Rev E Fitzgerald
May 13, 1828 - Feburary 8 1912
Memory Cemetary
New Market, Iowa
Photo & ID from Donna (Fitzgerald) Toscano
via
http://www.jowest.net/genealogy/Jo/Fitzgerald/EdwardFitzgeraldTombstone.htm
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Edward Fitzgerald
Photo & ID from Donna (Fitzgerald) Toscano
via
http://www.jowest.net/genealogy/Jo/Fitzgerald/EdwardFitzgeraldTombstone.htm
Adaline Harris
Adaline Harris Fitzgerald
March 1, 1832 - November 30, 1892
Trenton Nebraska
March 1, 1832 - November 30, 1892
Trenton Nebraska
Photo & ID from Donna (Fitzgerald) Toscano
via
http://www.jowest.net/genealogy/Jo/Fitzgerald/AdalineHarrisFitzgerald.htm
My Wife at the Gate
This is a poem written by Edward Fitzgerald about his wife Adaline Harris (whom my daughter Adalyn in named after).
MY WIFE AT THE GATE
There's many a lonely picture,
On memory's silent wall;
There's many cherished images,
That I tenderly recall.
The sweet home of my childhood
With its singing brooks and birds;
The friends who grew beside me,
With their loving looks and words.
The flowers that decked the wildwood
The roses fresh and sweet;
The pinks and the daisies,
That blossomed at my feet.
These were all very precious,
And often come to me;
Like breezes from a better land,
Beyond life's troubled sea.
But the sweetest, dearest picture
That memory can create;
Is the image of my Wife,
My WIFE, my jewel at the gate.
It is there I see her standing,
With her face so pure and fair;
With the sunlight and the shadows
On her snowy white hair.
I can feel the soft warm pressure,
Of the hand that clasped my own;
I can see the look of fondness,
That in her pure eyes shone.
I can hear her parting words,
Through the three long years;
I can see the look of fondness,
That in her pure eyes shone.
I can hear her parting words,
Through the three long years;
I can see through all my sorrows,
Her own sweet silent tears.
Ah! amid the darkest trials,
That have mingled with my fate:
I have turned to that, dear image,
My Wife at the gate.
But she has crossed the river,
She is with angels now;
She has laid aside earth's crosses,
And the crown is on her brow.
She is clothed in clean white linen,
And she walks the street of gold;
O, loved one, safe forever
Within the Savior's fold.
No sorrowing thoughts can reach her,
No grief is hers today;
God gives her joy for mourning,
Her tears are wiped away.
She is waiting in that city,
Where the saints and angels wait;
And I'll know my dearest Wife,
When I reach the pearly gate.
So, when was stilled her weary heart,
Folded her hands so white;
And she was carried from the home,
She'd always made so bright.
Her children raised a monument,
That money could not buy;
As witness of noble life,
Whose record is on high.
A noble life, but written not,
In any book of fame;
Among the list of noted ones,
None ever saw her name.
For only her household knew,
The victories she had won;
And none but they could testify,
How well her work was done.
Faithful hands that toiled so long,
Lips that sung her morning song;
They can hush my sighs no more,
Lighten burdens as before.
Behold the days are running fast,
I'm with the old already classed;
Soon will the darksome vail be passed
Then comes the hour, when at last,
My spirit arms will around her cast.
I'll labor on and not repine,
Until I'm called to meet my Adeline;
Though ever so lonely I must wait,
I expect to meet my wife at the gate.
Composed By
Elder E.(dward) Fitzgerald
about 1895
How were related:
Jessica B Brown ---> Virginia Sorenson (living) ---> Ned William Sorenson (1919 - 2000) ---> Nellie Ida McLean (1889 - 1965) ---> Emma Jean Fitzgerald (1862 - 1900)
---> Adaline Harris (1832 - 1892) & Edward Fitzgerald (1828 - 1912)
MY WIFE AT THE GATE
There's many a lonely picture,
On memory's silent wall;
There's many cherished images,
That I tenderly recall.
The sweet home of my childhood
With its singing brooks and birds;
The friends who grew beside me,
With their loving looks and words.
The flowers that decked the wildwood
The roses fresh and sweet;
The pinks and the daisies,
That blossomed at my feet.
These were all very precious,
And often come to me;
Like breezes from a better land,
Beyond life's troubled sea.
But the sweetest, dearest picture
That memory can create;
Is the image of my Wife,
My WIFE, my jewel at the gate.
It is there I see her standing,
With her face so pure and fair;
With the sunlight and the shadows
On her snowy white hair.
I can feel the soft warm pressure,
Of the hand that clasped my own;
I can see the look of fondness,
That in her pure eyes shone.
I can hear her parting words,
Through the three long years;
I can see the look of fondness,
That in her pure eyes shone.
I can hear her parting words,
Through the three long years;
I can see through all my sorrows,
Her own sweet silent tears.
Ah! amid the darkest trials,
That have mingled with my fate:
I have turned to that, dear image,
My Wife at the gate.
But she has crossed the river,
She is with angels now;
She has laid aside earth's crosses,
And the crown is on her brow.
She is clothed in clean white linen,
And she walks the street of gold;
O, loved one, safe forever
Within the Savior's fold.
No sorrowing thoughts can reach her,
No grief is hers today;
God gives her joy for mourning,
Her tears are wiped away.
She is waiting in that city,
Where the saints and angels wait;
And I'll know my dearest Wife,
When I reach the pearly gate.
So, when was stilled her weary heart,
Folded her hands so white;
And she was carried from the home,
She'd always made so bright.
Her children raised a monument,
That money could not buy;
As witness of noble life,
Whose record is on high.
A noble life, but written not,
In any book of fame;
Among the list of noted ones,
None ever saw her name.
For only her household knew,
The victories she had won;
And none but they could testify,
How well her work was done.
Faithful hands that toiled so long,
Lips that sung her morning song;
They can hush my sighs no more,
Lighten burdens as before.
Behold the days are running fast,
I'm with the old already classed;
Soon will the darksome vail be passed
Then comes the hour, when at last,
My spirit arms will around her cast.
I'll labor on and not repine,
Until I'm called to meet my Adeline;
Though ever so lonely I must wait,
I expect to meet my wife at the gate.
Composed By
Elder E.(dward) Fitzgerald
about 1895
How were related:
Jessica B Brown ---> Virginia Sorenson (living) ---> Ned William Sorenson (1919 - 2000) ---> Nellie Ida McLean (1889 - 1965) ---> Emma Jean Fitzgerald (1862 - 1900)
---> Adaline Harris (1832 - 1892) & Edward Fitzgerald (1828 - 1912)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The History of John Barbara Hulme Heath and their Daughter Jane Heath Silcock
THEIR EARLY LIFE
Barbara Hulme had a moderate education. She could read and write and cipher. She chose the occupation of a cook, and put a good portion of the money she earned in the
bank. She did not belong to any church, but had a good moral training. She had been
taught to read the Bible and knew many of the sayings of the Saviour off by heart. Shehad been taught that when she made a promise, she should keep it, and it would be as good as her bond.
When she was 29 years old, Barbara met a very pious young man by the name of John
Heath. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and sang in the Church of England
choir for 12 years. He worked in the potteries in Staffordshire, England, as a decorator of china, and earned good wages. At the time he married Barbara, he had saved quite a bit of money.
He and Barbara were very happy; and since she had quite a bit of leisure time, she studiedto be a woman doctor. She was small in stature, but very alert. Her hair was dark, her eyes were blue, and she had a Roman nose.
THEIR FAMILY BEGINS
Their first child was a girl whom they named Jane. She grew up to be a great help to her parents. Jane acquired a common school education and developed many talents including fancy and plain needle work, knitting, shoe binding, button-holing and dancing.
When Jane was two years old, another child was born, named Henry. When he was only
a few weeks old, the father, John Heath, took very sick with typhoid fever. It lasted aboutthree months, but it left him very nervous. The doctor said he must not work at his tradeany more--or at least not for a long time--so they had to start drawing on their savings account.
In 1831 they had another son, and they named him Thomas after his Grandfather Heath.
Barbara decided she would have to do something to help make a living so they would not use up all their savings. One morning she noticed in the paper there was a bakery and store for sale. She knew this was her chance; so she put on her wraps and didn't say a word to anyone what she had in mind. She looked the proposition over and bought the place; then she went home and told her husband what she had done. He said, "Woman,you must be crazy! You cannot do that with your little children to take care of." Barbara said, "You just leave that to me, John."
So they moved and she took the load on her own shoulders. It was a large place. She
hired a girl to take care of the children and hired woman to wash once a week.
Grandfather would wait on customers and do light house work such as dusting and
polishing of furniture. Grandmother would make all the bread and do the baking.
After a while there was a public house for rent close to the bakery. It would be called asaloon in this country. Grandfather wanted grandmother to give up the bakeryand run the public house; he could attend to more of that kind of business, and it would be easier on grandmother. But grandmother said, "No, John, I will never give up the sure for theunsure. People have to have bread, but they can do without beer. If you want to take the house so bad, go ahead. You are feeling pretty good. Rent the place and you run the public house and I will stay with the bakery, and we will hire what help we need." So it was settled. They took what was left of their old bank account and started Grandfather in business.
In May 1833 they had another son, Frederick, born to them. He was a lively little fellow with blue eyes and black curly hair. As he grew older, he loved to play jokes on hismother.
Jane was about six years old at this time and she would carry message's bark and forth between her father and mother. They would write notes and let the little girl carry them. Thus she was pushed forward and gradually drawn into business at a very early age. She was a bright little girl, and school was easy for her. She learned how to do many things well.
The public house proved a failure. They lost money, and it was quite a while before they could sell it and find someone to buy the fixtures. Grandfather John's health was failing,but he helped Barbara in the bakery and took care of the children.
Barbara and John cared for many who were homeless and gave them food and shelter.
Her two youngest sisters also lived in their home.
One day in about 1834 Mr. John Silcock and his son, Nicholas Thomas, a boy of 15,
came to find board and lodging. He had broken up housekeeping after his wife died. John Silcock was a carpenter by trade, and his young son was serving an apprenticeship to the trade. There was plenty of room in the bakery building--being three stories high--for John and his son.
Jane was about 8 years old at this time. Her younger brothers, Henry, Thomas and
Frederick, used to tease her quite often, and Nicholas Silcock would take her part and make the boys behave. He was a comfort to her and gradually an attachment grew
between them.
In 1837, when Jane was 11 years old, her parents were blessed with their second little girl, Sarah Jael. How happy she was to have a little sister. Jane had almost complete care of her sister, because her mother was so busy in the bakery. Her joy was short-lived,however, because Sarah Jael passed away when she was about two years old.
