Pioneers Identified

I just got an email today letting me know that Family Search had identified some of my ancestors as Mormon Pioneers. They sent me a link to a page with each ancestor listed along with the company that they had traveled with across the plains and a link to trail stories for that company.

Great to see they are pulling this information together for us just in time for Pioneer Day (July 24) in Utah. Maybe they got the idea from me? :-)  I created a site with the same kind of information back in 2010.

http://ourpioneerheritage.wikispaces.com

It has had a few additions over the years and still isn't quite finished in my mind but it shows my 21 ancestors - along with the years, where they began their journey from (including the ships they emigrated on if I could find them), images, dates and specific quotes about them if the company records or some other member in the company included them. Family Search only identified 11 of the 21, and is having some issues with the trail experiences link (which I'm sure is getting sorted out as I post this). But it is a great start for many who don't have someone in their family who decided to spend a Sunday afternoon (and a few more after that) to create a site like I did as part of my Personal Progress when I was a Young Woman's leader in the Richmond Ward.

If you have an account on Family Search (it is FREE), you may receive an email like mine. Go and check it out. If you don't see all the ancestors you think you should have, you may need to link up some families to get back a bit further. But if you are in my family, please do check out the wiki above and explore the pages and the stories.

Part of the grand design was to add the following:

A larger quiz / did you know? section of the site
Some Family Home Evening ideas (or lesson)
An interactive map
A slideshow presentation
A section of Faith-promoting anecdotes suitable for using in lessons or talks

Anyone have some free time and want to help with these?  Or you can all just wait - maybe tell me in the comments what would be most useful or interesting for you and it might be next on the agenda! If the Family History Centre is quiet tonight, I may get started.

That reminds me, I work every Tuesday night at the Family History Centre on 17th Avenue SW in Calgary. If you are interested in learning more about researching your family tree, please drop by and we can get you started. Or if you just want a place to work where you can ask a question once in a while, come and use one of our computers to add some names to your tree. Or if you want to look at some old records not even available online yet (while a lot if online - there is much that is still only available on microfilm), we can help you do that too!

Appreciating Our Pioneer Heritage

It's that time of year. I've never done one of the treks that we send our youth out to experience. My sister's family had one a few years back and while the kids came back saying it was awesome, she told a slightly different version. I think I'm just happy to appreciate what my ancestors went through and to remember their efforts through the stories from journals and accounts each July. This comic perfectly captures my thinking!

Joseph Pollard: His Conversion and Journey West

"Joseph Pollard son of James Pollard and Elizabeth Threshire,
born at Corfe Castle, Isle of Purbeck Dorsetshire, Old England. November 23 - 1819.

Here's part two of a biographical sketch of Joseph Pollard's life. 

Lisa Paul found this account of his conversion and emigration to the United States in another history written by one of his daughters.  
_____________________________________________________________________________________

 "In the year of 1848 he (Joseph) heard the Mormon Elders preach.   He was inspired by their sermons and recognized the truth.   April 10, 1849 he first obeyed the gospel.   He was baptized by John Griffith and felt unspeakable joy at this experience.   He was very enthusiastic about his church work, and was soon promoted (they used to say that in the 'olden days') from a deacon to elder.   He went out tracting through the Bedford branch, and later was made President of this branch."

 “November 17, 1854: Joseph Pollard of the town of Deptford, London River in the County of Kent, Old England on the 17th day of November 1854 left his employment as ship wright in the employment of Mr. Thompson ship and boat builder, London River, with the intention of emigrating with his wife and three children to the land of America. 

    “Names as follows: Mary Ann, his wife, Mary Ann his eldest daughter, Louisa and Lydia.   Saturday 18th conveyed his luggage to the Usdin Railway station.   Sunday morning left the town of Deptford and spent remainder of Sabbath with his wife’s sister at White Chappel, London.

His account:

    “Monday left London for Liverpool; arrived at 3 o’clock p.m.   Met at station by Mr. John Follett and conveyed to his home where we spent the next day.

