Some Related Family Histories
Last Updated July 23, 2000.

The Joseph DRAPER story. Includes Surname Index.

A Story about Jane HEATH. Includes Surname Index.

The Barbara HULME Story.

The Reverend Jonas PERKINS Story.

The Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK Story.


Return to Richard Wilson's Home Page.


My E-mail address is richard at rwilson.us

Copyright © 1995-2007: by Richard S. Wilson: All materials, images, sounds and data contained herein are not to be copied or downloaded for purposes of duplication, distribution, or publishing without the express written permission of the owner.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


Life of my father Joseph DRAPER


Written and compiled by my mother Esther SILCOCK and sent to me in Price, Utah Oct. 10th 1928 from Tamalge, Duchesne County, Utah (Nellie DRAPER)

Introduction: I typed this document; July 13, 1988; from a copy of the original that had been written over. I left most of the spelling and punctuation as I found it so I could leave the original feeling to the work. I changed the surnames to all capitals so they would be more recognizable. Any text added by me is in brackets []. Nellie DRAPER married McClure Grinder WILSON and had a son, Robert Charles WILSON, he is my father, my name is Richard Scott WILSON.

Joseph DRAPER son of William and Sarah (MILES) DRAPER was born Nov 13, 1850 at Easterdon, Willshire, England. Was sent to school at an early age but he did not like school very well and used to play truant very often. His father told him when he was ten years old he would either go to school or go to work. Joseph said he would rather go to work. His father told him to go and look for work so Joseph went to a large farm and asked for work. They gave him a job to help the stable man feed the horses and clean the stables or other odd jobs there might be that he could do. He stayed there and gave satisfaction with his work until the spring of 1865.

The DRAPER family all belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or Mormons as commonly called. They emigrated that spring to New York. Rented a house. Mr. DRAPER and two sons, went to work, stayed there until spring of 1866.

Joseph took chills and fever so he had to stop working and was sick a long time. The DRAPER's lived on the third story of a tenement house and the people on the ground floor declared that Joseph shook the whole house the day that he had the chills, so he must have shook a plenty. Just as he was beginning to get better his father received word that if they wanted to emigrate to the Rocky mountains that summer they had better make their way to the frontiers and get ready to go as quick as possible. They was not long in packing their trunks and gathering their effects, getting on the train and starting west.

When they got to Florence Joseph was rid of the chills and fever but so weak he could hardly walk around. Brother TAYLOR, the Elder that was appointed by the church to look after the emigrating of the Saints, said to Brother DRAPER, when he saw Joseph and saw how weak he was, you had better leave that boy here, he will never make the trip, you will have to bury him by the road side. TAYLOR did not intend the boy to hear what he said but he did and Joseph said I am not going to stay here father, if anybody in this train goes to Salt Lake City, I will go. So that settled this affair and Joseph went along with the rest of the DRAPER family he got very tired for the first few days but he gained strength every day traveling in the fresh air caused him to have a very keen appetite and he got quite fleshy and strong, by the time he reached Salt Lake City.

There was nothing of importance happening until they reached the sweet waters, there was lots of berries along the streams of water, the trains stopped for water and to eat their dinner. The women and children scattered out in the brush along the streams picking berries. The cattle was turned loose to go and help themselves to a drink and browse on the brush. A French man, who was traveling with the OK train for protection, came from watering his mules and told the Captain of the Company he had better look after the cattle for he saw an Indian in the brush, you had better gather your cattle or they will drive them off. The Captain said, "Oh, there is no danger of that," but in a very short time the Captain saw a bunch of their best cattle going over a distant hill and two Indians driving them.

The Captain and night herder, Joe RIGBEE, saddled their horses, took their guns and mounted and off they went in pursuit as fast as they could go, but the Indians had too much of a start and there was more Indians then they had expected. The first thing they knew there was a bunch coming from both sides, looked like they were going to surround them. The two white men hurried and got off their horses, led them side by side a little apart, got in between them, took their guns, the Captain said, "now we are ready for action, if they want to fight let us sell our lives as dear as possible," but the Indians all gathered together, held a Pow Whow, then rode off in the direction their two men had drove the cattle. Some of the men went to where they thought they could telegraph, but the Indians had cut the wires so they couldent get any word through.

The next morning the emigrant train traveled on, but could not go as fast having lost 60 head of their best cattle. When they got near Fort Larmar the men had to report to the commanding officer the amount of fire arms and ammunition they had on hand in case of an attack by Indians. While the men was gone to the fort there was just enough men and boys left with the train to drive the teams. Joseph by this time had become quite an expert with driving the team for one and another, especially in handling the big ox whip, he could crack it so it sounded almost like the roar of a cannon.

There had been a young Indian coming to the train taking considerable notice of some of the girls in the emigrant train all of a sudden when he found men was so scarce with the train, probably he had watched their departure, anyway he ran and tried to grab a girl, but she was too quick for him she ran in between Joseph and the team he was driving. She screamed, "Oh save me, don't let that Indian get me." Joseph swong [swung] the big ox whip and gave it a crack and said, "get you black son of a B or I will cut you in two." He hit at the Indian but missed him, lucky for the Indian that he did miss. The crack of the whip sounded like the report of a heavy loaded gun going off and it scared Mr. Indian so that he never came back, after that they were not bothered with Indians.

