James Fackrell, Sr. 1787-1867
Amy Crumb Fackrell 1799-1886
James Fackrell, Sr. son of John and Joanna Bradford Fackrell of North Petherton, Somersetshire, England, was born at North Petherton, Somersetshire, England, February 2, 1787 and was the third child in his parents’ family which consisted of six children.
At present nothing is known of his childhood. All that is known about his young manhood is that he was a sailor, and that he and his younger brother Richard, were the only members of his family who immigrated to America.
Amy Crumb
Their first residence was in the state of New York. When he was about thirty-two years of age he married Amy Crumb, the twenty year old daughter of Joseph and Prudence Landphear Crumb. Joseph Crumb was born in Rhode Island and Prudence Lamphear was born in Connecticut. Amy, born 14 Sep 1799 was the seventh child in the family of nine children, all of which were born in Grafton, Windham County, Vermont.
ChildrenJames and Amy Crumb Fackrell were the parents of five children, three boys and two girls and from their birth records we conclude that their parents were married in Vermont about 1819 and lived in this place until about 1823. Their first two children were born in Grafton, Vermont. Their first child, David, was born 16 April 1820, and Joseph, the second child was born 9 September 1822. The third child, Betsy Jane, was born 13 November 1824 in Clarendon, Rutland County, Vermont. The last two children were born in Moriah, Essex County, New York, Lucy, 6 July 1826, and James, Jr., 26 April 1829.
Michigan
In 1837 James Fackrell moved his family, which then consisted of himself, his wife Amy, and three boys and two girls, to the state of Michigan and settled in Bertrand, Berrien County, and there lived and prospered in the world's goods until the year 1845.
About 1838 their son David, then 18 years old, ran away from home and went to Wisconsin to live.
On 28 August 1845 their son Joseph married Clarrissa Dempsey, leaving the family with but one son, James Jr. This son was now about sixteen years old and had become interested in religious affairs. He attended camp meetings of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was converted to this religion and was baptized by sprinkling. He remained in this Church about six months and became very dissatisfied and withdrew his membership.
MissionariesAt this time, two Mormon Missionaries from Nauvoo come to their community and held meetings. James Jr. attended these meetings and became convinced that their doctrine was scriptural, but having been previously "taken in " by the Methodists, decided to wait and see if these new teachings did not "flatten out" and to see if these people "practiced what they preached." His parents were very much opposed to the Mormons and refused to attend the meetings.
The boy James attended, and "the more he heard the better he liked their teachings" and he was desirous that his parents should hear them. He invited the two missionaries, Elder Richard Sprague and an Elder Phelps, to go home with him. After services he took the elders home with him and introduced them to his parents as Mormon Missionaries. Before the missionaries left the home they convinced the parents of the truthfulness of their doctrine and in a short time
James Sr., and his wife Amy, and their daughter Lucy were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.
Move West
Shortly after this time, news of the martyrdom of the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum, the Patriarch reached the Saints of this place. Also, the message was received from the Twelve Apostles who had taken command of the affairs of the Church, for all saints scattered abroad to gather to Nauvoo and prepare to move west.
Following this advice, James Sr. sold his farm at a sacrifice of about one-half its value and started to Nauvoo. He left their son Joseph and his wife who at that time did not wish to be associated with the Mormons, in Michigan. A great prejudice was manifest against the Mormons and all Saints moving to Nauvoo, and it was with great difficultly that the Fackrell family found lodgings for the nights during their journey. They arrived in Nauvoo the last of March, 1846.
They rented a house and moved into it, and began to look for work. Their stay at Nauvoo was very short, because of the persecution and hardships inflicted upon the saints. They stayed in Nauvoo just three weeks and then started for the West. They knew not where they were going, but they cast their lot with the Saints.
Nothing worthy of note occurred on this journey until they reached Council Bluffs. While in Nauvoo, their daughter Lucy and become ill. She had been exposed to severe storms and cold which proved too much for her delicate constitution, and upon their arrival in Council Bluffs she became very ill.On 20 June 1846 Lucy passed away. This was a severe trial for her family to go through. She was a lovely girl of 20 years, a good Latter-Day-Saint and dearly loved by all who knew her. They laid her body in a grave and with sad hearts turned their faces to new trials.
