Claridge Siblings All

home. They moved to the fort at Charleston until the Indians became a problem, and then they
moved back to Provo where they lived the rest of their lives.

John was the first supervisor of Provo City. He assisted in building canals, wagon roads,
sawmills, and in developing the county. He was a farmer and a stock raiser. He was a High Priest
and President of the Bluff City branch. He also sent ox teams two different times for immigrants in
1860. He was a faithful member of the Church and supported it in every way.

Nancy Adeline Kennedy 1811-1993

In the year 1810, on the 5th day of March, to Alexander Kennedy and Jane
McEwan, was born a little girl. She was christened Nancy and grew to
womanhood in her birthplace, Hadley, Saratoga County, New York. Her parents
were Scotch and were well-to-do farmers of New York State. Nancy often spoke
of their large, comfortable home; and told stories of the great feasts made ready
for holidays, when cooks were brought in to help with the preparations. The home was well
supplied with all necessities and a great many luxuries.

In the year 1830, she was married to John Gansworth Wilkins and soon after their marriage
they moved to Perth, Ontario, Canada, where her father had a sawmill. He was what we would
now term an engineer and they were financially very successful. Two of their sons, Edward and
Alexander, were born here; and what is of great importance, William Page brought to them the
Gospel of Jesus Christ and with it, the spirit of gathering. They soon made preparations to join the
Saints in Nauvoo. Nancy had many beautiful things-china, linens of all kinds, quilts, blankets,
counterpanes, etc. Most of these were boxed and sent by water to Nauvoo and the family left by
team overland. They arrived safely in Nauvoo. Nancy had not as yet joined the Church, she did
not doubted the proposition for a minute and was therefore disowned by her parents and did not
hear from them for fifteen years.

Arriving in Nauvoo, they bought a nice farm where they again prospered. Nancy often spoke
of their livestock - hogs, turkeys, chickens, corn, etc. When the persecution of the Saints began
they suffered with the others and at one time their entire drove of hogs was stolen.

Oscar was born in Nauvoo – while Nancy was still in bed with this new babe, the mob cane to
their home saying, “Now, Wilkins, we have nothing against you personally, but we can’t stand
your religion. Deny it and Joe Smith and we will not harm you; persist and we will burn your
home”. Father said, “Burn, and be damned,” They turned to Nancy and although still not a
member of’ the Church, she would not deny the Gospel and said she knew Joseph Smith to be a
righteous man. She was carried out on her bed and our home fired before her eyes. The mob
even took our chickens and threw them into the flame.

Soon after this the Prophet Joseph took the baby Oscar into his arms and blessed him. Every
one’s life was really in danger from this time on, the mob element being no respecter of persons.
One night they came to our home in search of father John. They questioned Alex concerning
Father’s whereabouts, but with wisdom born of Fear the child denied knowing anything at all
about Father. Then Alex's life was threatened, one of the mob saying, “Nits make lice. We had

98 3 Claridges History



























William was born with musical talents which were passed on to many of his descendants. He
made a fife out of brass when he was 14 years old. He could play most musical instruments and
made and repaired them. His favorite was the violin and he had an old Steiner that he treasured.

At 20 years of age, William married Sarah York 18 Feb 1831 in Bethel, Oxford, Maine. They
were the parents of the following children:

1. Peter York 1832
2. Abiah Russell 1834
3. Lyman White 1836
4. William Furlsbury 1838
5. Hannah Libby 1841
6. Martha York 1843
7. Sarah Melissa 1846
8. William Aaron 1848
9. Edwin Lavan 1851
10. Charlotte York 1856
In 1832 John F. Boynton and Daniel Bean, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints brought the gospel to the Carter family in Maine. Only parts of the family were
baptized in June of 1834 – John Carter, William's father never did join the Church.
William F. and his wife Sarah were baptized on 17 November 1834. The Carter’s left Maine
and went to Kirtland in the Ohio Valley by the year of 1836. William was ordained and Elder in
1836 by President Hadlock in the Kirtland Temple. On 6 Oct 1837 while traveling from Kirtland,
Ohio to Far West, Missouri, one of the oxen in his team died forcing William to adjust the harness
of the remaining animal to pull the entire load as a mate could not be purchased.
On the 9 Apr 1838 he was ordained a Seventy at Far West , Missouri – 26 May 1839 at Quincy,
Illinois be was appointed on of the Seventy Messengers to the Nations by Joseph Young,
Chairman of the Council of Seventies. In 1842 he was recommended to preach the Gospel in
Hancock Co., Illinois – particularly in Nauvoo, Lima or Morleyville. He was ordained President of
the 20th Quorum of Seventies on 30 Sep 1845.
William received his Patriarchal Blessing at the home of Isaac Morley on 24 Feb1845. Among
the many blessings promised – “…The Lord has blessed thee Bro. William with the bounties of
nature… Thy genius shall be blessed and released in ornamenting and decorating the building of
the Temple of the Lord… Thou has naturally the gift to work in ore and in fine steel and thou shalt
yet have the blessing to work in silver and fine gold… Thou shall have the gift by nature to
proclaim the Gospel… His life prove a fulfillment of these blessings for he was a blacksmith,
wagon smith, horseshoeer, mechanic, carpenter – repaired musical instruments, guns, watches,
clocks, forged knives and tool of all kinds. He was a musician, but above all a missionary
travelled around the world and was the first to take the Book of Mormon with him.
William Furlsbury was a drum major in the 3rd Regiment Second Cohort under the leadership
of Colonel Jonathan H. Hale.
Because of persecution, early in the year 1838, William and Sarah and their children relocated
to Missouri. This journey was a sign of the Carter's great faith and dedication to the Gospel. All
along the way numerous men had taken up arms to join the mob militia to drive the Mormons

112 3 Claridges History

from Missouri or exterminate them. In February of 1839, the Saints were driven from Missouri.
The Carter family traveled with Isaac Morley into Lima, Illinois. Soon this area became the
prosperous Morleyville.