But when they was within three hundred miles of Salt Lake City they run out of provisions, they ate their last food for breakfast, not knowing where their dinner was coming from, but before noon they saw someone ahead of them coming to meet them. It was a Company sent out with provisions on account of loosing so many of their oxen, it made their traveling slower and the Church used to sent out provisions if the emigrants were behind schedule. The Company was all glad and thanked our heavenly father for his wonderful blessings towards them. They went on rejoicing and reached Salt Lake City Sept, 1866.

The DRAPER family went out to Heber, rented a farm, stayed there one year, then moved to Heriman, Salt Lake County. Heriman at that time was a branch of West Jordan Ward. Joseph DRAPER was ordained an Elder and Endowed in the Endowment House, 13 Sept. 1869, laboring as a deacon and teacher for years. Joseph DRAPER married Esther Heath SILCOCK, daughter of Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK and Jane heath HOLMES on 15 Dec. 1873 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City Utah, by D.H. WELLS in Utah Territory.

They lived at Heriman two years then moved to Jordan to a place that afterwards was called Riverton. Joseph farmed in summer and spent the winters working on what was known as the Big Canell [Canal]. They lived there until the canell [canal] was finished, around nine years in all. Joseph and Esther had one son born at Heriman, Joseph Arthur DRAPER, we had six children born at Riverton as follows:

  1. Sarah Jane born 7 Feb 1876 Died 5 Oct 1876
  2. Harriet born 10 Sep 1871 Died 2 May 1882
  3. Nellie born 13 Jul 1879
  4. Joseph Arthur Died 6 Feb 1882
  5. Rosena born 31 Jul 1881
  6. John Edgar born 19 Sep 1883
  7. Esther Violet born 7 Feb 1885

Six [children] during the time we lived at Riverton.

Joseph married a second wife in Feb 1879, she had three children during the time they lived at Riverton.

Joseph DRAPER was a natural pioneer, he began to feel, in as much as he had such a family, he would have to get out. He had helped with the pioneering at Riverton, he had had two or three contracts on the big canal and the first school house they had at Riverton Joseph hauled the rock for the foundation, and paid the masons to put in the foundation. He always wanted to do more than any one else, besides helping to dig smaller ditches and helping to work on the Rail Rode when it came through the country. So in the spring of 1885 out to Castle Dale he goes to hunt a new home in Emery County, stayed two months, planted a little grain, then went to Wyoming to schear [shear] sheep.

Then [he] came back to Riverton and moved myself and children out to Castle Dale, Emery County, by team and wagon. His second wife and children went on the train to Price on April 1,1885. Joseph met his second wife and children with team and wagon at Price and took them to Castle Dale. As soon as Joseph had finished moving his two families to Castle Dale, Emery Co., Utah, he began to haul logs and lumber and shingles to build a house.

The second wife was living in a rented house. The man who owned the house wanted his house, so before Joseph had finished the house, when the walls were built and floors laid and the roof on, we moved in and plastered after we had moved in and the children caught cold and were sick. I lived in one room and the other wife lived in the other room. As soon as Joseph got the roof over our heads Joseph had to go to the mountains and finish hauling his lumber before the winter sets in, we women plastered cracks inside of house. Then we got along fine, in November Joseph's brother in law came out to Castle Dale and they took a contract on the mammoth canal, worked until spring. Then Joseph went to Wyoming to schear sheep then came home and worked on the canal in the fall and winter.

Joseph's second wife burred her baby in Nov. 1885 at Castle Dale, Emery Co., Utah. The second winter he worked he had a disagreement with the other men, he wanted to dig a tunnel through the steam boat hill. The Castle Dale men wanted to dig the Canal around the hill. Joseph said the ditch would never need any repairs with a tunnel, but it would always be breaking if they put it around the hill, and so it was they had to dig the tunnel. After they had spent time and money enough to have built two tunnels in fixing up the breaks in the side of the ditch around the hill canal.

The second wife had another girl baby 19 Sep. 1886. Joseph went to work making tyes [ties] for Rio Grand Rail Rode in the mountains west of Price, Utah. We had a son born 18 May, 1887. When he was five weeks old Joseph came home and took myself and children to the tye camp for the summer to live in a cabben [cabin] and enjoy life in the mountains. We got along fine and in September there came a fall of snow that covered up my clothes that I had washed the day before. After that the nights was so cold that the tye choppers helped my husband build a doug out in the mountain side. After that we got along fine, we had some cow sup there we had plenty of milk and butter we stayed there till the first of November, then we started for home.

We reached home in three days, his brother George had a letter from their father stating that he wanted them to come at once, to go with them to be sealed to their father and mother in the temple, so Joseph and his brother George [DRAPER] went with team and wagon to Riverton, Salt Lake Co., and went with their parents to the temple. When they get back to Riverton their oldest brother Josiah had sold his farm and wanted his brother to go with him to San Louis Valley, Colorado. They had shipped a lot of people in from the Southern States and the Church wanted a few Utah people to volunteer to go out there to teach the people how to farm by irrigation.

Joseph fell right in line at once but George said no, he was going back to Castle Dale, so Joseph said he would come back and go out with his brother Josiah [DRAPER] to Colorado. So Josiah got one of my brothers to take his team and wagon back to Castle Dale to help Joseph move us back to Riverton so we could get ready to ship out on train the latter part of February. The second wife had got tired of living at Castle Dale and wanted to go back to Riverton where her parents lived. So Joseph loaded her house hold goods in the wagon and took her and children to Riverton to [a] house belonging to her father.

