John BENNION

                   CHRISTENING & BURIAL: Hawarden Parish Burial Record, F.H. L. Film #944,005, p.24.

BAPTISM & ENDOWMENT: Infant.
SEALED TO PARENTS: F.H.L. Film #471,453 SLAKE, Archive Record.
                  

                   CHRISTENING & BURIAL: Hawarden Parish Burial Record, F.H.L. Film #944,005, p.39.

BAPTISM & ENDOWMENT: Infant.
SEALED TO PARENTS: F.H.L. Film #471,453 SLAKE, Archive Record.
                  

                   BIRTH & CHRISTENING: F.H.L. Film #944,004, p.107, #854, Hawarden Parish Records,
       "August 29th Mary Dr  of John & Elizabeth Bannion  Moore   Labourer.  Born August 25th 1817."
MARRIAGE:  Copy of marriage certificate from General Registration Office, London, Copy in possession of Helen S. Madsen.
DEATH:  Death Certificate from General Registration Office, London, Copy in possession of Helen S. Madsen.  "Cause of death - Sloughing Sore Throat."
BURIAL: Maesyfryd Cemetery Records, Holyhead, Anglesey, North Wales. Personal visit.

BAPTISM:  F.H.L. Film #170,854 SGEOR, p.80, no #.
ENDOWMENT: F.H.L. Film #170,544, SLAKE, p.224, #3836.
SEALED TO PARENTS: F.H.L. Film #184,666, SLAKE. p.144, #4565.
SEALED TO SPOUSE:  F.H.L. Film #184,609, SLAKE, p.1089, #22,124
Have not been able to locate an obituary for Mary in a Welsh newspaper. At the time of her death women could not own property, had few rights and possibly were not considered for Obituary Notices in the paper.

	Mary Bennion was the third of six children, born 25 August, 1817 at Moore, Hawarden, Wales and was christened the 29th of August in the parish church. Her father was listed a           on the records.  Her father was John Bennion of Mancott.  Her mother was listed as from Hope, Mold parish.  They are listed as having been married 18 September, 1813 , in St. Mary's Church, Chester.  See certicficate in appendix.

Responsibility came to Mary early in her life.  Although there had been two children born before Mary, they both succomed in infancy.  To Mary came the responsibility of eldest child and daughter.  In 1823, when Mary was five, her mother became ill with dropsy, and she declined steadily in health.  Three other children were born, Samuel in December, 1818.  John in 1820, and Elizabeth in 1822.

Early in the spring of 1830 Elizabeth, the mother, suffered a stroke which left her partially paralyzed.  The only way the mother could move around was for her to be carried. During this illness the household responsibilities fell even more heavily on Mary, now 13.  She shared them with her younger sister, Elizabeth, then eight years old. Samuel left home when he was about 12, which would have been about this time, and went to Liverpool to live with his uncle, William Bennion and his wife, Mary Hughes Bennion, where he apprenticed to a baker, Robert Farrell.

Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts Bennion died 1 May, 1830.  It is not known if Samuel was at home when his mother died or if he already had gone to his uncle's home.  Elizabeth was buried in the Hawarden Parish Churchyard, in the same grave with her husband's parents, William and Elizabeth Iball Bennion. (British law allows burials four deep in one grave because land is scarce.)

Perhaps the family had a woman come in to help with the household responsibilities.  Perhaps they all fell on Mary.  In any case, the three children and the father made up the household for the next three years.

During the latter part of 1836 John Jr. (now 16) left home for Liverpool and apprenticed as an iron worker.  He did not have the security of the home of relatives, but rather lodged at a Mr. Wainwright's.

Mary was 19 as John left home.  Elizabeth was 14.  There has been no record found of either of the girls attending school.  John did as he could be spared from the farm labors.  Perhaps Samuel did also.  We do know that both brothers could read and write.

In 1841 John joined the "Mormon" church and found much joy therein.  He went back to Hawarden and spoke of it's principles to his father and sisters.  The father did join the same church later, but the sisters never did.

Samuel had married in 1839 and started his own business in Liverpool, with the help of his uncle, William.  John Jr. married in 1842,, sailed for America and settled with the "Saints" in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Registration District: GREAT BOUGHTON
Marriage solemnized at The Independent Chapel   Queen Street
in the District of Great Boughton  in the Counties of Chester, Flint and City of Chester.

Married in the Independant Chapel, Queen Street, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Independant Denomination.
							Witnesses
Signature of Joseph Williams                                             Charles Williams Brother
                        Mary Bennion		                                     Elizabeth Bennion, sister

1842 10 Nov   Joseph Williams, full age (25) bachelor  wheelwright, resideing at Buckley, Hawarden Parish, County of Flint, Father Robert Williams, brickmaker
	and Mary Bennion, of full age, Spinster   residing at Moor
Hawarden Parish, County of Flint, Father John Bennion   Farmer

The same year that John left for America Mary married Joseph Williams 10 November, 1842, in the Independent Chapel, Queen Street, Chester, in Great Boughton District.  [This chapel has not been in use for many years. [Try to get picture]  At the time of the marriage Joseph was listed as a wheelwright, which indicates that must have passed through that apprenticeship successfully.  He was from Buckley, Hawarden Parish and his father, Robert, was listed as a brick mason on the marriage certificate
It also stated that the marriage was according to the rites and ceremonies of the Independent denomination.

