John Durham & Isabella Thompson

John Durham was born at Whitby, Yorkshire, England on 15 December 1790 to John Durham (b. 1738) and Ann Hineson (1739-1794).

John earned a living as a cord weaver and later as a skilled shoemaker.

Isabella Thompson was also born at Whitby. She was born 20 January 1800 to Thomas Thompson (1762-1816) and Isabella Frank or Franck (b. 1766).

John and Isabella were married on 18 February 1824. They made their home in Oldham, Lancaster, England where all of their six children were born. One of their children was Sarah Durham, grandmother of Cora May Morris.

They were a fairly typical middle-class family. They worked hard, were fairly well educated, and kept a nice home. One record says that Isabella was a "boot and shoe binder." The family was known for their musical talents and their devotion to their faith.

When their oldest two children, Thomas and Sarah, became interested in the Mormon church, the couple was devastated, but they did not cut ties with them.

John and Isabella staying in Oldham with most of their children near them (Thomas and Sarah went to America in 1862).

John died on 10 January 1863 in Whitby at the age of 72.

Isabella died on 31 March 1883 at the age of 83 and was buried in Stalybridge, Lancashire, England.

Joseph Morris & Elizabeth Vernon

Elizabeth Vernon was bornin 1794 in Berwardley, Cheshire, England to George and Rebecca Goban Vernon. She grew up in Cheshire, England. At the age of 16, Elizabeth married a sailor names James Silverthorn. The couple had a son and named him James. Soon after the baby was born, James went to see and did not return.

Joseph Morris was born on 17 December 1795 in Berwardley, Cheshire, England to James and Hannah Morris. The family lived on a farm near the Silverthorn's home. Joseph met Elizabeth when he was 20 years old. The couple was married on 24 July 1815 in the parish church at Oswald, Cheshire.

After two happy years, Elizabeth's first husband reappeared. He had not been lost at sea after all. This must have been a hard and emotional situation. It was finally decided that James would take his son, James, and Elizabeth would stay with Joseph.

Elizabeth never heard from her son again.

Joseph and Elizabeth had a family of six children together, including William Morris. Elizabeth was an expert seamstress and made linings for the shoes Joseph made.

Elizabeth died on 10 October 1839 in Berwardley at the age of 45. She was buried at the Church of Dukinfield, Cheshire, England.

Joseph died 28 April 1861 at the age of 66 and was buried at St. John's Church in Dukinfield, Cheshire, England on 1 May 1861.

 

William Rowley

William Rowley was born in 1784 at Grafton, Flyford Parish, Worcestershire, England.

There is some mixed information on his mother. There are records of his father being John Rowley (1754-1823) and his mother being Ann Hodges (1753-1825) or Ann Taylor (1760-?).

Nothing is known of his childhood, although it is believed that he did not have a formal education and wasn’t able to write. This belief comes from the fact that there is an ‘X’ following his name on his marriage license to Ann Jewell.

William married Ann Taylor in July 1807. The couple had 7 children between 1808 and 1827. William made a good living for his family in Mars Hill, Worcestershire, England which he owned. He had a nice home surrounded by orchards and fields of hops.

The family were well enough off to afford a governess for their younger children. The governess was a young woman named Ann Jewell.

 Ann Taylor Rowley died in 1835. Some of the older children may have been married and out on their own, but William would have been left with children ranging from about 8 to 27 years of age.

About 5 months later on 22 August 1836 in the Suckley, William married Ann Jewell.  At the time of their married, William was 51 and Ann was 28.

Marriage certificate. Note the X’s following the words, “The mark of William Rowley.”

The couple lived on Mars Hill for 10 or 11 years after their marriage and added 7 more children to his family. Their children are: Louisa, Elizabeth, John, Samuel, Richard, Thomas and Jane.

William and Ann were faithful members of a congregation known at the United Brethren. This was a group who had broken off from the Wesleyan Methodist church in search for more truth. In 1840, a Mormon missionary named Wilford Woodruff traveled to England and was prompted to go to Herefordshire where he found the home of John Benbow, another member of the United Brethren.  Eventually, all but one member of the congregation of over 600 were baptized.

William was baptized at the John Benbow farm on either 6 May 1840 (according to FamilySearch) or 24 May 1840 (according to the book Rowley Family Histories).

