history and genealogical records
RICHARD CARLISLE AND JANE FIELD
Submitted By: Angus H. Belliston (more stories by this author)
RICHARD CARLISLE AND JANE FIELD
By Angus H. Belliston
Richard Carlisle and Jane (or Jenney) Field were both born in England – Richard on 30 April 1798 in Riseholme, Lincolnshire and Jane on 18 November 1795 in Willingham,
Lincolnshire. The couple was married on 27 June 1822. By 1840, just eighteen years later, twelve children had been born to them. Only six lived to maturity. One of these was Alice Carlisle, who married George Freestone, my great grandfather.
Richard was dissatisfied with the Church of England and investigated several others. He affiliated with the Quakers, but still kept searching. Eventually, the family sought out the Mormon missionaries and were converted and baptized.
Members of the family were baptized at various times in 1849 and 1850. Richard
became the Presiding Elder of their branch. In 1851, on the “Good Ship Ellen,” they emigrated to America, except for their oldest son, Thomas, who came a year later. On their way up the Mississippi River, Jane died in St. Louis on 24 June 1851. She had done the washing for a woman afflicted with the dreaded cholera, so common among emigrants on that river. Jane caught the disease and died almost immediately.
It must have been very difficult for Richard to manage his large family during the years following Jane’s death. First he had to get the whole family across the Plains, then provide a home for them in a new land. The bereft father and his motherless brood stayed to work in St. Louis during the remainder of the first year. The youngest son, Richard, hired out to a Mormon family and came west with them, the first of his own family to arrive in the Valley. The oldest son, Thomas, had by then joined the rest of the family in St. Louis.
They were resourceful people and found work and homes with friends and other travelers. They came on to Utah in 1852 and settled in Mountainville (now Alpine), where Richard lived the remainder of his life. He received his temple ordinances in the Endowment House in 1854.
It was not until 27 April 1869, when Richard was turning seventy-one years old, that he married Marie Crook. Marie’s husband had also died of the cholera and the two shared a common loneliness. However, Marie wanted to be sealed to her first husband and Richard admired her faithfulness to him. So, according to the record, the two went to Brigham Young’s office and were married in a civil ceremony. Then the President performed the sealing of Richard and Jane -- with Marie, no doubt, standing as proxy for Jane. Then he performed the sealing of Marie and her first husband -- with Richard, no doubt, standing as proxy for him!
Richard Carlisle left word that when he died he wanted no costly marker on his grave – he desired that his good, honest life be his only monument. That kind of life he lived. And he died in Alpine, Utah on April 10, 1879, just before his eighty-first birthday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Elsie Maughan Belliston History (2005). Maughan Family history and genealogical records
Thomas Freestone
Excerpt from Pioneer Story
Their journey across the plains was an arduous one, but late in 1853 they arrived in American Fork. One year later the family moved to “Mountainville” (later named Alpine) where they lived in the fort for protection against the Indians, while they began to re-establish their affairs. Exerting all their efforts, they partially overcame their hunger by eating roots, pigweed and wild onions, and beat back enough crickets to raise a full crop of grain. In spite of their many trials the hardy family hung on to their testimonies and endured.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Pioneer Story
THOMAS FREESTONE AND ANN FALL -- PERSEVERANCE!
Submitted By: Angus H. Belliston (more stories by this author)
THOMAS FREESTONE AND ANN FALL
By Angus H. Belliston
Thomas Freestone, the father of my great grandfather, George Freestone, was born in Fixton, Suffolk, England on 19 May 1795. This was a comparatively prosperous time in
England, and Thomas could have stayed there in relative comfort. But in about 1825 Thomas left England to emmigrate to Prince Edward Island, Canada. In August 1837, Thomas, now forty-two years old, married Ann Fall, age twenty-four. Ann was born in England too, on 6 August 1812 in Aldburrough, Yorkshire, and had moved to Prince Edward Island with her parents in about 1818. Ann was a gentle, religious, refined lady.