  

  “Wednesday morning, went on board the Clara ---- 100 ton burden lying in the Wellington dock with his wife and children to join four hundred souls of all countries, most of whom belong to the Church of Latter Day Saints.   Elder Henry E, Phelps being appointed president with John Parsons and James Crosby as councelors [sic].   Company organized Thursday, dividing into four wards, with a president and two councelors [sic] for each ward, then each ward divided into two with a president over each.

    “Saturday, left the dock and anchored in the River; Sunday was spent in preaching and prayer, taking of the Lords supper; Monday the 27th in the afternoon was towed by a tug boat “Constitution” out of the river, made sail that night blowing right fresh ahead.   Tuesday breeze continues to fresh in ship under double reef.   Topsails toward evening, blowing a heavy gale and still increasing during the night.   The ship laboring much and much sickness among the passengers.   At daylight the ship driving on the shore it was thought best by the captain and pilot to base up and run the ship back to Liverpool.

    “We arrived safely at Liverpool and cast anchor about 2 o’clock.   Gale still continued day by day with two anchors to hold the ship.   Passengers fast recovering.   Saturday December 2nd visited by President Franklin D. Richards.  

Monday and Tuesday gale continues.   The President and council met and appointed that the following day be set apart for fasting and prayer that the wind may be more favorable, that we may again commence our voyage.

    “Wednesday the 6th prayers continued on all parts of the ship with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.   Thursday more moderate.   The ship was again towed out of the river by the tug “P----“.   Wind was blowing fresh and right ahead and a nasty sea.   Passengers again became sick no stopping among them my wife and children.   Wind continued Friday and Saturday.   One birth Saturday.   
    “Rounded Holy head about 3 p.m.   Pilot left about noon Monday.
    “Wednesday about 3 p.m. we were much alarmed by being almost run into by a large ship.   We all felt thankful for our narrow escape.   
    “Sickness continued and several deaths among the children from measles and inflammation.
    “Christmas day was most beautiful, passengers came on deck except those sick.   Our youngest child Lydia had measles.   My wife and Brothers Parsons and Crosby had the worst cases of sea sickness.   
    “The captain seems a very nice man and deserves praise for his kindness to the passengers and the cleanliness of the ship in general.
    “December 30th sited land.   Flying fish appeared.   Several small islands in sight and now and then a coasting schooner.

 

    “January 9th reached entrance of the Great Mississippi and shortly were taken in tow by steam tug “Ocean” crossing the bar up to New Orleans where we arrived Thursday 11th at 12 noon.
    “Were met by Brother Meyaw our agent who advised us proceed to St. Louis.   
    “At Orleans my wife was so sick we were obliged to carry her from the ship to the boat.
    “Up the Mississippi calling at many towns on the banks, going on shore for firewood.   Weather warm as our summers in England until up the river we came into frost and snow.   Landed at St. Louis January 22nd met by Brother William Moorison and taken to his home, remained with him about 12 days after which Brother John Follett rented apartment together in Broadway.

St. Louis, Missouri (1854)

    “Weather very cold.   River remained frozen over for two months.   Most of the passengers were taken to the meeting house where many died, others were scattered.   Many went to the coal fields.   
    “I and Brother Follett remained together that winter.
    “I will say we both with our families were treated well by many not in the church, particularly by one John Mageo, an Irish Catholic who kept a store.
    “In the spring we got work on the steamboat at our business as ship carpenters in the employ of Captain James Eadis and Nelson, known as The Submarine Diving Company.   There were four of our ship writes emmigrated [sic] together and all apprentices together in the same port and all now were employed by the same company.   

    “Brother Follett was taken sick in the fall and died the next spring.   I was also taken sick in the summer but God spared my life.
    “We were member of the St. Louis stake of Zion.   I made the acquaintance of President Erastus Snow, Mily Andrus, James Hart, Eldredge, George A. Smith, Parley P. Pratt and hundreds of other good saints.   Samuel Gray and William Algood left for Florence.   
    “On October 7th 1856 I was ordained a High Priest under the hands of George A. Smith and Erastus Snow and made a member of the High Council.
________________________________________________________________
 More of the story is available on the FamilySearch website in an extract from the Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.

