We have learned about James and Sarah Denning and John and Jane Williams’ trip to Salt Lake, but what about Mary Jones. As I have stated in a previous post, Mary Jones is the second (plural) wife to John Williams. They were married in February 1857.
The Rest of the Journey
The International docked in New Orleans 54 days after leaving Liverpool, England, the first of second week in April. After having experienced sea sickness, childbirth, scurvy, sea rations and everything else associated with a sea journey at that time, I can only imagine their relieve to finally have their feet touching terra firma. I am sure that the thought crossed their minds, “at least we have the worst behind us”.
The Crossing
With the decision being made, the money paid or borrowed, James, Sarah, John and Jane were ready to leave England and emigrate to the Salt Lake Valley. The journey would take them from Liverpool, England to New Orleans, Louisiana, by ship. Then up the Mississippi River by ferry boat to Keokuk, Iowa, and then across the plains and mountains to the Salt Lake Valley by wagon and walking. This journey would begin on February 21, 1853 and conclude on September 30, 1853. Their crossing would take the total of 221 days, just over seven months. Continue reading The Crossing
Emigration to Salt Lake
James Denning was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints by his good friend, John Williams, in 1850. The following year, 1851, James’ wife, Sarah, and her sister, Jane Merrifield, were baptized. In 1852, Jane Merrifield married John Williams. We now have two young couples, best friends and sisters, preparing for their new lives as members of the this new Church in Wales. Jobs were hard to find and Mormons were being persecuted by the local population. To add insult to injury, Sarah and Jane’s parents disinherited them for marrying Mormon boys. Continue reading Emigration to Salt Lake
In the Beginning
Today’s post moves away from the history of my ancestors, to my history. I have decided to mingle a little bit of my life in with the history of those that came before me. As I have researched the history of my ancestors, I have come to realize that it only takes two to three generations for a history to be lost, especially if it is not written down. If we rely on someone else to write our history, then it may not be done and if it is written by someone else, it will not have the insight that I (first person) can provide for my life. So, with that having been said, I am going to give you a dose of me.
What About the Williams
I mentioned previously that John Jones Williams changed James Denning’s life. Before I get into that change, I thought it important to give you a little history on John Williams, since he will become an important player in my ancestry line. John was born in Brecknockshire, South Wales, on August 12, 1823. He was the seventh of eight children born to Daniel and Ruth Williams. John had a fair complexion, blue eyes and black curly hair. He stood five feet, seven inches tall.
Victorian England 1830s
The industrial revolution was sweeping through England in the 1830s and life was hard for the common Englishman living there. The use of machinery brought great unemployment to the labor force, thus decreasing their value. Children and women of the working class were forced, out of economic necessity, to work at low paying jobs under very poor working conditions. The death rate was high among factory workers and the movement of the population into the cities worsened living conditions. Continue reading Victorian England 1830s
James and Sarah Denning – The Early Years
James Denning was born March 2, 1829 in Kilmersdon. His parents were Henry and Martha Nicklas Denning. Henry first married Sarah White in 1811. They had five children and then she died, leaving Henry a widower with 5 children. Henry then married 34 year old spinster, Martha Nicklas, on January 13, 1823. Martha had been orphaned at the age of nine. She had been raised by a widowed aunt and cousin who were cruel to her and her sister, Grace. With the marriage to James, she then took on the responsibility or raising Henry’s five children, along with giving birth to four of her own. Young James did not attend school, but worked in the coal mines with his father. Continue reading James and Sarah Denning – The Early Years
Coal Miners Sons and Daughters
There is a woody vale, just south of Bath, England, known as Kilmersdon. This place has been the home of coal miners for generations, since the occupation of the Romans. Young James Denning was a collier (coal miner), just like his father (Henry Denning) and his father (Joseph Denning). As far as we know coal mining had been the Denning occupation for generations.
Two Friends and Two Sisters – 1
The past few posts I have focused on a specific person or a married couple. As I was contemplating how to relate the following story or I should say stories, I decided to take a different approach. I am going to break it up into parts, starting from the beginning and post short stories about the lives of the people in the following family tree. I believe that this will make the reading easier, using the KISS principle (keep is simple, stupid).