On the Road to Bountiful

Mormon Wagon Train 1852

In 1761, brothers James and Lieutenant John Johnson arrived in Nova Scotia from New Hampshire and established a prolific family in the area called Lower Village, Truro.  James was my 4th great grandfather and John, who married Sarah Hogg my 4th great great uncle.  Years later, Eleanor Johnson, John's granddaughter set out on an adventure that has been chronicled in the history of the Mormon Church.

Samuel Henry Lufkin

In March 1814, Eleanor met and married Samuel Henry Lufkin of Westford, Massachusetts.  The two lived in Nova Scotia where their first two children were born.  In subsequent moves they lived in Acworth, New Hampshire, Kirtland, Ohio and then in Vermont.

In letters sent home from Vermont, Eleanor writes to her daughter, Sarah and her brother, James Johnson.







Londonderry Nova Scotia
April 27th 1835

My Dear Daughter

I avail myself of this opportunity to inform you that I am still alive and in tolerable health for a person of my advanced age. I live in the same place with my son James and his family who are all in good health, they have a family of six children alive, and two died. four boys and two girls alive. 

The girls names are Eleanor Jane and Sarah Ramsey. The boys names are John Young and Timothy, William Henry and Orlando. They are very good children. I am surprised you did not write and let us know your state, and how your husband and children were. It would aford me much comfort to hear from you all. We heard of Mr. Lufkin was dead but had no certain information.

Your brother Timothy's family are much in the same state you left them, only Lavinia is married to a Mr. Johnson and has two boys. Your sister Rachel and family are well. Your brother Adam and family were well when we heard from them last. I wont be tedious to mention the many deaths and marriages that occured here since you left this place.

About three years ago I wrote you by Mr. Weir, who went to Boston, but received no answer, in it I informed you of the death of your sister Salley Ramsey who died about five years ago before the date of that letter, and the death of your father which took place about three years before the date of the same. 

I am the only survivor of my fathers family and am old and feeble and it would afford me much comfort before I go home to hear from you all. Sally Ramsey's only child (Eleanor) is here these five years. She is a fine steady girl.

Please write immediately and be particular in letting me know how you all are. Our united affection to you all.

I remaine my dear son and daughter,

Your affectionate Mother, Eleanor Johnson

To Mr. James Johnson,
Londonderry,
County of Halifax, Nova Scotia
May 24, 1848

Long absent yet not forgotten,Mother, brothers sisters and friends. 

I now embrace the present opportunity of informing you of my health and family which is good at present and I hope these lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. 

I received your letter dated March 29, 1845 and was very glad to hear from you. I hope you will excurse me for neglecting to answer your letter the cause of me not writing as I agreed to was my youngest child Charles Henry was taken sick and lie sick a great while with the tufus fever, and I kept neglecting it thinking I should go west with the brethern and I calculated to write to you when we started but I fell in hopes the Lord will open a way for us to be gathered with the rest of our brethern we still belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and believe it to be the only true church on Earth with which the Lord is well pleased. 

You wrote in your letter you believed Joseph Smith was an imposter I beleive him to be a true prophet of God as any of the old prophets were in ancient times, brother James and sister Rachel condem me not for my religious principles for the judge standeth at the door for he that feareth God and worketh rightiousness is accepted with him. As it is impossible at present for me to visit you I want you should be particular in writing to me about your family. Rachel's Timothy's and Adams how they are settled in life and especially Rosannah and Eleanor Caroline Ramsey. 

I should like to have you write concerning Uncle John Johnson and family and about the old neighbors I will now write concerning ourselves. We have taken a farm in Bristol to the halves there is a good sugar orchard on the farm it hasn't been a good year for sugar we haven't made over 300 pounds for our share, we shall not be able to sell much if any.

 There is a fruit orchard also we make a good living here better than we could in Nova Scotia. Sarah and Asenath that are married are doing well, they haven't any children. Sarah lived about ten miles from us and Asenath is at home on a visit she lives about 30 miles from us across lake Champlain, Cyrus we haven't heard anything from since I wrote to you before we heard his wife and child they were will his wife's name is Sarah Ann Goodel and his childs name is Leanora jenette we have three children at home with us now there names is George Washington is 17 in June he is a very steady boy he puts me in mind of Timothy in looks and actions Jane Ann is taller than I am she will be 14 in November Charles Henry will be 9 in July he is a real rattle head he is very tall of his age and slim. 

they are good schollars of their age, all of them belong to the temperance society, I want to know if temperance prevail in that country.

 Our crops of potatoes have failed us for two or 3 years. I should like to know how it is with your potatoes down there. I want you to write to me if any of my relations have moved to the U.S. because there was a letter come to the Postmaster of Lincoln inquiring of the postmaster if he knew where Samuel Lufkin lived. If so write to him immediately he has lost the letter and forgot the name and place. 

I want you should write to me if any of them has moved to the U.S. if so please write their names and the place. I should life to have you all come out here to live I think it is a far better country that where you now live. Give my love to Mother and sister Rachel's family and Timothy's family and Rosannah and Eleanor Caroline and take the same to yourself and family. Write immediately when you recieve this not as I have done. Give my love to all inquiring friends.

This from your affectionate sister, 
Eleanor Lufkin to James Johnson [1]

George Washington Lufkin

Samuel became a disciple of the Mormon prophet, Brigham Young and in 1852,  when Eleanor was 57, the entire Lufkin family joined a wagon train destined for Utah.  They were part of the Captain Isaac Bullock company.  The journey was arduous and, in Illinois, they joined up with a wagon train bearing the dreaded Cholera infection.