This woman was handy with sewing so she could make a living by sewing and what Joseph could give her, so she stayed and lived in Riverton, Salt Lake Co., Utah. When we went to Colorado and he left the second wife at Riverton with the understanding that if she could take her out there, he would later on.

We left Castle Dale the first of Dec, it was snowing when we left and snowed all day. We had quite a cold trip but we had a stove in the wagon where I rode with the children so we never suffered with the cold. There was another man who went with the DRAPER brothers, who went in with them and they chartered a railroad car to ship house hold goods and farm machinery and horses and cows on the freight train and Joseph went on the train about the 15 of Feb. to take care of the things, we went on passenger train 22 Feb. 1888, we three women, two men and twelve children.

We had to go to Pueblo, Colorado then change cars and go southwest into San Louie Valley. We then traveled south to Manasa, Colorado. There wasent any station but the conductor on the train was good and stopped the train and help us off and our luggage. There happened to be two men who met the train with a light spring wagon expecting some other people who didn't come, so they loaded us women and small children in the wagon and took us to the Bishop's house. John WALTON was the bishop at that time, he had a very nice comfortable large home to live in. Josiah had a large tent for his family. Mr. GILBERT's family stayed at the bishops place with the DRAPER family until they could rent houses. Mr. GILBERT bought a quarter section of school land seven miles west of Manassa, then Joseph leased a quarter section just across the county road East of Josiah and GILBERT's land.

They all decided to farm together the first year, so the first of April, 1888 Joseph and family moved out and lived in the tent until Aug. The first big rush was to plow and plant the small grain that dident [didn't] take long with four teams plowing. After the grain was planted they all took their teams and made a ditch, took the water from the Cnejos river for two or three miles, then dropped it into a draw that went right through Joseph DRAPER's land to Mr. GILBERT's land. We were all very busy people, that summer Joseph and his brother's boy hauled poles and posts, the other two men watered the crops and built a fence around the quarter section of school land.

They raised a good crop, Josiah bought a ten acher [acres of land] at the edge of Manassa town, built a frame house. Joseph and Gilbert built log houses on their farms, slab stables and stock yard and coral and a good warm shed for the animals. They got fixed warm and comfortable for winter. Josiah only stayed one year, GILBERT stayed permanently. Joseph stayed four years and a half, but he had a spell of phenomena the year before we left, after that he used to be troubled with smytherey spells the attitude was high for him so we changed our real estate for cattle and rigged up two covered wagons, fifteen head of cattle, one riding pony and made our way back to Utah.

The second wife asked for a divorce from Joseph and kept writing so he wrote her and told her that he couldn't give her a divorce that if she wanted a divorce she would have to make application to the Stake President where she lived, so in July 1891 the President of the Stake told Joseph that he had a divorce for him to sign when he went to Manassa to quarterly conference. Joseph told the Stake President he would sign the divorce as he didn't want any woman to live as his wife when she didn't want to, so he signed the divorce July 1891. So she was free to do what she wanted to.

If I were to write all the details of our sojourn in San Louie Valley and our journey back by team it would make a large book so I will just write a synopsis. We had two children born in Conejos Co., Samuel Herman born June 19 1889 and Josephine born 22 July 1891. We took five children to Colorado and brought seven back to Utah.

We left San Louie Valley, Colorado, 25 June 1892, traveled south about six miles then we were in New Mexico. We traveled across some beautiful parks then went down Farremerer Canyon into Archeletta County, New Mexico, we found it very steep and sideling in places. Joseph drove one team I drove the other, our oldest girl, Nellie, age 13, drove the cattle, she rode the pony. When we got out of the canyon we traveled in a north west direction until we got to Pagosia Springs. Then we traveled more west than north till we reached Dirango.

There we got seven weeks work which proved a great blessing to us when we got our job finished we continued westward, we went through the north side of Montezuma Valley then across the blue mountain country, thence in a north westerly direction to Moab, Utah, leaving Montasella Town to the left of us, also blue mountain. We did not have to travel through either one of them. When we got to Moab one of our horses took sick. We stopped at Tangreens, bought some hay. The lady of the house told us to take the children in the orchard let them have all the fruit they could eat, the man was away. The lady insisted we stayed all day and night and started on our journey about 10 A.M. next morning.

Mr. WARNER piloted us over the Grand River, WARNER took lead with a load of fruit, then Joseph's wagon, then mine. They swam the cattle across the 200 rods above the ford, the main stream. WARNER said he was afraid some of the cattle might go over the falls if they crossed them at the ford where the wagons crossed we traveled very slowly till we reached Green River. We camped on the east bank of Green River next day. The ferry men ferried us over the river then they drove the cattle down the river a quarter of a mile and let them swim over then we camped all night and in three days more landed us at the Huntington River within a few miles of Castle Dale, our place of destination. After two days of rest we went up to Castle Dale, rented a house and let the stock go in the fields as the crops were all gathered with a very few exceptions.