His house was always open to the missionaries, and among the many “Valley” Elders who shared in his hospitality was Apostle Parley P. Pratt, who stayed at his home about a month immediately before going to Arkansas, where he was murdered. 

In June, 1857, Elder Pollard continued his journey Zion-ward, joined the emigration at Florence, Nebraska, and crossed the plains in Capt. Jacob Hoffines' company. Several stampedes occurred on the plains; in one of these 46 head of cattle were lost. On one occasion the cattle stampeded when hitched to the wagons. During the affair Elder Pollard and wife, together with a number of others, were severely hurt, being run over by several wagons. Through administrations and prayer Elder Pollard was healed in a most miraculous manner, and the following day was able to get around again. The company arrived in the Valley Sept. 22, 1857, having camped several times in close proximity to the baggage trains belonging to Johnston's army. 

Elder Pollard located in the fifteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, where he resided till the time of his death. He found employment as a carpenter for Pres. Brigham Young, continuing in his employ until 1869, when he commenced work for the Utah Central railway company. Shortly after his arrival in the Valley, he was chosen as a Ward teacher, and in 1861 was appointed to act as second counselor to Bishop Andrew Cunningham. He subsequently served as a second counselor to Bishop Robert T. Burton, whom he finally succeeded as Bishop of the Ward June 27, 1877. In 1862 he yielded obedience to the principle of plural marriage by marrying Ruth Allen, who died about twenty years afterwards. Bishop Pollard died in Salt Lake City, Feb. 21, 1890. He was the father of seven children, and was universally known as a humble, upright man and a faithful Latter-day Saint.

_______________________________________________________________________________________   
 Extract from a Deseret News Editorial February 25th 1890 on the occasion of Joseph Pollard's death.

Yesterday we announced the fact that Bishop Pollard of the 15th ward, this city, was seriously ill.   He had been suffering for several days from an attack of influenza.   Pneumonia supervened and the good old man passed peacefully to the Spirit World at five o’clock this morning.

A sterling character was he; a trifle blunt, being phenomenally outspoken, but with a heart as tender as a child's.

His sincerity was sublime, his devotion to what he conceived to be his duty inspiring, and we believe that we do not over state the facts when we say that probably no other Bishop in the church was more familiar with his flock, collectively and individually.  

It is greatly to his credit that the poor among his people were the special objects of his solicitude.
 

He was not an educated man, so far as scholastic attainments are concerned, but he had that auspicious of power which exists through a confirmation of native good sense, ripened experience and a conscientious regard for truth.   

Although he was ready with sharp reproof of the evil-doer and laggard, he was equally prompt in dispensing sweet words of consolation and comfort to the unfortunate and erring.

The people loved him because they believed in him.

Death came to him as a sweet harbinger of rest which had no terrors for him.

Joseph Pollard: A Life Sketch

"Joseph Pollard son of James Pollard and Elizabeth Threshire,
born at Corfe Castle, Isle of Purbeck Dorsetshire, Old England. November 23 - 1819.

Now that I've shared more of John Toone's story, I wanted to do the same for Joseph Pollard. He is the same generation as John and his daughter Lydia married Henry William Puzey after both of them had emigrated to Utah.

I have written about this family before on this blog, but since then I've found much more.  I've been meaning to share a fantastic blog written by Ked Kirkham that I found on the Pollard side, "The Daughters of Bishop Joseph Pollard".  There is so much to read and learn on this blog! Joseph and Mary Ann had 7 daughters and this blog sets out to share as much information as possible about the families of these girls. (Mary also gave birth to 2 boys but they both died as infants.) 

Joseph and Mary Ann Pollard and their seven daughters

The blog includes information on our family line which contains some errors, but I'll prepare some corrections and additions to help him out in this effort. 

http://josephpollard.blogspot.ca/

 In January, there was a post sharing an item from Ancestry.com on Joseph Pollard. It shared what Joseph wrote about his own life history in a book that is now held by Lisa Paul, a great great granddaughter to Joseph. (I am a 3rd great granddaughter to him.)