10 days later, Eleanor died of the dreaded disease and was buried alongside the trail. Samuel completed the journey with his son, George Washington Lufkin, who became a veteran of the Walker Indian War and a High Priest in the Mormon Church.  George's wife, Martha Townsend was the daughter of a close associate of Brigham Young and very committed to his teachings.

The original home of Samuel Henry Lufkin, in Bountiful, Utah has recently been designated a national historic site and is to be preserved by the state.

Quite the adventure for a young girl from Truro.

Captain George Duncan Simmonds - Civil War Veteran

Captain George Duncan
Simmonds

Relationship: George was my third cousin, three times removed.   We both descend from John Campbell and Mary Scott.

Captain George D. Simmonds was born on the 29th of November 1843 in Londonderry, Colchester County, Nova Scotia.  When he was a young man, he left Nova Scotia and emigrated to the United States.  As the Civil War progressed he joined the Union Army and took part in many of the major battles, including Shiloh, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahooche River and Nashville.

At Shiloh he was shot through the shoulder and suffered some debility from that wound for the remainder of his life.  

In late 1862, he was detailed to accompany the bodies of several fallen comrades to their homes in Madison, Wisconsin.  Among them was the body of Private James Bridges.  On the day of their wedding, following the ceremony and wedding dinner, Private Bridges received his orders to report immediately to his regiment.  He left later in the day and never again saw his bride, Eliza Jane Sigsby.

Simmonds Homestead
Cedar, Kansas

Eliza was ever grateful for the kindness shown by Captain Simmonds and the two began a correspondence.  On December 7th, 1864 George and Eliza married in Bristol, Wisconsin.  On the completion of the war, the couple moved to Cedar, Kansas and settled down to farming.  They raised five children and had a very happy life until Eliza's death in 1883.

A year or so after Eliza's death, George married Sylvia Baker, who herself was a young widow.  They met at a convention of Civil War Veterans, being introduced by Sylvia's father.

George and Sylvia moved to Abilene, Kansas where they had a cattle ranch and lived there until George's death in 1911.

Our Seafaring Ancestors

I guess it stands to reason that, surrounded by the sea, many of our early ancestors made their living on the bounding main.  To date, I have discovered 74 early family members who Captained their own ships.  Here are some of their stories.

Captain James Beattie Hill (5th cousin, twice removed)

USS Finland - 1919

On August 5, 1919, the great ocean transport ship, "Finland", sailed into New York harbour - its flag at half mast in respect for their Commander, James Beattie Hill.  As he would have wished Captain Hill, died suddenly on the bridge of his beloved ship. Born in Great Village, Nova Scotia in 1863, James married Annie Esther Spencer of Londonderry.  The couple had four children including twin daughters.

The Finland had a company of nearly 3700 and was used during World War One as a troup transport, where in 17 trips it carried some 60,000 troups without the loss of a single man.

The officers of the Finland accompanied his remains to the Hill home in Great Village and participated in James' funeral.

Captain John Geddes 3rd (1st cousin 4 times removed)

Avon River near Windsor, Hants, Nova Scotia

Captain John  was born in 1820 at Highland Village and married Isabella Urquhart.  They had 10 children.  John was the nephew of our great great grandmother, Esther Cooke

John owned his own little ship which was built at Highland Village, Nova Scotia.

In the early to mid 1880s, much of the travel between villages in coastal Nova Scotia was done on the water and John made regular trips from Five Islands to Windsor carrying fish, produce and other agricultural products to the larger town.  In November 1871, he set sail with a cargo of dressed pork and beef which he planned to trade for some Christmas treats for his family.

The Bay of Fundy is famous for its amazing high tides and, near the mouth of the Avon River, close to Windsor, Captain John's little vessel was wrecked a mile or so offshore.  A heavy winter storm prevented the transport of the remains back to Five Islands and so the victims of the accident were buried in the churchyard at Chivaree, near the Noel Shore where the bodies were recovered.

Although Isabella, Captain John's wife remarried, she insisted on being called Isabella Geddes until the day she died.

Captain David Chisholm (1st cousin, 5 times removed.) & (3rd cousin, 4 times removed)

Portaupique Beach
Cemetery

David, the son of William Chisholm and Mary Cooke was born in 1808 in Londonderry, Nova Scotia and although he spent over 40 years at sea, found time to sire 9 children with his wife, Mary Yuill.  His obituary tells you much about the man, himself:





"A GREEN OLD AGE

Mr. David Chisholm, of Mount Pleasant, Great Village, is one of Colchester's veterans, who is remarkably smart in his old age. he lives with his daughter, Mrs. Robert Elliott, and has lately been visiting for two or three months with another daughter, Mrs. Daniel McLaughlin, Pleasant Hills, Economy. He is 87 years of age, having been born Dec. 15th, 1808. 

His conversation about past events is most interesting; and his memory of the many exciting events of the long ago, is truly remarkable. With almost minute detail can he describe the "happenings" of 70 and even 80 years ago. 

Mr. Chisholm followed a sea-faring life for over 40 years, and with the exception of a little rheumatism, he is now a wonderfully preserved man. He reads without glasses, and though once a great slave to tobacco, has overcome the habit, and is now master of the situation in this respect. His wife was a daughter of the late John Yuill, of Lower Truro.

The 'News' wishes this aged veteran many years yet of continued good health and happiness. [Truro Daily News - Jan 6 1896]"

David is buried in the Portaupique Beach Cemetery on the shore of the Bay of Fundy.