This couple sought to improve their fortunes by moving in 1840 to the U.S.A. They settled on a farm in central Ohio. Life was good for these faithful Methodists. They loved the soil which they farmed, and prospered modestly for a few years while their children were being born -- George in 1838, James in 1840, Elizabeth Ann in 1842, Rhoda in 1844, Phoebe Ellen in 1847 (she died as an infant), Johanna in 1849, Emma Sarah in 1852 and Jane Marie in 1855 -- eight children in all, of which seven lived to adulthood.
The LDS missionaries came in 1850 and baptized them. Ideally, everything should have gotten better, but got worse instead. In about 1851 they lost their farm, which had been mortgaged to pay for a season of severe illness. In 1852, they felt the spirit of gathering to Zion, sold another small acreage they had and all their other possessions, acquired a wagon and, in late summer, joined the Saints who were heading west. They struggled through fall rains and mud and reached Mt. Pisgah in Iowa in a snowstorm on Christmas Day.
The family stayed in Mt. Pisgah, Iowa over the winter of 1852-53, and finally, with help from kind fellow Saints, arrived in deep poverty at Winter Quarters. On their journey, the father and older boys had worked at anything they could do, for food or money to sustain them. When they reached Council Bluffs in the spring, they found an emigrating company nearly ready to leave for the West. Again they found help from other Saints, quickly acquired an outfit and supplies, and joined them.
Their journey across the plains was an arduous one, but late in 1853 they arrived in American Fork. One year later the family moved to “Mountainville” (later named Alpine) where they lived in the fort for protection against the Indians, while they began to re-establish their affairs. Exerting all their efforts, they partially overcame their hunger by eating roots, pigweed and wild onions, and beat back enough crickets to raise a full crop of grain. In spite of their many trials the hardy family hung on to their testimonies and endured.
In 1858, the Freestone family had been in Utah five years. The oldest child, George (my great-grandfather), was twenty years old, the youngest, Jane, only three. The father, Thomas, was sixty-three years old. The family discussed the possibility of moving to another location where they might find more security. Thomas went to Southern Utah on a scouting mission, probably looking for a new family location. Near Parowan he was ambushed by hostile Indians and killed by an arrow. One of the Indians sent word to the family of this tragedy, and claimed he had mercifully put the dying man out of his misery and buried him in an unmarked grave.
The older boys became the providers for the growing family. Three years later George married and left home. Four years after Thomas’ death, as mother Ann visited one day with her bishop about their difficult circumstances, he advised her to marry again, and introduced her to a man named Hodnett. The two went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and were married the very next day. Hodnett proved to be a good provider for the family, but was reputed to have been hot tempered and difficult. However, Ann was good natured and gentle, and they managed together.
With the unmarried children, they moved to Orderville and put all their sheep into the United Order (retrieving them again later when the Order failed). Ann’s health and eyesight failed in her later years and she moved back to Alpine to live in the home of her youngest daughter. She died there on Christmas day in 1888, at age seventy-six.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Elsie Maughan Belliston History. Maughan Family history and genealogy records.
Their journey across the plains was an arduous one, but late in 1853 they arrived in American Fork. One year later the family moved to “Mountainville” (later named Alpine) where they lived in the fort for protection against the Indians, while they began to re-establish their affairs. Exerting all their efforts, they partially overcame their hunger by eating roots, pigweed and wild onions, and beat back enough crickets to raise a full crop of grain. In spite of their many trials the hardy family hung on to their testimonies and endured.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Pioneer Story
THOMAS FREESTONE AND ANN FALL -- PERSEVERANCE!
Submitted By: Angus H. Belliston (more stories by this author)
THOMAS FREESTONE AND ANN FALL
By Angus H. Belliston
Thomas Freestone, the father of my great grandfather, George Freestone, was born in Fixton, Suffolk, England on 19 May 1795. This was a comparatively prosperous time in
England, and Thomas could have stayed there in relative comfort. But in about 1825 Thomas left England to emmigrate to Prince Edward Island, Canada. In August 1837, Thomas, now forty-two years old, married Ann Fall, age twenty-four. Ann was born in England too, on 6 August 1812 in Aldburrough, Yorkshire, and had moved to Prince Edward Island with her parents in about 1818. Ann was a gentle, religious, refined lady.