William held numerous Church offices while living in the Nauvoo, Illinois area. All the while,
mob violence was increasing. In five years, fertile farms had been developed in Morleyville and
had much industry. On 15 June 1844 a mob of 2000 men came upon the saints in Morleyville and
told them they had three choices: join their mob against Joseph Smith, give
up their arms and become neutral or abandon their homes and go to
Nauvoo. They chose the latter.

On 20 Jan 1846 William Furlsbury & Sarah York received their
endowments and were sealed the 28 Jan 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple.
Shortly after this he became an exile when the mob forced the Saints to
leave their homes in Illinois. Father John and brother Phillip and sister Mary
Jane never joined the Church. Each of the latter chose to stay in Nauvoo
while the rest of the family left Nauvoo for Council Bluffs, Iowa. Moving to
Kanesville, Iowa he built a home and blacksmith shop – he accepted and
lived the doctrine of plural marriage. Another mob burned out his shop and they were forced to
move again. William and his family chose to stay in Parley's Springs [later named Carterville]
near Council Bluffs and set up a blacksmith shop. He busied himself repairing wagons and
equipment for the Saints as they passed through to Winter Quarters. It was here in Carterville on
31 January 1847 that William took a 2nd wife, Hannah Cordelia Mecham --17 years old - died on 3
April 1847. Two months later he married a relation of Hannah, Roxena Mecham on 13 March
1847.

William was not permitted to cross the plains to Zion with the first wagon trains in 1847, 1848
or 1849 – he was needed to prepare the wagons, horses and equipment of other emigrants. He
and his two wives and children came in 1850 and were included in the Census of the Great Salt
Lake County – William 39, Sarah 38 and Roxena 20. William followed his brother Dominicus to
Provo in 1852. While living in Provo, William organized the Provo Marshall band. They played
and performed for the Black Hawk camps and the Ute Stampede programs. He held his religion
a sacred trust and answered a call to serve as a missionary to India. He left 22 Oct 1852 in
company with a group of other Elders taking the southern route to California.

William kept a diary of his mission that recalls some of the problems of travel and experiences
of the time. Finally after a long and tedious voyage he arrived in Calcutta, India the 26th of April
1853 – a 3 months voyage. None of the Elders had much success in their labors as the people
were divided into castes and if they joined the L.D.S. Church they would lose their caste and
become outcasts with no means of livelihood.

William claimed of his missionary journey, "I have suffered ill health, change in climate and
rough weather in crossing the ocean. I bore my testimony to every person that I possibly could
meet, both by sea and land, and I verily believe that I sowed seed in good ground that will grow,
and I shall see the fruits thereof. I baptized a man and his wife in Kansas, who will be shortly in
the valley. I have only one regret that my health was such that it prevented my staying to finish
my mission, but my conscience fully acquits me of having done my best duty as far as I was able

3 Claridges History 113

and knew how, and that the Lord has blessed me for I am convinced of his
special care over me in permitting me to return to my home and family. That
my simple faith endeavors me to be abundantly blessed in drawing out the
honest in heart to join the Gospel that I have born testimony to around the
world, is my prayer, in the name of Christ, Amen."

After a sickness with fever from the hot climate, he was requested to
return home – after reaching a cooler climate his fever abated. He docked at Boston on 11 Nov
1853 – went to Maine to visit his relatives and returned to Boston where he purchased a ticket to
Cincinnati, Ohio as that was as far as his funds would take him. He sold his
extra clothing and bag to get enough money to take him to Lima, Hancock
Co., Illinois where his brother and sister lived. Upon arriving he learned his
father had been dead for over a year. He arranged to cross the plains with
the first group of emigrants leaving in the spring of 1884. The captain of the
wagon train objected to his joining them – no doubt from his recent sickness
and poor physical appearance at age 43. Elizabeth Howard (27) an English
convert interceded for him “why can’t we take this old man with us?” A
friendship developed between these two Saints – William was able to repair
several wagons and shoe the horses on the journey to the satisfaction of all involved.

William and Elizabeth were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 10 Sep 1854 – went on to
Provo to join Sarah, Roxena and children whom he had not seen for almost 2 years. He soon
found work at the Perpetual Immigration Co. making and repairing wagons while pursuing his
blacksmithing trade. Early in 1857, Roxena's parents asked William F. if he would take another
daughter Sally Ann for a wife--she was only 15 years old. William had his last child with wife Sally
Ann when he was 71 years old.

The family left Provo in 1862 and spent the next two dozen years between Mona, Juab Co.
and Santaquin, Goshen & Benjamin, Utah. William alternately operated a store, a blacksmith
shop, farms and a threshing machine which he manufactured out of parts made in his own
blacksmith shop.

The Carter family biographer writes “…he lived true and faithful to the Gospel to the end of his
days testifying to his great faith in Jesus Christ. William was the second L.D.S. missionary to
circle the earth and first one to carry a Book of Mormon around the World.”