I've copied this short history here and added some images (old and new) to go along with the story.

 

Corfe Castle is a small town on account of the ruins of an old castle standing several hundred feet from the levie, destroyed by the noted statesman and general, Oliver Cromwell in the 16th century. 

My father and mother were poor working people making no profession of religion but the Church of England and not much of that. They had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, named: Sarah, John, James (James died in childhood) then James the second, then Fannie, then twins William and Elizabeth (Elizabeth also died in childhood) next Joseph and then George. The remaining seven all lived to marry and raise families except brother James who lived and died a bachelor. He was about seventy years old when he died. 

Our facility for learning was rather limited, but we could all read and write except brother James, he had the same opportunity as the rest but could not or would not. 

My father and mother were sober and industrious people. My mother was a very strong woman and worked much in the fields hay-time and harvesting while raising her family as wages were low in that part of the country. Father worked at masoning and brick laying. By his industry he managed to build a good house for his family with about three acres of land, and all as soon as able were at work. By these means we made a comfortable living. 

We were all christened at the Church of England and all at 14 years of age confirmed by the Bishop. To be qualified for conformation we had to learn the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments and the Church Catecism [sic]. That entitled us to all church privledges [sic] as full members of the Church. Do just as you wished all the week but go to Church on Sunday, ask the blessing on Sunday dinner. Say the Lords Prayer on going to bed Sunday night, that was all my religious education. 

Corfe Castle: Church of St. Edward, King and Martyr

When a boy we were considered, for a poor family, by the neighbors as a good family of children and much respected. We were living not far from the sea shore of the British Channel and when only a small boy i felt much pleasure in visiting the beach and looking at the surging billows as they dashed and foamed, and the ships as they sailed up and down the channel. How time and time again have i imagined the pleasure of going to foreign countries and i fully made up my mind that as soon as old enough i would follow the sea.

 I told my mother and father of my intensions [sic], they described the dangers and the hardships and exposures of such a life but all to no purpose. I worked around home in the garden and sometimes for neighbors but never felt contented. Mother often remarked I was different from the rest of the family, yet she manifested more anxiety than for the rest and I was also particularly fond of mother. I think I would have left home sooner had it not been for her. 

http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2008/12/the-clay-boats-of-poole/

I was now fourteen years old and time to make my choice in life. Father wished to apprentice me to a carpenter and wheelwright in the neighborhood but I could not see any sea or foreign countries in the business. My father and brothers as well as my mother all persuaded me to stay at home and not go to sea and be drowned, as they thought. We lived about seven miles from the port of Poole, the principal shipping town in that country. Several hundred ships both foreign and (can't read - coastal?) belong to the port and there were four yards for the building of new ships and for repairing. I now got father in mind to accompany me to Poole to look after a ship. I think this was the latter part of February 1834. 

Looking towards Poole (background) with Corfe Castle in the foreground. Taken from the ridge near Swire Head.

The shipping was all busy repairing and fresh-rigging and painting for spring. We went on board many and had talks with the Captains and men. I rather wondered at the talk of some of the old sailors and Captains in the discouraging way they talked of sea life. Their experience had taught them lessons that I was then unacquainted with. some of the old captains, though seemingly rough have sympathy and feeling and I think they had more for my poor father than for me. By their past experience they knew that the only thing that would satisfy me was that knowledge. One in particular seeming to understand better our circumstances than the rest gave me and my father the council we wanted. Boy, he said, if you must have your frolic for sea, I will give you my advice. Ship building is now brisk, you go learn that business that will give you a double chance in life. You can follow the sea and get good wages or leave and remain at home if you should not like the sea. Father thought the council the best yet and after some persuasion I began to think it looked reasonable. 