This couple sought to improve their fortunes by moving in 1840 to the U.S.A. They settled on a farm in central Ohio. Life was good for these faithful Methodists. They loved the soil which they farmed, and prospered modestly for a few years while their children were being born -- George in 1838, James in 1840, Elizabeth Ann in 1842, Rhoda in 1844, Phoebe Ellen in 1847 (she died as an infant), Johanna in 1849, Emma Sarah in 1852 and Jane Marie in 1855 -- eight children in all, of which seven lived to adulthood.
The LDS missionaries came in 1850 and baptized them. Ideally, everything should have gotten better, but got worse instead. In about 1851 they lost their farm, which had been mortgaged to pay for a season of severe illness. In 1852, they felt the spirit of gathering to Zion, sold another small acreage they had and all their other possessions, acquired a wagon and, in late summer, joined the Saints who were heading west. They struggled through fall rains and mud and reached Mt. Pisgah in Iowa in a snowstorm on Christmas Day.
The family stayed in Mt. Pisgah, Iowa over the winter of 1852-53, and finally, with help from kind fellow Saints, arrived in deep poverty at Winter Quarters. On their journey, the father and older boys had worked at anything they could do, for food or money to sustain them. When they reached Council Bluffs in the spring, they found an emigrating company nearly ready to leave for the West. Again they found help from other Saints, quickly acquired an outfit and supplies, and joined them.
Their journey across the plains was an arduous one, but late in 1853 they arrived in American Fork. One year later the family moved to “Mountainville” (later named Alpine) where they lived in the fort for protection against the Indians, while they began to re-establish their affairs. Exerting all their efforts, they partially overcame their hunger by eating roots, pigweed and wild onions, and beat back enough crickets to raise a full crop of grain. In spite of their many trials the hardy family hung on to their testimonies and endured.
In 1858, the Freestone family had been in Utah five years. The oldest child, George (my great-grandfather), was twenty years old, the youngest, Jane, only three. The father, Thomas, was sixty-three years old. The family discussed the possibility of moving to another location where they might find more security. Thomas went to Southern Utah on a scouting mission, probably looking for a new family location. Near Parowan he was ambushed by hostile Indians and killed by an arrow. One of the Indians sent word to the family of this tragedy, and claimed he had mercifully put the dying man out of his misery and buried him in an unmarked grave.
The older boys became the providers for the growing family. Three years later George married and left home. Four years after Thomas’ death, as mother Ann visited one day with her bishop about their difficult circumstances, he advised her to marry again, and introduced her to a man named Hodnett. The two went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and were married the very next day. Hodnett proved to be a good provider for the family, but was reputed to have been hot tempered and difficult. However, Ann was good natured and gentle, and they managed together.
With the unmarried children, they moved to Orderville and put all their sheep into the United Order (retrieving them again later when the Order failed). Ann’s health and eyesight failed in her later years and she moved back to Alpine to live in the home of her youngest daughter. She died there on Christmas day in 1888, at age seventy-six.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Elsie Maughan Belliston History. Maughan Family history and genealogy records.
Alma James Brown
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19490211&id=viccAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1FcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3964,2251442
This is a Salt Lake Tribune article
This is a Salt Lake Tribune article
Abigail Belding Reynolds
http://books.google.com/books?id=cwwwAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA201&ots=t8WkmBfX-9&dq=%22abigail%20belding%22%20reynolds&pg=PA201#v=onepage&q=%22abigail%20belding%22%20reynolds&f=false
William Pitt Reynolds
WILLIAM PITT REYNOLDS
Obituary (died Nov 13, 1900) From the Vernal Express:
END OF AN ACTIVE LIFE- Father Reynolds
The Oldest Man in the County Passes Away-Was one of the Early Settlers of Utah and Assisted in the Building of New Settlements.