About the year 1838, Jane's father sent her to a shoe shop to learn the trade of shoebinding. He felt it would be helpful to her someday.
NICHOLAS AND JANE JOIN THE CHURCH
One of the patrons of the Heath shop was a Mrs. Isaac Poole, This family was among thefirst families in Hanley to accept Mormonism. The Gospel made such a difference in
their lives, that Mrs. Poole began to explain the new religion to Jane. Jane went to thehome of Mr. and Mrs. Poole where Mr. Poole read the Bible to her.
At this time, young Nicholas Thomas, also listened to the elders preach the Gospel, andhe know it was true. He was baptized the 24th of August, 1840. Even though she was
interested herself, she teased N. Thomas and said, "You have been dipped." He did not
mention the new religion to her after that, but Jane continued to study, and conversion came to her also. Out of respect to her parents, she determined not to join the new creed without their consent. She heard of a specified baptismal date, when the Pooles were to be baptized, and as the date grew nearer, her anxiety became greater. They asked her to come with them and be baptized. There would not be another baptismal date for a long time. She said to them, "I will be baptized if I can get my father's consent." His invalid sickness prevented him from meeting with the elders. Jane went upstairs where her father was in bed and said,"Father, Isaac Poole and his wife are going to be baptized into the Mormon Church. Can I go with them and be baptized?" "No, my child, you are not old enough to know what you
are doing." She was disheartened, but she went into her bedroom and knelt down and
prayed very earnestly. She asked the Lord that if it be His will to please soften her
father's heart and give his consent for her to be baptized. She went downstairs full of faith, for she felt that the Lord would hear and answer her prayer. After dinner she went upstairs and asked her father the second time, and again he replied, “No, you are not old enough to know what you are doing. You are too young to decide so important a question." She spoke firmly, "Yes, I am old enough, and I do understand what I am doing." But her father still refused to give his consent.
She waited until the afternoon of the last day before the baptism. Jane prayed the third time and laid her soul's desire before the Lord. She asked him to soften her father's heart,that he would permit her to be baptized. She adored her father and did not want to grieve him. Her prayer was answered, and how happy she was when he said to her, "Yes, Jane,you may go.”
She hurried to her chest and began to hunt out clothes to wear. Thomas Silcock came inthe room. He had heard she was going to be baptized. "Jane," said he, "Do you
understand what you are doing?" She curtly replied, "It's none of your business if I don't."Thomas was quick to answer, "I want you to understand that it is my business." Jane wasstill embarrassed for having made fun of him when he was baptized, and found it easierto hurry off into another room to tell her mother that her father had given his consent. Her mother had already told her she was willing, but she would have to get permission from her father. Jane was just 14 years old. It was a night to remember when she was baptized and confirmed by Elder Wilford Woodruff on the 8th Of March 1841, while he was on his first mission to England. This was just seven months after Thomas joined the Church.
MARRIAGE OF JANE AND NICHOLAS
N. Thomas spoke of going to Australia; but when he joined the he decided to emigrate toAmerica instead. He had lived in the Heath for seven years, and he saw Jane at her best and her worst. They had in common now, and Jane was worried about his leaving for America, fearing she may never see him again. At last young Silcock Proposed marriage to her, and she accepted his offer willingly and with much joy. She told her mother of his proposal, and Barbara consulted her brother for advice. He told her if the young people wanted to marry, let them, for they would marry sooner or later anyway. After considering the affair, she gave her consent. They were married in the Church of England on the 14th of April 1841, just one month after Jane was baptized. Jane's father was growing steadily worse about this time. He was on1y 39 years old and had been in poor health for many years. Finally he developed consumption and passed away September 8, 1841. Jane felt the shock of her father's death. She was his only living daughter and had been a favorite with him. She had been put forward in business and in company till she appeared a great deal older than she really wag. She was only 14 but many people thought she was at least 18 years old. She matured early and all her life had taken responsibility in helping her family. Her mother had to assume the funeral expenses; from then on Jane and her mother worked side by side. Jane tried to live the life of a Saint but had to put up with a great deal of persecution. Jane was afraid of large bodies of water. One day in the presence of her father, she said, "Father, I want to emigrate someday so I can be with the body of the Church in the city of Nauvoo." He jokingly replied, "That little drop of water at Liverpool would scare you out." when she did cross the ocean, she was not afraid at all, for she was full of faith and put her trust in the Lord who was able to save her from destruction. Just ten months after their marriage (February 6, 1842), Nicholas and Jane were blessed with their first child--a son named Alma Heath, born in Hanley, Stafford, England. Alma was a Book of Mormon name. He was a strong, healthy baby and soon became the pride of the household.
Nicholas had been out of work for over a year. Times were dull in England during the year 1841, and it was almost impossible to find employment. He and Jane did all they could to help Barbara in the bakery. In his spare time he would always be found reading the Book of Mormon.
EMIGRATION TO AMERICA
When little Alma was eight months old, Nicholas Thomas felt he and his family should emigrate to America. They could not all afford passage, so it was agreed that Nicholas would go first and earn the money to send for Jane and the baby. He heard that he could get plenty of work in America. They discussed his leaving and Barbara agreed to loan him the money and fitted him out for the trip to Nauvoo. He emigrated in a sailing vessel in September 1842. The voyage had its difficulties. The ship was blown back twice--once they came back quite close to where they started from. There was a man aboard who had joined the Mormon Church, and he declared he was the "Jonah" that was holding the ship back; so he got a man to take him back to England in a small boat. While the captain was waiting for the wind to change, Nicholas met Parley P. Pratt, who was aboard the ship, returning to Nauvoo from a mission to England. When he heard Mr.
Silcock was a carpenter, he engaged him to build him a house as soon as he got to Nauvoo; so he had a job promised him ahead of time. Nicholas worked for the captain, doing some repair work on the ship. They were eleven weeks on the water. Meanwhile, Jane waited patiently for a letter from her husband, and finally "Jonah," as he called himself, brought her one. However, it was so scribbled she could hardly read it. She could make out that he was well, but had bad luck in the sailing vessel. This made Jane worry more than ever for fear her husband would be lost at sea. She prayed very earnestly that the Lord would let his angels take charge concerning those people on the ship, that they might reach their place of destination in safety The ship finally arrived in New Orleans and Nicholas found work there. The floating ice in the river kept them from going to Nauvoo for a while. The next letter she received from him informed her that he was in America. Jane and her mother worked hard in the bakery business. She was pestered occasionally by her old admirers telling her that her husband would never send for her, and that he would marry a girl out there and then she would be glad to marry and settle down in England. One admirer would come into the shop to buy something and after waiting on him, Jane would go back in the living room. Instead of his going through the outside door, as other customers did, he would follow Jane just to torment her. One day she decided she had put up with all the foolishness she was going to from him. He came back while she was ironing, and she get her ironing board back, seized the fellow by the collar, and pushed him across the room, out of the door, and into the hallway. Her mother, hearing the noise, came running to see what was the matter, just in time to see Miss Jane push him out of the front door. A policeman passing by asked, "What's the trouble here?" Barbara replied, "This man persists in coming to my house and insulting MY daughter. Today she got mad. She thought she had stood enough, so she put him out of doors." The policeman said, "Mister, go along about your business or I'll take care of you and put you where you will have to mind your own business." This gentleman never came back to Grandmother Heath's again.
The two "widows", mother and daughter, got along fine. They were very busy women
and time fled rapidly. One day Jane received a letter from her husband. A year had passed since he set sail for America. She didn't get a letter very often, as they did not have airplanes to carry the mail-nothing swifter than a sailing vessel. This letter was asking her to cow out to where he was as quickly as possible. He was lonely for her, and what he paid for room and board would keep them both. She handed the letter to her mother to read and then asked, "What shall I do?" "You had better go to the presiding elder of the Church for advice," her mother responded. The presiding elder told her that if her husband had sent for her, she should go if she had the means. Her mother felt very bad when she heard that the elder had advised her to go. "Well," she said, "I will fit you out for housekeeping and pay your passage on the ship and train fare to Liverpool." So you see, her mother paid her good wages for one year's work. Jane bid her mother goodbye and started for America. Her mother told her she would follow in two years. She said she would not be baptized until she was ready to leave England, because she did not want to be a stumbling block to anybody, since she had to work on the Sabbath day and this was not becoming to a Latter-day Saint. She said she would bring her three boys with her. When Jane got to Liverpool, she found a large company of Latter-day Saints already to get aboard the ship. The Saints were presided over by a very staunch L.D.S. named Amos Fielding. He supervised the luggage and loading of the ship and instructed the Saints so there would be no confusion in getting aboard. The ship was soon ready. She drew in her anchor, spread her sails and away she went, bound- for North America. Every night and morning Amos Fielding called the Saints together for prayer. He was full of faith and believed if the Saints would exercise their faith with his and ask the Almighty to protect them, they would have no trouble in crossing the ocean. For the first two or three days there was much sea sickness, but they soon got over that. The worst trouble Jane had was when her one-year-and eight-month-old son, Alma, took down with the measles the first week on the sea. She thought if only mother were here to tell me what to do. She began to realize that she was rather young to have a baby and be on her own--only seventeen years old. Brother Fielding came to her and told her what to do for her child and gave her a few kind words of encouragement and Jane felt much better. The baby clang to his mother and Jane grew very weary; then some kind-hearted person offered to take him and give her some rest, but the baby refused to go to anyone else. Sometimes Jane would put her porridge pan on the furnace, and when she thought her porridge would be cooked for breakfast, she would go with the baby in her arms and find the pan down in front of the fire grate full of ashes. This is what tries the faith of a Saint!! She would shed a few tears and forget it.
Jane received a letter from her husband the day before she left England saying that if there was a woman on board the ship by the name of Elizabeth Pixton, she would find her husband with Jane's husband at New Orleans. They would meet them there, find work and stay till spring. Jane soon located Elizabeth Pixton and she was excited with the good news. The baby was over the measles now but still very cross and tiresome. Their voyage lasted six weeks and three days. They sighted land and soon reached the shore, dropped anchor and landed in New Orleans in December 1843. When Jane got on shore, she looked around for her husband. There was a steep hill in front of them about 20 feet high and all at once a man came bounding down the hill. It
was Robert Pixton, followed shortly by Nicholas Silcock. When he got to his wife, Jane, he put out his hands and said, "Come to me, my son." The boy went right to his father just like he knew him, and he had not seen him for over a year. The two men had been there for a number of days and had found work making bricks for a rich planter. They expected the job would last all winter, so they had rented an old blacksmith shop and were going to live in the shop all winter, since it is quite warm in the state of Arkansas in winter.