William received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a deacon on 22 March 1841 by Wilford Woodruff in Stanley, Lancashire, England (Woodruff, vol. 2, p. 68).

The next few years, the family was active in the LDS Church and helped in its growth in the area. Elder Woodruff stayed with the family on at least two occasions, but possibly more. In the journal of Wilford Woodruff (vol. 1, p. 452) he mentions spending the night at William Rowley’s home.

According to the Millennial Star, a periodical published by the LDS Church, there was a general conference held in Manchester in April 1845 and in attendance were members from the Mars Hill Branch (Millennial Star, vol . 5, p. 167). According to family tradition, the Rowley home was often used for church meetings. The mention of the Mars Hill Branch may indicate that the Rowley home was actually licensed for the use of religious meetings, which was English law at the time.

Later that year on September 21, there was a meeting called the Mars Hill Conference which met “in the parish of Suckley, Worcestershire” (Millennial Star, vol. 7, p. 3). The Mars Hill Conference included 466 members from 11 branches.

One example of William’s faith comes from a story retold by his grandson, William G. Rowley.

“This is a story my Grandmother, Ann Jewell Rowley told me when I was a small boy.

One night while Elder Woodruff was staying at their home, a mob of men came to their door and Grandpa [William Rowley] opened the door and asked them what they wanted. They said they wanted Woodruff, but they were told that Brother Woodruff had gone to bed. This did not satisfy them. They said, "We want Woodruff and we are going to get him!" Grandpa said, "If you get him it will be over my dead body." Members of the Mob then took hold of Grandfather and dragged him out into the yard where they beat him until he was unconscious. While the mob was dragging Grandfather away, he called to Grandmother [Ann Jewell Rowley], telling her to close and lock the doors, which she did. After they had beaten Grandfather until they were afraid he was dead and finding the house locked up, they departed being afraid to break into the house by force. When Elder Woodruff arose in the morning, finding [Grandfather] bruised and in bad condition, he advised them to sell out and move to America and to Zion (Rowley, Roberta Benson, History of William Rowley and Ann Jewell, pp. 3-4).”

As many other early members of the Church, the Rowley’s financial situation declined. In 1845 and 1846, their crops failed, forcing them to sell their home and all their possessions at public auction but a feather bed.

Another blow came to the family when a wagon tipped over onto William, which left him bedridden for a period of time. Some stories say that his leg and hip were crushed in this accident. William was in his 60s at this point. This injury, along with the anxiety over the family’s financial situation are believed to have contributed to his death although the copy of his death certificate (see image on right) states that he had "Influenza, Eight days." William Rowley died on 14 Feb 1849 at the age of 64.

William was buried 20 Feb 1849 in Suckley. (See record on left.) This left Ann widowed at the age of 48 and with sole responsibility over their 7 children, aging 7 months to 12 years as well as one of William’s daughters from his first marriage, Eliza, who lived with the family.

Eventually, Ann and her children made their way to Utah. Eliza also traveled with Ann Jewell but passed away at Sweet Water in Wyoming.

Ann remarried twice to good men who took care of her, but it can be easily assumed that she was always devoted to William. First, after the death of her 3^rd husband, Luke Ford when she moved from Parowan to Huntington, Utah she went back to Ann Rowley. Also, the same day she was married to her Mr. Ford (14 Oct 1859), she also received her endowments and was sealed to William in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, UT.

Ann Jewell Rowley

Ann Jewell was born in December 1807 and christened at St.Andrew’s Church on 5 December 1807 in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Here

William Jewell and Frances Green. Ann’s mother died the same month of Ann’s birth and William remarried a woman named Sarah Hyde. Many records refer to Sarah as Ann’s mother and she did raise her, but was not her biological mother.

As a young adult, Ann was employed as a governess to William and Ann Taylor Rowley, who lived in Suckley, on a piece of land known as Mars Hill. Ann Taylor passed away in 1835. The youngest of their 7 children would have been 9 or 10 years old.

On 22 August 1835 in the Suckley, William and Ann Jewell were married. Their marriage certificate indicates that neither William nor Ann could write due to the ‘X’ following each of their names. We can assume from this that Ann was not formally educated and may not have been able to read.