1843  10 Aug  Elizabeth Williams born at Moor, Hawarden, Flints, Wales.

Joseph and Mary remained in Hawarden until after the birth of their first child, Elizabeth, born 8 August, 1843, at Moor, Hawarden. An 1815 tithing map shows that one of the pieces of property on Moor Lane that John Sr. leased from Sir Gladstone had two residences on it.  Mary and Joseph could have been in the second residence and John Sr. and Elizabeth, the daughter, could have been in the original home, or they could have all been in the family residence.

The sister, Elizabeth, married Thomas Davies on the 16 February, 1844.  Both couples soon moved to Liverpool and John Sr. bowed to the entreaties of his youngest son, John, and sailed for America on the S.S. John Cummins in the spring of 1844.  He subsequently met his son in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Joseph and Mary moved to Toxteth Park, West Derby, a suburb of LIverpool, for that is where the next child was born, at 27 Wellington Road, Toxteth Park.

Samuel, Mary and their family had also sailed for America in March of 1845 to join Samuel's father and brother in Nauvoo.

1848  4 Jan  John Bennion Williams born   27 Wellington Road, Toxteth Park, West Derby, Lancashire.  Joseph was listed as a wheelwright.

Sometime between 1850 and 1855 Mary and Joseph moved back to Wales, going first to Bangor
and then out to Holyhead, Anglesey, a small island off the coast of North Wales. Elizabeth and Thomas, with their small daughter, Elizabeth Davies, born at                   , had already moved back to Hawarden to care for his aged parents, and then moved on to America in 1849, going first to Iowa,and then to Omaha, Nebraska by 1854.

Mary now had no immediate family left in England or Wales, but she did have many aunts, uncles and cousins in and around Hawarden. They lived in Crewe where Joseph worked for Great Northwestern Railroad Company. They later moved to Bangor, before moving on to their last place of residence, Holyhead, Anglesey, North Wales
1852   March   Samuel Joseph Williams Born.  Don't know where they lived at this time.

1853 4 May  Samuel Joseph Williams died of convulsions at the family residence, Black Bridge, Holyhead.   Joseph Williams listed as a wheelwright on certificate.  Family resideded at Black Bridge, Holyhead.  1 year and 2 months

1855   2 Jan	Samuel Bennion Williams Born  the family was living at London Road, Holyhead.  Joseph was a coach inspector.  Cetificate

1859  10 June	Mary Eva Williams Born   London Road  Holyhead Anglesey  Railway Carriage Inspector   certificate

1861  living at New Brewery Street  Carriage Inspector from the 1861 Census

Joseph and Mary's first home in Holyhead was at Black Bridge, Holyhead.  In Liverpool Joseph had pursued his trade of wheelwright, but the left that to become a railroad coach inspector.  By 1855 the the Williams family was living in a home on London Road where they resided for several years.

   The 186l British Census lists this family at a home New Brewery Road, and Joseph was still a railroad carriage inspector. Slater's Directory for North Wales for 1868 lists Joseph as a coal merchant with his place of business on Armenia Street.  The Williams family still resided on New Brewery Road in 1871; Joseph was still a coal merchant and only Mary Eva was at home.  Sons John Bennion Williams and Samuel Bennion Williams had gone into the railroad service and were living away, Samuel was stationed Crewe, Cheshire County, England.

1871 Census  living at New Brewery Street   Coal Merchant

In November of 1872 Mary's youngest brother, John, arrived in Holyhead from America at 6:30 p.m.  It was Friday, the 15.  "He soon found his sister Mary and family, who was overjoyed when I made myself known to them."

Following are exerpts from John's journal recording his visits to Mary and her family. [Original spelling preserved.]

"Sat	16 Visited the market & wrote letters
   S	17 attended devine service at St.........Church  afternoon    visited & addressed the Wesleyen Sunday school    evening at the Wesleyan Chapel   my brother in Law Joseph Williams preached   after this we visited Mrs Thomson
M	18 looking about the Town & writing    wrote to my niece in  Australia [Elizabeth Williams Bradshaw, Mary Bennion Williams first child]
T	19   with my niece Polly visited the lighthouse called South Stack    After a desent of the mountain by a winding footpath we take down 400 steps then across a suspension 	   got bridge on to the light house, then up winding stair case inside to the window 202 feet above the water     in       rough sea the water splashes against the window      five men keeps this light house    In foggy weather the diving bell that wieghs three tons is kept ringing    the light 	revolves by machinary like a clock    the wieght that propels wieghs about 500 lbs   There is three darks and three lights, eleven lamps to one light.
W	20    took nine oclock train for Chester    Sister Mary come with me where we visisted cousin Chas. Bentley  mothers cousin  Richard Jones, Chandler & Robert Williams of Handbridge  at 4 P M
attended devine service in the Cathedral   My Nephew  Samuel, B. Williams met us from Crewe,   they went to Crewe,  I took train to L-pool   arrived at 8 p.m.  . . 	   . . .