It was well known that Father William P. Reynolds, who has been an unusually active man almost up to the last month of his mortal career, had been suffering from a complication of diseases incident to old age and his recovery had been despaired of by his family and friends for some time. Therefore the news of his death was not unexpected. The sad event occurred at his home in Mill ward early Tuesday morning, and as the news spread among the people it caused a great deal of comment.
Throughout life he had been a man of strong character, honest, up right, generous to a fault, cheerful under adverse circumstances, devoted to his family and friends and a consistent Latter Day Saint. He was an indefatigable worker and his strength of mind and body were phenomenal. He was more than able to support himself up to the date of his last ill- ness. On the county records we find a claim for services rendered the county allowed him at the October meeting of the county commissioners. He enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest person in the county. Had his life been prolonged until next April he would have been eight-five years of age.
The funeral services were held at the Mill ward Social Hall under the auspices of the Mill ward bishopric. A large cortege followed the remains from the residence to the meeting place. Six members of the High Council acted as pall bearers, A large throng of people attended the funeral, giving evidence of the high esteem in which the aged veteran was held.
The speakers were Elders J.H. Glines, George D. Merkley, I.J. Clark, George A. Davis, Thomas Karren, R.S. Collett and S.R. Bennion. All of the speakers referred to the good character and the sterling integrity as well as the great labors of the deceased. Elder I.J. Clark had known him for fifty-eight years. After the services the remains, followed by an immense cortege, were interred in the Mill ward cemetery.
BIOGRAPHICAL
William Pitt Reynolds was born at Benton, Yates county, New York, April 3rd, 1816. He was married to Melissa Bardwell October 6th, 1841, at Erie, Pennsylvania, after which he returned to New York and resided in Livingstone county. He was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Elder William Hyde in 1844.
In 1848 he moved to the state of Michigan where he buried both his parents. His removal to Utah took place in 1853 and his first residence in the new settlements was at Provo. While there he was an active member of the Utah Militia. During the winter of 1858 he assisted in rescuing the last of the hand cart companies that were snowbound in the mountains.
In Wasatch county he was a pioneer. As he settled at Heber City in 1861. He moved to this valley in 1880 and has ever been a prominent man in this community. He and his sons built the first flouring mill here. One term he served as county prosecuting attorney. Since the organization of the stake he has been a member of the High Council. His aged wife survives him as does also ten of his fourteen children. He has eighty grandchildren and thirty- three great-grandchildren.
Obituary (died Nov 13, 1900) From the Vernal Express:
END OF AN ACTIVE LIFE- Father Reynolds
The Oldest Man in the County Passes Away-Was one of the Early Settlers of Utah and Assisted in the Building of New Settlements.
It was well known that Father William P. Reynolds, who has been an unusually active man almost up to the last month of his mortal career, had been suffering from a complication of diseases incident to old age and his recovery had been despaired of by his family and friends for some time. Therefore the news of his death was not unexpected. The sad event occurred at his home in Mill ward early Tuesday morning, and as the news spread among the people it caused a great deal of comment.
Throughout life he had been a man of strong character, honest, up right, generous to a fault, cheerful under adverse circumstances, devoted to his family and friends and a consistent Latter Day Saint. He was an indefatigable worker and his strength of mind and body were phenomenal. He was more than able to support himself up to the date of his last ill- ness. On the county records we find a claim for services rendered the county allowed him at the October meeting of the county commissioners. He enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest person in the county. Had his life been prolonged until next April he would have been eight-five years of age.
The funeral services were held at the Mill ward Social Hall under the auspices of the Mill ward bishopric. A large cortege followed the remains from the residence to the meeting place. Six members of the High Council acted as pall bearers, A large throng of people attended the funeral, giving evidence of the high esteem in which the aged veteran was held.
The speakers were Elders J.H. Glines, George D. Merkley, I.J. Clark, George A. Davis, Thomas Karren, R.S. Collett and S.R. Bennion. All of the speakers referred to the good character and the sterling integrity as well as the great labors of the deceased. Elder I.J. Clark had known him for fifty-eight years. After the services the remains, followed by an immense cortege, were interred in the Mill ward cemetery.