Joseph got a job to work on a thrasher we stayed there till February, he heard that the people was taking a new ditch on the Price River, known as Miller Creek ditch, so he bought a lot at Wellington and moved over there 30 miles below Price, made a two roomed dugout but we soon bought another lot as we found out this lot was not safe as it was in the mouth of a draw, liable to be washed away by floods. We got a lot in the upper part of town, built a sawed log house [with] two large rooms. The Bishop made use of Joseph by appointing him as a ward teacher. He was ordained a Seventy by Francis M. LYMAN and set apart as a home missionary to preach in Emery Stake, Utah. He was ordained by Francis M. LYMAN, 7 May 1893 and was faithful to his mission.

The Miller Creek ditch was very slow when we had been at Wellington two years he got discouraged, left me at Wellington, took our oldest boy and made a trip to Blackfoot, Idaho where his oldest brother lived to see if there was a better place to make home, but after staying two months he came back to Wellington and went to a saw mill in the west mountain to work, took the boy with him, he was twelve years old. The engineer at the saw mill persuaded Joseph to go to Desert Lake, where he lived, and get some land, so we sold our house and lots in Wellington and went to Desert Lake to live. We went in Nov 1895 and stayed until July 1, 1896.

There was a big flood in the hills, a regular down pore of rain storm that washed out the dam, so we went back to Wellington. Joseph and the boy went freighting out to the Indian Reservation, back and forth from Price. We traded for a house and lot, then in the spring we sold it, rented a house for the Summer. In the Fall we got a chance to buy 4 or 5 acres of land joining the town to the west we bought a double log house and moved it onto the land so then we had a home again. We stayed there about a year and a half or two years, then we sold the home, went north to Malad Valley, Idaho. Stayed eight months, we had farmed a farm on shares so we done very well that summer.

Joseph, when he got the grain planted, he went to the shearing corell [coral] to shear sheep. They also got a job to plow after they got their crop gathered in November. We went back to Wellington, Utah, farmed on shares for two summers. Then went down on the San Juan River, New Mexico with some other people who were going down to take out a ditch and make a new settlement.

We stayed there two years and a half. The Stake President of San Juan Stake told brother DRAPER, "Joseph you have pioneered enough, I released you from this mission if there is any place in Utah where you think you would like to live the rest of your life, get you a little home and stay there." We went back to Wellington, as usual we bought three city lots all in a row. Set out an orchard early in the fall. A number of men from Desert Lake took a notion to go to the Uintah Indian Reservation. Traded Joseph 80 acres of land at Desert Lake for surplus horses he had brought from New Mexico, for the land. Our boys stayed at Wellington and worked on the railroad as section men.

Joseph and I went to Desert Lake and farmed the first summer after we traded for the 80 acres of land. Our daughter Josephine stayed home and kept house and cooked for the boys and two girls who was born after we came back from Colorado; Martha Elizabeth, born 21 April, 1892 and Leah, born 1 July, 1895. These two girls went over with us until school started in the fall, then the girls came back to Wellington to school. I stayed waiting on the thrashers and dident get home until Christmas. I went home to my children, Joseph stayed there to feed the stock and saved, hauling hay 15 miles after I left.

The Stake President of Emery Stake came to Desert Lake to organize the bishopric. Henry MILLS as bishop, chose Joseph DRAPER as first councilor, so Joseph was ordained a High Priest and set apart as first councilor to Bishop MILLS, 28 Jan 1906, as second council brother LISENBEE. In the spring Joseph got sick, sold one 40 acres of land for a team of horses and harnesses. The man who bought the 40 acres of land rented the other 40 acres, so Joseph came to Wellington traded the span of horses he got at Desert Lake for twelve acres just across the Price River, close to our town lots. Joseph used to go every other Sunday to Desert Lake to counsel with the Bishop and tend Church service, at last the President of Emery Stake said it was requiring to much of him and released him from being councilor to Bishop MILLS, Joseph came home.

In the fall there was a man offered us 30 acres of land just east of the Wellington town site for the forty acres at Desert Lake, so we made the trade. Twenty of the thirty acres was in Alfalfa. We dident have to go to the Reservation, but when some of the people came and told Joseph what chances there was. The Spirit of Pioneering was all aglow, he must go, we could not hold him back, so he went spent the last eighteen years of his life in hard labor on the Reservation, helping digging canells [canals], making and repairing roads, his life was sure a busy one.

The Stake Arthertys [authorities] appointed him as home missionary, he must have labored in that capacity for ten years. I labored as President of Relief Society six years and six months at Talmage. It was hard for me as well as Joseph - our children married and left us one after another until there was just us two old folks left, then we had everything to do ourselves.

They did not release Joseph from his Missionary labors until he was over seventy years old, then he felt hurt because they wouldent let him labor when he was willing to serve. Joseph DRAPER died 1 Jan. 1927 at Talmage, Duchesne Co., Utah and mother lived a while at Talmage, Duchesne Co., Utah and she spent some time visiting her children. She sold the farm but kept her home in Talmage. She died 31 May 1930 in Price, Utah, at my home. We took her back to Talmage to be buried by the father.