William Furlsbury Carter departed this life on Wednesday, 11 Oct 1888 in Santaquin, Utah
and was buried in the Santaquin Cemetery leaving his four wives & 36 children.

114 3 Claridges History

Sarah York

Sarah York was born 25 Aug 1812 to Peter York and Abiah
Russell in Bethel, Oxford, Maine. She was the 6th of 11 children in
the family.

In 1831 Sarah married William Furlsbury Carter. To this Union
were born: 5 July 1832 Peter York Carter, 22 August 1834 Abiah
Russell Carter, 6 December 1836 Lyman Wilman (White) Carter, 9
September 1838 William Furlsbury Carter, 25 Mar 1841 Hannah
Libby Carter, 16 June 1843 Martha York Carter, 13 April 1846
Sarah Melissa Carter, 22 Dec 1848 William Aaron Carter, 5
August 1851 Edwin Levan Carter, 2 January 1856 Charlotte York Carter.

The Carter family was converted to the Church in 1834 and began to move west with the
Mormons. Sarah York Carter was well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith. At one
conference everybody wanted him to go home with them to dinner, so many asked him that he
couldn't go without offending. Sarah hadn't asked him so he came to her and put his arms around
her and said, "Sister Carter, have you any bread and milk?" She said, "Yes, and some honey to
with it." "Then I am going home with you," said the Prophet.

They were near Nauvoo, Illinois at the time of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum. Sarah
York Carter went through many trials and persecutions of the early saints in Missouri and Illinois.
One time the mob came to her door. She asked them what they were going to do with them. They
told her they were going to burn them out and drive them from there to Nauvoo and from there to
Hell. She told them to go ahead if they thought there was no hereafter. At this same time all the
men had to flee for their lives as the mob had sent word that every man and boy that was left in
town they would kill. Sarah asked one of the mob who she knew, if he could help her get her
things out before they burned the house. He said he would like to help her but didn’t dare as the
rest would kill him. She took what things she could and put them against the well curb. There
came a rain and the mob had to leave without burning anything. In the night the men came back,
took their families with them, and what little things they could and left nearly everything behind.
The next day Sarah's oldest son Peter went back to get the cow. The mob saw him and began
shooting at him. He fell to one side of the horse, his hat fell off and the mob thought they had shot
him and they turned back. Peter went safely on with the cow.

Grandfather Carter begged Sarah to take the children and go with him as the mob never came
to his house to bother him. She told him no. She knew that if the mob ever found out he was
defending them they would kill him. That was the last time she ever saw her grandfather, because
they left Nauvoo and came west to Salt Lake and he never joined the Church.

Soon after they expelled from their house by as mob. They soon started their four-year
journey across the plains, stopping and setting up blacksmith shops along the way.

They arrived in Salt Lake and soon moved to Provo. In 1852 her husband was called to serve
a mission to India and Sarah was left to provide for herself and three children. From 1862 to
1882, they traveled between Santaquin, Nephi, Goshen and Benjamin Utah storekeeping and
running a threshing machine. Sarah York Carter lived in Provo after all her children were all

3 Claridges History 115

grown and married. Sarah York Carter lived in Provo after all her children were all grown and
married.
In 1883 her son, William Aaron volunteered to move to the Gila Valley, Arizona. Sarah was 72
years old at the time and drove one of the teams all the way. At one time they were stopped by
Indians. They left Sarah alone when she told them they would be interrupting "God's work" if they
stopped them. She was then again among the pioneers of Arizona sharing all the trials there with
the Indians.

Sarah York Carter was only sick one week, dying at her son Edwin Carter's home at Glenbar,
Graham County, Arizona, 8 September 1888 and is buried at Pima, Graham County, Arizona.

116 3 Claridges History

Family Group Sheet

Husband John Carter

Birth 19 May 1872 Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine B: 31 Oct 1882 EHOUS
E: 8 Nov 1882 EHOUS
Blessing SP: 24 May 1929 MANTI
SS: 6 Nov 1902 MANTI
Death 13 Aug 1852 Rockyrun, Hancock, Illinois
B: 4 Jul 1834
Marriage 2 Mar 1806 Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine E: 10 Jan 1846 NAUVO
SP: 26 Jul 1925 SLAKE
Father Richard Carter (1755 – 1828)
B: 30 Jun 1834
Mother Jane McKenney (1760 – 1803) E: 20 Dec 1845 NAUVO
SP: 10 Nov 1882 SGEOR
WIFE Hannah Knight Libby SS: 13 Jan 1846 NAUVO

Birth 9 Oct 1786 Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine B: 18 Jan 1895 SLAKE
E: 19 Jun 1895 SLAKE
Blessing SP: 6 Nov 1902 MANTI
SS: 19 Jun 1895 SLAKE
Death 17 Nov 1867 Provo, Utah, Utah
B: 1884
Father Capt. Zebulon Libby (1757 – 1836) E: 20 Jan 1846 NAUVO
SP: 20 Nov 1882 SGEOR
Mother Lydia Andrews (1760 – 1838) SS: 10 Dec 1994 ARIZO

CHILDREN B: 17 Nov 1834
E: 20 Jan 1846 NAUVO
M Dominicus Carter SP: 3 Apr 1973 LOGAN
SS: 28 Jan 1846 NAUVO
Birth 21 Jun 1806 Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine
B: 1 Jun 1886 LOGAN
Blessing E: 2 Jun 1886 LOGAN
SP: 8 Jul 1990 LOGAN
Death 2 Feb 1844 Provo, Utah, Utah SS: 29 Nov 1973 SGEOR