F	29   . . . .At 12-45 I took train at Euston station for Wolverton where I found my Nephew John B Williams   He kindly took me through the London North Western rail way carriage making department, where there are employed 2000 hands   	I was shown the Lecture room, Mess room, reading    room, Library & night school all belonging to the works & accessable to all the employees for six schilling per  year tuition   An excellent establishment for promoting the education of the youth and adults.
Sat 30    Was shown the paint shop with 200 carriadges in it,  also the Royal train   The Queens carriadge in which she rides is very rich & convenient but not gorgeous  Sophus [sofas], chairs & beds studied for ease & comfort,  I took the liberty to try them      At 3.30 I took train for L-pool. . . .
Dec M 23   [in Dublin]  we hired a Irish janting [jaunting] Car & 	rode several miles out in the county    the fields looked green for winter time    Ireland is naturally a good country     the old farm  houses & cottages are very shabby   at 1 oclock we sailed for Holyhead on the dutchess of Sutherland, Capt Lewis   	   arrived at Holyhead at 7 p m after a seasick spell   but soon found a good house at Sister Mary Williams
T	24	viewing Holyhead & wrote to Saml R [son in America]     visited Mrs Thomson
W	25	[Christmas]  viewed the Breakwater an enormous mason work   it was 25 years in building & 5 more preparing for it.  1400 men were employed    it now furnishes a harbour for 600 or more vessels to anchor   is 2 1/4 miles long      we walked over the mountain to the south stack light    house & viewed it    at evening attended a Wesleyen Concert in the market Hall
Th	26	visited Mrs Johnson & Mrs Thomson 		a rainy day
Fri	27	visited Mrs Thomson as teachers and after with Sister Marys Family  took supper with her
Sat 	28	attended the market & wrote to Sister Eliz Davies in U. States
S	29	attended service at church	   after dinner visited the ruins of a Druid temple & a mound on the shore where human bone lay on top of the ground  Said to be a place were the Normans landed & fought the Brittans    Attended the Wesleyen Chapel   Jos Williams preached
	   visited . . .
1873 Jan
Sat	18     . . . took train to Lpool
M	20   I was seeing to my passage & getting ready    Sister Mary come in from Holyhead
T	21   Buying some notions & with Sister Mary had another agreeable visit at P. Shones'    Jos Williams come in from Holyhead to see me sail off
W	22   finished packing our things & moved altogether on board  the vessel     there come on board with us Hannah, Janes  mother & Mary Ann, Esther, her Sisters my Sis Mary & Jos 	  Williams  Cousin Eliz Urmston & husband & his daughter & some other friends   also Bros Bleak & Gibbs		our    friends shed tears at parting   the day was cold & snowy  	   we sailed or steamed off at 1:30. . . .

In May 1874 Samuel Bennion and his youngest daughter Alice also went back to the land of his birth, called on a mission by his Church.  They also were able to see and visit many of the relatives there, especially his sister, Mary Bennion Williams and her family.  Samuel's wife, Mary, had died  in 1872 and so he decided to take Alice Jane with him.   Samuel stayed over there for four months, returning home in September on the S.S. Wyoming.
Unfortunately there is no record of his visit located at this date.d [3 April, 1991]

Mary and Joseph next moved to a home called Bodlondeb in Holyhead.  It was in this home that Mary died of what was called sloughing sore throat.  Her eldest son, John Bennion Williams, was with her at the time of her death.  The two oldest children had married before she died.

16 Aug 1878  Mary Bennion Williams died of a "Sloughing Sore Throat," at the family residence,  Bedlondeb, Holyhead.  A son, J. B. Williams was present at the time of death.

Shortly after Mary's death, sometime in 1879, Joseph again moved, this time to 8 Upper Park Street, and lived there until his death in 1892.
                  

                   OCCUPATION:
    Farmer


BIRTH: F.H.L. Film # 944,004, Hawarden Parish Records
CHRISTENING: F.H.L. Film #944,004, Hawarden Parish Records
MARRIAGE: (1) Mary Bushell, 28 Apr 1839, Marriage Certificage General Registrar, London, England.
DEATH: Deseret News Obituary, 12 Sep 1889, F.H.L. Film #026,925, p. 3, Salt Lake City Death Records, F.H.L. Film # 6498, p.3386 #15,423.

