William (33)
Grace (33)
Joseph Smith (11)
Mary (9)
James (7)
Jane (4)
Grace (2)
William (infant)
William Wignall Family
William Wignall recorded in his journal that there
was nothing of importance that happened in his
life until 1838, when the gospel first saluted his
ears. He wrote, “Its sound was sweet to me.” In
1840 he was baptized. He married Grace Slater
in 1844. Grace had been baptized in 1839 by
William Clayton, composer of the hymn “Come,
Come Ye Saints.” William lived in Lancashire and
worked for the railroad. He did extensive
missionary work throughout the area and served
as the Branch President. Grace and William and their six children left
Liverpool May 25, 1856, on the ship “Horizon”. William was a counselor to
the Bishop of the Fourth Ward aboard the ship and was also a leader in the
Martin Handcart Company at the outfitting camp in Iowa City.
When the Martin Company reached the last crossing of the Platte River on
October 19, it was extremely cold and had begun to snow. William and
others from the Martin and Hunt Companies helped carry their wives and
others across this river, as well as drag their handcarts through the swift and
icy current. They were able to move only a short distance after this crossing
when the snow became so deep and their remaining cattle were so weak
that they were forced to stop and wait out the storm. It had snowed 18
inches and the rations had been cut to ¼ lb. of flour per day.
While they were stranded at Red Buttes, the Wignalls and others began
failing fast. One night after Grace had gone to bed, a heavenly messenger
appeared and said, “Cheer up, Sister Wignall, there are mules, horses and
wagon teams coming to meet you from the Valley. In the morning, when
Mary Ann Riley is combing your hair, they will arrive.” About nine the next
morning (October 28) Joseph A Young, Daniel W. Jones and Abel Garr rode
into camp and told the suffering pioneers that there were rescue teams
looking for them. The Company soon got moving again and the next day,
William recorded “the boys from the Valley me us about 12 miles from
Devil’s Gate.” The family struggled on to Devil’s Gate where a severe storm
came again and the Martin Company crossed the icy Sweetwater River with
help from the rescuers and went into a nearby cove for shelter. Here they
waited for more rescuers who were on their way from the Valley and food
rationing began again.
William became very ill and his wife called upon the Elders to administer to
him. He was immediately restored to perfect health. After about a week at
the cove, they continued their journey. Soon they were met by Ephraim
Hanks who brought them buffalo meat. More rescue wagons met them and
they were finally able to abandon their handcarts.
The Wignalls arrived in Salt Lake City on November 30, 1856 at noon. They
only stayed for one day and then moved to Payson, Utah. They lived in the
fort for the winter and built the first home in Payson the following spring.
They grew mulberry trees and had silk worms as part of their livelihood.
They were blessed with two more children.
Martin Handcart Company
Sarah Parkinson Wignall (48)
Mary Ann Wignall (25)
Sarah Jane Wignall (16)
Sarah Wignall Family
Little is known about Sarah Parkinson
Wignall (48) and her two daughters
Mary Ann (25) and Sarah Jane (16).
Though from the same area as the
William Wignall family: Lancashire, England, there is no information on
new Family Search that connects the two families. Sarah’s husband
Charles died in 1842 before Sarah and her two daughters were baptized. It
appears Sarah and her daughters left her two sons James and Thomas in
England when they left Liverpool, England on May 25, 1856 on the ship
“Horizon”. All three appear to have made it to Salt Lake City. They would
have experienced many of the same experiences of the William Wignall
family but also would have endured more hardships because they were
three women travelling without the help of a spouse or sons.
James Bond wrote a graphic account of the Martin Company’s experience:
“Day after day passes and still no tiding of help coming from the westward.
The bugle is sounded…to call all Saints together for prayers to ask the
infinite Father to bring food, medicines and other things necessary for the
sick and needy. After prayers, all are ordered to bed. …Deaths continued in
the camp. Some died, says Bond, “lying side by side with hands entwined.
In other cases they were found as if they had just offered a fervent prayer
and their spirit had taken flight while in the act. Some died sitting by the
fire; some were singing hymns or eating crusts of bread.
Sister Sirman, who husband was near death and whose two sons were
suffering with frozen feet, appealed to Captain Martin, ‘Do you think that
the relief party will come soon with food, clothing and shoes?”
Captain Martin’s answer was, ‘I almost wish God would close my eyes to
the enormity of the sickness, huger and death among the Saints. Yes, Sister
Sirman, I am confident as I live that the President (Brigham Young) will and
has dispatched the relief valley boys to us and I believe that they are
making all the hast they can, that they are bringing flour, clothing, shoes,
etc.’
A day or two later, while young Bond was in front of the Scott wagon he
saw Sister Scott looking into the West. All at once she sprang to her feet
and screamed at the top of her voice, “I see them coming! I see them
coming! Surely they are angels from heaven!”
There is no record of Sarah Jane’s death or that she ever married. Sarah
died in 1871. Mary Ann was endowed in 1857 and married three times.
She had no children, and died March 6, 1912 and was buried in Coalville,
Utah.
Martin Handcart Company
Mary Ann Riley (40)
Thomas Caton Riley (12)
Riley Family
(Traveled with William Wignall Family)
Mary Ann (40) and Thomas (12) Riley
both survived their trek to Zion. Mary Ann and her father were baptized
on August 15, 1837 just two months after the first missionaries arrived in
England. When her father died life became very difficult for Mary Ann and
Thomas. The Saints were advised to go to Zion as soon as ways and means
could be arranged. Mary Ann determined to take Thomas to Utah. While
his mother was making preparations for the journey, Thomas was
kidnapped and hidden by his father’s sister. He was however, returned in
time to sail on the ship “Horizon.” They departed on May 25, 1856, with
856 English Saints on board under the direction of Edward Martin. Mary
Ann’s husband remained in England.
As Mary Ann had very little money, she joined the Martin
Handcart Company. They began the 1,300 mile trek poorly outfitted. Their
carts were made of green wood and required major overhauls along the
way. Even though they reached Florence, Nebraska in less than four
weeks, it was late August before they arrived at the Missouri River.
October found them at the Platte River with early frost. There
were bitter, cold winter storms. Food allotments were cut. Many were ill
and exhaustion overcame them. The tents would freeze to the ground and
many of the emigrants were forced to chew rawhide to reduce their
hunger pains. Mary Ann had a friend to help her during this very hard
time. It was Grace Wignall. Grace was traveling with her husband and six
children including a newborn. Mary Ann and Thomas had evidently been
helping their family, and they probably shared the same tent. After going
to bed one night, Grace had a heavenly messenger appear to her. The
messenger said, “Cheer up, Sister Wignall, there are mules, horses, and
wagon teams coming to meet you from the Valley. In the morning, when
Mary Ann Riley is combing your hair, they will arrive.” About nine the next
morning (when Mary Ann was combing Grace’s hair,) Joseph A Young,
Daniel W. Jones and Abel Garr rode into camp and told the suffering
pioneers that there were rescue teams looking for them. Grace’s husband
became very ill, and Grace called in the Elders to administer to him. He was
immediately restored to full.
When they finally reached the Salt Lake Valley, Mary Ann and
Thomas were taken to Spanish Fork to the home of John Bates. Eventually
Mary Ann was married and sealed to him, providing Thomas with a father.
Martin Handcart Company