Jane went with her husband to get the luggage. He had borrowed a wagon and a yoke of
oxen. They got along all right going, but coming back they had to cross a stream of water.
The oxen were ungovernable, and turned down the stream where the water was quite
deep. All Mr. Silcock could do was to jump into the water and bale water in their faces to
keep them from going downstream any further. Jane was equal to the occasion. She did not get frightened and scream like most women would have done, but she placed her little boy between two boxes, and told him to be a good boy and stay with his father. She stood up on one of the chests and gave a big jump, landing on the bank of the stream. She said, "Hold the oxen there if you can, Tom, and I will run to the first cabin r can see and get a colored man to handle the oxen." So away she ran and was soon back with a Negro. He rolled up his pants and waded out into the stream. "Give me dat wip, Massa. I'll fetch em out." And he sure did fetch them out and
drove to the cabin where they were going to live. "Can you get along now, Massa?" "Oh, yes. Thank you for your kindness," Jane and Nicholas replied. "Oh, dat's alright, Massa." They unloaded the wagon and then Nicholas started back with the oxen and wagon. They had not gone but 200 or 300 yards before the oxen ran as fast as they could and threw him off the wagon. The hind wheel ran over his foot and sprained his ankle. He jumped up and ran after the team, but he never caught them till they got home. He had to wade the stream of water both going and coming back. As soon as Jane's husband had gone with the team, she set to work to fix a place for her little boy to sleep. Some of the people told her she must not make a bed on the ground because there were snakes that crawled around on the ground at night.
They left Arkansas to meet the boat at New Orleans and then returned to Arkansas the place of their employment.
So she gathered up sticks and built a little pen about three feet high. Then she laid sticks
across the top for slats, made the bed on top of the pen, and put her boy in bed. She then built a fire and kept it burning to keep the panthers and other wild animals away from them, for they were in a thickly timbered plantation. It would have taken the plantation owner a year to bring all this land under cultivation, even if he did have many slaves to work for him. Jane watched and waited until nearly midnight before her husband came. When she heard him whistle, she ran out to meet him. "Oh, Tom, are you all right?" she asked. "Yes," said he, "Only my foot that the wagon wheel -ran over is swollen badly and pains me considerably." Jane set to work to make a vinegar and meal poultice to put on his foot.
After binding his foot, they made their bed and settled down for the night. Thus ended
Jane's first day in America.
LIFE ON THE PLANTATION
The next morning they got up and fixed breakfast, then went to work unpacking their luggage. They unpacked only what they would need in their camp life. The next morning Mr. and Mrs. Pixton arrived with their luggage and the man prepared to go to work.
Nicholas's foot was better, with the good nursing he had, and he could walk fairly well.
Jane put a poultice on it each night until it was entirely well.
The people on the plantation were very hospitable and kind to them and visited them often. The father of the plantation owner was in his nineties and was so feeble that he tottered. He walked along with a cane to keep from falling. He said to the men, "No wonder you are so pleased to have two such fine looking young women as these come and see you." England is a very mild climate and the English women were fair skinned and rosy cheeked, while the Southern women looked sallow because of malaria, and their faces were tanned from the summer heat. That winter was rather monotonous for the women. I heard them say that the monotony was broken once when a colored man on horseback came to their cabin telling them how he had shot and killed a panther. The ladies were horrified when he showed it to them. The Negroes, as they went to work in the timber, would carry a boa knife and a revolver on their belt to protect themselves from wild beasts.
AND ON TO NAUVOO -- 1844-45
The men were very busy all winter. They didn't complete their job of making bricks until
the following May, 1844. They were all excited about going up the river to Nauvoo. They
were not long in getting settled in their new homes there. They lived in a home belonging
to Parley P. Pratt, until Nicholas could build a frame cottage just across the street from
the Pratts. Sister Pratt was a very motherly woman, and Jane looked up to her as a mother
since her own mother was not there.
They had not lived there very long before a report came that there was a mob coming to kill the people of Nauvoo, and Sister Pratt was the first one to come and say, "You and your little boy come over to our house, and if we have to be killed, let us all die together." Nicholas carried the little boy across the street to their home. Before leaving she handed a sword to the boy's father and said to him, "Here is Brother Parley's sword. Take it and do the best you can with it." The women were left alone and that was pretty severe medicine, and Jane thought to herself, "Is it possible that we are all going to be killed and I shall never see my mother again?" These thoughts worried her so much that she became very ill for ten days and then gave birth to a premature still-born child--a boy.
Nicholas Silcock came back at daylight and said they had been on guard all night, but
there was no mob that came--it was a false alarm. Jane took chills and fever and was sick
for some time after. She looked very thin and poor and was not the rosy cheeked young
lady that came from England the year before.
Nicholas was called to work on the Nauvoo Temple as a carpenter, and among other
assignments there, he did some of the carving on the spiral stairways and other fine
carpentry work. Jane said she was never happier than when her husband was working on
the Temple. They made bread from shorts instead of flour, and called it short bread. She
sold her clothes and valuables to buy food, and other prized treasures were sold to buy
curtains and trimmings for the Temple.
While in Nauvoo, they were closely associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and when
the Prophet was martyred, Mr. Silcock was working at his bench in the Temple. This was
indeed a time of great sorrow, and the Saints were grief-stricken to lose their Prophet.
They continued to work on the Temple until it was finished. The dedication was in May
1846.
It was comforting to Jane and Nicholas to receive patriarchal blessings by John Smith,
who was an uncle to the Prophet. (The brother of Joseph Smith, Sr.) Jane's blessing is
included below:
A BLESSING BY JOHN SMITH, PATRIARCH,
UPON THE HEAD OF
JANE HEATH SILCOCK,
Daughter of John Heath and Barbara (Hulme) Heath
Born November 6th, 1826, at Staffordshire, England
SISTER JANE: I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ and seal upon
thee a Father's blessing, because thou hast obeyed the Gospel, notwithstanding the
afflictions and opposition thou hast been called to pass through. Thou hast not been
ashamed to acknowledge thy faith in the Gospel before the world; the Lord is well
pleased and He will not be ashamed of thee before the Holy Angels; for thou art of the
same lineage with thy companion, and a lawful heir to the same Priesthood with the
privileges and benefits thereof, the keys of which shall be committed to thee in common
with any companion in the house of the Lord, when thou hast received an endowment,
thou shalt have power to heal the sick, and to do all miracles common for the daughters
of Abraham. And inasmuch as you bear all things patiently, and forbear to murmur, and
be satisfied with thy lot, thou shalt be blessed in thy house with peace and plenty, with
health and joy, a numerous family, and a long life, and all blessings which you desire in
righteousness before the Lord. Inasmuch as you observe all the conditions in this blessing, not one word shall fail,
Amen.
(Record in Volume 9, page 161, John Smith, Patriarch, May 13, 1845.)
During her residence in Nauvoo, Jane met the Prophet's mother. She and several other
sisters had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with her in the home of Parley P. Pratt.
They had a pleasant visit, and each one there gave the guest of honor some little token of
remembrance. Jane was also present during a meeting on a later occasion when Pres.
Young asked Sister Lucy Mack Smith to speak from the pulpit. Sister Smith said that her
heart was with the Saints, but on account of her feebleness, she would like to stay east
and be buried with her dead.
Mother was there when the mantle of the Prophet fell on Brigham Young and testified to
her dying day that the face and voice of Brigham Young were identical with those of the
Prophet.
On Saturday, the 7th of August, 1845, in Nauvoo, Illinois, Jane and Nicholas welcomed
their first little girl into the world, and they called her Elizabeth Jane. She lived just a
little over a year and passed away August 16, 1846.
BARBARA AND THREE SONS COME TO AMERICA - 1845
Back in England, Jane's mother, Barbara, was baptized in 1845. She sold her business
and with her three boys, left England for Nauvoo, taking with her a bakery outfit, as she
expected to start a business wherever she settled. She left many friends who crowded her
yard so much the night before she left that she could hardly get away from them. She
made a great deal of money and was very good to the poor people. She made the remark
that if she had the money still owing her in England, she might have ridden in her
carriage the rest of her life.
She arrived at Nauvoo in the fall of 1845. During the first winter, she and the boys stayed
with Jane and Nicholas.
On January 8, 1846, the three of them (Barbara, Jane and Nicholas) received their
endowments in the Nauvoo Temple.
During that same year word was noised around that the people of the state of Illinois were
going to exterminate the Mormons because they were practicing polygamy. The Saints
were persecuted and mobocrats were threatening to drive the Saints out of Nauvoo as
soon as possible.
BARBARA'S MISSION COMES TO A CLOSE
Barbara and her three boys, Henry, 17, Thomas, 14, and Fredrick, 12, were advised to
leave with the body of the Saints and start westward. The three boys had not yet joined
the Church and Bishop Edward Hunter, who was in charge of the company, suggested
they all come with him, and he would find employment for her three sons. (The Saints
were divided into companies of 250.) He did all he could to help bring them into the
Church.
They left with the Hunter family in the fall of 1846 and crossed the river into Montrose,
Iowa--then on to Winter Quarters. During the winter that followed, many of the Saints
were ill with chills and fever; but as long as Barbara was able, she took care of the sick.
When she herself became ill, she would crawl on her hands and knees to give a drink of
water to someone. She was ill for 14 weeks, and before she died, she cried out for a drink
of water. (Truly she gave her life for her loved ones and friends.)
She called Elizabeth Melroy (?) to her and said, "I want you to write to my daughter in
St. Louis and tell her that I am no more, but I have died in hopes of a bright and glorious
resurrection." She passed away at Winter Quarters, October 20, 1846.
"THIS IS THE PLACE"
Barbara's boys came on to Salt Lake with the Hunter family and were in one of the first
companies of Saints to arrive in the valley--sometime between the 20th of September and
6th of October. Bishop Hunter joined the Mormon Battalion, and Sister Hunter and the
three boys drove the ox team. They lived with the Hunter family until they were married.
Sister Hunter was like a mother to these boys.
Years later Sister Hunter told my mother (Jane) that Barbara's last words to her daughter
as they were leaving Nauvoo, were, "Jane, if it was not for the salvation of my boys, I
would never leave you." This was a sad goodbye.
