Mary Ann Ward was born Oct 10, 1814 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England, born to a very wealthy family, Bryan Ward and Jane Rice. The young couple were married in a very quiet wedding as her people objected to their wedding for John had been going to some of the street meetings of the Mormon Elders. They were married Dec. 24, 1840 at Leicester. After their marriage they lived at Leicester.
They listened to the gospel message of the Elders and were baptized April 14, 1844, they were the only ones of either family who joined the church. From then on they began to make preparations to come to Zion. Mary Ann's family pleaded for her not to leave and offered her everything they could think of if she would stay but to no avail. They with their three children, Sarah Jane, Joseph, and a small infant Thomas set sail from Liverpool England on the ship "Ellen", in a company of 466 Saints under the direction of James W. Cummings Co.
According to records, John a steelpen toolmaker, - age 35; Mary A. -age 36; Sarah J. - age 8; Joseph - age 6; and Thomas A. - 5 months old, were ticket holders #49. Cost of the ticket was 4#. Their address at this time was listed as 64 Gt. Russel St., B'ham (Birmingham). (They apparently had moved from Leicestershire to Birmingham to await passage to the U.S.A.). The schedule sailing date was shown as 4 January 1851. Other records show that all five of the family arrived in New Orleans on 12 March 1851, but Thomas died before they reached Salt Lake City.
A letter from Elder James W. Cummings gives an interesting account of their voyage.
"St. Louis, Missouri,
U.S.A. March 29th, 1851.
Dear brother F.D. Richards, - I embrace the present opportunity of writing to you, and I will endeavor to give in few words a history of our voyage to this place.
. . . . . you are well aware of the labor and anxiety attending the presidency of 470 people in crossing the sea. No one can realize the responsibility until he has tried it - but to the history.
We weighed anchor in the river opposite Liverpool on the 8th of January, about eleven o'clock, a.m., the wind was fair, and we were soon under way; we ran at the rate of seven miles an hour till about eleven o'clock at night, when we struck a schooner, broke our jib-boom and main and fore yards. The captain the next day, put into Cardigan bay, North Wales, to repair; the ship, however, was ready in a few days for sea again, but the wind changed the day we put into port, to an un favorable quarter, and remained there for three weeks. Therefore we considered our accident a blessing to us, for we were comfortable in port while hundreds were being knocked about, many vessels wrecked, and hundreds of human beings consigned to a watery grave. While many were experiencing the awful horrors of shipwreck, we had great cause to thank our Heavenly Father that we were safe and comfortable, and every Saint on board the Ellen felt that the invisible hand of God was over them for good, and they did not forget to thank him for the same.
The captain however became rather impatient, and although the wind continued unfavorable, on the 23rd we again weighed anchor and put to sea, but the wind blew a strong gale from the direction we wanted to sail, so we made but little progress for several days; however on the 1st of Feb. the wind changed in our favor, and we soon lost sight of the Irish coast, and from that time we had pleasant weather, and for the most part fair winds, and on the night of the 14th of March we anchored in the river off New Orleans, making the passage from Cardigan bay, in seven weeks. We did not encounter a storm on the passage, and after we left the channel it was more like a pleasure trip than a sea voyage, so far as weather was concerned.
We had ten deaths on the voyage, two adults, namely, James Wright of Skellow, and the wife of brother Wm. Allen, from the Birmingham conference, and the remainder were children. Brother Wright and sister Allen died of fever; four of the children died of measles; three of consumption; one of inflammation of the chest. I do not at this time recollect the names of any except the daughter of S.J. and Abigail Lees, of Sheffield, and the child of brother Wm. Allen. The measles broke out among us the day we left the dock, and nearly every child on board had them, besides several adults; I should judge there were more than seventy cases. Many of the small children suffered much from it.
Immediately after leaving port we divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting ten berths to each division, and appointed a president over each, then those twelve companies we divided into two, and appointed a president for each six, so that in the steerage there were twelve companies, with a president to each, and two to preside over the whole; the second cabin we organized in like manner. We found the above organization to be of great utility in preserving peace, good order, and the health and comfort of the Saints while on board of the vessel, and we would recommend the same or a similar organization to all companies of Saints that may hereafter cross the sea. We also organized the priesthood, and appointed presidents over them, to see that each attended to his duties. My two counselors and myself often met with them in council, we could there learn the condition of every Saint on board, if any were sick, or in want, or in transgression, we were made acquainted with it, and immediately adopted measures to relieve the wants of the needy, and to prevent iniquity from creeping into our midst. We had men appointed to visit every family twice a day, and to administer to the sick; and but few days passed but what myself, in connection with brothers Dunn or Moss, visited each family. I would say here that brothers Dunn and Moss acted in concert with me in all things, and we were united in all our counsellings. They did not spare labor nor pains to make the Saints comfortable and happy so far as it lay in their power."