 

William and Ann's marriage certificate

The couple continued to live at Mars Hill for the 10 or 11 years. The couple bore seven children from 1837 to 1848.  Their children are: Louisa, Elizabeth, John, Samuel, Richard, Thomas and Jane.

In 1840, a missionary from the LDS Church named Willford Woodruff, traveled from Missouri to England. After praying for guidance, Elder Woodruff made his way to a remote farm in Herefordshire, England to the home of John Benbow. Benbow was a member of a congregation of over 600 men and women who had broken off from the Wesleyan Methodist church. They called themselves the United Brethern and were searching for truth. Eventually, all but one member of the congregation were baptized into the LDS church.  Among the congregation were William and Ann Jewell. (Click HERE to read an article about the conversion of the United Brethren.)

According to Willford Woodruff’s journal, Ann was baptized 6 May 1840 and William was baptized 24 May 1840. 

The next few years, the family was active in the LDS Church and helped in its growth in the area. In fact, their home was likely to be licensed for the use of religious meetings. Elder Woodruff stayed with the family on at least two occasions, but possibly more.

As many other early members of the Church, the Rowley’s financial situation declined. In 1845 and 1846, their crops failed, forcing them to sell their home and all their possessions but a feather bed.

William died February 15, 1849 at the age of 64 in Suckley, possibly to complications from a wagon accident a few years earlier which may have left him bedridden. Ann may have been providing for the family prior to his death, but at the time of his death was left with sole stewardship over her 7 children, whose ages at the time ranged from 7 months to 12 years as well as her step-daughter Eliza, age 25, who lived with them.

In Ann’s autobiography is says: “I was very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the comfort it gave me. I knew that our parting was only temporary and that viewed from the eternities, this was but a fleeting moment.”

The next 7 years in England must have been a hardship. Ann was an accomplished seamstress and worked with the help of her older daughters on items they could sell, although there was some prejudice in the community toward her due to her religion. Louisa, the oldest daughter, worked as a maid in her teens and the John and Samuel were sent to work at a brick kiln at the ages of 9 and 7 located several miles from home.

Ann’s brother Thomas Jewell and her sister, Sarah, provided some help to the family, as well as a few shillings a week from the parish “poor fund” but her desire to join the members in America must have continued to grow during these trials.

As the years went by, fear of John being sent to war and Louisa falling in love were more reason for Ann to get her family to America. It took the Perpetual Emigration Fund (PEF) to accomplish this goal. The PEF was started in 1849 and was a fund that the LDS Church created and members donated to in order to help members in Europe to emigrate to America. Those who took money from the fund were to pay back what they could over time.

On 1 May 1856, Ann Jewell Rowley (46) although with her 7 children and step-daughter Eliza, boarded the ship Thornton in Liverpool, England. James G. Willie was called as president of the “company” of 764 Latter-Day Saints by Elder Franklin D. Richards. Their 6 weeks journey was relatively calm. The Thornton docked in New York City on 14 June 1856.

After several steamboat and railroad trips, the company made its way to Iowa City on the 26^th of June. By the 15^th of July, their company, now known as the Willie Handcart Company, started their 1300 mile trek to Salt Lake City, Utah.

By this time, Ann’s children’s ages ranged from 19 to 8 years old. Everyone over age 7 was expected to walk. The company generally woke at 4:30am and left camp by 7:30am. On average, they traveled 14 to 17 miles a day. Due to many circumstances, the company was met with much hardship.

Ann’s autobiography says: “Handcarts had to be made, supplies gathered, oxen caught and broken to pull the heavy supply wagons, everything that even hinted of being a luxury must be eliminated. There were many keepsakes that I wanted to take, but couldn’t. But there was one thing I didn’t consider a luxury and that was my feather bed. I had hung onto that beloved item from the time of the auction in England and now clearly there was no room for it. It wouldn’t be bad to walk 1300 miles if one had a feather bed to sleep on at night, but no matter how I folded it, it was too bulky. Wouldn't it be just wonderful, I thought, if I could deflate it in the morning and inflate it at night, so it would pack compactly. But a feather bed is a feather bed and when it came to choosing between Zion and a feather bed, well it was a little too late to turn my back on Zion, so I ripped it open and emptied the feather on the ground and used the tick to cover the supplies on the handcart.”