My mother, Nina, wrote that the only thing she ever saw that belonged to her
grandmother, Barbara, was a teapot and a cream pitcher that Mrs. Hunter gave Jane; and
two brass knobs that were put at the side of the window to tie the curtains back. Jane also
had a small looking glass about ten inches square that hung in her kitchen. She told us
children that it was her father's (John Hulme) shaving glass, made from a piece of a large
mirror that Grandmother "Lady" Jane McDonald had brought from Scotland.
TEST OF FAITH
Soon after the Temple was completed and they had received their endowments (1846),
Nicholas and Jane left the beautiful city of Nauvoo, taking with them only the things that
could be carried on a river steamboat, and went to St. Joseph--their destination, Ft.
Leavenworth, Kansas. But while in St. Joseph, they learned of the Mexican War and that
all government work on Ft. Leavenworth had ceased. They traveled as far as to New
Orleans to find work, but there was nothing there. So they went to St. Louis, Missouri,
and remained there until the spring of 1850. It was here in St. Louis she received word
that her mother had passed away at Winter Quarters.
Jane had two children born in St. Louis--Barbara Ann Heath, born Monday, September 6,
1847, and Thomas Heath, born Tuesday, December 4, 1849. Barbara Ann lived a year
and a half and passed away April 10, 1849. They burled her in a metal coffin so they
could take her with them and bury her beside her grandmother, Barbara. But when they
arrived in Winter Quarters, they could not tell which was her grave, so they buried her
there with the many who had died.
Due to ague (fever and chills) and ill health, Jane was forced to live on high land as far
away from the river as possible. To obtain an outfit and cross the plains was their
incentive which held them from despair during all these perilous and sorrowful times.
Mother could not do hard work, but she was an expert with a needle and thereby earned
many a dollar when father was out of employment.
At this time an epidemic of cholera broke out, and for a time it looked as if the whole city
of St. Louis would be wiped out. Mother was the bread winner, as father spent his whole
time among the sick and dead. When the plague was over, Mother (Jane) felt she had
much to be thankful for, as her husband and her son, Alma (now five years old) were
spared.
Before they started for the mountains in 1850, Jane developed milk-leg and was a cripple,
but before they reached the valley on the 5th of October 1850, she could walk quite a
distance every day. She said the nearer she came to the valley, the stronger she felt.
FIRST CLASS PIONEERS
They lived and settled in the 17th Ward in Salt Lake City the first winter. Henry Heath
(by now 22 years old), brother to Jane, had a house built by the time they got there.
The next spring they moved out to Tooele City, as it is now called. They pioneered out
there for about two years during which time a daughter, Martha, was born on Thursday,
April 30, 1852. They came back to Salt Lake and bought a house and lot in the Sixth
Ward, and lived in Salt Lake for about five years. Two more girls were born to them:
Esther, born Saturday, March 25, 2854, and Rosena, born Sunday, January 27, 1856.
Father decided he would like to be a farmer; so when Rosena was two years old, he
They just got out there and were settled in their new home, when they heard that
Johnston's Army had come and the Saints had to move south. Mother Jane had a little girl
two weeks old when they were asked to move. She never complained but took everything
with good cheer and with the same good faith that she had always exhibited.
When they arrived at English Fort, now known as Taylorsville, they stopped over a few
days to give Jane a little better chance to regain her health. Then they traveled on as far
south as Provo, where the Saints received word they could go bark to their homes.
Brigham Young, President of the Church, had made a treaty with the leading officer,
General Johnston, that the army was to come through Salt Lake City and make a soldier
camp 40 miles away from the city known as Camp Floyd.
Mr. Silcock was hired to build a boat for Captain Dan Jones, so the Silcock family did
not get back home until July. They stayed at Grantsville seven years and the family
worked hard together. Mr. Silcock became dissatisfied and moved to where Riverton now
is. He bought a farm on the river bottom where they raised a good crop the first summer,
but the next winter was very cold with deep snow. The following summer the Jordan
River overflowed its banks and washed their best farming land away, leaving a low place
they called the slough. They managed to raise hay enough to feed their cattle and a span
of horses.
During this time of adversity, Mother Jane proved herself a heroine. The shoe binding
trade that her father had her learn came in handy, for she not only made shoes for her
own children, but for many of her neighbors. She took in washings for the girls to do,
took in weaving, as they had a loom, and her oldest girls had learned to weave. An old
bachelor lived about a mile from where Silcocks lived, and he had a river bottom farm
and a big pasture where he kept a few cattle. Mother Jane washed his clothes and baked
bread, and in the summer time she took his cows to milk on shares, taking half the butter
and milk. On Saturdays she peddled butter and eggs in Salt Lake City--a distance of 16
miles. She kept up this routine for eight years.
When the South Jordan Canal was completed, Mr. Silcock had taken up a homestead, the
biggest part of which was on a bench. They farmed quite extensively and prosperity
smiled on them again, and the family worked unitedly together. At this time Mother Jane
had twelve living children and four dead.
CALLED TO SERVE
When Riverton was a branch of South Jordan Ward, Mother Jane was chosen to be a
Relief Society teacher. She filled this position faithfully, and when Riverton became a
ward, she was chosen to be president of the Relief Society, with Caroline Hansen as first
counselor and Sarah Howard, second counselor.
Mother Jane filled this important calling to the very best of her ability until her health
began to fail and she passed away in the spring-the 27th of April 1902--at the age of 74,2
thus ending a very busy and useful life. She was a faithful, patient wife and mother to the
end of her days--full of faith in the Gospel of our Savior. Long live her memory!
1 Jane recorded this special calling in the journal of her husband, N. T. Silcock:
South Jordan Ward, Riverton Branch
Dec. 12, 1880: per apointment at one oclock meeting was held in school house. The
presedent Bro. Jensen, Bishop W. Bills, Counceler H. Becksted present with missionaries
T. B. Louis and Mileandro Pratt of Salt Lake City. Meeting was opened with singing and
prayer, then the bishop said he had some business to attend to. He wanted to orginize a
feamal Relief Society and he called on me, Jane Silcock., for presedent with Sarah
Howard first councellor and Cariloin Hanson Sec. Counaellor., Sis. Sarah Kidd,
Treasurer, Sis. Etty Bills, Secretary. The above named sisters being presented to the
meeting for acceptance. After being voted in, we were called to the stand to be set apart--
each one according to our office and calling.
I, Jane Silcock, was set apart as Presedent of the Relief Society of the Riverton Branch,
Salt Lake Stake of Zion under the hands of Bishop W. Bills, H. Beckstead, T. B. Louie,
Mileander Pratt, Lars Jensen, Bro. Bills being mouth. After we was all set apart, the
missionaries took charge of the meeting. Bro. Louie spoke most of the time and give
some good instructions and every one felt well paid for going to meeting.
The following is an entry from the journal of her husband, N. T. Silcock: December 15
W., Riverton ... Mother whent down to Edwards Hoults to get the minuets of Sundays
meeting and to get some information as regards her duties as presedent. (He must have
been proud of Jane and her new calling and supported her in every way. in many of his
entries he speaks of Jane, calling her "mother.")
2 The family group sheet lists her birth in 1826 and death in 1902-which would make her
76 years old when she passed away.
source:
http://www.the-family-history-place.com/histories/TheStoryOfJohnHeathAndBarbaraHulme.pdf
Barbara Hulme had a moderate education. She could read and write and cipher. She chose the occupation of a cook, and put a good portion of the money she earned in the
bank. She did not belong to any church, but had a good moral training. She had been
taught to read the Bible and knew many of the sayings of the Saviour off by heart. Shehad been taught that when she made a promise, she should keep it, and it would be as good as her bond.
When she was 29 years old, Barbara met a very pious young man by the name of John
Heath. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and sang in the Church of England
choir for 12 years. He worked in the potteries in Staffordshire, England, as a decorator of china, and earned good wages. At the time he married Barbara, he had saved quite a bit of money.
He and Barbara were very happy; and since she had quite a bit of leisure time, she studiedto be a woman doctor. She was small in stature, but very alert. Her hair was dark, her eyes were blue, and she had a Roman nose.
THEIR FAMILY BEGINS
Their first child was a girl whom they named Jane. She grew up to be a great help to her parents. Jane acquired a common school education and developed many talents including fancy and plain needle work, knitting, shoe binding, button-holing and dancing.
When Jane was two years old, another child was born, named Henry. When he was only
a few weeks old, the father, John Heath, took very sick with typhoid fever. It lasted aboutthree months, but it left him very nervous. The doctor said he must not work at his tradeany more--or at least not for a long time--so they had to start drawing on their savings account.
In 1831 they had another son, and they named him Thomas after his Grandfather Heath.
Barbara decided she would have to do something to help make a living so they would not use up all their savings. One morning she noticed in the paper there was a bakery and store for sale. She knew this was her chance; so she put on her wraps and didn't say a word to anyone what she had in mind. She looked the proposition over and bought the place; then she went home and told her husband what she had done. He said, "Woman,you must be crazy! You cannot do that with your little children to take care of." Barbara said, "You just leave that to me, John."
So they moved and she took the load on her own shoulders. It was a large place. She
hired a girl to take care of the children and hired woman to wash once a week.
Grandfather would wait on customers and do light house work such as dusting and
polishing of furniture. Grandmother would make all the bread and do the baking.
After a while there was a public house for rent close to the bakery. It would be called asaloon in this country. Grandfather wanted grandmother to give up the bakeryand run the public house; he could attend to more of that kind of business, and it would be easier on grandmother. But grandmother said, "No, John, I will never give up the sure for theunsure. People have to have bread, but they can do without beer. If you want to take the house so bad, go ahead. You are feeling pretty good. Rent the place and you run the public house and I will stay with the bakery, and we will hire what help we need." So it was settled. They took what was left of their old bank account and started Grandfather in business.
In May 1833 they had another son, Frederick, born to them. He was a lively little fellow with blue eyes and black curly hair. As he grew older, he loved to play jokes on hismother.
Jane was about six years old at this time and she would carry message's bark and forth between her father and mother. They would write notes and let the little girl carry them. Thus she was pushed forward and gradually drawn into business at a very early age. She was a bright little girl, and school was easy for her. She learned how to do many things well.
The public house proved a failure. They lost money, and it was quite a while before they could sell it and find someone to buy the fixtures. Grandfather John's health was failing,but he helped Barbara in the bakery and took care of the children.
Barbara and John cared for many who were homeless and gave them food and shelter.
Her two youngest sisters also lived in their home.
One day in about 1834 Mr. John Silcock and his son, Nicholas Thomas, a boy of 15,
came to find board and lodging. He had broken up housekeeping after his wife died. John Silcock was a carpenter by trade, and his young son was serving an apprenticeship to the trade. There was plenty of room in the bakery building--being three stories high--for John and his son.