BIOGRAPHICAL
William Pitt Reynolds was born at Benton, Yates county, New York, April 3rd, 1816. He was married to Melissa Bardwell October 6th, 1841, at Erie, Pennsylvania, after which he returned to New York and resided in Livingstone county. He was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Elder William Hyde in 1844.
In 1848 he moved to the state of Michigan where he buried both his parents. His removal to Utah took place in 1853 and his first residence in the new settlements was at Provo. While there he was an active member of the Utah Militia. During the winter of 1858 he assisted in rescuing the last of the hand cart companies that were snowbound in the mountains.
In Wasatch county he was a pioneer. As he settled at Heber City in 1861. He moved to this valley in 1880 and has ever been a prominent man in this community. He and his sons built the first flouring mill here. One term he served as county prosecuting attorney. Since the organization of the stake he has been a member of the High Council. His aged wife survives him as does also ten of his fourteen children. He has eighty grandchildren and thirty- three great-grandchildren.
George Freestone
George found himself, as a fifteen year-old, driving four yoke of oxen on a heavy freight wagon to the Utah Territory. His younger brother, James, later wrote that he had driven sheep 1,000 miles barefooted across the Plains. “In Alpine,” George wrote, “between 1855 and 1856, I spent about half of my time building forts to fight against the Indians and half my time killing crickets.” The family struggled against these odds to make a living. Then in 1858, they lost their father when he was killed by Indians.
http://www.suplibrary.org/stories/detail.asp?id=186
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpt from Pioneer Story
George found himself, as a fifteen year-old, driving four yoke of oxen on a heavy freight wagon to the Utah Territory. His younger brother, James, later wrote that he had driven sheep 1,000 miles barefooted across the Plains. “In Alpine,” George wrote, “between 1855 and 1856, I spent about half of my time building forts to fight against the Indians and half my time killing crickets.” The family struggled against these odds to make a living. Then in 1858, they lost their father when he was killed by Indians.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Pioneer Story
GEORGE FREESTONE, FRONTIERSMAN
Submitted By: Angus H. Belliston (more stories by this author)
GEORGE FREESTONE, FRONTIERSMAN
By Angus H. Belliston
My mother had a special love for her Freestone grandparents and longed to see her
grandfather, George, who lived so far away in the Uintah Basin of Utah. In her journal she mentioned his name with reverence, and wished she could see “that tender hearted, soft-spoken, very kind man” again.
George Freestone was the eldest of nine children born to Thomas and Ann Fall Freestone.
George came into the world on Prince Edward Island near beautiful Nova Scotia on 13 August, 1838. His parents had been farming there, but when George was two years old they pulled up stakes and moved to Ohio in the United States. In about 1850, the family joined the Church and prepared, in 1853, to join the Saints heading for the West. They struggled through the fall to reach Mt. Pisgah, then on in the spring to Winter Quarters, where they immediately joined a company leaving for the Salt Lake Valley.
George found himself, as a fifteen year-old, driving four yoke of oxen on a heavy freight wagon to the Utah Territory. His younger brother, James, later wrote that he had driven sheep 1,000 miles barefooted across the Plains. “In Alpine,” George wrote, “between 1855 and 1856, I spent about half of my time building forts to fight against the Indians and half my time killing crickets.” The family struggled against these odds to make a living. Then in 1858, they lost their father when he was killed by Indians.
In 1861, George was employed hauling stone for the Salt Lake Temple. On Christmas Eve that year, twenty-three year-old George married Alice Carlisle, a twenty-six year-old divorcee. Alice had been born in England in 1835, had come to America and married a Mr. Wilkins in polygamy while crossing the Plains. Wilkins was a faithful member of the Church and had two other wives. He and Alice had three children together. But then he went away to California with his first wife and apparently left the others on their own. He may have been excommunicated, and Alice divorced him.
During the seven years after their marriage, four little girls were born to George Freestone and Alice. My grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Freestone, was the second of these. One week after the last child was born, near the seventh anniversary of their marriage, Alice died. She was only thirty-three years old, but had borne seven children. This was in the day when babies were born at home and the need for sanitation was not always met. Alice’s death left George alone with the four little girls and Alice’s three slightly older children. Somehow he provided for them for the next four years, apparently with a great deal of help from relatives and friends.