Ann’s autobiography says: “Our handcarts were not designed for such heavy loads and we were constantly breaking down.  They had been made of green lumber and were affected by the weather.  Rawhide strips was used to wrap the iron rims to the wheels and the wood would shrink and the rawhide would come loose.  It hurt me to see my children go hungry.  I watched as they cut the loose rawhide from the cart wheels, roast off the hair and chew the hide." 

She continued: "There came a time, when there seemed to be no food at all.  Some of the men left to hunt buffalo.  Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal.  I asked God's help as I always did.  I got on my knees, remembering two hard sea biscuits that were still in my trunk.  They had been left over from the sea voyage, they were not large, and were so hard, they couldn't be broken.  Surely, that was not enough to feed 8 people, but 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5000 people either, but through a miracle, Jesus had done it.  So, with God's help, nothing is impossible.  I found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God's blessing, then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals.  When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food.  I kneeled with my family and thanked God for his goodness.  That night my family had sufficient food. “

Ann’s step daughter, Eliza, died on the way to Salt Lake and was buried along the trail. Eliza was frail before the trek began but she traveled from Liverpool, to New York and on to Iowa City. She walked nearly a thousand miles to get to Zion with part of her family. Surely it was a sacrifice for her to leave her other siblings, and I am confident that she has been rewarded for her devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The family entered the Salt Lake Valley on 6 November 1856 and were given shelter and food. Ann had a piece of sagebrush in her eye that needed attention. The family was split up and sent to different homes so there would be less burden on the Saints in Salt Lake. Ann, Samuel, Thomas and Jane were soon sent to Nephi where the ward provided for them, although Ann did not like accepting charity and wanted to pay her immigration fee as soon as she could.  Not wanting to burden others or live off of others’ labors, Ann and Samuel dug a room in the side of a hill where they lived through the winter. This is according to family tradition. During this time, Ann took in sewing and Samuel worked for several farmers.

In the Spring of 1857, a man named Andrew Baston, of Parowan, UT, came to the bishop in Nephi to ask if there was a woman who would make a good wife. Bishop Bigler introduced Andrew and Ann and “it was as simple as that,” Ann said. “He needed a wife and I needed a home for my younger children, so we were married within a few days. Andrew was a fine man.”

Andrew paid Ann’s debts and provided a good home for her family. He died less than a year after their marriage. Ann said, “I was grateful to the Lord for having sent Andrew to me. I know I was a comfort to him, that last year of his life. He left me well provided for.”

 

On 14 Oct 1859, Ann made her way to Salt Lake and was sealed to William Rowley in the Endowment House.

 

Ann married again to a man named Luke Ford who took care of her until his death.

 

1860 Census showing Luke Ford (70), Ann (52),

Samuel (17), Richard (15), Thomas (14) and Jane (12) and Parowan, Utah.

In her later years, Ann lived in Huntington, UT where several of her children lived.

This valiant pioneer died in 1888 and was buried in the Huntington Cemetery.

 Click HERE to see Ann's headstone on Find A Grave.

Click HERE to preview the book: Rowley Family Histories, a history of William & Ann Jewell Rowley and their children.

Click HERE to see information on ordering your own copy of Rowley Family Histories.


Click HERE to read Ann's Autobiography from Some Early Pioneers of Huntington, Utah and Surrounding Area, by: James Albert Jones compiled in 1980.

 

 

Sarah Durham

Sarah Durham was born in Oldham, Lancaster, England to John Durham and Isabella Thompson on 6 June 1825.

John, about 35 years old (1835) and Isabella, nearly 90 years old in about 1880.

When Sarah was still young she worked in the Nottingham cotton factory which was famous for its lace.

Sarah was baptized a member of the LDS church on 18 June 1843. One brother joined the church as well, but the rest of her family was devastated.

Sarah married William Morris on 2 August 1848 in St. Johns Church in Failsworth. Both were Mormons at the time and may have decided to be married at St. Johns to please their families.



In 1862, Sarah, William and 6 of their children made their way from England to Parowan, Utah. One daughter, 10 year old Sarah Jane, passed away of Mountain Fever in Wyoming and was buried on the roadside. (See William's history for more information on their journey.)

Sarah was the mother of 9 children (including William T. Morris), but lost 4 while they were young. One baby was buried in England before they came to America, Sarah Jane and twin boys, Joseph and John who both died of Cholera Infantum at 10 months of age.