"At New Orleans we chartered the steamer Alex Scott, to take the company to St. Louis, we paid 10s. 5d. per head for adults, all our luggage included, children half price. We left New Orleans on the morning of the 19th of March, and landed in St. Louis on the 26th. We had a good passage up the river, and I would recommend the Alex Scott as a good, commodious, and safe boat, commanded by a good captain of the name of Swan. I am persuaded there is no better nor safer boat on the river. There were two deaths coming up the river, both children. On the voyage we had ten deaths, one birth, and six marriages, and one birth coming up the river. Everything in this country is working together for the building up of the kingdom of God. I have had an interview with Dr. Bernhisel, he requested me to give his kind love to elder Richards, and to say to him that "Mormonism" is at par in this country.
He has received some very liberal donations for the Library for the Valley, from the literary and scientific institutions, and from editors and publishers of books and papers in the States. I can plainly see that the tide of public feeling is fast changing in our favor, there are calls on every hand for preaching. The emigration to the Valley this season will be pretty extensive.
Elder Gibson and company arrived here today, generally in good health and spirits. I must now close praying for your prosperity, and for the prosperity of Zion's cause in England, and in all the world."
END OF LETTER
On 21 June 1851 they were ready for the western trail. The company was under the direction of James W. Cummings.
Occasionally some of the children would mount one of the friendly oxen and ride for a spell. For the most part the entire journey was made on foot, both children and adults. It was indeed a welcome sight when they reached the Salt Lake Valley on October 5, 1851, just a little more than eight months since they embarked at Liverpool.
After their arrival in the valley, Bryan William, was born September 30 1852 at Salt Lake City who died as an infant.
When Johnson's Army invaded Utah, the Ortons, with other Saints were advised to move south so they went to E.T. City, Tooele County. This was at the foot of the Oquirrah Mountains, about one and one
half miles from the south shore of the Great Salt Lake, eleven miles north of Tooele and twenty five miles from Salt Lake City. The settlers built log and adobe houses. The following year, after their settlement they had to combat grasshoppers and crop failure, but despite their reverses they built a meeting house, in 1857. This was a small log building with a rough board floor, dirt roof, two windows, and a door. One round bellied stove stood in the center for heat, benches were slab, bark side down.
At this time another son was born to John and Mary Ann. This was Hyrum James Jan. 2, 1856 and at the time of his birth the cabin was surrounded by a bunch of renegade Indians who were howling and threatening to set fire to the cabin, so John went out and appeased them by giving them one of his best horses!
Many of the Saints came from England and knew nothing of irrigation, and dry land, as England had lots of, rain and didn't need irrigation. They knew nothing of sunbaked and alkali land. At this time the population was 97. Mail was delivered by pony riders to Hobson House in Richville.
The first year the grasshoppers took over the crops and the second year the weeds took over. During this time food was scarce. No vegetables to eat through the winter. Chickens, pigs and cattle died. They lost their fat pig and would have to go without meat until another could be ready.
The Orton's and others got discouraged, the land was condemned and they were advised to leave and go to Cache Valley. They started, but one of the oxen died and they stayed in an old settlement until things were a little better and decided to look around and find a different place to live. They finally found a piece of land in North Ogden on August 5, 1857. The land had to be cleared and swamps drained, but with the ability of endurance the early pioneers had they succeeded in having a home where eventually they had their own fruit trees, raised all their own vegetables, had their own milk, raised their pork or beef, making; it so they were self sustaining!
They were true Latter Day Saints, going up to the old fort in North Ogden with their family to go to church, and helping in building up that community. The bishop stated in later years you could always know that John Orton always paid an honest tithing and never failed in any of the things he or his family were asked to do in the church. He died June 9, 1873 at the age of 58 years. At his passing Mary felt so badly that the Bishop gave her a blessing and promised her she'd be consoled and the Lord would permit her to live 10 years longer, and she would find peace. This blessing was realized and she lived 10 years longer. She died Dec 14, 1883 at the age of 69 years and was buried by the side of her husband in the North Ogden Cemetery.
Note: There is a discrepancy concerning date and ship they sailed on. But According to the Immigration Record of Liverpool, Office of the British Mission, 1849-1855, page 110 Book A and the Quarterly Abstracts of the Passenger List of the port of New Orleans. they came on the ship Ellen.
References
1. Orton, John
index card film #248,436 Ocean Ship Ellen Book #BM 1851: Jan 1851 Mary A. Joseph Sarah J. Thomas A.
2. Orton, John
index card film # 298,436-ocean
ship Ellen book #BM p#
1851: Jan 8 4 Jan 1851
Mary A Joseph
Sarah J Thomas A
025,690 or 025,670 (could not read if the # was a 9 or 7)
index card film # 298,442 - planes
could not find
Dec. 1852 Salt Lake 11th Ward
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