Jane was about 8 years old at this time. Her younger brothers, Henry, Thomas and
Frederick, used to tease her quite often, and Nicholas Silcock would take her part and make the boys behave. He was a comfort to her and gradually an attachment grew
between them.
In 1837, when Jane was 11 years old, her parents were blessed with their second little girl, Sarah Jael. How happy she was to have a little sister. Jane had almost complete care of her sister, because her mother was so busy in the bakery. Her joy was short-lived,however, because Sarah Jael passed away when she was about two years old.
About the year 1838, Jane's father sent her to a shoe shop to learn the trade of shoebinding. He felt it would be helpful to her someday.
NICHOLAS AND JANE JOIN THE CHURCH
One of the patrons of the Heath shop was a Mrs. Isaac Poole, This family was among thefirst families in Hanley to accept Mormonism. The Gospel made such a difference in
their lives, that Mrs. Poole began to explain the new religion to Jane. Jane went to thehome of Mr. and Mrs. Poole where Mr. Poole read the Bible to her.
At this time, young Nicholas Thomas, also listened to the elders preach the Gospel, andhe know it was true. He was baptized the 24th of August, 1840. Even though she was
interested herself, she teased N. Thomas and said, "You have been dipped." He did not
mention the new religion to her after that, but Jane continued to study, and conversion came to her also. Out of respect to her parents, she determined not to join the new creed without their consent. She heard of a specified baptismal date, when the Pooles were to be baptized, and as the date grew nearer, her anxiety became greater. They asked her to come with them and be baptized. There would not be another baptismal date for a long time. She said to them, "I will be baptized if I can get my father's consent." His invalid sickness prevented him from meeting with the elders. Jane went upstairs where her father was in bed and said,"Father, Isaac Poole and his wife are going to be baptized into the Mormon Church. Can I go with them and be baptized?" "No, my child, you are not old enough to know what you
are doing." She was disheartened, but she went into her bedroom and knelt down and
prayed very earnestly. She asked the Lord that if it be His will to please soften her
father's heart and give his consent for her to be baptized. She went downstairs full of faith, for she felt that the Lord would hear and answer her prayer. After dinner she went upstairs and asked her father the second time, and again he replied, “No, you are not old enough to know what you are doing. You are too young to decide so important a question." She spoke firmly, "Yes, I am old enough, and I do understand what I am doing." But her father still refused to give his consent.
She waited until the afternoon of the last day before the baptism. Jane prayed the third time and laid her soul's desire before the Lord. She asked him to soften her father's heart,that he would permit her to be baptized. She adored her father and did not want to grieve him. Her prayer was answered, and how happy she was when he said to her, "Yes, Jane,you may go.”
She hurried to her chest and began to hunt out clothes to wear. Thomas Silcock came inthe room. He had heard she was going to be baptized. "Jane," said he, "Do you
understand what you are doing?" She curtly replied, "It's none of your business if I don't."Thomas was quick to answer, "I want you to understand that it is my business." Jane wasstill embarrassed for having made fun of him when he was baptized, and found it easierto hurry off into another room to tell her mother that her father had given his consent. Her mother had already told her she was willing, but she would have to get permission from her father. Jane was just 14 years old. It was a night to remember when she was baptized and confirmed by Elder Wilford Woodruff on the 8th Of March 1841, while he was on his first mission to England. This was just seven months after Thomas joined the Church.
MARRIAGE OF JANE AND NICHOLAS
N. Thomas spoke of going to Australia; but when he joined the he decided to emigrate toAmerica instead. He had lived in the Heath for seven years, and he saw Jane at her best and her worst. They had in common now, and Jane was worried about his leaving for America, fearing she may never see him again. At last young Silcock Proposed marriage to her, and she accepted his offer willingly and with much joy. She told her mother of his proposal, and Barbara consulted her brother for advice. He told her if the young people wanted to marry, let them, for they would marry sooner or later anyway. After considering the affair, she gave her consent. They were married in the Church of England on the 14th of April 1841, just one month after Jane was baptized. Jane's father was growing steadily worse about this time. He was on1y 39 years old and had been in poor health for many years. Finally he developed consumption and passed away September 8, 1841. Jane felt the shock of her father's death. She was his only living daughter and had been a favorite with him. She had been put forward in business and in company till she appeared a great deal older than she really wag. She was only 14 but many people thought she was at least 18 years old. She matured early and all her life had taken responsibility in helping her family. Her mother had to assume the funeral expenses; from then on Jane and her mother worked side by side. Jane tried to live the life of a Saint but had to put up with a great deal of persecution. Jane was afraid of large bodies of water. One day in the presence of her father, she said, "Father, I want to emigrate someday so I can be with the body of the Church in the city of Nauvoo." He jokingly replied, "That little drop of water at Liverpool would scare you out." when she did cross the ocean, she was not afraid at all, for she was full of faith and put her trust in the Lord who was able to save her from destruction. Just ten months after their marriage (February 6, 1842), Nicholas and Jane were blessed with their first child--a son named Alma Heath, born in Hanley, Stafford, England. Alma was a Book of Mormon name. He was a strong, healthy baby and soon became the pride of the household.
Nicholas had been out of work for over a year. Times were dull in England during the year 1841, and it was almost impossible to find employment. He and Jane did all they could to help Barbara in the bakery. In his spare time he would always be found reading the Book of Mormon.
EMIGRATION TO AMERICA
When little Alma was eight months old, Nicholas Thomas felt he and his family should emigrate to America. They could not all afford passage, so it was agreed that Nicholas would go first and earn the money to send for Jane and the baby. He heard that he could get plenty of work in America. They discussed his leaving and Barbara agreed to loan him the money and fitted him out for the trip to Nauvoo. He emigrated in a sailing vessel in September 1842. The voyage had its difficulties. The ship was blown back twice--once they came back quite close to where they started from. There was a man aboard who had joined the Mormon Church, and he declared he was the "Jonah" that was holding the ship back; so he got a man to take him back to England in a small boat. While the captain was waiting for the wind to change, Nicholas met Parley P. Pratt, who was aboard the ship, returning to Nauvoo from a mission to England. When he heard Mr.
Silcock was a carpenter, he engaged him to build him a house as soon as he got to Nauvoo; so he had a job promised him ahead of time. Nicholas worked for the captain, doing some repair work on the ship. They were eleven weeks on the water. Meanwhile, Jane waited patiently for a letter from her husband, and finally "Jonah," as he called himself, brought her one. However, it was so scribbled she could hardly read it. She could make out that he was well, but had bad luck in the sailing vessel. This made Jane worry more than ever for fear her husband would be lost at sea. She prayed very earnestly that the Lord would let his angels take charge concerning those people on the ship, that they might reach their place of destination in safety The ship finally arrived in New Orleans and Nicholas found work there. The floating ice in the river kept them from going to Nauvoo for a while. The next letter she received from him informed her that he was in America. Jane and her mother worked hard in the bakery business. She was pestered occasionally by her old admirers telling her that her husband would never send for her, and that he would marry a girl out there and then she would be glad to marry and settle down in England. One admirer would come into the shop to buy something and after waiting on him, Jane would go back in the living room. Instead of his going through the outside door, as other customers did, he would follow Jane just to torment her. One day she decided she had put up with all the foolishness she was going to from him. He came back while she was ironing, and she get her ironing board back, seized the fellow by the collar, and pushed him across the room, out of the door, and into the hallway. Her mother, hearing the noise, came running to see what was the matter, just in time to see Miss Jane push him out of the front door. A policeman passing by asked, "What's the trouble here?" Barbara replied, "This man persists in coming to my house and insulting MY daughter. Today she got mad. She thought she had stood enough, so she put him out of doors." The policeman said, "Mister, go along about your business or I'll take care of you and put you where you will have to mind your own business." This gentleman never came back to Grandmother Heath's again.
The two "widows", mother and daughter, got along fine. They were very busy women
and time fled rapidly. One day Jane received a letter from her husband. A year had passed since he set sail for America. She didn't get a letter very often, as they did not have airplanes to carry the mail-nothing swifter than a sailing vessel. This letter was asking her to cow out to where he was as quickly as possible. He was lonely for her, and what he paid for room and board would keep them both. She handed the letter to her mother to read and then asked, "What shall I do?" "You had better go to the presiding elder of the Church for advice," her mother responded. The presiding elder told her that if her husband had sent for her, she should go if she had the means. Her mother felt very bad when she heard that the elder had advised her to go. "Well," she said, "I will fit you out for housekeeping and pay your passage on the ship and train fare to Liverpool." So you see, her mother paid her good wages for one year's work. Jane bid her mother goodbye and started for America. Her mother told her she would follow in two years. She said she would not be baptized until she was ready to leave England, because she did not want to be a stumbling block to anybody, since she had to work on the Sabbath day and this was not becoming to a Latter-day Saint. She said she would bring her three boys with her. When Jane got to Liverpool, she found a large company of Latter-day Saints already to get aboard the ship. The Saints were presided over by a very staunch L.D.S. named Amos Fielding. He supervised the luggage and loading of the ship and instructed the Saints so there would be no confusion in getting aboard. The ship was soon ready. She drew in her anchor, spread her sails and away she went, bound- for North America. Every night and morning Amos Fielding called the Saints together for prayer. He was full of faith and believed if the Saints would exercise their faith with his and ask the Almighty to protect them, they would have no trouble in crossing the ocean. For the first two or three days there was much sea sickness, but they soon got over that. The worst trouble Jane had was when her one-year-and eight-month-old son, Alma, took down with the measles the first week on the sea. She thought if only mother were here to tell me what to do. She began to realize that she was rather young to have a baby and be on her own--only seventeen years old. Brother Fielding came to her and told her what to do for her child and gave her a few kind words of encouragement and Jane felt much better. The baby clang to his mother and Jane grew very weary; then some kind-hearted person offered to take him and give her some rest, but the baby refused to go to anyone else. Sometimes Jane would put her porridge pan on the furnace, and when she thought her porridge would be cooked for breakfast, she would go with the baby in her arms and find the pan down in front of the fire grate full of ashes. This is what tries the faith of a Saint!! She would shed a few tears and forget it.