Marriage 11 May 1828 Lydia Smith B: Child
E: Child
F Almira Carter SP: 8 Jul 1890 LOGAN
SS:
Birth 3 Jan 1808 Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine
3 Claridges History 117
Blessing

Death 18 Mar 1894 Lima, Adams, Illinois

Marriage 15 Jan 1829 Alvin Baron Tripp

F Hannah Carter

Birth 28 Jun 1809 Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine

Blessing

Death 18 Sep 1894 Provo, Utah, Utah

Marriage 3 Dec 1830 Aaron Mereon York

M William Furlsbury Carte

Birth 11 May 1811 Newry, Oxford, Maine

Blessing

Death 11 Oct 1888 Santaquin, Utah, Utah

Marriage 18 Feb 1831 Sarah York

M Phillip Libby Carty

Birth 17 Jan 1813 Newry, Oxford, Maine

Blessing

Death 27 Jul 1876 Walker, Hancock, Illinois

Marriage 26 Nov 1845 Martha Eames York

M John Harrison Carter

Birth 13 Jan 1815 Newry, Oxford, Maine

Blessing

Death 11 Apr 1815 Newry, Oxford, Maine

Marriage

M John Harrison Carter

Birth 6 Oct 1816 Newry, Oxford, Maine B: 4 Jul 1884
E: 23 Jan 1846 NAUVO
Blessing 6 Oct 1816 Newry, Oxford, Maine SP: 10 Nov 1882 SGEOR
SS: 25 Jan 1848 NAUVO
Death 21 Apr 1896 Provo, Utah, Utah
B: 21 Apr 1995 SLAKE
Marriage 20 May 1838 Elizabeth Runnells Sweat E: 22 Dec 1845 NAUVO
SP: 8 Jul 1890 LOGAN
F Eliza Ann Carter SS: 3 Feb 1846 NAUVO

Birth 28 Sep 1818 Newry, Oxford, Maine B: 31 Oct 1832
E: 7 Feb 1846 NAUVO
Blessing SP: 18 Apr 1929 LOGAN
SS: 25 May 1989 PROVO
Death 9 Mar 1897 Provo, Utah, Utah
B: 8 Nov 1921 SLAKE
Marriage 10 Feb 1838 James Chauncy Snow E: 8 Nov 1921 SLAKE
SP: 18 Apr 1929 LOGAN
M Richard Harrison Carter SS: 18 Apr 1929 SLAKE

Birth 8 Aug 1820 Newry, Oxford, Maine B: Child
E: Child
Blessing SP: 10 Nov 1882 SGEOR
SS:
Death 28 Nov 1846 Socorro, New Mexico, New Mexico

Marriage 29 Nov 1840 Hannah Parker

F Mary Jane Carter

Birth 13 Mar 1823 Newry, Oxford, Maine

Blessing

Death 9 Mar 1911 Sultan, Snohomish, Washington

Marriage 1844 Jacob D. Dooley

M Rufus Carter

Birth 9 Oct 1825 Newry, Oxford, Maine

Blessing

Death 9 Oct 1827 Newry, Oxford, Maine

Marriage

Dominicus 2nd Sophrona Babcock
3rd Sylvia Arereta Mecham
4th Mary Durfree
5th Polly Miner
6th Elizabeth Brown
7th Caroline Maria Hubbard
8th Frances Nash
9th Ann Smith

John Harrison 2nd Sophia Eldora Sweat – SS: 25 Jan 1848 NAUVO
Richard Harrison 2nd Hannah Darling Gray – SS: 30 Apr 1988 SEATT

3rd Lorenza Black – SS: 6 Apr 1988 JRIVE
Mary Jane 2nd 16 Jun 1855 – William Fawbush – SS: 3 Dec 1992 ARIZO

3rd 1865 - Aaron Cummings – SS: 5 Dec 1992 ARIZO
4th 1843 – Robert Gillham – SS: 2 Dec 1992 SLAKE

118 3 Claridges History

John Carter (1782 – 1852)

John Carter, the third child of Richard Carter and Jane (Anne) McKenney, was born on
Sunday, May 19, 1782 in Scarborough, Cumberland County, District of Maine, Massachusetts
(later to be Maine following Maine’s creation as a result of the Missouri Compromise of 1850).
His parents lived on what is presently known as Broadturn Road about 3 ½ miles northwest of
Dunstan Corners, which in turn was about the same distance north and west of the main
settlement of Scarborough.

The family home, where he was raised still stands today (with a modern addition added to
it.) Here the family had 9 children. Some nine months after they had married on 27 May 1778,
Richard and Jane had lost their first child. On 15 July 1780 Richard Junior was born and ten
months later - John - five months after John was born, both John and Richard Jr. were baptized in
the 2nd Congregational Church of Scarborough.

The Carter family subsisted with a mixture of farming, livestock, and lumbering. The family
produced the greater part of their food supplies and their livestock supplied beef and milk.

During this time Richard and Jane had son Charles Pine Carter, baptized 11 Jun 1786 and
died 1 Oct 1786. Rufus Carter was born 20 Aug 1788. The family was later blessed with the birth
of two girls – Hannah born 23 Apr 1791 and Eliza born 7 Aug 1793. Finally on 11 Aug 1796 their
last child, Dominicus Carter was baptized in the 1st Congregational Church. His life must have
affected our John as his first child would be named for his youngest brother who was born when
John was 14 years old. Tradition had it that John was a sea captain as a young man. John was
at home in 1800 as a 17 year old but left home and went to work at sea. He was 22 years of age,
a sea captain, single and working on boats. There was a tradition in the family that John may
have married an Anna Shute – there was no evidence of this early marriage.