In 1872, George married a Danish girl, Jennie Lind, only seventeen years old and not yet able to speak English. Jennie Lind and Jennie’s mother moved with George to Franklin Meadows, an almost uninhabited area about six miles north and west of where Preston now sits, near the Idaho border. Of their seven children, they apparently took with them only eight year old Mary Elizabeth.
George loved this virgin land and the hunting and fishing that abounded. But it must have become too crowded for him. Seven years later, George and Jennie, George’s third daughter, Rhoda, and two small children now born to Jenny Lind, moved to Ashley Valley, in Utah’s Uintah Basin, which was in the earliest stages of settlement. My grandmother, Mary, now age fifteen, stayed behind in Alpine, to live for a year with her Aunt Rhoda.
The first year in Ashley Valley, all but one of the cattle froze to death. The family was very happy when one surviving cow showed up with her calf, and provided them with a source of milk. They subsisted on flour they had brought with them and wild game that George shot. They lived in the community fort in a one room log house with a sod roof and a dirt floor and no windows. That winter diphtheria struck. All the children were sick, but none died. A new baby was also born in this primitive situation. The next year the crops were good. The third year George raised 3,000 bushels of grain. It was a tough pioneer life, but they overcame the wilderness and made their way.
Although a frontiersman by nature, George was progressive. According to his own
account, he was the first farmer in that valley to fence his farm, and to build a frame house. He brought the first stand of bees and the first twine binder into the area. He also established a nursery which supplied shade and fruit trees for other settlers for years.
In 1887, George became bishop of the Vernal Ward and served for eleven years. When released, at age sixty, he left for a two-year mission to the British Isles. The following delightful account is taken from his diary: "Feb. 28, 1894. A beautiful morning. I walked to Flixton, the old Freestone homestead, about three miles from cousin James' place, where Father and his brothers and cousins were born. There is a little church there built of flint stones and gravel cemented together. It stands upon a hill and belongs to the Church of England. It has a tower and a spire on which stands a rooster. In the churchyard lie my grandfather and grandmother, but no tombstones mark their graves. Just below the hill stood the house where they once lived and died, but it is gone now and another takes its place. The country around is very beautiful, being
covered with many groves of trees. I returned the way I came, and many curious thoughts filled my mind."
Counting his first four children by Alice Carlisle, George eventually had fifteen children “born to me.” He died in Vernal on 26 August 1920 at age eighty-two.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Elsie Elizabeth Maughan Belliston biography, 2005; Various family records and personal accounts.
Virtues: Courage, Hardship, Difficulty, Trials, Leadership
http://www.suplibrary.org/stories/detail.asp?id=186
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpt from Pioneer Story
George found himself, as a fifteen year-old, driving four yoke of oxen on a heavy freight wagon to the Utah Territory. His younger brother, James, later wrote that he had driven sheep 1,000 miles barefooted across the Plains. “In Alpine,” George wrote, “between 1855 and 1856, I spent about half of my time building forts to fight against the Indians and half my time killing crickets.” The family struggled against these odds to make a living. Then in 1858, they lost their father when he was killed by Indians.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Pioneer Story
GEORGE FREESTONE, FRONTIERSMAN
Submitted By: Angus H. Belliston (more stories by this author)
GEORGE FREESTONE, FRONTIERSMAN
By Angus H. Belliston
My mother had a special love for her Freestone grandparents and longed to see her
grandfather, George, who lived so far away in the Uintah Basin of Utah. In her journal she mentioned his name with reverence, and wished she could see “that tender hearted, soft-spoken, very kind man” again.
George Freestone was the eldest of nine children born to Thomas and Ann Fall Freestone.
George came into the world on Prince Edward Island near beautiful Nova Scotia on 13 August, 1838. His parents had been farming there, but when George was two years old they pulled up stakes and moved to Ohio in the United States. In about 1850, the family joined the Church and prepared, in 1853, to join the Saints heading for the West. They struggled through the fall to reach Mt. Pisgah, then on in the spring to Winter Quarters, where they immediately joined a company leaving for the Salt Lake Valley.