Jane received a letter from her husband the day before she left England saying that if there was a woman on board the ship by the name of Elizabeth Pixton, she would find her husband with Jane's husband at New Orleans. They would meet them there, find work and stay till spring. Jane soon located Elizabeth Pixton and she was excited with the good news. The baby was over the measles now but still very cross and tiresome. Their voyage lasted six weeks and three days. They sighted land and soon reached the shore, dropped anchor and landed in New Orleans in December 1843. When Jane got on shore, she looked around for her husband. There was a steep hill in front of them about 20 feet high and all at once a man came bounding down the hill. It
was Robert Pixton, followed shortly by Nicholas Silcock. When he got to his wife, Jane, he put out his hands and said, "Come to me, my son." The boy went right to his father just like he knew him, and he had not seen him for over a year. The two men had been there for a number of days and had found work making bricks for a rich planter. They expected the job would last all winter, so they had rented an old blacksmith shop and were going to live in the shop all winter, since it is quite warm in the state of Arkansas in winter.
Jane went with her husband to get the luggage. He had borrowed a wagon and a yoke of
oxen. They got along all right going, but coming back they had to cross a stream of water.
The oxen were ungovernable, and turned down the stream where the water was quite
deep. All Mr. Silcock could do was to jump into the water and bale water in their faces to
keep them from going downstream any further. Jane was equal to the occasion. She did not get frightened and scream like most women would have done, but she placed her little boy between two boxes, and told him to be a good boy and stay with his father. She stood up on one of the chests and gave a big jump, landing on the bank of the stream. She said, "Hold the oxen there if you can, Tom, and I will run to the first cabin r can see and get a colored man to handle the oxen." So away she ran and was soon back with a Negro. He rolled up his pants and waded out into the stream. "Give me dat wip, Massa. I'll fetch em out." And he sure did fetch them out and
drove to the cabin where they were going to live. "Can you get along now, Massa?" "Oh, yes. Thank you for your kindness," Jane and Nicholas replied. "Oh, dat's alright, Massa." They unloaded the wagon and then Nicholas started back with the oxen and wagon. They had not gone but 200 or 300 yards before the oxen ran as fast as they could and threw him off the wagon. The hind wheel ran over his foot and sprained his ankle. He jumped up and ran after the team, but he never caught them till they got home. He had to wade the stream of water both going and coming back. As soon as Jane's husband had gone with the team, she set to work to fix a place for her little boy to sleep. Some of the people told her she must not make a bed on the ground because there were snakes that crawled around on the ground at night.
They left Arkansas to meet the boat at New Orleans and then returned to Arkansas the place of their employment.
So she gathered up sticks and built a little pen about three feet high. Then she laid sticks
across the top for slats, made the bed on top of the pen, and put her boy in bed. She then built a fire and kept it burning to keep the panthers and other wild animals away from them, for they were in a thickly timbered plantation. It would have taken the plantation owner a year to bring all this land under cultivation, even if he did have many slaves to work for him. Jane watched and waited until nearly midnight before her husband came. When she heard him whistle, she ran out to meet him. "Oh, Tom, are you all right?" she asked. "Yes," said he, "Only my foot that the wagon wheel -ran over is swollen badly and pains me considerably." Jane set to work to make a vinegar and meal poultice to put on his foot.
After binding his foot, they made their bed and settled down for the night. Thus ended
Jane's first day in America.
LIFE ON THE PLANTATION
The next morning they got up and fixed breakfast, then went to work unpacking their luggage. They unpacked only what they would need in their camp life. The next morning Mr. and Mrs. Pixton arrived with their luggage and the man prepared to go to work.
Nicholas's foot was better, with the good nursing he had, and he could walk fairly well.
Jane put a poultice on it each night until it was entirely well.
The people on the plantation were very hospitable and kind to them and visited them often. The father of the plantation owner was in his nineties and was so feeble that he tottered. He walked along with a cane to keep from falling. He said to the men, "No wonder you are so pleased to have two such fine looking young women as these come and see you." England is a very mild climate and the English women were fair skinned and rosy cheeked, while the Southern women looked sallow because of malaria, and their faces were tanned from the summer heat. That winter was rather monotonous for the women. I heard them say that the monotony was broken once when a colored man on horseback came to their cabin telling them how he had shot and killed a panther. The ladies were horrified when he showed it to them. The Negroes, as they went to work in the timber, would carry a boa knife and a revolver on their belt to protect themselves from wild beasts.
AND ON TO NAUVOO -- 1844-45
The men were very busy all winter. They didn't complete their job of making bricks until
the following May, 1844. They were all excited about going up the river to Nauvoo. They
were not long in getting settled in their new homes there. They lived in a home belonging
to Parley P. Pratt, until Nicholas could build a frame cottage just across the street from
the Pratts. Sister Pratt was a very motherly woman, and Jane looked up to her as a mother
since her own mother was not there.
They had not lived there very long before a report came that there was a mob coming to kill the people of Nauvoo, and Sister Pratt was the first one to come and say, "You and your little boy come over to our house, and if we have to be killed, let us all die together." Nicholas carried the little boy across the street to their home. Before leaving she handed a sword to the boy's father and said to him, "Here is Brother Parley's sword. Take it and do the best you can with it." The women were left alone and that was pretty severe medicine, and Jane thought to herself, "Is it possible that we are all going to be killed and I shall never see my mother again?" These thoughts worried her so much that she became very ill for ten days and then gave birth to a premature still-born child--a boy.
Nicholas Silcock came back at daylight and said they had been on guard all night, but
there was no mob that came--it was a false alarm. Jane took chills and fever and was sick
for some time after. She looked very thin and poor and was not the rosy cheeked young
lady that came from England the year before.
Nicholas was called to work on the Nauvoo Temple as a carpenter, and among other
assignments there, he did some of the carving on the spiral stairways and other fine
carpentry work. Jane said she was never happier than when her husband was working on
the Temple. They made bread from shorts instead of flour, and called it short bread. She
sold her clothes and valuables to buy food, and other prized treasures were sold to buy
curtains and trimmings for the Temple.
While in Nauvoo, they were closely associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and when
the Prophet was martyred, Mr. Silcock was working at his bench in the Temple. This was
indeed a time of great sorrow, and the Saints were grief-stricken to lose their Prophet.
They continued to work on the Temple until it was finished. The dedication was in May
1846.
It was comforting to Jane and Nicholas to receive patriarchal blessings by John Smith,
who was an uncle to the Prophet. (The brother of Joseph Smith, Sr.) Jane's blessing is
included below:
A BLESSING BY JOHN SMITH, PATRIARCH,
UPON THE HEAD OF
JANE HEATH SILCOCK,
Daughter of John Heath and Barbara (Hulme) Heath
Born November 6th, 1826, at Staffordshire, England
SISTER JANE: I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ and seal upon
thee a Father's blessing, because thou hast obeyed the Gospel, notwithstanding the
afflictions and opposition thou hast been called to pass through. Thou hast not been
ashamed to acknowledge thy faith in the Gospel before the world; the Lord is well
pleased and He will not be ashamed of thee before the Holy Angels; for thou art of the
same lineage with thy companion, and a lawful heir to the same Priesthood with the
privileges and benefits thereof, the keys of which shall be committed to thee in common
with any companion in the house of the Lord, when thou hast received an endowment,
thou shalt have power to heal the sick, and to do all miracles common for the daughters
of Abraham. And inasmuch as you bear all things patiently, and forbear to murmur, and
be satisfied with thy lot, thou shalt be blessed in thy house with peace and plenty, with
health and joy, a numerous family, and a long life, and all blessings which you desire in
righteousness before the Lord. Inasmuch as you observe all the conditions in this blessing, not one word shall fail,
Amen.
(Record in Volume 9, page 161, John Smith, Patriarch, May 13, 1845.)
During her residence in Nauvoo, Jane met the Prophet's mother. She and several other
sisters had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with her in the home of Parley P. Pratt.
They had a pleasant visit, and each one there gave the guest of honor some little token of
remembrance. Jane was also present during a meeting on a later occasion when Pres.
Young asked Sister Lucy Mack Smith to speak from the pulpit. Sister Smith said that her
heart was with the Saints, but on account of her feebleness, she would like to stay east
and be buried with her dead.
Mother was there when the mantle of the Prophet fell on Brigham Young and testified to
her dying day that the face and voice of Brigham Young were identical with those of the
Prophet.
On Saturday, the 7th of August, 1845, in Nauvoo, Illinois, Jane and Nicholas welcomed
their first little girl into the world, and they called her Elizabeth Jane. She lived just a
little over a year and passed away August 16, 1846.
BARBARA AND THREE SONS COME TO AMERICA - 1845
Back in England, Jane's mother, Barbara, was baptized in 1845. She sold her business
and with her three boys, left England for Nauvoo, taking with her a bakery outfit, as she
expected to start a business wherever she settled. She left many friends who crowded her
yard so much the night before she left that she could hardly get away from them. She
made a great deal of money and was very good to the poor people. She made the remark
that if she had the money still owing her in England, she might have ridden in her
carriage the rest of her life.
She arrived at Nauvoo in the fall of 1845. During the first winter, she and the boys stayed
with Jane and Nicholas.
On January 8, 1846, the three of them (Barbara, Jane and Nicholas) received their
endowments in the Nauvoo Temple.
During that same year word was noised around that the people of the state of Illinois were
going to exterminate the Mormons because they were practicing polygamy. The Saints
were persecuted and mobocrats were threatening to drive the Saints out of Nauvoo as
soon as possible.
BARBARA'S MISSION COMES TO A CLOSE
Barbara and her three boys, Henry, 17, Thomas, 14, and Fredrick, 12, were advised to
leave with the body of the Saints and start westward. The three boys had not yet joined
the Church and Bishop Edward Hunter, who was in charge of the company, suggested
they all come with him, and he would find employment for her three sons. (The Saints
were divided into companies of 250.) He did all he could to help bring them into the
Church.
They left with the Hunter family in the fall of 1846 and crossed the river into Montrose,
Iowa--then on to Winter Quarters. During the winter that followed, many of the Saints
were ill with chills and fever; but as long as Barbara was able, she took care of the sick.
When she herself became ill, she would crawl on her hands and knees to give a drink of
water to someone. She was ill for 14 weeks, and before she died, she cried out for a drink
of water. (Truly she gave her life for her loved ones and friends.)
She called Elizabeth Melroy (?) to her and said, "I want you to write to my daughter in
St. Louis and tell her that I am no more, but I have died in hopes of a bright and glorious
resurrection." She passed away at Winter Quarters, October 20, 1846.
"THIS IS THE PLACE"
Barbara's boys came on to Salt Lake with the Hunter family and were in one of the first
companies of Saints to arrive in the valley--sometime between the 20th of September and
6th of October. Bishop Hunter joined the Mormon Battalion, and Sister Hunter and the
three boys drove the ox team. They lived with the Hunter family until they were married.