We went across the harbor, into the first shipyard after landing from the ferry boat. We were shown the two master builders, told them our business. They both, although I being a country boy, seemed to fancy me at first sight. They told us their terms of apprentice for seven years. They told father to let me come on trial for a month and if we suited each other then we would secure legal documents. They also called the foreman of the yard, he living in the yard, and requested him to take me to board with his family, to which he readily consented. We agreed to start on Monday morning. Father felt glad and happy the way things were now shaping. We returned home and found all waiting to know our success. What we told them what we had done in the matter, they were all glad and all readily consented, even poor mother, and I confess I also after more consideration of the matter felt glad for the turn things had taken. 

Monday morning March 2nd 1834 I commenced to work, all were strangers, not one in the whole number that I was the least acquainted with. I went to Mr Webber, the foreman, he took me to his house, introduced me to his family. They told me to make myself at home with them and I did for my seven years of apprenticeship. The foreman after having something to eat set me to work to learn the first lesson in my new business. They had about twenty five apprentices. I being the youngest had to open the doors in the morning and close them at night, turn the grindstone, supply the men with stones and learn the name of the different articles as fast as I could. 

[Click here to see the explanation of this painting of ship building 
with a man at the grindstone in the lower right hand corner, sharpening his axe. ] 

Those alone that have left home when young can realize the feelings in leaving brothers and sisters and especially with me my dear mother. I still think mother was one of the most tenderhearted women I ever knew. I think the first week away from home was the longest in my life. Every day to me was something new. I finally made out the first month. I began to get acquainted with some of the apprentice boys and learn the names of the men. I always spoke very civil in answering the men and I will say that I do not know that I ever swore an oath in my life or gave any man a sassy answer. But I could soon see other apprentice boys seemed to be rather cautious, they did not like me. Boarding with the foreman they thought perhaps I might tell some of their tricks to him to gain his favor, but after more acquaintance with me they found I was not a boy of that sort. They were rough fellows, but in time they all respected me and would trust me. 

After a few months I began to like the business. They took other boys below me and gave me tools. I now went long side new ships to work with the men. After working several months my master desired me to invite my father down with me and then to sign my indenture for the remainder of the seven years, which we all did. Things now went as pleasantly as we could expect and I felt reconciled, and I will say I was particularly fond of the work and tried my best to learn all I could, was ambitious to do as much work as the men. The sooner we learned the work the better for us and the master. He could charge more wages for the apprentice on all old ships under repair as soon as they could do men’s work and pay us more wages. Nothing happened more than common until 1837. 

I now had been a little over three years at my trade when my poor father was taken sick and in a few months he died on the 19th of June of that year. My father lived and died a good man, a true believer in the Lord and his providence. We had no death in the family for many years before this. My friends felt very badly over the death of father and particularly on account of what the religious Methodists said father had gone to Hell, because he was not converted to their doctrine. I will now relate a dream my father had a few days before his death. 

You know I was away from home and had to cross the bay about seven miles in a boat. Therefore I only went home once each week and in bad weather not in several weeks. I arrived home on Saturday night as father died on Monday morning, he was sensible and had expressed a longing desire to see me and speak to me before he died. When I went to his bedside he shook me by the hand and said Joe, I am glad to see you before I leave this life. I said I was also glad to see him still alive. He then said I have had a dream about you and want to tell you what it was. He dreamed he was traveling through a beautiful fertile valley and running through that beautiful country in the centre there was a most lovely clear river of water and as I was traveling along who should I behold, but you in the centre dressed in all white linen and then I awoke. This was Saturday night, he lived till Monday following and died about 9am June 19th, 1837."  (Joseph was 17 years of age when his father passed.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________
That is where this history leaves off. 

From the Latter-Day Saints Biographical Encyclopaedia, we learn that after his apprenticeship, he "went to sea as a ship carpenter and made several voyages to America and the West Indies. [ I wish we knew more about these!!]
 In 1844, he entered the Queen's government service and worked at shipbuilding at the government docks at Deptford, Country of Kent." He married Mary Ann Bailey from Lifton, Devon in 1845.