BAPTISM:  In the River Mersy, Liverpool, Lanc., England, by Thomas Domvale. 2nd Vol. Bennion Family History book, p.249, by Samuel, himself.
REBAPTISM: 13 Apr 1851, West Jordan Ward Records.
REBAPTISM: 11 Mar 1857, in Great Salt Lake City. Film #027,416 EH, p.3,  no #. North Jordan Ward Records.
ENDOWMENT: F.H.L. Film #183,393 EHOUS, p. 51, #1374.
SEALED TO PARENTS: F.H.L.  Film #1239619 SLAKE, p.144, #4563.
SEALED TO SPOUSE: (1) Mary Bushell Bennion F.H.L. Film #183,393 EHOUS, p.57, #728.
Samuel Bennion  Dec 11, 1818 Hawardine, Flint., N. Wales Sealed   Aug 25, 1852
Mary Bushall   Born Mar 1, 1816,  Roby, Lancashire, Eng.
        2) Sarah Williams, Sealed 13 Feb 1853 [live], F.H.L. Film #183,393 EHOUS,  p.84, #1045,in Office at 2:20 p.m. B. Young (in office) at 2:20 p.m.
      Sealed again, 1 Mar 1882  [deceased], F.H.L, Film #170,597 SGEOR, p.409, #11,044, by D.H. Cannon.
       (3) Rhoda Jones, sealed 25 Oct 1868 F.H.L. Film #1149515 EHOUS , p.186, #11778, by D.H. Wells.
       (4) Elizabeth Jones (1825) (deceased), sealed 1 Mar 1882 , F.H.L. Film #170,597 SGEOR, p.410,    #11,047.
       (5) Elizabeth Bennion (1825) (deceased), sealed 1 Mar 1882 SGEOR, F.H.L. Film #170,597 SGEORG, p.410, #11,048.  (Samuel's cousin, daughter of his Uncle William Bennion,  where Samuel stayed while in Liverpool apprenticing to become a baker.  She died while Samuel was living in their home.)
       (6) Jane Bennion (1747) (deceased) Sealed 3 Mar 1882 F.H.L. Film #170,597 SGEOR, p.410,
#11061
       (7) Ann Chamberlain (1791) (deceased) Sealed 3 Mar 1882 , F.H.L. #170,597 SGEOR, p.410,
#11,062.

BRITISH CEMSIS 1941, Townshiip of Haardwick,   , England  1841
Chariles Williams

HISTORY OF SAMUEL BENNION By Himself

Samuel Bennion was born December 11, 1818, in the Moor Lane near Hawarden, near Chester County of Flintshire North Wales, England.

Mary Bushell was born March 1, 1816, in Roby, in the Parish of Huyton, County of Lancashire, England.

Samuel Bennion and Mary Bushell married on Sunday, the 28th day of ApriL, 1839, in St. Nicholas Church, Liverpool.

At the same time I worked as a Journeyman Baker for Robert Farrall, Mill Street, Taxteth Park Liver­pool
	September 14th, 1839, by the assistance of my uncle, William Bennion, I commenced business for myself Bread, Flour and Provision Dealer in
   Harding Street Windsor, joining Liverpool.

I gave up the Business on the 4th day of November, 1844 to prepare to come to America. During the time I carried on the business I cleared about ~ 500 or £500 or 2500 dollars.

I was Baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the 30th day September, 1842 in the River Mersey, Liverpool, by Elder Thomas Dmvale.

Mary Bushell Bennion continued in her adherence to the Methodist faith until 1848 when she was baptized shop Abram Hoagland, in Salt Lake
City.

I left Liverpool in 1845, and set sail for America on Sunday, the 30th day of March, on the sailing ship Parthenon, - Captain Woodbury.
After a pleasant voyage of six (6) weeks arrived at New Orleans on the 12th day of May in the afternoon.

Myself, wife and son John R., aged five years, one daughter, aged three months.

We arrived at St. Louis on the 20th day of May, where my father met us from Nauvoo. He left Liverpool one year before, or in the
Spring of 1844 on the ship John Cummins.

We arrived at Nauvoo on the 23rd day of May near night. Stopped the first night in the Stone House at the landing. Next day the Saints
were putting the Capstone on the Temple, and my brother John brought his team, took us to his house or shanty seven miles east of Nauvoo
   where I bought 85 acres of land of Daniel H. Wells, the same summer. Had it fenced and built a good two story Brick House with six apartments in it.
Hauled thirty two thousand bricks from Nauvoo. Cost of house was one thousand dollars. During the summer my father, myself and wife and two children, John R. and Elizabeth were sick with the ague and fever.

On the 18th day of February 1846, our little daughter Elizabeth died of the same. Buried in the Nauvoo burying ground, near Nauvoo, and put a large
headstone on her grave.[Not located in 1912 when the RLDS Church cataloged the headstones there.]

May 1846, I sold my house and farm for two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.) part trade.

Qn the 19th day of May 1846, we left our Nauvoo home to go West somewhere. Myself, wife, son, and father, brother John and his wife Esther
Wainwright and two children, Samuel B. and Mary.

We traveled one hundred sixty miles west from Nauvoo, and stopped at a place called Garden Grove. Here we plowed up land and put in some corn
and buckwheat.

My father had one yoke of oxen and one light wagon. I had two yoke of oxen and wagon, one span of horses and wagon. My wife drove the horse team.