John and Hannah Knight Libby were married in Scarborough on 2 March 1806 – just 2 and
half months before the birth of their first born, Dominicus.

John’s wife, Hannah Knight Libby, was born October 9, 1786 in Scarborough, Maine, the
daughter of Captain Zebulon Libby (a 3 year soldier in the Revolutionary War) and Lydia
Andrews. Most of her immediate ancestors were early settlers in Scarborough. She was of
medium height, less than 5 feet 2 inches, very slim and proud with a delicate face, brown hair and
light blue eyes, overall a handsome woman. She always had her hair combed straight down,
parted in the middle, straight down at the ears, and tied by a ribbon in a bow at the back. She
was real dressy, and had a beautiful black silk dress, with a plain waist, high neck and lace collar.
Unfortunately there is no comparable description of John.

John and Hannah had their first three children in Scarborough. Dominicus was born 21 Jun
1806, Almira followed on 3 Jan 1808 and Hannah was born on 28 Jun 1809. The 1810 census
found John living in Saco, York, Maine – the township south of Scarborough. John had
purchased 72 acres of land here 4 months before he and Hannah married. This land was mostly
located in York County – partly in Scarborough – so Hannah claimed to give birth to her first 3
children in Scarborough.

By the time he married Hannah he had left the sea and was a farmer, an occupation he
would follow the rest of his life. After 5 years on this farm in Scarborough, John moved his

3 Claridges History 119























WILLIAM GREENHALGH 1811-1882

Mary Clough 1814 - 1851
William Greenhalgh was born 29 Jul 1811 to Robert
Greenhalgh and Ellen Walmsley in Breightmet, Bolton
Lancashire, England. He was born of poor but
industrious parents and remained with them until 1834
when he took as wife – Mary Clough a decedent of Abraham.
The 24 Apr 1835 Her first child Robert was born but only lived 4 years – John was born 9 Jun
1837 – Ellen 14 May 1840 but lived only 4 years also.
William became a member of the Church in 1840 and in 1841 was ordained a Priest and sent
out to preach the gospel in the surrounding villages. He baptized a few and was the means of
others joining the church. 15 Apr 1892 he left his native country and set out for Nauvoo where he
landed 20 May 1892.
He left Mary and two children in England because Mary was pregnant. In Nauvoo William went to
work for the Prophet Joseph Smith to pay for their emigration. 2o Nov 1843 Mary was born and
in 1844 the family crossed the sea – Mary died and was buried in the Gulf of Mexico. Mary
landed in Nauvoo in May with two children became acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Williams’s family was in Nauvoo when the Prophet Joseph was murdered by the mob in
Carthage, Illinois. Brigham Young brought the community together and spoke to them with power
and the voice of Joseph that sounded through him so plain that the people who could not see him
knew it was the voice of Joseph speaking through Brigham Young. Mary was one that asked
William if it was Joseph – he told her no but it was the voice of Joseph speaking through Brigham
Young. This was a living testimony that the mantle had fallen from Joseph on to Brigham.
In 1844 William was ordained into the quorum of Seventies and was placed in the Quorum of
Seventies. 10 Apr 1844 Mary gave birth to a daughter Mary Ann. Brigham Young wanted all to
hurry and do the Temple work for their ancestors – as the mobs began to rage more and more.
They had to stand guard by night and put men in the tower to watch by day for the mobs. William
and Mary were permitted to go into the Temple and receive their endowments but not their
sealings because of the mobs. They were told they would receive their sealings in the mountains.
The Saints began to leave Nauvoo in February of 1844 – William was to work on the Temple
but was told to work in the wagon shop to prepare wagons to head west. William was in Nauvoo
when the first cannon ball was fired by the mob. He saw many as the rolled down the streets and
into homes. The mob would not fire on Sunday at them – on Monday he saw the mob gather up
their teams and go out on the prairie – Tuesday they were allowed to go home. Williams’s home
was empty – someone had moved them across the river into an old cow shed. He sold two
horses for a pair of shoes for Mary – the mob took his two milk cows – so he headed over the
river to find his family in Montrose. In a couple of days after finding them he landed in St. Louis
destitute and had to beg a days work when he could get it.
Ezekiel was born 29 Feb 1845 – Mary Ann died 23 Jun 1847 – they had stopped in St. Louis
for 3 years then to St Joseph where William bought some land and built a brick house by himself.
He was called to be the presiding teacher – 9 Jul 1851 Mary had another son Joseph – William
was put in the branch presidency. Mary died 16 Dec 1851 leaving William with 3 children.

3 Claridges History 131

In the spring of 1852 William sold his house and bought a team that brought them to the Salt
Lake Valley 20 Aug 1852. He moved into the 16th Ward and bought a city lot and built him a
house. In 1856 he went to the sealing house and had his family sealed to him. He sold his house
and paid it over for tithing – he had been behind in paying. In the following spring he built another
home and was appointed as teacher over the vas Quorum of Seventies.

In the winter William had a sort of vision – seeing a pond of water with fish moving south and
then snakes coming in among them. In the spring Brigham commanded them to hitch up their
teams and move south. He had some troubles with wagons but made it to Santaquin, Utah 25
May 1858. He was told he could move back but he had a good thing going there. The
grasshoppers and crickets ate their grain several years and he had to get along sparingly.