Winter QuartersShortly after this time the Government called upon the Mormons to furnish 500 men to fight for the United States in suppressing the uprising in Mexico. This left the Saints in dire circumstances. Many did not have roofs to cover their heads or food enough to sustain life.
Those who were left, however, bravely set about preparing for the winter. James and his son built a log cabin in which to move his family. They also went out onto the prairie and cut wild hay for their cattle. The son took a team and went down to Missouri and secured work. For this work he was paid in provisions which amount was enough to last them through the winter.
He brought the provisions home with his team and stayed until the beginning of winter and then left his team and again returned to Missouri but was not so successful in securing work. He returned to Council Bluffs in the spring of 1847 and found the Saints prepared to go west, far beyond persecution, to an unknown land.
The Fackrells were not prepared to take this long journey. They planted a small crop and again James Jr. with his sister Betsy Jane, went to Savannah, Missouri by team where they both secured work. Betsy found work spinning and James secured employment with his team.
They were gone about six weeks and returned to their parents loaded with provisions. James Sr. and his son then set about cutting hay for the winter. They stacked most of it on the prairie, but hauled some few loads home. They cut about 15 tons, but early in the fall the prairie caught fire and burned one stack of about 8 tons. In trying to back fire around the other stack, that one caught fire and burned and they were left with very little hay with which to feed their cattle.
Late in the fall of 1847 some few pioneers who left early in the spring for the west, returned and brought a glowing report of the valley in the Rocky Mountains which they had found and named Great Salt Lake Valley.
The presiding Twelve Apostles then made a call for all Saints to prepare to go back to the valley of the Rockies with them the following spring.
Hay was scarce, and that fall James Jr. took three yoke of oxen to Missouri, partly to provide feed for them, but mostly to make a "fit out" to go west in the spring. He secured work hauling logs to a saw mill and bought corn for ten cents a bushel and fed it to his cattle. In this way his teams were kept in good condition all during the winter. He was also successful in making a "fit out", so when spring came he was well prepared for the journey.
In January of 1848 many of the Mormon Battalion soldiers returned. Among them was George W. Hancock, the young man who commenced courting Betsy Jane Fackrell. The family continued to make preparations to go west to the valley of the Saints.
The Promised LandOn 14 May 1848 George W. Hancock and Betsy Jane Fackrell were married. The next day, 15 May 1848 James Sr. with his wife Amy and their son James Jr. started upon their journey across the plains.
Their journey was uneventful, except for the usual hardships suffered by all pioneers, crossing rivers and traveling over lonely plains and barren hills, until they reached the "promised land" in the valley of the mountains. To them the valley looked dry and barren, but the tired travelers were so weary and footsore that even this looked good to them and they were happy to find a place where they could stop and which they could call home.
Thus the father, the mother and their 19 year old son James established the foundations for the Fackrell kingdom on the mountain tops of Zion.
Settled in Bountiful
They set about at once to prepare for winter. They located a desirable place ten miles north of Salt Lake City, now called West Bountiful, and took up 92 acres of land, which was the first land taken up in Bountiful. According to the historian, Bancroft, James Fackrell Sr., became the first settler in this place.
The family moved their wagon onto the place selected, and the next day James Jr. was taken ill with mountain fever, and was ill about two months.As soon as he was well enough to get about the father and son started to build a house to shelter the family from the winter storms. They worked diligently but were unable to finish the house until the middle of January when they moved in. In the spring they plowed their farm and planted crops, but between crickets and cattle, nothing was harvested.
Family GathersIn October 1849 their daughter Betsy Jane, with her husband and small son, Charles, then a few months old, arrived in the valley and located at Bountiful.
On 8 February 1849, James Jr. was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints by Arvil Cox and on the 13th of January 1850 married Martha Ann Chapman and left his father's home. Thus the parents were left alone.
During the summer of 1850 their oldest son David Fackrell, came into the valley. He was on this way to California and stopped off for a visit. They had not seen each other for 12 years and indeed it was a happy reunion.
Their hearts, however, were soon again bowed in sorrow, for on 28 February 1851, their daughter Betsy Jane, passed through the valley of death to give birth to a baby girl. The mother suffered three weeks and then the new born babe, Betsy Jane Hancock, was left motherless. The little mother of 27 years of age was laid away in the Salt Lake City Cemetery and her old parents and loved ones were left to mourn her loss.
About this time their son Joseph and his wife and family came into the valley. They had recently been converted and joined the Latter Day Saint Church.