MARY	FAREWELL TO NAUVOO
                       .
	 They all did it.  Even the Brethren.  As the wagons began their Exodus from Nauvoo, whether it was in winter when they crossed over the frozen Mississippi, and the wagons headed up the snowy rise from the river valley to the higher ground and then  West, or whether they crossed in Spring, by ferry and then up the dusty trail following the path of those who had gone before.  As they came to the crest of the hill the wagons stopped; the occupants turned and looked once more at their beloved Nauvoo, the City of Joseph,  and the beautiful Temple, gleaming like a beacon on a hill across the river.
	Wilford Woodruff wrote: "I was in Nauvoo on the 26th day of May, 1846 for the last time, and left the city of the Saints feeling that most likely I was taking a final farewell of Nauvoo for this life.  I looked back upon the Temple and City as they receded from view and asked the Lord to remember the sacrifices of his Saints."
	From the Meeks diary it was recorded: "The top of this hill was the last point from which I could see the Nauvoo Temple.  I have no words with which to convey a proper conception of my feelings when taking a last look at this sacred monument of the living faith of the Saints, and which was associated in their minds  with the heavenly and holy.  After the lapse of thirty-six years I can scarcely restrain my feelings when I write of it."
	And so it was with the Bennions.  On the 19th of May Samuel wrote that "we left our Nauvoo home and headed West somewhere."  They turned for their last view of Nauvoo and the glistening Temple set upon the hill.  Mary gazed at the pastoral scene across the river, but she saw far beyond  Nauvoo and the Temple.  Her eyes glanced in the direction of the Nauvoo Burial Ground - and she envisioned her beautiful little Elizabeth.  It had only been in February when they had placed her in the cold, frozen ground there. 	But her vision didn't end there.  It flew across the ocean and she saw again her comfortable home in West Darby, that suburb of Liverpool not too far from where Samuel had his bakery shop and bakers' supply shop.  She saw again the two little boys who had been so healthy, happy and active.  She saw them ill, deathly ill.  How she had cared for them so tenderly but to no avail.  First William, her beautiful little two year old, died.  It was on a Saturday, November 30.  Sorrowfully Samuel made his way to the Registrar's Office to list the death.  He wrote " William Bennion, 2½, Scarlet Fever, Father, present at death."
	Transportation in England was not good or non-existent on Sundays.  And James was so very ill.  They waited until Monday for the burial of William.  By Monday James died - December 2.  Her wonderful little three year old.  And they were expecting their fourth child within a month
	She saw again the sad journey from West Darby to Huyton with the two children.  Mary had grown up at Roby, in Huyton Parish.  There the two little boys were buried in the Churchyard in the same grave with their great grandfather, Thomas Bushall.  Samuel waited until December 4th to make that second trip to the Registrar's Office to list James.  Again he wrote, " James Bennion, 3½, of scarlet fever.  Present at death."  Meanwhile,preparations for the journey to Nauvoo were under way.  Christmas that year had been a little bleak
	The business had been sold in early November.   Uncle William Bennion had been so wonderful in helping Samuel start a business of his own.  Since Uncle William's son, Cousin William, was not as responsible as his father had hoped, Samuel would have been the one to take care of Uncle William's affairs, until the decision was made to move to Nauvoo.
	Mary then saw again the lovely two story red brick home they had just sold.  She had been quite happy there although there had been illness.  Samuel and  his father had been ill last summer when they were trying to build the home.  Even though they were situated  six or seven miles from the swampy river bottom where there was greater sickness.  True, there had been mob burnings and even cannons fired at the plains not too far from their home. But now the wagons moved on - and she was brought back to the present.  And now - still clinging to her Methodist faith - they were on the move again to a wilderness with Indians, deserts, mountains, and so many unknowns.  How grateful she was for John Rowland - that he had been spared

They left Winter Quarters to begin the long trek on June 10th, traveling 10 miles out into a large open plain, where they spent two or three days organizing into companies. Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor took the lead in the planning. They set up hundreds, divided into fifties, and the fifties were divided into tens. To each of these divisions a captain was assigned. Bishop Edward Hunter was captain of the hundred in which the Whitakers traveled. Joseph Horn was the captain of their fifty, and Abraham Hoagland captain of the ten, the other nine heads of familes being: John Robinson, Joseph Harker, Samuel Bennion, Joseph Cain, George Whitaker, Ezra Oakley, Thomas MacKay and Thomas Tarbett. John Taylor traveled in their fifty. There were over 600 wagons.

First plans to travel called for them to go six wagons abreast, so the train would only be 100 wagons long. This proved disagreeable due to dust clouds and closeness of other wagons, so they dropped to four wagons abreast, and after a few weeks, to two abreast. Much of the journey lay through hostile Indian country, so they tried to keep as close together as comfort would allow.

However, so many wagons proved very cumbersome, and some dissatisfaction was expressed, as well as the fear that they could never reach the Rockies at such a slow pace. After consultation, it was decided to assign a blacksmith, a carpenter and a wheelwright to each fifty, and move each company of fifty as a single unit, the fastest going first. All men who could bear arms were assigned to do so. This method of travel proved much more agreeable and more miles were covered each day.

At night the wagons were drawn into a circle, with the oxen and cows inside. Occasionally at night dancing and singing helped relieve the weary travelers from the monotony. No traveling was done on Sunday. Through the plains country grass was abundant and the stock thrived on it. They reached buffalo country in July. A few animals were slaughtered to provide meat. George Whitaker wrote: "Buffalo beef is not so good as tame beef, being hard and tough." There were tens of thousands of buffalo, the hills were perfectly black with them.

They traveled the route of the original pioneers, seeing the markings left at each mile, and sometimes finding a message telling the date the pioneers were there. Late in August they met Ezra T. Benson and another brother who had been sent back to tell them the pioneers had found the place in the valley of the Great Salt Lake. They did not reveal that it appeared as a great barren wasteland, so the company rejoiced. They were then 400 miles from the valley.

This, the largest company to reach the valley in 1847, got their first glimpse from Emigration Canyon on October 2. (B. H. Roberts, Life of John Taylor Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon & Sons, 1892], 495.)