In 1865 William went into the big city and married Hannah Booth and she bore him some fine
children. In 1877 he went to the city again and was baptized for a passel of his ancestors – his
son John was baptized for Mary Clough’s ancestors.

William Greenhalgh died at his residence at Spring Lake, Utah 30 Apr 1882. He was born 29
Jul 1811, baptized Oct 1840 – immigrated to Nauvoo 1842 – labored in the Nauvoo Temple
building and received his endowments there – came to Utah in 1852 – to Santaquin, Utah 1858
and resided there until 1880 when he moved to Spring Lake. He died as he lived, a faithful
Latter-day Saint.

In Mary Clough’s patriarchal blessing given by John Allison – she was told that the gathering
of the tribe of Judah and Israel would sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of
God and reign in the Millennium. She was of the seed of Abraham.

132 3 Claridges History

Family Group Sheet

Husband William McBride

Birth 22 Mar 1807 Sugar Creek, Greene, Ohio B: 28 Oct 1843
2 Jan 1946
Death 6 Mar 1895 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah E: 22 Jan 1935 NAUVO
SGEOR
Burial 13 Mar 1895 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah SP: 1855

Marriage 1855 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah SS:

Father James McBride (1788 – 1843)

Mother Margaret Jennie Andrew (1792 – 1807)

WIFE Helen Janet Murray

Birth 18 Feb 1826 Victor, Ontario, New York B: 15 Mar 1857
1 Jan 1846 NAUVO
Death 2 Mar 1901 Santaquin, Utah, Utah E: 9 Jan 1887 JRIVE

Burial 4 Mar 1901 Payson, Utah, Utah SP:

Father William Ellis Murray (1802 – 1847)

Mother Helen Elizabeth Sarvis (1804 – 1827)

CHILDREN

F Lucretia McBride

Birth 4 May 1859 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah B: 6 Jun1865
6 Oct 1874
Death 30 Oct 1929 Safford, Graham, Arizona E: EHOUS
BIC EHOUS
Burial 1 Nov 1929 Safford, Graham, Arizona SP: 6 Oct 1874

Marriage 6 Oct 1874 Joseph Greenhalgh SS:

William McBride 2nd Margarey Stiles 3rd Sarah Ann Shepherd

4th Regina Maria Hudson 5th Mary Grace Moody
6th Elizabeth Clark 6th Jane Ann Kittle

7th Margaret Caldwell 8th Mary Kelly

9th Elizabeth Harris Ball Booram

Helen Janet 2nd 4 Feb 1847 Hosea Cushing SS: 6 Nov 1855 - EHOUS
3rd 15 July 1863 Norman Taylor

William McBride

William McBride’s father, James McBride was born 2 Nov 1788 in
North Carolina and died 1843 in Sugar Creek Township, Greene, Ohio –
buried in Massey’s Cemetery, Greene Co., Ohio. The son of William
McBride – born 1762 in Ireland – married in 1806 to Margaret Jennie
Andrew born 20 Dec 1792 in Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina –
died 22 Mar 1807 in Sugar Creek, Greene, Ohio. William McBride their
only child was born 22 Mar 1807 in Sugar Creek, Greene, Ohio – died 8 Mar 1895 in Salt Lake
City, Salt Lake, Utah.

James and Margaret were of Scotch-Irish ancestry and James was named after his
grandfather McBride. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the War of 1812 - from 28 of September until
February 24, 1813 - William was only five when his father left to protect this new country's rights
to trade with other countries and keep European countries from seizing more land in the New
World. He was a defender for the right. When James McBride returned home from the war, he
married Rebecca Bigger. He served as Justice of Peace in Greene County.

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Margaret Jennie must have died when William was born or shortly afterwards. She was only
15 years old when William was born. Margaret Jennie Andrew was the daughter of James
Andrew and Elizabeth Morrow. James Andrew was born about 1750 - where is not known. He
lived in Pennsylvania with his father. They operated a threshing machine in Pennsylvania and
Maryland - went to Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina and there operated a
wheelwright shop or what we call a blacksmith shop. He married Elizabeth Morrow in 1771 and to
which several children were born there: Nancy 1772 - William 1774 - James 1784 - Margaret
1792 – Hugh 1794 – George 1796

For a long time the Andrews had been dissatisfied with where they lived because North
Carolina was a slave holding state. With 30 other families they migrated to Ohio after their homes
were burned out. Transportation was slow – they stopped in Tennessee for about three years
near Nashville where two more children were born – Ebenezer Erskin 10 Jan 1800 & Elizabeth
1802. A Reverend Robert Armstrong was sent from Scotland at their request to establish a
Presbyterian Church – they were a devout and religious people and felt the need of a church
among them. The Andrew family final reached Ohio and settled in Greene County.

James McBride was married three times – 2nd Rebecca Bigger – children John, Mary, Henry &
Jane - 3rd Rachel Van Eaton – children James & Becia Ann.

William was born 22 Mar 1807 to James McBride & Margaret Jennie Andrew in Sugar Creek,
Greene, Ohio. He was the 1st child of 5 born to the McBride family.