Sister Hunter was like a mother to these boys.
Years later Sister Hunter told my mother (Jane) that Barbara's last words to her daughter
as they were leaving Nauvoo, were, "Jane, if it was not for the salvation of my boys, I
would never leave you." This was a sad goodbye.
My mother, Nina, wrote that the only thing she ever saw that belonged to her
grandmother, Barbara, was a teapot and a cream pitcher that Mrs. Hunter gave Jane; and
two brass knobs that were put at the side of the window to tie the curtains back. Jane also
had a small looking glass about ten inches square that hung in her kitchen. She told us
children that it was her father's (John Hulme) shaving glass, made from a piece of a large
mirror that Grandmother "Lady" Jane McDonald had brought from Scotland.
TEST OF FAITH
Soon after the Temple was completed and they had received their endowments (1846),
Nicholas and Jane left the beautiful city of Nauvoo, taking with them only the things that
could be carried on a river steamboat, and went to St. Joseph--their destination, Ft.
Leavenworth, Kansas. But while in St. Joseph, they learned of the Mexican War and that
all government work on Ft. Leavenworth had ceased. They traveled as far as to New
Orleans to find work, but there was nothing there. So they went to St. Louis, Missouri,
and remained there until the spring of 1850. It was here in St. Louis she received word
that her mother had passed away at Winter Quarters.
Jane had two children born in St. Louis--Barbara Ann Heath, born Monday, September 6,
1847, and Thomas Heath, born Tuesday, December 4, 1849. Barbara Ann lived a year
and a half and passed away April 10, 1849. They burled her in a metal coffin so they
could take her with them and bury her beside her grandmother, Barbara. But when they
arrived in Winter Quarters, they could not tell which was her grave, so they buried her
there with the many who had died.
Due to ague (fever and chills) and ill health, Jane was forced to live on high land as far
away from the river as possible. To obtain an outfit and cross the plains was their
incentive which held them from despair during all these perilous and sorrowful times.
Mother could not do hard work, but she was an expert with a needle and thereby earned
many a dollar when father was out of employment.
At this time an epidemic of cholera broke out, and for a time it looked as if the whole city
of St. Louis would be wiped out. Mother was the bread winner, as father spent his whole
time among the sick and dead. When the plague was over, Mother (Jane) felt she had
much to be thankful for, as her husband and her son, Alma (now five years old) were
spared.
Before they started for the mountains in 1850, Jane developed milk-leg and was a cripple,
but before they reached the valley on the 5th of October 1850, she could walk quite a
distance every day. She said the nearer she came to the valley, the stronger she felt.
FIRST CLASS PIONEERS
They lived and settled in the 17th Ward in Salt Lake City the first winter. Henry Heath
(by now 22 years old), brother to Jane, had a house built by the time they got there.
The next spring they moved out to Tooele City, as it is now called. They pioneered out
there for about two years during which time a daughter, Martha, was born on Thursday,
April 30, 1852. They came back to Salt Lake and bought a house and lot in the Sixth
Ward, and lived in Salt Lake for about five years. Two more girls were born to them:
Esther, born Saturday, March 25, 2854, and Rosena, born Sunday, January 27, 1856.
Father decided he would like to be a farmer; so when Rosena was two years old, he
They just got out there and were settled in their new home, when they heard that
Johnston's Army had come and the Saints had to move south. Mother Jane had a little girl
two weeks old when they were asked to move. She never complained but took everything
with good cheer and with the same good faith that she had always exhibited.
When they arrived at English Fort, now known as Taylorsville, they stopped over a few
days to give Jane a little better chance to regain her health. Then they traveled on as far
south as Provo, where the Saints received word they could go bark to their homes.
Brigham Young, President of the Church, had made a treaty with the leading officer,
General Johnston, that the army was to come through Salt Lake City and make a soldier
camp 40 miles away from the city known as Camp Floyd.
Mr. Silcock was hired to build a boat for Captain Dan Jones, so the Silcock family did
not get back home until July. They stayed at Grantsville seven years and the family
worked hard together. Mr. Silcock became dissatisfied and moved to where Riverton now
is. He bought a farm on the river bottom where they raised a good crop the first summer,
but the next winter was very cold with deep snow. The following summer the Jordan
River overflowed its banks and washed their best farming land away, leaving a low place
they called the slough. They managed to raise hay enough to feed their cattle and a span
of horses.
During this time of adversity, Mother Jane proved herself a heroine. The shoe binding
trade that her father had her learn came in handy, for she not only made shoes for her
own children, but for many of her neighbors. She took in washings for the girls to do,
took in weaving, as they had a loom, and her oldest girls had learned to weave. An old
bachelor lived about a mile from where Silcocks lived, and he had a river bottom farm
and a big pasture where he kept a few cattle. Mother Jane washed his clothes and baked
bread, and in the summer time she took his cows to milk on shares, taking half the butter
and milk. On Saturdays she peddled butter and eggs in Salt Lake City--a distance of 16
miles. She kept up this routine for eight years.
When the South Jordan Canal was completed, Mr. Silcock had taken up a homestead, the
biggest part of which was on a bench. They farmed quite extensively and prosperity
smiled on them again, and the family worked unitedly together. At this time Mother Jane
had twelve living children and four dead.
CALLED TO SERVE
When Riverton was a branch of South Jordan Ward, Mother Jane was chosen to be a
Relief Society teacher. She filled this position faithfully, and when Riverton became a
ward, she was chosen to be president of the Relief Society, with Caroline Hansen as first
counselor and Sarah Howard, second counselor.
Mother Jane filled this important calling to the very best of her ability until her health
began to fail and she passed away in the spring-the 27th of April 1902--at the age of 74,2
thus ending a very busy and useful life. She was a faithful, patient wife and mother to the
end of her days--full of faith in the Gospel of our Savior. Long live her memory!
1 Jane recorded this special calling in the journal of her husband, N. T. Silcock:
South Jordan Ward, Riverton Branch
Dec. 12, 1880: per apointment at one oclock meeting was held in school house. The
presedent Bro. Jensen, Bishop W. Bills, Counceler H. Becksted present with missionaries
T. B. Louis and Mileandro Pratt of Salt Lake City. Meeting was opened with singing and
prayer, then the bishop said he had some business to attend to. He wanted to orginize a
feamal Relief Society and he called on me, Jane Silcock., for presedent with Sarah
Howard first councellor and Cariloin Hanson Sec. Counaellor., Sis. Sarah Kidd,
Treasurer, Sis. Etty Bills, Secretary. The above named sisters being presented to the
meeting for acceptance. After being voted in, we were called to the stand to be set apart--
each one according to our office and calling.
I, Jane Silcock, was set apart as Presedent of the Relief Society of the Riverton Branch,
Salt Lake Stake of Zion under the hands of Bishop W. Bills, H. Beckstead, T. B. Louie,
Mileander Pratt, Lars Jensen, Bro. Bills being mouth. After we was all set apart, the
missionaries took charge of the meeting. Bro. Louie spoke most of the time and give
some good instructions and every one felt well paid for going to meeting.
The following is an entry from the journal of her husband, N. T. Silcock: December 15
W., Riverton ... Mother whent down to Edwards Hoults to get the minuets of Sundays
meeting and to get some information as regards her duties as presedent. (He must have
been proud of Jane and her new calling and supported her in every way. in many of his
entries he speaks of Jane, calling her "mother.")
2 The family group sheet lists her birth in 1826 and death in 1902-which would make her
76 years old when she passed away.
source:
http://www.the-family-history-place.com/histories/TheStoryOfJohnHeathAndBarbaraHulme.pdf
Monday, January 4, 2010
Matthias and Mary Farr Farnsworth
Matthias Farnsworth
born: July 20, 1612
in Eccls, Lancashire, England
died: January 21, 1688
in Groton, Middlesex, MA
married: 1630 in Lynn, Essex, MA
to
Mary Farr
born: January 6, 1644
in Lynn, Essex, MA
died: January 7, 1717
in Groton, Middlesex, MA
Matthias Farnworth (his name was first written and pronounced "Farnoth") first
appeared at Lynn, Mass., where he was a resident in 1657. (This is the earliest date his name appears in the Lynn records.) When he came to America and how or with what families is unknown. But, that he resided there as a farmer near what is now Federal Street in very certain. He lived until 1660 or 1661. According to the records, his son Joseph was born there 17 November 1657. As far as we can learn from the records, Matthias Farnsworth had only one wife, Mary Farr. If Mary Farr was the mother of all of Matthias' children, she must have borne them during a period extending over thirty-one years. (Mary Farr was the daughter of George Farr of Lynn, Mass.). There is a probability that Matthias Farnsworth had married and lost one wife before he married Mary Farr and that his first three children were by his first wife. Mary Farr writes "To my well beloved son, Benjamin", her first bequest to her son who probably was her first born living son at that time.The birth place of Matthias Farnsworth (born in 1612) was probably in or near Farnworth, Lancastershire, England. He likely was related to Joseph of Dorchester, as he named two sons Joseph. He was interested in that name and there was a possibility that Joseph was his younger brother. The record spells his name as Matthias Farmouth. He was the member of the church and no doubt, brought up his children in the fear of the Lord. His children all became communicants of the church (at least all of his dons did and probably all of his daughters). Matthias Farnsworth brought none of the titles of rank from England that are so attractive to vanity. He came to America with a sturdy independence, a rugged integrity and a due regard for morality and a simple faith. He was respected and honored by those with whom his lot was cast. He was honored for the brave, true and manly qualities he possessed. It was such as he that made the Puritan stock the peer. Matthias and his wife Mary brought nine children to the age of maturity. As far as can be discerned from the records, only two children died.
Matthias probably moved to Groton in 1660, though it is uncertain when the settlement of Groton was made. The records of the town commenced in a very brief way in 1662, but likely some of the settlers had moved there two or three years before. They lived far from the sea coast and far away from markets. All the clothing and food for the family was the product of the land they had cleared and was a result of their continued labor. The clothes they wore were spun woven and made by the women. Sheep furnished the wool and flax and was made into linen. These materials came from the farm. Matthias was admitted as a free man of the colony, May 16, 1670. He was a weaver by occupation.