PATRIARCHAL BLESSING  #1
Great Salt Lake City, Utah	Samuel Bennion
Samuel Bennion	Married 28 Apr 1839
5 Mar, 1848	Died: 9 Sept 1889
Taylorsville, Utah

A blessing by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of Samuel Bennion, son of John and Elizabeth (Roberts), born at Flint, North Wales, 11 Dec. 1818.

	Brother Samuel, I place my hands upon thy head, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and seal upon thee a fathers blessing. Inasmuch as thou hast left thy native land and thy former friends to see a resting place with the Saints for the Gospels sake and the salvation of the children of men, the Lord thy God is well pleased. He desires to give unto thee all the blessings of the holy priesthood, which ever was conferred upon the posterity of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I seal it upon thee and thy posterity to continue from generation to generation, until Israel is gathered in the final restitution of all things which the prophets have spoken of since the world began.
	Inasmuch as it seemeth good unto thee, thou shalt go to thy native land and preach the gospel to thy friends and to thy nation by the power of the Holy Ghost. The wise and the learned shall be confounded because of thy wisdom. The high and the low shall submit themselves unto thee. Thou shalt bring many to Zion from every land where thy lot is cast. Thou shalt have power to rebuke the ragings of the sea, remove mountains by the prayer of faith; shalt have an inheritance in Zion with thy brethren, the children of Ephraim, be satisfied with riches. Thy name shall never be blotted out. Be not fearful in tribulation and these words shall not fail. Even so, Amen.
Recorded by John Smith

PATRIARCHAL BLESSING #2

given at English Fort. Dec. 10, 1856, by John Young, upon the head of Samuel Bennion, son of John and Elizabeth, born Dec. 11, 1818, Hawarden, North Wales.

Brother Samuel, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ lay my hands upon your head to bless you and to seal and ratify the blessings of the everlasting covenant, to confer a fathers blessing upon your head. I pray that the spirit of our Heavenly Father may rest down upon us at this time, that whatever is spoken may be dictated by the Holy Spirit. In as much as you are a lawful heir of the seed of Abraham, the blood of Joseph, you are entitled to the blessings of the priesthood of the Son of God, which inasmuch as you have embraced the gospel and gathered with the Saints you have a right to the blessings of the heavens and of the earth, all which I feel to confer upon you at this time, and I pray that your mind may expand to comprehend the things of the kingdom of God, for I bless you with blessings, with both temporal and spiritual blessings.

If it be your desire, you shall live to suffer and to rejoice with the people of God. I confer upon you the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and say, Brother Samuel, that in as much as you are willing to abide a Celestial law you shall have celestial glory and have power to govern yourself and your household with propriety and discretion, and blessings shall be around you and your household, and the spirit of discernment and wisdom shall be upon you to discern light from darkness, good spirits from evil ones, and be prepared to detect all spirits that may come to you or your family with an evil design.

You can live to see the redemption of Zion and help to build up the Temple of the living God, upon the consecrated spot, even upon the place which has been ordained in the heavens that it should be built, and thou canst help to do it if thou wilt be faithful, and no power shall be able to overcome thee, and no weapon formed against thee shall prosper.

In the 
                  

                   BIRTH: Hawarden Parish Records, F.H.L. Film #944,004.
CHRISTENING:  Hawarden Parish Records, F.H.L. Film #944,004.
MARRIAGE:  (1) Esther Wainwright 15 Feb 1842, TIB, Copy in possession of Helen S. Madsen. (Married in England, No L.D.S. Church records found for this marriage.)
	(2) Esther Ann Birch, 20 Jul 1856, P.O., F.H.L. Film # 183,374.
	(3) Mary Turpin,19 Apr 1857 P.O., F.H.L. Film #183,395, p. 43, #1134.
DEATH:  F.H.L. Film #6498, pt.1, p. 199, #7954.
BURIAL: Salt Lake Cemetery plot A, block 2, lot 4.

BAPTISM: John Bennion Autobiography, p.556, Bennion Family of Utah, Vol. III.
ENDOWMENT: F.H.L. Film #962,798, Nauvoo endowment register, p.341.&184101 EHIUS, p.290. #4565.
SEALED TO PARENTS: F.H.L. Film  #1239619 SLAkE p.144, #4564.
SEALED TO SPOUSE: (1) Esther Wainwright, 23 Aug 1852 P.O. F.H.L. Film #183,393 p.55, & 20 Feb 1857 EHOUS,  F.H.L. Film #183,395 p.70,
	(2) Esther Ann Birch, 20 Jul 1856 P.O., F.H.L. Film #183,374 EHOUS, p.55, #844, 5 Apr 1862, EHOUS, F.H.L. Film #183,395, p.43, #1134 (5) Eckery Birch, 20 Jul 1856 P.O.. F.H.L. Film #183,374.
John Bennion and Esther Ann Birch were sealed by Brigham Young in the President's office July 20, 1856 at 1:00 p.m. Witnesses were B. Young and D. Mackintosh.
	(3) Mary Turpin. 19 Apr 1857 P.O., F.H.L. Film #183,395 P.O., p.43, #4578.
John Bennion and Mary Turpin were sealed by Daniel H. Wells in the President's office at 12 1/2 p.m. on 19 April, 1857. Witnesses were Thos Mackay and D.O. Calder.
Also sealed to(4) Ann Wainwright (d) 2 Aug 1871,  F.H.L. Film #183,397. EHOUS, p.176, (6)Mary Peters 17 Mar 1875 EHOUS, F.H.L. Film #183,400, Ref. 2775.