While living in Montgomery Co., Ohio – (near his stepmother Rebecca Bigger’s family) William
met and married Elizabeth Harris Ball Booram 1 Sep 1831 in Miamisburg, Montgomery, Ohio.
Elizabeth was born 7 Jan 1812 – 19 years old at time of marriage – the daughter of Andrew and
Sarah Harris Booram. They were sealed in Nauvoo Temple by Pres. Brigham Young – a
recording error was made and Elizabeth’s name appears transcribed as Elizabeth H. Bowers.
Their children were: Sarah Elizabeth 7 May 1932 – 18 Feb 1837, Mary Jane 15 Dec 1834, Susan
Ellen 29 Jul 1836, Rebecca Ann 28 Aug 1838, James Andrew 29 Nov 1840 and Harriet Eugenia
7 May 1843 (died young).

William moved from Miamisburg to Randolph, Montgomery, Ohio - was a carpenter by trade –
before moving to Warren Co. they sold their land to a brother of William’s stepmother, Rebecca.

It is not known how William McBride heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ or when he accepted it
– baptized 28 Oct 1843 - ordained an Elder 2 Apr 1844 and in 1845 was ordained a Seventy.
Family records show Elizabeth was baptized 25 April 1833. The couple went to the Temple in
Nauvoo - William was endowed January 2, 1846 and was sealed to Elizabeth on 24 Jan 1846.

William, Elizabeth and their family moved to Kirtland, then later to Nauvoo, to join the Saints
there and both Elizabeth and William were acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith. William
was a Major in the Nauvoo Legion and a member of the 'School of Prophets'. William sold some
property in Mt. Holly, Ohio 15 Aug 1838, and shortly afterwards joined a wagon train of Mormons
heading west. From Nauvoo they journeyed with the pioneers ... crossing the Mississippi, state of
Iowa, Missouri River and across the plains arriving in Salt Lake Valley in the latter part of 1848.

William and Elizabeth are listed in "Immigrants Crossing the Plains" - William was Captain of
Ten in the First Company 1848, - they crossed the plains in the Third Division or Willard Richards
Company. In his family crossing the plains were: William, his wife Elizabeth, age 35; Mary Jane

134 3 Claridges History

age 15; Susan Ellen age 13; Rebecca Ann age 10; James Andrew age 8 - no mention of any
younger children.

After reaching the Salt Lake Valley they settled in the old fort which was surrounded by a mud
wall and is now known as Pioneer Square. Grandmother Elizabeth McBride, after arriving at the
Fort, took the wagon cover that sheltered them while crossing the plains and made dresses for
her daughters Susan and Rebecca. On the 1st day of Jun 1850 the William McBride household is
listed as the 127th dwelling visited by the census taker – listed a blacksmith.

Children born in Salt Lake City to William and Elizabeth were Elizabeth 1850 and William
Booram 2 Jun 1853. William went on a mission to the Sandwich Islands in 1852 – upon returning
became Bishop of Santaquin Ward in Utah from 1858 -1865.

William had a total of six wives: Elizabeth Harris Ball Booram, Margery Stiler, Sarah Ann
Shepherd, Regina Maria Hudson, Mary Booty & Helen Janette Murray.

In response to a call by Brigham Young, William moved his family to Pima, Arizona in 1880.
He was a Patriarch in the St. Joseph Stake of the L.D.S. Church for many years. Late in life he
returned to Salt Lake City to live with daughter Susan Ellen Burton, the wife of Robert Burton.

The 1880 Utah census lists William McBride as being 73 years old, born in Ohio to parents
who were both from North Carolina. William died in Salt Lake
City on March 8, 1895.

Helen Janet Murray
(18 Feb 1826 – 2 Mar 1901)

It was the year 1823 near Palmyra, New York when the
young Joseph Smith was first visited by the Angel Moroni. This
momentous event and outcome (second only to the birth of the Savior from our L.D.S. point of
view) also changed the destiny of our Murray family.

The Murrays were probably unaware that these miraculous happenings had occurred within
just a few miles of their home when a little over two years later in 1826 William Ellis Murray’s wife,
Helen, gave birth to their first and only child.

Helen Janet Murray was born on the 18th of February 1826 at Bloomfield, Ontario County,
New York. Her parents were William Ellis Murray and Helen E. Sarvis. Helen’s mother died while
she was still small and the entire Murray family rallied around to help care for the motherless
child. Her grandfather Roswell was a widower having lost his wife, Susannah, after 1813. Besides
her father, other members of the family consisted of an uncle, Roswell Gould, and two aunts,
Lucretia and Vilate. Lucretia was married to Nathaniel Campbell and Vilate was the wife of Heber
C. Kimball.

Concerning this Murray Family, we quote from the LIFE OF HEBER C. KIMBALL by Orson
F. Whitney. The Murrays were of Scotch descent, and came to America during the Seven Years?
War. As a race they were gentle, kindhearted, intelligent and refined. Though many of them ran a
vein of poetry, Vilate herself wrote tender and beautiful verses.

3 Claridges History 135

About 1828 Helen’s father married for the second time a local girl named Mary Springer.
From this marriage Helen had the following half brothers and sisters: Carlos G. Murray born
March 12, 1829, died 1856-killed by Indians. We have that he was married to Abigail Haws.

Naomi Eliza Murray born July 9, 1830 - died March 11, 1868 - married Return J. Redden
Herman or Heamon - died after 1863 - Julia Murray Born and died young-no dates

From a historical point of view the Church finds Helen Janet of interest because during her
life time she was married to three of the 1847-48 pioneers-Hosea Cushing, William McBride and
Norman Taylor. To us the most fascinating thing about Grandmother Helen Janet is the fact that
she was so closely tied to the events and church leaders who played such a prominent part in the
early days of the Mormonism.