George found himself, as a fifteen year-old, driving four yoke of oxen on a heavy freight wagon to the Utah Territory. His younger brother, James, later wrote that he had driven sheep 1,000 miles barefooted across the Plains. “In Alpine,” George wrote, “between 1855 and 1856, I spent about half of my time building forts to fight against the Indians and half my time killing crickets.” The family struggled against these odds to make a living. Then in 1858, they lost their father when he was killed by Indians.
In 1861, George was employed hauling stone for the Salt Lake Temple. On Christmas Eve that year, twenty-three year-old George married Alice Carlisle, a twenty-six year-old divorcee. Alice had been born in England in 1835, had come to America and married a Mr. Wilkins in polygamy while crossing the Plains. Wilkins was a faithful member of the Church and had two other wives. He and Alice had three children together. But then he went away to California with his first wife and apparently left the others on their own. He may have been excommunicated, and Alice divorced him.
During the seven years after their marriage, four little girls were born to George Freestone and Alice. My grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Freestone, was the second of these. One week after the last child was born, near the seventh anniversary of their marriage, Alice died. She was only thirty-three years old, but had borne seven children. This was in the day when babies were born at home and the need for sanitation was not always met. Alice’s death left George alone with the four little girls and Alice’s three slightly older children. Somehow he provided for them for the next four years, apparently with a great deal of help from relatives and friends.
In 1872, George married a Danish girl, Jennie Lind, only seventeen years old and not yet able to speak English. Jennie Lind and Jennie’s mother moved with George to Franklin Meadows, an almost uninhabited area about six miles north and west of where Preston now sits, near the Idaho border. Of their seven children, they apparently took with them only eight year old Mary Elizabeth.
George loved this virgin land and the hunting and fishing that abounded. But it must have become too crowded for him. Seven years later, George and Jennie, George’s third daughter, Rhoda, and two small children now born to Jenny Lind, moved to Ashley Valley, in Utah’s Uintah Basin, which was in the earliest stages of settlement. My grandmother, Mary, now age fifteen, stayed behind in Alpine, to live for a year with her Aunt Rhoda.
The first year in Ashley Valley, all but one of the cattle froze to death. The family was very happy when one surviving cow showed up with her calf, and provided them with a source of milk. They subsisted on flour they had brought with them and wild game that George shot. They lived in the community fort in a one room log house with a sod roof and a dirt floor and no windows. That winter diphtheria struck. All the children were sick, but none died. A new baby was also born in this primitive situation. The next year the crops were good. The third year George raised 3,000 bushels of grain. It was a tough pioneer life, but they overcame the wilderness and made their way.
Although a frontiersman by nature, George was progressive. According to his own
account, he was the first farmer in that valley to fence his farm, and to build a frame house. He brought the first stand of bees and the first twine binder into the area. He also established a nursery which supplied shade and fruit trees for other settlers for years.
In 1887, George became bishop of the Vernal Ward and served for eleven years. When released, at age sixty, he left for a two-year mission to the British Isles. The following delightful account is taken from his diary: "Feb. 28, 1894. A beautiful morning. I walked to Flixton, the old Freestone homestead, about three miles from cousin James' place, where Father and his brothers and cousins were born. There is a little church there built of flint stones and gravel cemented together. It stands upon a hill and belongs to the Church of England. It has a tower and a spire on which stands a rooster. In the churchyard lie my grandfather and grandmother, but no tombstones mark their graves. Just below the hill stood the house where they once lived and died, but it is gone now and another takes its place. The country around is very beautiful, being
covered with many groves of trees. I returned the way I came, and many curious thoughts filled my mind."
Counting his first four children by Alice Carlisle, George eventually had fifteen children “born to me.” He died in Vernal on 26 August 1920 at age eighty-two.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Elsie Elizabeth Maughan Belliston biography, 2005; Various family records and personal accounts.
Virtues: Courage, Hardship, Difficulty, Trials, Leadership
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)