William BLACK

                   NOTE:
William served in the British Army for twenty years. Was in The Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon was defeated. He never wrote to his parents all the time he was in service. William sent them word of his coming discharge and the shock killed his Mother. William and his Father had a hosier business in their home. Because of the Industrial Revolution it became cheaper to manufacture the clothing than William could make them by hand. The business failed. William and Jane moved to the manufacturing center in Birmingham, England where William was able to find employment. In Birmingham, they were introduced to the Church by William Clayton and Joseph Fielding. William was one of the first Missionaries sent to Ireland. He served there for two years. The Black Family migrated to America, without William, in 1840, and arrived in Nauvoo in 1844. After William was released from his Mission, he came to America in 1842, and to Nauvoo in 1844. The Book, JANE BLACK, gives greater details. The family spent 3 years in Council Bluffs, and went West, from Kanesville, 12 Jun 1850, with the James Pace wagon train, consisting of 100 wagons. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 20 Sep 1850. The family was later sent to Sanpete Valley, settling near Spring City, Utah. William was one of the founders of Spring City 1859. They were then sent to colonize in Dixie. They settled in Rockville. 
            William Black, the son of William and Mary Gardiner Black, was born August 20,1784, at Lisburn, Antrim County, Ireland. At the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in the Seventy-second Regiment of the British Army in which he served four years in Ireland and seventeen years abroad. He was present at the taking of the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch on January 6, 1806, and also when the Isle of France fell to the British from the French government. The year 1814 found him at Madras, from which place he traveled to Bengal, East Indies. In the year 1821 he left for England, and on the way home called at the Isle of St. Helena. From his records we quote: -I landed in England about the first of March and was discharged and arrived at my father's house on July 2nd of the same year. When I got home my mother, brothers and sisters were all dead; none were left but my father. On the 31st of July, 1822, I was married to Jane Johnston. I then joined the New Connexion Methodists and lived with my father until the 4th day of February, 1834, when he died, happy in the Lord. I then left my native country and went to Manchester, England, as my business at home failed. We then had a family of three sons and one daughter. My trade was very poor, but I had one shilling and five pence per day from the British Government which enabled us to get along middling well. About the 1st of January, 1839, we joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were baptized by Elder William Clayton. I was soon ordained a teacher and at the next conference was ordained a priest and sent to Ireland with Brother John Taylor, one of the Twelve Apostles. Brother Taylor did not remain long with me, as the people of that country did not receive the Gospel. Brother Curtis was sent to me and we opened a branch at Hillsburrow where four or five were baptized before I left. Brother Curtis stayed there. I came home on account of my family, as I had to draw my pension in Manchester. The next conference I was ordained an elder under the hands of Hiram Clark and John Smith, I believe, and was sent to Oldham and Rockdale, and [p.259] with the help of James Kerigan built up two branches, and the Lord blessed our labors. I had to stop there two years. -My family went to America in 1840 while I was on my mission. The Lord blessed me in all my labors and in December 1842, I began my journey to America to join the Saints who had gone before, and landed in New Orleans on the 1st day of March, 1843, but did not get to Nauvoo on account of ice in the river, until the month of April. I heard Joseph Smith preach on the first floor of the Temple, as that was the height of it then. I started for Augusta where my family was and found them safe and well, praise the Lord. I had to go twice a year to Canada to draw my pension. On the 11th day of May, 1845, was ordained a high priest by order of President Brigham Young, under the hands of Samuel Gully and William Huntington. I moved to Nauvoo in the fall of 1844 and lived there until the expulsion of the Saints. Then moved into Iowa until the spring of 1850 at which time I crossed the plains, over 1,000 miles by ox team to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake and in the same fall, in November, moved to Sanpete Valley, 140 miles south. -In the spring I went by order of President Brigham Young and relocated in what is now known as Spring City which had been abandoned because of Indian depredations in the year 1853. In the fall of 1861, I moved to southern Utah on the Rio Virgin River, remaining there until 1873. (End of quote.) -William Black died January 28, 1873, at Rockville, Kane County, Utah. He was a man of unassuming character, strictly honest and much loved by all his acquaintances, and he died firm in the faith which is known as Mormon doctrine. -These lines may be found on his tombstone in Rockville Cemetery: A noble veteran lieth here, His name and acts the Saints revere. He's blest with honors of the best, With his armour bright, he's gone to rest. -William and Jane Johnston Black had the following childre
            n: George, born May 6, 1823; died November 1872, Kanosh, Millard County, Utah. He had two wives and was the father of thirteen children. Mary, born April 25, 1825, was married to John McDonald, a Roman Catholic, in Painesville, Ohio, and had one son. She died in 1845 at Nauvoo, Illinois. William V. born February 27, 1832, died April 1, 1927. Joseph S. Black, born July 14, 1836, died August 13, 1910, at 6:55 p.m., Deseret, Millard County, Utah. Baptised on 14 Jan 1839, Manchester, England. Biographical sketch of William Young Black, by Henry J. Black, Manti, Utah. Temple Records from George Black, Sealing film #574. and personal knowledge of Henry J. Black.