Sarah grew up in a well-educated family. The family was also very talented in music. Sarah couple sight-read and sing in a rich alto to even the most difficult music. She was a member of the Parowan Choir, a prestigious group lead by her brother, Thomas Durham.

William and Sarah were sealed in the St. George Temple on 13 March 1870.

William and Sarah in about 1900. Will would die in November of that year.

Sarah has black hair and black eyes. She had a quick mind and a quick tongue. She was active in the Church and active in the community, including politics.

At 5 feet tall and less than 100 pounds was known as "Little Grandma" to her posterity. One evening when she was past 80, her son was playing a lively song on the piano. She came from her room with a little lampshade on her hear. She held out her skirts and danced like a little girl.

Sarah was remembered as an excellent cook and immaculate housekeeper. Her home was full of flowers and other lovely things.



This valiant pioneer died on 3 July 1916 in Parowan, Utah at the age of 91.

Click HERE to see Sarah's gravestone on Find A Grave.

To see Sarah on the 1880 and 1900 census, see William's post.

William Morris

William Morris was born 16 November 1820 in Burswardsley, Cheshire, England to Joseph Morris and Elizabeth Vernon.

William's father was a shoemaker. In his early 20s, William began working in the coal mines at Failsworth. He eventually became foreman of the mines.

William was baptized on 1 May 1842.

William married Sarah Durham on 2 August 1848 in St. Johns Church in Failsworth. The couple moved to Dukinfield where they opened a little shop. The business did very well and they were able to provide for their family.



Between 1849 and 1866 the couple welcomed 9 children to their family.

William and Sarah were both baptized into the LDS Church before their marriage. After 14 years, they saved enough money to join the Saints in America.

In 1862, the couple and 5 children traveled from England to Utah. William carried their ailing baby, William T., nearly the entire trip. The family sailed from England on the Mancester.

William and his family on the register for the ship, Mancester.

The company which the family traveled with made their way from New York, into Canada, to Chicago, the St. Louis and finally to Florence, Nebraska where they were met with ox teams to take them to Utah. From Florence to Salt Lake they traveled with the John R. Murdock company. The family, minus one, arrived in Parowan, UT on 10 October 1862. Their daughter Sarah Jane died in Wyoming of Mountain Fever and was laid in a lonely grave by the roadside.

In Parowan, William also became sick with a fever and an Indian known as "Doctor Bill" performed ritual ceremonies and prayers for him. William always believed that this saved his life.

At 44, William was called to help establish a settlement at what is now Panquitch, UT. Walking on snowshoes from Panquitch to Parowan for supplies, he became "snow blind" and later completely lost his sight after cataract surgery.

He and a neighbor, William Wilcock, also blind, would often walk together. One day they missed a bridge and fell into a creek. William laughed and said, "If the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch."

William and Sarah were sealed in the St. George Temple on 13 March 1870.

1880 Census

1900 Census

1900

William died in Parowan, in the home he built, on 5 November 1900 at the age of 80.

He was remembered as kind, gentle man, a good farmer, shoe maker, church worker, town builder, and neighbor. He had red-brown hair and deep blue eyes. His son, William T., said, "I loved to be with my father...a more honorable, upright man that my father cannot be found."

Click HERE to see William's gravestone on Find A Grave.

"My Tobacco Money"

When I was about 16 years old a lot of the boys with whom I chummed began to use tobacco and they tried to get me to smoke or chew with them, but I had always disliked the tobacco habit so I told them they could smoke if they thought it would do them any good, but I was going to take the money they would spend for tobacco and put it in a fund and buy books with it. I asked several of them how much they spent a week on tobacco and took an average of the lot and laid that much away each week until I had accumulated a nice little sum which I spent for a set of books consisting of 16 volumes containing information of various topic that were very useful to me. I continued this until I had secured quite a little library. One Christmas day when the band of which I was a member came to our home to serenade, as was one of the good old customs, now nearly done away with and very seldom heard of. My uncle took occasion to show the members my library and told them that was bought with my tobacco money. They asked if I had been selling tobacco. "No," said my uncle, "He has stopped the sale as far as he is concerned. These books represent the money he would have spent if he had followed the fashion and been a smoker."

By William T. Morris