Palmyra, the Hill Cummorah and Manchester, where in 1830 the Church was organized,
were all within a 50 mile radius of her birthplace. The Murray and Young families were neighbors
and her grandfather, Murray married Fanny Young, widow of Robert C. Carr and sister of
Brigham. Helen’s Aunt Vilate was married to Heber C. Kimball. Also from Joseph Smith’s
ancestry chart (shared with us by Priel Cushing Davis) we find that the Murrays and Smiths were
distant cousins.

We know nothing of Helen’s childhood and early life or what education she received. We
believe she must have attended the local schools because her son, Samuel, (Grandfather
Cushing) told us that his mother had taught them. Without any formal schooling, Samuel went on
to be a member of Utah’s first state legislature and held many church and political positions which
would have been impossible without education.

During Helen Janet’s ‘growing-up’ years in Bloomfield, all the momentous events were
taking place that altered the courses of the Murray family lives. Janet would have just turned four
when in March 1830 the first printing of the Book of Mormon was completed. Later in April of the
same year the Church was organized in nearby Manchester, New York.

The following is a quote from October 30, 1982 Church News Pg. 3. ‘The first missionary
sent out with copies of the Book of Mormon was Joseph Smith’s younger brother, Samuel, 22. He
set out on foot at the end of June, walking southwest to Livonia, N.Y., and back, about 80 miles.
He had a discouraging time. No one bought a book, and several people were less than friendly.
He gave two books away free, one to a poor widow who gave him a meal and believed his
message, and the other to a Methodist minister named John P. Greene. The minister later
became interested in the book and passed it on to his brother-in-lay Phineas Young. From there it
went to Phineas’ brother Brigham Young, and to Heber C. Kimball, a close friend. Brigham Young
later became the second president of the Church, and Heber C. Kimball, one of his counselors.
During the next ten years we know from Church History that both the Kimball’s and Young’s
joined the Church and became enthusiastic followers of Joseph Smith and the new religion.

By the year 1839, Helen’s Aunt Vilate and Heber C. Kimball were settled with the ‘Saints’ in
Illinois. It was about this time, just prior to her fourteenth birthday that another momentous event
took place. The following is quoted from Heber C. Kimball’s letter to Vilate dated December 27,
1839 and mailed January 7, 1840. ‘I hardly know what to say to you my dear Vilate. But suffice it
to say on the first day of this year one thousand eighteen hundred and forty, I went into the water
and baptized William E. Murray and his wife Mary. They are rejoicing in God.’

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We cannot confirm that Helen Janet and the other children of the William Murray family were
baptized at this time, but know William’s family all joined. In this same letter were reports to Vilate
on the other family members. He reported that Helen Janet’s Aunt Lucretia and her husband
Nathaniel, seem to be the same as ever - not firmly fixed in their belief.

Concerning Helen Janet’s grandfather, Roswell, he tells Vilate in this letter, ‘Father Murray is
a great advocate for this work where ever he goes. He said to me one day, I am as good a
Mormon as you are.’

In another letter dated February 19, 1840, Heber writes saying ‘Your father is firm in the faith
and preaches it where ever he goes. He feels more uneasy than he did in the West and wants to
go back.’ This would indicate Roswell and his wife, Fanny, had been with the ‘Saints’ in Illinois.

Among the correspondence shared with us by Pat Geisler, the Kimball Family
Representative (1982-3) there is a letter from Vilate dated Nauvoo December 8, 1840. She is
writing Heber C. Kimball who is on a mission in England. I quote from the second paragraph, ‘I
have just received the heart rending intelligence that my dear Father is no more. The particulars
of his death I have not heard...The last news that I had of Father before, he was well and
calculated to set out his journey for this place the first of October. I had for some time, daily been
anticipating his arrival here. But Alass! Now my fond anticipations are blasted and my joy is
turned to mourning.’

Uncle Gould (Roswell Gould) never joined the Church. He was considered an important
intellectual of the time and during the 1839-40’s was reported to have been traveling throughout
the Eastern States delivering lectures on the Moral Reform.

Also from these letters shared with us by the Kimball Family we find that Helen’s father,
William, was preparing to join the Saints in Illinois. In one letter H.C. Kimball suggests that Vilate
sell her brother, William, a lot nearby to build on. So during the 1840 thru 1843 period the William
Ellis Murray family must have made the move from New York and joined Vilate and her family in
Nauvoo, Illinois.

Helen Janet is mentioned in one of Vilate’s letters from Nauvoo dated June 9, 1844. Vilate
says that she had attended Church and I quote, ‘When I got home I found a man here from Fort
Madison after a girl; Janet went with him. His name is Webster; he said he was acquainted with
you. I hope she will do well. The next day Backenstause from Carthage came after her, seemed
disappointed that she was gone - this was Monday last.’ A footnote explains, ‘Backenstause’ was
Jacob B. Backentos, an original ‘Jack-Mormon’ or friendly non-Mormon who, as sheriff of
Hancock County risked his life to defend the saints against mob action.

The next actual documented event in Helen Janet’s life was her endowments on January 1,
1846 in the Nauvoo Temple.

The next year on 4 February 1847, Helen Janet was married to Hosea Cushing. Her half-
sister Naomi, was married the same month on 16 February to Return Jackson Redden. Both men
were members of the first company of pioneers who were preparing to leave with Brigham Young
for the West. Immediate family members in that first company of pioneers were Helen J.’s
husband, Hosea, her half-brother, Carlos Murray, her brother-in-law R. Jackson Redden and her
Uncle, Heber C. Kimball.

3 Claridges History 137