JOHN BENNION'S PATRIARCHAL BLESSING #1
Great Salt Lake City February 28th 1851. A blessing by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of John, son of John and Elizabeth Bennion, born Parish of Hawarden C of Flintshire North Wales July 9th 1820.
Brother John I place my hands upon thy head and seal thee a fathers blessing in the name of Jesus Christ for thou art a descendant of Joseph who was sold into Egypt and a trueful heir to all the blessings that was sealed upon his children by his father Israel therefore advise and prepare thyself for the work where unto thou art called for the Lord will clothe thee with power to administer in the holy Priesthood to gather the remnants of Jacob from the four Quarters of the Earth and the Children of Judah to their inheritance that was given them by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. No power on earth shall stay thy hand no miracle shall be too hard for thee to perform by the power of the Priesthood which is sealed upon thee to continue through all the generations of thy posterity thou shalt gather thy thousands and lead them to Zion for the winds and the waves of the sea shall obey thy voice and thy name shall be known among many nations as a mighty man thy posterity shall be numerous so that they cannot be numbered the number of thy rejoice shall be according to the desires of thine heart even to see the earth cleansed from wickedness the saints dwell in peace and none to make them afraid shall be satisfied with riches and honors and in the end inherit eternal life in as much as thou art faithful to the end no power shall take it from thee even so Amen.

PATRIARCHAL BLESSING #2
Given at the English Fort, December 10, 1856, by John Young upon the head of John Bennion, son of John and Elizabeth, born July 9, 1820, Hawarden, Flint County, North Wales.
Brother John, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I lay my hands upon your head to bless you even with a father's blessing, and to seal upon your head the blessings of the everlasting gospel. I pray that the Holy Spirit may rest upon you and me that whatever is spoken may be by the dictates of the Holy Ghost.
Thou art a lawful heir to the everlasting covenant, being a literal descendant of Ephraim and an heir according to the promises to the blessings of the fulness of the Gospel all which I feel to seal upon thee at this time. Inasmuch as thy heart is honest before the Lord and thou has embraced the Gospel, left thy native land to sojourn with the people of God and to help to build up his kingdom and to establish righteousness, and it is thy delight, thy meat and drink, to help to do the will of God, therefore all the blessings which the Lord has designed to give unto the faithful thou art entitled to. I seal upon thy head the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and I say brother John that thy posterity shall be numerous upon the face of the earth. You shall have power to govern yourself, which is a great victory and your mind shall expand and you shall be enabled to understand the things of the celestial kingdom and in as much as you have it in your heart to carry out the principles of celestial home you shall be blest and have power over devils and unclean spirits and the eye of your understanding shall be like an eagles to behold things afar off and also near by; you shall have power to administer to the sick and many shall rise up and call you blessed, and your name shall be had in honorable remembrance in the Church and no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and notwithstanding, you may be called by the voice of the spirit to proclaim the gospel to those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death; and thou shalt have the holy comforter which leads unto truth and brings past things to mind, and you shall not fall by the enemy but you shall live till your hair is as white as pure wool and in as much as you desire it you shall live to see the redemption of Zion and help to build up temples, and you shall have flocks and herds for I realize by the spirit that is in me that thou desireth to do good. Thou shall see the downfall of nations and the widespreading glory of the kingdom of God until thou art satisfied with life. I say brother John be faithful and diligent and you shall be blest in your family and in all things you can desire before your heavenly Father, for there is an eternity of blessings awaits you, and I can seal you up to eternal life upon conditions of your faithfulness, and you shall have power to come forth in the first resurrection, and shall be one of the pillars in the temple of the living God to redeem those that died in the darkness, and you shall have the holy armor of God. You shall have power to stand against the grand enemy and be a mighty man of God and be led by the Spirit and the still small voice. I seal upon you these blessings and all you desire, for the heavens are full of blessings for you, and I do it in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, even so, Amen.
J. V. Long, Reporter. H. Long, Scribe.
Although published on Wednesday, September 5, 1877, this article was in a column titled From Saturday*s Daily, Sept. 1 John*s death occurred September 1,1877. The title of the article alludes to Brigham Young, who died August 29, 1877.

Another Good Man Gone.- Yesterday morning Elder John Bennion, of North Jordan Ward, sprang upon a bare-backed horse, near his residence. In doing so his body received a sudden jar, causing a severe internal injury. He rode a short distance, and then, with great difficulty, got off the horse and reached the nearest house.
He said from the first, No doctors can do me any good now. Medical assistance was procured from this city, he suffering severely in the meantime. At ten o*clock last night he seemed comparatively cornfrrtable, but subsequently became much worse, and finally, at twenty minutes past eight this morning, he expired.
The deceased leaves a very large family to mourn his departure. We were personally acquainted with him, and are well aware of his many noble qualities of head and heart, he being, we sincerely believe, one of natures noblemen, and a man full of integrity to the Lord and His work.
A short time prior to his demise he said he greatly desired that his family should live as he had taught them to, and remain faithful to the cause of God and truth.
The funeral services will be held at nine a.m. on Monday, at the residence of the late de­ceased. Friends of the family are invited to be present. The remains will be interred in the cemetery of this City, the same day.
For Letters of Administration and Probate Proceedings see Appendix 3.