Their son David Fackrell prolonged his visit and became converted to the Church also, and was married 6 July 1852 to Susannah Summer. The street, void of an altar served as a Church where their wedding was solemnized.
Susannah Sumner was born in Lancashire, England and there with her parents embraced the gospel. Her father died and she and her mother immigrated to America and came as far west as Saint Louis where her mother died of Cholera. In 1850 she came across the plains with the saints and upon her arrival found a home with James Fackrell Sr., where she met her husband David Fackrell.
David Fackrell did not go to California as he had intended, but took up land in Bountiful and made it his residence.
From these three sons, David, Joseph, and James Jr., a large posterity of Fackrells were produced, which have inherited and inhabited the land of Bountiful for the past six generations.
Later yearsWhen the parents grew feeble, James Jr., built them an adobe house near the meeting house so that they could attend Church more easily. The old people spent the rest of their active lives attending Church and performing ordinances in the Salt Lake Endowment House for their dead ancestors. When they became feeble these aged parents divided their lands between their sons and it was agreed that the sons take care of them their remaining days on this earth.
James Jr. took his father and mother to his home and cared for them until the death of his father.
James Fackrell Sr., was a man of small stature, slight of build, and rather delicate of health, and aged very young.
He was of a kindly, cheerful disposition and was enjoyed and loved by his grandchildren. His wife, Amy, was large, strong and active in body, severe and exacting in disposition.
James Fackrell Sr., died on 21 December 1867, aged 80 years 10 months and 19 days. He was buried in the East Bountiful Cemetery. On his tombstone is written "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors and work also."
His wife survived him for 18 years. After his death, Amy moved back to her home in West Bountiful, but she unfortunately fell and broke her hip and soon became feeble. Her children cared for her until her death which occurred on 8 September 1886, aged 85 years 11 months and 24 days.
She was buried by the side of her husband in the East Bountiful Cemetery. Her tombstone says "Her part well done, she goes to rest, in joys of home among the best; a crown of endless life to wear." For nearly a century the Fackrells have lived on the farms of their fathers and grandfathers and still dwell in the homes built by their pioneer forefathers.
Written by Myrtle Ballard Shurtliff in 1936
James Fackrell, Sr. son of John and Joanna Bradford Fackrell of North Petherton, Somersetshire, England, was born at North Petherton, Somersetshire, England, February 2, 1787 and was the third child in his parents’ family which consisted of six children.
At present nothing is known of his childhood. All that is known about his young manhood is that he was a sailor, and that he and his younger brother Richard, were the only members of his family who immigrated to America.
Amy Crumb
Their first residence was in the state of New York. When he was about thirty-two years of age he married Amy Crumb, the twenty year old daughter of Joseph and Prudence Landphear Crumb. Joseph Crumb was born in Rhode Island and Prudence Lamphear was born in Connecticut. Amy, born 14 Sep 1799 was the seventh child in the family of nine children, all of which were born in Grafton, Windham County, Vermont.
ChildrenJames and Amy Crumb Fackrell were the parents of five children, three boys and two girls and from their birth records we conclude that their parents were married in Vermont about 1819 and lived in this place until about 1823. Their first two children were born in Grafton, Vermont. Their first child, David, was born 16 April 1820, and Joseph, the second child was born 9 September 1822. The third child, Betsy Jane, was born 13 November 1824 in Clarendon, Rutland County, Vermont. The last two children were born in Moriah, Essex County, New York, Lucy, 6 July 1826, and James, Jr., 26 April 1829.
Michigan
In 1837 James Fackrell moved his family, which then consisted of himself, his wife Amy, and three boys and two girls, to the state of Michigan and settled in Bertrand, Berrien County, and there lived and prospered in the world's goods until the year 1845.
About 1838 their son David, then 18 years old, ran away from home and went to Wisconsin to live.
On 28 August 1845 their son Joseph married Clarrissa Dempsey, leaving the family with but one son, James Jr. This son was now about sixteen years old and had become interested in religious affairs. He attended camp meetings of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was converted to this religion and was baptized by sprinkling. He remained in this Church about six months and became very dissatisfied and withdrew his membership.