More will follow in a subsequent post.  

Painter, Royal Musician, Builder, Lawyer and Doctor

(This is a post I started last year but left it in draft condition all this time. I'm not sure what I was waiting for.)

When I think of John Toone, I think first of his musical skills, for his cello playing and his singing voice. Then I think of his mission in England and his journey back in the Martin Handcart Company. In a biography I learned that he received an education in music, law, carpentry and medicine. This blog post will include a couple of ways that his talents and skills were used to serve.

In a visit to Salt Lake and a fun breakfast reunion with my first mission companion in Korea, Dianne Toone (she came home and married a distant cousin!) shared an example of his talent as a builder.  We drove over to the site of a historical waymarker for the Twentieth Ward School. 

On this site in 1857 the Twentieth Ward or Twentieth District School was erected, John Toone builder. The one large room served for school, church and recreation. In 1860 a two-story addition was constructed. Pupils came from all parts of Salt Lake Valley and other Utah counties. The first teacher was a Mr. Dixon. In 1892 an eighteen class-room school, named "Lowell" was erected. It was razed by fire in 1960 and the present building completed and occupied in 1964.

Picture of the school as it looked after the 1860 addition was made.

http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/ref/collection/USHS_Class/id/6929

In the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers publication "An Enduring Legacy" there is a short history of the settlement about an hour's drive north-east of Salt Lake City - Croydon, Morgan County, USA. 

Croydon, Morgan County, Utah

This text includes a mention of John Toone that shares another impressive talent. 


In 1874 the settlers reported a good harvest but expressed concern about a possible smallpox epidemic. Nearly all school children were vaccinated.  John Toone, painter, royal musician, and community doctor, obtained vaccine in the following manner: when his young son, Richard, got smallpox, John took the pox germ and inoculated a calf, from which he made vaccine.  He inoculated sixty persons, thus helping to end the epidemic.

How to make a smallpox vaccine. (from the website NOVA online, PBS)

So now I would love to find evidence of his talent as a painter. I did find a painting done by Emily McPhie when asked to paint a friend's ancestor, John Toone.  She did a great job.  If anyone reading this knows of any artwork by John Toone or stories about this talent, please share in the comments below. 

Finally, here is a great overview of John Toone's life written by Trent Toone, journalist for Deseret News, on his blog. Some of the same points of information I've shared but all put together in a well written article. Posted just a couple of weeks ago. I guess I should have looked for it before I started to write my last post!

Who was in Herefordshire?

Elder William R. Walker, April 6, 2014 General Conference address

In General Conference (a semi-annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) , Elder William Walker spoke of the conversion story of his ancestors and encouraged us to become familiar with the conversion stories of our own progenitors.

He spoke of the mission of Wilford Woodruff and the inspiration he received to leave the area he was serving in and to go south.  Elder Woodruff ended up in Herefordshire and met Mr. John Benbow in Ledbury. This meeting led to his introduction to 600 who had broken off from the Wesleyan Methodists and were actively searching for light and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a well-known conversion story within the church and Elder Walker's admonition sent me almost immediately to my family history records. I knew we had ancestry from Herefordshire that joined the church in the early days of the restoration and couldn't recall who that was and how much we know about their story.

I soon realized it was Emma Prosser and her parents Mary Ann Morgan and James Prosser who lived in the village of Peterchurch - approximately 25 miles from the Benbow Hill Farm, Castle Frome, Ledbury Herefordshire.

However, from family records, we know that Emma's conversion didn't take place while she lived in her family home of Peterchurch, but in Leamington, thirteen years after her marriage to John Toone.

We have a brief mention of their conversion stories in a life sketch of John Toone that has been shared extensively in the family.

Elder Alfred Cordon served from 1848 in the area where there were relatives of Emma and while serving in Leamington, Warwickshire in 1849, he baptized John Toone.  Our records only confirmed that Emma and her relatives also joined this same year. Our family records don't state any direct connection of Emma and Elder Cordon but only to her husband John.  I had to dig deeper.