Copied and sent in by, Nellie Draper WILSON, Daughter, Utah Pioneer

Surname Index

  1. DRAPER, Brother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  2. DRAPER, George . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
  3. DRAPER, Harriet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  4. DRAPER, Joseph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
  5. DRAPER, Joseph Arthur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  6. DRAPER, Josephine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 7
  7. DRAPER, Josiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 5
  8. DRAPER, Leah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
  9. DRAPER, Martha Elizabeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
  10. DRAPER, Nellie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 3, 8
  11. DRAPER, Samuel Herman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
  12. DRAPER, Sarah Jane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  13. DRAPER, Sarah MILES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  14. DRAPER, William. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  15. GILBERT, Mr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
  16. HOLMES, Jane Heath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  17. LISENBEE, Brother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
  18. LYMAN, Francis M.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
  19. MILLS, Bishop Henry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
  20. RIGBEE, Joe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  21. SILCOCK, Esther. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  22. SILCOCK, Esther Heath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3
  23. SILCOCK, Nicholas Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  24. TAYLOR, Brother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  25. WALTON, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
  26. WARNER, Mr.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
  27. WELLS, D. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  28. WILSON, McClure Grinder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  29. WILSON, Richard Scott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  30. WILSON, Robert Charles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

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Copyright © 1995-2007: by Richard S. Wilson: All materials, images, sounds and data contained herein are not to be copied or downloaded for purposes of duplication, distribution, or publishing without the express written permission of the owner.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


Jane HEATH


Jane HEATH was the daughter of John HEATH and Barbara HULME, of Handley, Staffordshire, England. [She was] the eldest of a family of five children. Jane helped her mother in her bakery business, went to school, helped with the sewing, knitting, and shoe binding.

Through the efforts of Mrs. Isaac POOLE, a patron of the bakery, Jane heard the reading of the gospel by the Mormon's. Her father was not willing for her to be baptized, but she prayed to the Lord several times and after the third time her father consented to her baptism into the church of her desire. Soon after joining the church, Jane, with many others made preparations to join the body of the church at Nauvoo, Illinois.

In the spring of 1841 [April 14] Jane married Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK, whom she had known seven years. The same year her father died. The following spring her husband, who was a member of the church, decided to go to America, leaving Jane with her mother. The following year, her mother's bakery not being sold, Jane traveled alone to America with her two year old, the voyage lasting more than six weeks. She landed in December 1843, meeting her husband near New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was working.

The following spring they went up the river to Nauvoo, Illinois, and lived in one of Parley P. PRATT's houses. Her husband was a carpenter and was employed on the Temple, doing carving and spiral stair building until the Temple was completed. Jane watched the workmen completing the Temple, which were some of the happiest days of her life. She sold her valuables and clothing for food, and sold other treasures to give the money to buy curtains and trimmings for the Temple.

While in Nauvoo they were closely associated with the prophet Joseph SMITH and attended the dedication of the Temple. Her husband was working at his bench when the word came that the prophet had been murdered in Carthage Jail. At a conference Brigham YOUNG was appointed president. During their residence in Nauvoo, Jane had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with the mother of the prophet.

In January 1846 Jane received her endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. Jane and her husband witnessed the westward march of the authorities of the church when they crossed the river on the ice and turned their faces west in search of a resting place for the saints. Soon after the completion of the Temple they left Nauvoo, on a river steamboat for St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, in search of work, and eventually went to St. Louis, where their sick baby died.

In the Autumn of 1846, Jane received word from Winter Quarters, Nebraska, that her mother was dead. Due to ill health Jane was forced to live on high land away from the river. She was an expert needle-woman and by this means helped to earn their living, and an outfit to cross the plains in. An epidemic of Cholera broke out in St. Lewis and Jane earned their living and her husband helped with the sick and the dead. They lost a baby girl, but a son was spared to them. In December 1849 a second son was born and in the spring of 1850 they decided to start for the mountains. They traveled in Bishop HUNTER's company, arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah in much better health than when they began the trip. Jane was the mother of fifteen children a faithful, patient wife and mother. She died April 27, 1902, full of faith in the gospel of our Savior.

Excerpts from the life of Jane Heath SILCOCK, written by Nina Etta (SILCOCK) DANSIE.


[This family story was given to me, Richard Scott WILSON, by Dr. Louis SCHRICKER, who is the grandson of Charles DANSIE.]

Typewritten by Richard Scott WILSON on July 23, 1988.


Return to Richard Wilson's Home Page.


My E-mail address is richard at rwilson.us

Copyright © 1995-2007: by Richard S. Wilson: All materials, images, sounds and data contained herein are not to be copied or downloaded for purposes of duplication, distribution, or publishing without the express written permission of the owner.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


Barbara HULME


Barbara HULME was the daughter of John HULME and Lady Jane MCDONALD. John HULME was a native of England, born in 1763 of Etruria, Staffordshire, England. Lady Jane MCDONALD was from Banffshire, Scotland. She was betrothed to a man of her own rank, but he proved false to her. She was so broken hearted that she left Scotland, going over to England, vowing never to see him again. Saying she would marry the first honest man that she could love, even if he could not write his own name.

After being in England for some time, she met John HULME, she loved him and they were married about 1787. We do not have their marriage register, but their first child was born in 1788. Barbara was the fourth child of the family, born March 20, 1796. She was educated in different lines, but the one she chose to follow was cooking. She worked for years at that profession, saving her money, and did not marry until she was 29 years old.