MissionariesAt this time, two Mormon Missionaries from Nauvoo come to their community and held meetings. James Jr. attended these meetings and became convinced that their doctrine was scriptural, but having been previously "taken in " by the Methodists, decided to wait and see if these new teachings did not "flatten out" and to see if these people "practiced what they preached." His parents were very much opposed to the Mormons and refused to attend the meetings.
The boy James attended, and "the more he heard the better he liked their teachings" and he was desirous that his parents should hear them. He invited the two missionaries, Elder Richard Sprague and an Elder Phelps, to go home with him. After services he took the elders home with him and introduced them to his parents as Mormon Missionaries. Before the missionaries left the home they convinced the parents of the truthfulness of their doctrine and in a short time
James Sr., and his wife Amy, and their daughter Lucy were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.
Move West
Shortly after this time, news of the martyrdom of the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum, the Patriarch reached the Saints of this place. Also, the message was received from the Twelve Apostles who had taken command of the affairs of the Church, for all saints scattered abroad to gather to Nauvoo and prepare to move west.
Following this advice, James Sr. sold his farm at a sacrifice of about one-half its value and started to Nauvoo. He left their son Joseph and his wife who at that time did not wish to be associated with the Mormons, in Michigan. A great prejudice was manifest against the Mormons and all Saints moving to Nauvoo, and it was with great difficultly that the Fackrell family found lodgings for the nights during their journey. They arrived in Nauvoo the last of March, 1846.
They rented a house and moved into it, and began to look for work. Their stay at Nauvoo was very short, because of the persecution and hardships inflicted upon the saints. They stayed in Nauvoo just three weeks and then started for the West. They knew not where they were going, but they cast their lot with the Saints.
Nothing worthy of note occurred on this journey until they reached Council Bluffs. While in Nauvoo, their daughter Lucy and become ill. She had been exposed to severe storms and cold which proved too much for her delicate constitution, and upon their arrival in Council Bluffs she became very ill.On 20 June 1846 Lucy passed away. This was a severe trial for her family to go through. She was a lovely girl of 20 years, a good Latter-Day-Saint and dearly loved by all who knew her. They laid her body in a grave and with sad hearts turned their faces to new trials.
Winter QuartersShortly after this time the Government called upon the Mormons to furnish 500 men to fight for the United States in suppressing the uprising in Mexico. This left the Saints in dire circumstances. Many did not have roofs to cover their heads or food enough to sustain life.
Those who were left, however, bravely set about preparing for the winter. James and his son built a log cabin in which to move his family. They also went out onto the prairie and cut wild hay for their cattle. The son took a team and went down to Missouri and secured work. For this work he was paid in provisions which amount was enough to last them through the winter.
He brought the provisions home with his team and stayed until the beginning of winter and then left his team and again returned to Missouri but was not so successful in securing work. He returned to Council Bluffs in the spring of 1847 and found the Saints prepared to go west, far beyond persecution, to an unknown land.
The Fackrells were not prepared to take this long journey. They planted a small crop and again James Jr. with his sister Betsy Jane, went to Savannah, Missouri by team where they both secured work. Betsy found work spinning and James secured employment with his team.
They were gone about six weeks and returned to their parents loaded with provisions. James Sr. and his son then set about cutting hay for the winter. They stacked most of it on the prairie, but hauled some few loads home. They cut about 15 tons, but early in the fall the prairie caught fire and burned one stack of about 8 tons. In trying to back fire around the other stack, that one caught fire and burned and they were left with very little hay with which to feed their cattle.
Late in the fall of 1847 some few pioneers who left early in the spring for the west, returned and brought a glowing report of the valley in the Rocky Mountains which they had found and named Great Salt Lake Valley.
The presiding Twelve Apostles then made a call for all Saints to prepare to go back to the valley of the Rockies with them the following spring.
Hay was scarce, and that fall James Jr. took three yoke of oxen to Missouri, partly to provide feed for them, but mostly to make a "fit out" to go west in the spring. He secured work hauling logs to a saw mill and bought corn for ten cents a bushel and fed it to his cattle. In this way his teams were kept in good condition all during the winter. He was also successful in making a "fit out", so when spring came he was well prepared for the journey.
In January of 1848 many of the Mormon Battalion soldiers returned. Among them was George W. Hancock, the young man who commenced courting Betsy Jane Fackrell. The family continued to make preparations to go west to the valley of the Saints.
The Promised LandOn 14 May 1848 George W. Hancock and Betsy Jane Fackrell were married. The next day, 15 May 1848 James Sr. with his wife Amy and their son James Jr. started upon their journey across the plains.