John Toone

Emma Prosser

Journals of Alfred Cordon

I found online the missionary journals of Alfred Cordon. I began to read, looking for references to the Toone family and trying to confirm documentation found on my online tree.  According to the records on familysearch.org, Emma was baptized on May 10, 1849 but her confirmation date is recorded as January 1, 1849, five months earlier, so already something is amiss.

Checking in the journals, Elder Cordon was teaching and serving in Watford on her baptism date, having been in Leamington on May 5 and met with Elder John Toone (Presiding Elder in the branch since April 19 of that year, only 16 days after his own baptism on April 3) in preparation for a conference to be held on the 27th of the month.

No mention of Emma's conversion in any of the entries that I can see from the time of her husband's baptism date to the record of her baptism on May 10, 1849.  And Elder Cordon was not in the Leamington area on January 1, 1849 either so no record of any relevance out of Leamington in Elder Cordon's journal other than his arrival on January 4, 1849 and subsequent dealings with Elder Smith who was serving in that area.


John Toone's baptism is recorded in Elder Cordon's journal as follows:

Tuesday, April 3, 1849, Mr. John Toone presented himself for Baptism. It was about half past five. We repaired to the water and immersed him in the water in the name of the Father  Son and Holy Ghost. We rejoiced in having the privilege of seeing him initiated into the church, he was a fine intelligent man, had been connected with the Methodists church for some time, had preached for them and had been pressed by them a many times to become an itinerant preacher, but he would not do it. I confirmed him into the church and was clothed with the Spirit of prophesy and revelation and told him in the name of the Lord that he would be called to do a mighty work in this the last dispensation, that he would be called to preach the Gospel of Christ, that his family would embrace the Gospel and be blest upon the land of Zion.

What a wonderful description we are given here.  This entry stands out in the journal. In many cases, Elder Cordon wrote simply the number of those baptized, occasionally with a name or two singled out as "amongst the company were _________ and ____________". I didn't come across another entry like this in approximately a year's worth of records which I reviewed, and although I'm sure they exist, it does speak to the type of man John Toone was.

I  then went further back and found this earlier entry. I expect that it is a record of an early encounter (prior to knowing the spelling of the name) of Elder Cordon and John Toone.

Sunday, Feb 25th 1849, I preached morning and evening, I took Tea with Mr. Tune, he was fully convinced of the truth of our doctrines, and had been for 5 years, but had not come forward for baptism, he had been troubled by night and by day and now he seemed determined to come forward and embrace the principals, but would not set any time that the ordinance could be administered.

Upon doing a search of the transcribed copy of the journal (I started by reading the handwritten copy - much more challenging!), I found 69 entries of the name of Toone.  There are many more records of the dealings of Elder Cordon in Leamington and they often include taking tea at Elder Toone's home, meetings conducted, sermons preached, letters exchanged, leisure trips to Warwick Castle or taking the waters of the spa baths and visitors hosted.

Warwick Castle by Paul Reynolds (CC license from Flickr)

I was surprised then to see my search lead me to this entry.

Monday, July 9, 1849
In the Evening, I attended Council Meeting after which I baptized eight, amongst the number Elder Toone's wife, and sister Miss Elizabeth Ross, also, she had been believing in the work for many months.
Tuesday, July 10, 1849
We met in the room, attended to the Confirmation of those that had been baptized, we had a good meeting. The saints enjoyed themselves well.

This must be Emma!  The church records match the entries of Elder Cordon's journal regarding her husband John Toone's baptism and confirmation.

Well, I may have added more questions and uncovered more problems than I had planned for but I have uncovered a bit more in the conversion stories of John and Emma Toone.

In 1851, this couple with their children crossed the Atlantic ocean to join the Saints gathering in the Salt Lake Valley. More on that story can be found here.  John did indeed serve a mission - returning to England in 1854 and keeping a journal of his service that we can enjoy today.

This is just one part of the conversion stories of my ancestors and I think some of the others will require more than a few hours one afternoon to uncover them. I'll post more as I discover them.