John Bennions Obituary
	John Bennion, son of John and Elizabeth Roberts Bennion, who died Sept St., 1877, at North Jordan, Salt Lake County, was born in the township of Moore, parish Hawarden county, Flint, Wales on the 8th of July, 1820.  Received the gospel under the testimony of Elder John Taylor and was baptized May 2nd, 1841 by Robert Reid; confirmed under the hands of James McGuffey and Richard Harrison.  He was ordained a priest by John Greenbow and Thomas Dumbille, on the 8th of June following.  On the 15th of February, 1842 be was married to Esther Wainwright by Elder Greenbow, on the 22nd went on board the John Cummins and set sail for New Orleans, arriving at that port on the 25th of April.  On Saturday, May 7th he landed in Nauvoo, then the gathering place of the Saints.  He bought a city lot of Squire Warthington and resided there two years.  In April, 1844 he purchased a piece of land of  D. H. Wells, Esq. Six miles east of Nauvoo, built a house and shared in the persecution of the Saints until their expulsion from Illinois.  He was ordained a member of the 14th Quorum of Seventies on Sunday, December 22, the day the quorum was organized.  During the winter he made himself a wagon, and in January, 1846, attended to the ordinances in the Nauvoo Temple, and sold his farm, consisting of thirty-one acres, for the sum of forty-five dollars, leaving his house and lot in the city of Nauvoo unsold.  On the 19th of May he left Nauvoo and traveled west as far as Garden Grove, built two log cabins and planted crops, preparing for the Winter; in the Fall he was taken sick with the chills and fever. About the St. of November a call was made for men to go and bring up the poor Saints who had been driven out from Nauvoo.  He sent two yoke of oxen to assist in that labor.  On the 1 of April, 1847 he was enrolled in Captain Chatterters company, to travel to the West.  On the 10th was sent down to Des Moines, Iowa after corn to [        ] the company to go to Counsil Bluffs: returned home on the 24th, said his two log cabins for $2  and on the 28th started for the Bluffs, in a company of ten; arrived there on the 18th of May. The counsel of Elder John Taylor and P. Pratt was for all could fit themselves out, to go over the mountains.  On the 23rd May he started down to Missouri after provisions, made the journey of 280 miles, in fourteen days; crossed the Missouri River on the 12th of June, and on the 13th got his certificate, left Winter Quarters on the 14th, and camped near Elder Taylors company.  Next day he traveled ten miles, and camped near the Elk Horn; was enrolled in William Taylors company of ten, Joseph Hornes company of fifty, and Edward Hunters company of one hundred. He left the Elk Horn on Saturday and, the 19th and camped on the banks of the Platte until Monday 21st and then resumed the journey westward. He met the pioneer camp on their way to Winter Quarters, September 7th, on the Sweetwater; arrived in this valley on the first day of October.  He built a log cabin in the old fort
for his family and farmed on Canora Creek in the summer of 1848.  In December, he moved his house on the west side of Jordan, and moved his family into it on the St. day of January, 1849.  In February, 1850 he was in the Indian War, on the Provo River.  On the 4th of September, 1854, he started East, in charge of a company from West Jordan Ward, with supplies to assist the emigration. He was ordained an High Priest December 11th, 1856 under the hands John Young and Joseph Harker, was appointed to preside over the North Branch of the West Jordan Ward , April 17th, 1859 which position he held until called to go on a mission to the southern part of the Territory, at the October Conference in 1866.  He started on his mission November 11, settled on the Muddy, and was called from there to Long Valley and was appointed Bishop of that place December 20th. He was on that mission until the    Fall of 1873. He started on a visit to England in October of the same year and returned on February 15th, 1873. He was elected Justice of the Peace for North Jordan Precinct at the general election for 1875. He was an acting teacher in the ward in which he resided. He leaves 23 children and 21 grandchildren to mourn his loss.  Deseret News, September 12, 1877, Vol. 26, p
                  

                   BIRTH: Hawarden Parish Records, F.H.L. Film #944,004.
CHRISTENING: Hawarden Parish Records, F.H.L. Film #944,004.
MARRIAGE: Marriage Certificate, General Registration Office, London, England,
DEATH & BURIAL:  Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Copy in possession of Helen S. Madsen.

BAPTISM: TIB in possession of Helen S. Madsen.
ENDOWMENT: F.H.L. Fillm #184101 SLAKE, p.290, #10437.
SEALED TO PARENTS: F.H.L. Film #1239619 SLAKE, p.144, #4566.
SEALED TO SPOUSE: F.H.L. Film #184,609 SLAKE. p.1089, #22125.
DEATH RETURNS
	Elizabeth Davis, 25 N. Pennsylvania, heart disease, 69. The Indianapolis News, Friday, Oct. 17, 1890.