Their journey was uneventful, except for the usual hardships suffered by all pioneers, crossing rivers and traveling over lonely plains and barren hills, until they reached the "promised land" in the valley of the mountains. To them the valley looked dry and barren, but the tired travelers were so weary and footsore that even this looked good to them and they were happy to find a place where they could stop and which they could call home.
Thus the father, the mother and their 19 year old son James established the foundations for the Fackrell kingdom on the mountain tops of Zion.
Settled in Bountiful
They set about at once to prepare for winter. They located a desirable place ten miles north of Salt Lake City, now called West Bountiful, and took up 92 acres of land, which was the first land taken up in Bountiful. According to the historian, Bancroft, James Fackrell Sr., became the first settler in this place.
The family moved their wagon onto the place selected, and the next day James Jr. was taken ill with mountain fever, and was ill about two months.As soon as he was well enough to get about the father and son started to build a house to shelter the family from the winter storms. They worked diligently but were unable to finish the house until the middle of January when they moved in. In the spring they plowed their farm and planted crops, but between crickets and cattle, nothing was harvested.
Family GathersIn October 1849 their daughter Betsy Jane, with her husband and small son, Charles, then a few months old, arrived in the valley and located at Bountiful.
On 8 February 1849, James Jr. was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints by Arvil Cox and on the 13th of January 1850 married Martha Ann Chapman and left his father's home. Thus the parents were left alone.
During the summer of 1850 their oldest son David Fackrell, came into the valley. He was on this way to California and stopped off for a visit. They had not seen each other for 12 years and indeed it was a happy reunion.
Their hearts, however, were soon again bowed in sorrow, for on 28 February 1851, their daughter Betsy Jane, passed through the valley of death to give birth to a baby girl. The mother suffered three weeks and then the new born babe, Betsy Jane Hancock, was left motherless. The little mother of 27 years of age was laid away in the Salt Lake City Cemetery and her old parents and loved ones were left to mourn her loss.
About this time their son Joseph and his wife and family came into the valley. They had recently been converted and joined the Latter Day Saint Church.
Their son David Fackrell prolonged his visit and became converted to the Church also, and was married 6 July 1852 to Susannah Summer. The street, void of an altar served as a Church where their wedding was solemnized.
Susannah Sumner was born in Lancashire, England and there with her parents embraced the gospel. Her father died and she and her mother immigrated to America and came as far west as Saint Louis where her mother died of Cholera. In 1850 she came across the plains with the saints and upon her arrival found a home with James Fackrell Sr., where she met her husband David Fackrell.
David Fackrell did not go to California as he had intended, but took up land in Bountiful and made it his residence.
From these three sons, David, Joseph, and James Jr., a large posterity of Fackrells were produced, which have inherited and inhabited the land of Bountiful for the past six generations.
Later yearsWhen the parents grew feeble, James Jr., built them an adobe house near the meeting house so that they could attend Church more easily. The old people spent the rest of their active lives attending Church and performing ordinances in the Salt Lake Endowment House for their dead ancestors. When they became feeble these aged parents divided their lands between their sons and it was agreed that the sons take care of them their remaining days on this earth.
James Jr. took his father and mother to his home and cared for them until the death of his father.
James Fackrell Sr., was a man of small stature, slight of build, and rather delicate of health, and aged very young.
He was of a kindly, cheerful disposition and was enjoyed and loved by his grandchildren. His wife, Amy, was large, strong and active in body, severe and exacting in disposition.
James Fackrell Sr., died on 21 December 1867, aged 80 years 10 months and 19 days. He was buried in the East Bountiful Cemetery. On his tombstone is written "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors and work also."
His wife survived him for 18 years. After his death, Amy moved back to her home in West Bountiful, but she unfortunately fell and broke her hip and soon became feeble. Her children cared for her until her death which occurred on 8 September 1886, aged 85 years 11 months and 24 days.
She was buried by the side of her husband in the East Bountiful Cemetery. Her tombstone says "Her part well done, she goes to rest, in joys of home among the best; a crown of endless life to wear." For nearly a century the Fackrells have lived on the farms of their fathers and grandfathers and still dwell in the homes built by their pioneer forefathers.
Written by Myrtle Ballard Shurtliff in 1936
No comments:
Post a Comment