In the year 1675, King Phillip's War broke out between the Indians and the New England settlers. These were frightening, disheartening times. The Indians hit Groton with all their savage furry when the inhabitants were on their way to Concord. The only possessions save were the clothes on their backs and what things could be loaded in carts. The Indians were all around them. Their houses were burned. The product of fifteen years of hard labor in the wilderness had to be abandoned. At this time his wife, Mary, his daughter Sarah (about fourteen years old), his son Samuel (six years old), his daughter Abigail (nearly five) and his son Jonathan (an infant under a year) were with Matthias. Also with him were three of his sons who were in the armed guard. His daughter, Mary had been sent to her mother's relation because of the danger in Lynn and they feared for her safety. His son, Joseph, had been sent there for the same reason, but he died there. What hardships and suffering Matthias and his family endured in that forced emigration! They and all the rest of the Groton settlers stayed at Concord for two years.
How they lived during that time we can only conjecture. It is not recorded. However, many heart aches and disappointments were evident. The loss of their baby boy, Jonathan, to the thieving savages was one great experience they had to bare. Jonathan grew up among the Indians. Because of his knowledge of their ways and because he was known by the Indians, he was able to make peace between the Indian people and the white people before he left to rejoin his family. This must have been a happy day for Matthias and his wife Mary. There were other hard times in store for the family as there was a droughtand Jonathan's undecided mind was difficult to contend with.
In the spring of 1678 the danger from the Indian rifles and the tomahawks was over. The inhabitants of Gorton thought they could try their fortunes in the wilderness again. Some of the original settlers had given up their interest in the settlement, but Matthias and his family and his three adult sons went back to the old clearing where the ashes of their old homestead were still visible. They commenced anew the work of life with the few household things they had, the farm tools and stock they were able to save and their hands. They were able to save and rebuild their home. They carried on their work under constant fear of the merciless Indians. (Who some sixteen years later again fell upon the exposed settlement and murdered many of the settlers.)
Matthias filled many offices in the town. The most important position being Constable and Selectman. The office of Constable seems to have been singularly different in its duties form the office at present. The principal duty was the collection of taxes for the settlement. The last time he held the office was in 1689 when he was 72 years old. He lived far from the center part of town, therefore, duties of the town office must have been very difficult for him. He seemed to have been one of those men who naturally drew others to him. This is our ancestor and there are many of his descendants scattered throughout the United States.
Matthias was not a learned man, None of the pioneers of Groton were, but he had as much education as the people of his time and of the middle class usually had. It is shown that he signed his will with a mark. His will was evidently made only a short time before his death when his eyes were disabled by sickness.
There are records and returns still in existence made and signed by him, as he filled the office of Constable for several years and was tax collector. By virtue of his office he must necessarily have been able to write sufficiently to keep the accounts. On January 12, 1688-9, feeling his days were drawing to a close, he dictated his will. His wife survived him many years. She died between the years 1716-1717. In her will she mentioned her great bible which she gave to her son as her blessing. This gives a view of her simple faith that should be appreciated by her descendants.
Source: http://www.shaweb.net/GenWeb/WebHist/Pedigree/6320.htm
How we're related:
Jessica B Brown --> Virginia Sorenson (living) --> Hazel June Butterfield (living) --> Thomas Solomon Butterfield (1882 -1964) --> Thomas Jefferson Butterfield II (1853 - 1926) --> Thomas Jefferson Butterfield I (1853 - 1926) --> Zachariah Butterfield (1782 - 1866) --> Abel Butterfield (1742 - 1836) --> Hannah Farnsworth (1716 - ?) --> Johnathan Farnsworth (1675 - 1748) --> Matthias Farnsworth (1612 - 1688) & Mary Farr (1644 - 1717)
Nicholas and Wilmot Randall Edgecombe
Nicholas Edgecombe
born: 1592 Plymouth, Devon, England
died: March 1681 Saco, York, Maine
married: May 1, 1643 Black Point, Scarborough Maine
to
Wilmot Randall
born: between 1620 - 1626 in ? (LDS familyseach.com lists her as being born in "Blue" Point Maine. Several other, more reliable records -including the ship's manifest- show her traveling to Black Point Maine from England, via the ship "The Samuel" in 1638. Which would mean she was most likely born in England. Also, the birth and marriage place listed "Blue Point" on familysearch.com is also an error. It should be Black Point.)
died: June 1685 Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine
born: 1592 Plymouth, Devon, England
died: March 1681 Saco, York, Maine
married: May 1, 1643 Black Point, Scarborough Maine
to
Wilmot Randall
born: between 1620 - 1626 in ? (LDS familyseach.com lists her as being born in "Blue" Point Maine. Several other, more reliable records -including the ship's manifest- show her traveling to Black Point Maine from England, via the ship "The Samuel" in 1638. Which would mean she was most likely born in England. Also, the birth and marriage place listed "Blue Point" on familysearch.com is also an error. It should be Black Point.)
died: June 1685 Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine
Nicholas Edgecombe was one of 114 passengers who traveled to Maine in 1637. He traveled aboard the ship, "The Hercules". Most of the passangers, including Nicholas, were men (only 5 were women) who were coming to America to earn money as fisherman. Of the 114 people who came to Maine that year, only 65 stayed and settled in Maine. Nicholas worked as a fisherman for John White on Richmond Island from 1638 - 1641.
Wilmot Randall traveled to Maine from England in 1938 aboard the ship, "The Samuel". She became a servant for John White's family apon her arrival.
Nicholas was very enamored with the young Wilmot and asked John White to release Wilmot as a servant before the end of her contract. John White refused, so Nicholas purchased her unexpired time so that they could marry.
The following reference to Wilmot Randall and Nicholas Edgecombe is taken from the book: Maine Pioneer Settlements by Herbert Milton Sylvester
About the time of Robert Jordan's coming there was in the family of Winter a maid whose charms were not less seductive than those of the lissome Sarah, the fair-haired Wilmot Randall, in whose mischievous eyes was the purple of the English violet and upon whose cheeks was the bloom of the English rose, and in whose rounded lines were concealed the suggestive and delicious mystery of girlhood merging into the perfections of a youthful and lovely womanhood. This English flower came over in Winter's little ship, and in Robert Jordan's company, and it is somewhat singular that Jordan should have escaped the glamour of her beauty. It is evident that Cupid had otherwise decreed. Once at Richmond's Island she bound herself out to Winter as a maid servant for a term, which was later to be summarily terminated.http://www.archive.org/stream/mainepioneersett03sylvuoft/mainepioneersett03sylvuoft_djvu.txt
***
Among these was young Nicholas Edgecomb, of kinship with the famous English family of the name. It was this young Edgecomb who was to tinge the cheeks of the lovely Wilmot Randall with a ruddier hue. Cupid sent his shaft to its mark at the
first bend of his bow. What a delicious bit of romance, could one get at even its ravellings to pull out here and there a thread! Winter promptly frowned upon
the advances of the amorously inclined Edgecomb, and in this he was promptly abetted by his resourceful spouse, who possibly had left her own romance back in Old England in the garret, as one of the "worn outs" to be discarded. Mrs. Winter
was, evidently, of a shrewish disposition, and one can imagine the espionage, the jealous, duenna-like predacity that fell to the lot of this, to young Edgecomb, charming girl. Plead as he would, Edgecomb was unable to obtain a release of the bond-maid, so he purchased her freedom outright, after which the course of
their wooing undoubtedly went with that smoothness that he carried off his
treasure triumphantly; and, once at the Saco settlement, between them
they laid the foundation of a numerous Edgecomb family, with here and
there another Nicholas and a fairer and sweeter Wilmot, if such were possible.
How we're related:
Jessica B Brown --> Virginia Sorenson (living) --> Hazel June Butterfield (living) --> Thomas Solomon Butterfield (1882 -1964) --> Thomas Jefferson Butterfield II (1853 - 1926) --> Mary Jane Parker (1817 - 1901) --> Hannah Edgecomb (1784 - 1818) --> Thomas Edgecomb II (1758 - 1842) --> James Edgecomb (1734 - 1776) --> Thomas Edgecomb I (1698 - 1778) --> Robert Edgecomb (1656/57 - 1730) --> Nicholas Edgecombe (1592 - 1681) & Wilmot (Willmott) Randall (1620/1626 - 1685)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Nicholas and Bertha Cadwalla Frost
Nicholas Frost
born: April 25, 1585 in Tiverton, Devonshire, England
born: April 25, 1585 in Tiverton, Devonshire, England
died: July 20, 1663 in Kittery, York, Maine
married: January 1, 1630 in Devonshire, England to
Bertha Cadwalla
born: Feburary 14, 1610 in Tavistock, Devon, England
died: July 4, 1650 in Sturgeon Creek, Kittery, York, Maine
The founder of Robert Frost's line in America was the Puritan, Nicholas Frost, who may have been on the lower coast of Maine as early as 1632, but who certainly landed with his Devonshire wife, Bertha Cadwalla Frost (b. 1610) and his two sons, John and Charles [ancestor of Robert Frost] -- from "ye Shipp Wulfrana. Alwin Wellborn, Master from Plimouth, Devon" -- in June, 1634, at Little Harbor, now Rye, New Hampshire. After his daughter, Anna, was born there in April, 1636, Nicholas pushed up to the head of Sturgeon Creek, acquired a goodly acreage of land, and settled for life in what is now Eliot, Maine. Despite the fact that he was illiterate -- he signed a petition to Oliver Cromwell with his mark, a combination of N and F -- he served as one of old Kittery's first selectmen.
On July 4, 1650, his wife and daughter were captured by Indians according to Norman S. Frost, whose Frost Genealogy in Five Families, together with Everett A. Stackpole's Old Kittery and Her Families, is the authoritative work on the genealogy of the Frosts on this side of the Atlantic -- "and taken to a camp at the mouth of Sturgeon Creek. Nicholas and his son, Charles, were at York at the time, and on their return, attempted to rescue them, but were unsuccessful. Charles, however, killed a chief and a brave. The next day Charles, his father, and some of the neighbors went back to the camp but were too late. The camp was deserted, only the bodies of Bertha and Anna were found there."
Nicholas died a natural death in 1663 . . .
- excerpt from Newdick's Season of Frost: an interrupted biography of Robert Frost
How we're related:
Jessica B Brown --> Virginia Sorenson (living) --> Hazel June Butterfield (living) --> Thomas Solomon Butterfield (1882 - 1964) --> Thomas Jefferson Butterfield II (1853 - 1926) --> Mary Jane Parker (1817 - 1901) --> Samuel Parker (1790 - 1846) --> Huldah Emery (1755 - unknown) --> Zachariah Emery II (1734 - 1820) --> Zachariah Emery I (1704 - 1789) --> Margaret Gowen (1678 - 1751) --> Elizabeth Frost (1640 - 1733) --> Nicholas Frost (1585 - 1663) & Bertha Cadwalla (1610 - 1650)
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