Then she married John HEATH. He worked at the potteries in Staffordshire, England. His trade was a decorator of china, besides taking care of his profession, he was a good singer and sang in the church of England for twelve years. They were very happy. Barbara had previously had such a busy life that after she was married, she did not have enough work to keep her occupied, so she decided to study to be a woman doctor. She was small in stature, but very alert. Her hair was dark, her eyes were blue.

Their first child was a girl, born November 6, 1826, they named her Jane HEATH, she grew up to be a great help to her parents. Then in about two years another child was born, a boy, they named him Henry HEATH. When he was only a few weeks old the father, John HEATH, was taken very sick with Typhoid fever, it lasted about three months. It left him very nervous, the doctor said that he must not work at his trade any more, so they had to start drawing on their bank account. Then in 1831 they had another son born, this one they named Thomas HEATH, after his grandfather HEATH.

Barbara HULME thought this will never do, I must do something so not to have to use all of our savings. She decided to watch the papers, and one morning she saw where there was a bakery store for sale. She thought this is my chance, putting on her wraps, not saying a word to anyone of what she had in mind, she went and looked the proposition over and bought the place, then 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. She said you just leave this to me John.

They moved, and she took the lead on her own shoulders. It was a large place, but they kept servants, and too, her husband could help in the store, also help take care of the children. Then May 1, 1833 they had another son born, they named him Frederick HEATH, he was a lively little fellow, blue eyes and black curly hair, as he grew older he loved to play jokes on his mother. Then in 1837 they were blessed with another little girl, they named her Sarah Joel HEATH, she was the pride of the home, but she only lived two years. This was a sad time for the mother and all the family, for she had endeared herself to all, they had to make the best of the situation, knowing as they did, that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

Barbara HULME was successful with her bakery and store. She also took in the homeless and gave them food and shelter. She took her two younger sisters into her home and cared for them during their last sickness, until they passed away. Then on September 8, 1841 she had to make another great sacrifice, her husband's heart weakened and he passed away. And still she took courage for the sake of her children, they were all that she had to live for.

Not long after her husband died, her daughter Jane HEATH was married to Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK. They stayed with mother HEATH. Then in 1842 on the 29th of September, Thomas, as he was called, left for America to join with the saints in Nauvoo, Illinois, he having joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He left Jane and their son (Alma) with her mother. Mother Barbara HULME did not join the church until later, she wanted to make all she could, while she stayed in England, and fearing that if word got out that she had joined the Mormon's, (as they were mostly called then) it would put a damper on the business and she would lose money. Knowing this was a new country, she wanted to be able to get her sons started in some kind of enterprise, when she did decide to come to America.

She gave up her business in England in the spring of 1845. She said if she had stayed in England that she could have ridden in her carriage as long as she had have lived, but she was anxious to get her sons to a free country. She came to Nauvoo, Illinois in the fall of 1845 and while she stayed in Nauvoo, she helped with the sick whenever she was called. She made her house, with her daughter and husband, all that winter, and in the greater part of the next summer. Her daughter, having come to join her husband in Nauvoo some time before.

The people had previously had so much trouble from the mobs, that they decided to start for the west. Bishop Edward HUNTER was put in charge of a large company, so that the boys could help him with the stock. They crossed the Mississippi River, landing at Montrose, Lee, Iowa. Mother HEATH's last words to her daughter, on leaving Nauvoo, was, Jane, if it was not for the salvation of my boys, I would never leave you. That was a sad goodbye, for in a few weeks, Jane HEATH received word that her mother had passed away.

The people thought if they crossed the river they would be out of reach of the mobs, and they could get ready to come west, not knowing just where. Then after they were camped, the water was poor and the way they had to live, many were taken sick with chills and fever. Many died, it was estimated that six hundred died. Barbara HEATH was one of the number. She was sick for fourteen weeks, died October 20, 1846 and was buried at Winter Quarters, Iowa, known as Florence, Nebraska. Mrs. HUNTER told my mother Jane, when she met her years after, in Salt Lake City, I will never forget your mother, when she was so sick she could not walk, she would get out of bed and crawl on her hands and knees, to give Mrs. HUNTER a drink of water.

Barbara HEATH's three son's stayed with the HUNTER family and came to Salt Lake City, in the fall of 1847, sometime between September 20 and October 3, 1847. There was about fifteen hundred in the nine companies, one was known as Bishop HUNTER's company. The three HEATH boys lived with the HUNTER family until they were married, and he loved them dearly. The only thing I ever saw that belonged to my grandmother was a teapot and cream pitcher that Mrs. HUNTER gave to my mother, when she met her many years after they had been in Salt Lake City, also mother Jane had two brass knobs that could be fastened by the window frame to hold the curtains back, I do not remember if mother brought them from England with her, but I do remember how we all praised them, and mother used to have them in her front room, when she died.

This is a sketch of the life of Barbara (HULME) HEATH, as I remember mother [Jane HEATH] tell to us children, many times when I was a child at home. Had I have realized what this would mean to me today, I would have asked her more questions and have written every word down, and put it in a record book. For memories fade as the years go by, yet these things that I have written stand out in my memory just as fresh as when I heard my mother tell them. And too, how her face would become, when she would tell about her grandmother Lady Jane (MCDONALD) HULME. She would say like this, My grandmother was a full blooded Scotch Lady. I am sure that she must have known her, to have loved her the way she did. I hope this will help you to complete your record. I take pleasure in giving this small part to contribute, what may, in some way, prove a blessing to others.

