In the last two weeks has been shared the stories of the Gillett/Gillot and Morgan families, how they both came to America from England and both ended up in the St. Louis area in the early 1850s. The story of the coming together of these two families and the coming to Zion of Ann Gillot and John Morgan is the focus of this post -
Ann, the oldest child of Joshua and Mary Gillot or Gillett, was 17 when they sailed from England for America, arriving in November, 1849. The Gillot family made their way up the Mississippi River to Alton, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis. Within a few months of their arrival Ann met and married John Morgan in St. Louis on April 6, 1850. John Morgan was born in Preston, England 28 March 1830 and come to America with his widowed mother in 1841. In 1850 when John was 20, he and his family had traveled down the Mississippi from Nauvoo to St. Louis.
Not much is known of John and Ann's trip to Utah/Zion. They could have left right after their marriage and traveled with John's mother, brother and step-father.* Other records state that Ann and John joined a colony of Saints at Illinois and later moved to Missouri and then came to by ox-team to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1853. (This would mean that the birth place of Mary Elizabeth - our ancestor - their first child is incorrect as recorded in Family Search but that their second child, Ann Maria, born Oct. 1853 in Salt Lake is likely correct.) The Morgans made their home in Salt Lake City for four years, where John worked as a mason. They later moved to Mill Creek near John's mother. John and Ann were sealed in the Endowment House on March 15, 1853. To them were born 15 children, seven sons and eight daughters. John later took Christina Nelson as his second wife in plural marriage. She was born in Barnholm, Denmark. To them were born eight children, 3 sons and 5 daughters (You did the math right? - 23 children)
 |
| John and Ann and a baby (isn't indicated who it is on Family Search) |
 |
| John and Ann with 13 of their 15 children |
John was called and set apart for a mission to the states in 1874. Owing to poor health he only stayed out one year. He filled several positions of trust in the community such as Post Master, Road Supervisor, school trustee, and also important positions in the Church. He and his wife Ann worked for several years doing vicarious work for their dead ancestors in the Salt Lake Temple. John and Christina were sealed April 13, 1856. John and his two wives passed through many hardships and trials in settling a new country and building homes. They were industrious and hard working people, full of integrity and love for the Gospel. They were always honest and God fearing in all their dealings. John died April 7, 1909 and Ann died April 1, 1913.
* Family Search has John and Ann's first child, Mary Elizabeth, being born in Salt Lake July, 1851. This date implies they traveled across the plains, probably right after they married in 1850 as July would be too early in the season of 1851 to have made the trek that year. CLICK HERE John's mother Elizabeth Birch and stepfather are said to have traveled to Salt Lake in the Stephen Markham Company, which left Council Bluffs, Iowa at the end of July, 1850. Elizabeth Birch and her husband Francis are NOT listed in the company but John's younger brother Edward IS. CLICK HERE Another point to consider is that both Eward and John lived near and took close care of their mother until the end of her life, so it would make sense that John traveled with her and Edward to Utah. But just as well John and his new bride could have come later and connected in Utah.
No comments:
Post a Comment