This history was given to me, Richard Scott WILSON, in 1980, by Dr. Louis SCHRICKER, of Salt Lake City, Utah, he is the grandson of Charles DANSIE. He didn't know who wrote the story, but he felt it was probably written by his grandmother Nina Silcock DANSIE, the 12th child of Jane (HEATH) SILCOCK.

Typewritten by Richard Scott WILSON on July 24, 1988.

SURNAME INDEX

  1. DANSIE, Charles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  2. DANSIE, Nina Silcock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  3. HEATH, Barbara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  4. HEATH, Barbara (HULME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  5. HEATH, Frederick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  6. HEATH, Henry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  7. HEATH, Jane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
  8. HEATH, John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 2
  9. HEATH, Sarah Joel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  10. HEATH, Thomas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  11. HEATH's, Mother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  12. HEATH, Jane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  13. HULME., Lady Jane (MCDONALD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
  14. HULME, Barbara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 2
  15. HULME, John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  16. HUNTER, Bishop Edward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  17. HUNTER, Mrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  18. HUNTER's, Bishop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  19. MCDONALD, Lady Jane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
  20. SCHRICKER, Dr. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  21. SILCOCK, Jane (HEATH). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
  22. SILCOCK, Nicholas Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
  23. WILSON, Richard Scott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

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Rev. Jonas PERKINS


An Orthodox clergyman, born in North Bridgewater, Mass., October 15th 1790. Son of Josiah and Anna (REYNOLDS) PERKINS; he a blacksmith, son of Josiah and Abigail (EDSON) PERKINS, born October 9th 1762; he a blacksmith and son of Mark and Dorothy (WHIPPLE) PERKINS, of Bridgewater, born January 4th 1727, he a blacksmith, and son of Luke and Martha (CONANT) PERKINS, born Sept. 17th 1695, of Plympton Ipswich, Wenham Beverly, Marblehead, and Hampton N.H., he a blacksmith, probably youngest child of Abraham and Mary PERKINS, of Hampton, N.H. born 1664.

Rev. Jonas then married Rodah, daughter of Simeon and Molly (CARY) KEITH of Bridgewater, June 12th 1815, she was born February 16th 1790, died at the old homestead, in Braintree, March 22nd 1878 Her father was the son of Nathan and Hannah (SNELL) KEITH, born January 19th 1749. He the son of Timothy and Hannah (FOBES) KEITH, born December 16th 1714 He the son of Rev. James and Susannah (EDSON) KEITH Mr. KEITH being the Minister of Bridgewater.

Rodah KEITH's mother was the daughter of Col. Simeon and Mary (HOWARD) CARY, born July 7th 1755. He was the son of Dea. Recompense and Mary (CROSSMAN) CARY born December 6th 1719 He the son of Jonathan and Sarah (ALLEN) CARY He the son of John and Elizabeth (GODFREY) CARY, born September 24th 1656; all three being of Bridgewater.

Children of Rev. Jonas and Rodah (KEITH) PERKINS:

  1. 1 Mary Anne Apr 2nd 1816 Died Oct 26th 1853
  2. 2 Martha Bond Dec 20th 1817
  3. 3 Josiah Dec 31st 1819
  4. 4 Jonas Reynolds Feb 18th 1822
  5. 5 Nathan Simeon Cary Jun 19th 1824
  6. 6 Rhoda Keith Nov 3rd 1826
  7. 7 Sidney Keith Bond Apr 14th 1830

Nahum Simeon Cary PERKINS (#5 above) married Mrs. Mary Moon of Providence R. I., November 25th 1845, to them were born:

  1. 1 Jonas Reynolds at Providence, R.I. Aug 24th 1846
  2. 2 Mary Anne at Truxton, N.Y. Jun 10th 1848
  3. 3 N. Sidney at Onondaga Valley N.Y. Jun 6th 1850

Jonas Reynolds (#1 above) son of Nathan Simeon Cary and Mary Moon PERKINS, was married first to Lorena Marilla WALKER; daughter of George R. and Lucyra (SCOTT) WALKER, born March 3rd 1853; on July 2nd 1872, at Norwalk, Ohio. She died at Norwalk, Ohio January 17th 1877. They had one daughter, Dora Sherman PERKINS, born May 20th 1873. He was married second to Elizabeth Clark, born at Ramsey, Isle of Man, England, March 3rd 1845, Married at Huron, Erie County, Ohio, February 25th 1880. Of this union was born Mary Elizabeth PERKINS at Norwalk, Ohio, August 28th 1881.

Rev. Jonas PERKINS was a young man of remarkable ingenuity and mechanical talent. Old Capt Thomas Thompson, the next neighbor of his father, who made spinning wheels, large and small, for cotton and flax, for all the country around about Bridgewater, used often to tell, that when "Jonas was just out of petticoats, all the little brooks near his father's house run all sorts of mills, and all sorts of gear were attached to innumerable wind mills, which buzzed so loud that no one could sleep on a windy night." His father thought his son wasted too much time, but when he believed that this "perpetual motion was sure to succeed" he gave up to the boy to operate as much as he pleased.

In 1804 he invented a power loom In 1806 he wove his mother towels by only turning a crank His inventions were the wonder of everyone in the vicinity of his home. In 1807, when about to leave home, he packed his machinery in a barrel, making his mother promise not to show it to anyone. Not long after, two very polite gentlemen rode up in a nice chaise, and over persuaded her to show them the proofs of her son's genius She finally consented and they spent nearly two hours in looking it over. Years after, when she told the circumstances to her son, she said that at the time "she thought it took them a good while."

When in college, which he entered as a sophomore in 1810, he had called on Mr. SLATER, the great manufacturer at Pawtacket, and talked with him about the importance of such a loom. After some conversation, during which Mr. SLATER asked him where he lived and the names of his parents, Mr. PERKINS began to declare that he had accomplished the feat, and invented a power loom; whereupon Mr. SLATER drew himself up to his full height and said, "Do you think you, a little Yankee, can do what all England has been trying to do for centuries?" Upon this the young man felt insulted and left. Whether Mr. SLATER or some other man sent emissaries to discover the secret of the invention is not known, but Mr. PERKINS always said that the first power loom he saw in operation "had some clumsy and homely attachments, he had on his only because he had not the materials or means to employ any others; which he esteemed as proof that the looms he saw were patterned directly from his. He never applied for any patent, because the country was in such a confused condition, and he had determined to fit himself for a preacher of the gospel.

Jonas R. Perkins at the age of 17 years, enlisted as a Private in Company D 101st O.V.I. in the civil war, being detailed Regimental Bugler and served with distinction in the several battles and minor engagements of the Atlantic campaign, especially those of Kingston, Cassville, Adarsville, and Resaea. Received an honorable discharge and muster out at the close of the war; August 28th 1865.


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Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK


Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK was born September 29, 1819, at Joiners Square, a town near Hanley, Staffordshire, England. He was the son of John SILCOCK and Ann COOK of Derbyshire, England. He was baptized August 24, 1840, by Samuel JENSON of Burslem, and confirmed by George SIMPSON; ordained a Seventy by Lehi HANCOCK into the Twelve Quorum on November 12, 1884, which took place in the Seventies Hall, Nauvoo, Illinois. My father, John SILCOCK, was born April 12, 1772, at Marston, Montgomery, Derbyshire, England. My mother, Ann COOK, was born July 14, 1779 at Blithefield, near Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, England.

I was near 21 years old when I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints August 24, 1840 and on March 29, 1841 I was ordained a Teacher under the hands of brothers Wilford WOODRUFF and G. A. SMITH, and on September 13, 1842 I was ordained a Priest under the hands of Alfred CARDON and George SIMPSON at Hanley and in 24 days I left my home for America in the ship "Emerald" in company with Parley P. PRATT. We landed at New Orleans and there started up the river for St. Lewis. The river being frozen over, we were forced to stay until spring, and in April 1843 we started up the river and when we got to Pireock, 27 of us started to walk. When over the rapids we were to be taken on board and landed at Nauvoo, but they did not catch up with us, so we hired a man to ferry us over the river and we went to the city of Nauvoo.

The fourth man that we saw was the prophet Joseph SMITH, and he welcomed us to Nauvoo in the midst of the saints.

[Copy] Dictated by Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK

Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK was born September 29, 1819, near Hanley, Joiners Square, Staffordshire, England. He was the youngest in the family of John SILCOCK and Ann COOK. Early in the year of 1840 he heard the doctrine of the religious sect known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or Mormons. was baptized August 24, 1840 he was baptized and made a member of that church. October 6, 1842, he left Hanley for Liverpool in route to Nauvoo, Illinois, U.S.A. Nauvoo was at this time headquarters for the Latter-Day Saints. While at Nauvoo he helped to build the Nauvoo Temple. He was one of the seventeen carpenters engaged on the work. He was working at this until the Temple was completed and was present at the dedication, and also officiated in some of the ordinances of the church.

He was in Nauvoo at the time the saints were being persecuted by the "Mobacrats" and was still in Nauvoo at the time of the murder of Joseph SMITH and Hyram SMITH, the organizers and leaders of the church. Early in 1846 he left Nauvoo and started west, but was disappointed in securing work so went up the river to St. Louis, Missouri, where he expected to make enough money to take him to Utah where the saints were gathering.

In the spring of 1850 he left St. Louis for Council Bluffs, Iowa. July 5, 1850 he left Council Bluffs in route across the plains to Utah. He crossed the plains in Bishop HUNTER's company. He reached Salt Lake City, Utah on October 4, 1850, remaining in Salt Lake City during the winter. In the spring of 1851 he went to Tooele, staying there until October of 1852 when he again returned to Salt Lake City and lived in the sixth ward.

During February 1858 he went to Grantsville, and in May 1865 he located in Salt Lake County, about twenty miles south of Salt Lake City, where he lived forty one years. He was the father of sixteen children, nine daughters and seven sons. He died at the age of eighty seven years, survived by three sons and four daughters, May 10, 1906.

Nicholas Thomas SILCOCK dictated this story to Henry Franklin DANSIE, his grandson, who wrote it at 1381 Tenth East, Salt Lake City, Utah. This was the last time he was at the home of his daughter, Nina, before his death in April 1906.


This history was given to me, Richard Scott WILSON, by Dr. Louis SCHRICKER, who is the grandson of Charles DANSIE. Typewritten by Richard Scott WILSON on July 23, 1988.


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