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.. FROM COVERED WAGONS TO AIRPLANES & SPACESHIPS Return to Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 MARY JANE YEARSLEY CUMMINGS 1838 DAVID DUTTON YEARSLEY 1808 JOSHUA HOOPES 1640
MARY JANE YEARSLEY CUMMINGS 1838-1921 (David Dutton 1808-1849, Nathan 1782-1816, Jacob 1754-1817, Nathan 1726-1766, John 1687-1748, John 1666-1708.)
Mary Jane Yearsley was born in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, on February 18, 1838 to David Dutton Yearsley and Mary Ann Hoopes Yearsley. Her father, according to her own account, owned a hotel in West Chester and so they were fairly well off, having the comforts which were necessary to a good life. She was the 4th child of this couple. The children were Elizabeth, born 1831, Lavina born 1833, Nathan, born 1835, Mary Jane born 1838, George born 1840, Emma Smith born 1842, David Dutton born 1845, and Heber Chase born 1848. A boy, George W. Boyd was adopted or raised by this couple. The children were raised in a loving and happy family atmosphere and were brought up knowing God. About the time that George was born, the parents were introduced to the new Church which was causing so much stir in the religious communities of the day. David and Mary Ann became interested and decided to investigate this man, Joseph Smith, who was said to have been visited by the Father and Son and to have translated some golden plates. They left their children in the care of relatives and traveled by horse and buggy to Nauvoo. They were so impressed by the beliefs and the spirit of Joseph Smith, that they soon returned to their home where they disposed of their property and packed their things and their family and moved to Nauvoo. They were baptized in the Mississippi River by Joseph Smith on the 22nd of July 1841. David built his family a three-story brick home on the corner of White and Partridge Streets. It was a lovely home and the children grew up in security knowing they were loved and cared about. David soon opened a mercantile store in Nauvoo and became a successful merchant. After the death of the Prophet, Emma Smith requested that David take over the running of the Prophets store and manage it which he did. The family was very close to the Prophet and his family. The Prophets mother lived close to the Yearsleys and so a deep friendship developed between the two families. Mary Jane often told her grandchildren of those days in Nauvoo. She was so very impressed with how grand Joseph looked when he paraded in his uniform on his beautiful white horse. She often told of the persecutions that the Saints underwent, especially in the final months at Nauvoo. She told of seeing the Prophet when he rode off in the wagon for his final trip to Carthage, of how sad everyone was and especially how sad he looked as though he knew he would not see this beautiful city and his friends and family again. She told of the horrifying moment when word was received of the Prophets death and of how frightened everyone was. She told of how her mother gathered her children together and they hid in the darkest recess of their home during that first night because they feared for their very lives. Mary Jane wrote,
When in the cold winter of 1846 the saints were driven from Nauvoo, Mary Jane was only 8 years old, having been baptized in May of the preceding spring. Her father had been one of the successful few who had succeeded in selling his home and properties for something of their true value. Still Mary Jane remembered the sorrow of her parents and the children in having to leave behind all that was so much a part of their lives. Her mother, like so many of the women, made sure that her home was clean and that everything was in place before the door was shut for the last time. Because David had the money to provide for them, they were able to purchase several wagons which they filled with everything that might be needed to start a new home and business in the valley. Mary Jane told how her father insisted that his beloved wife ride in a carriage rather than a wagon. The two youngest children, David and Emma, were ill when they left Nauvoo, but they regained their health and were able to complete the journey. Mary Ann never complained about the hardships on the trail or when she lost her husband. She spent much time helping others and was an inspiration to many to continue in faith toward that which they had started out to do. During the trip across Iowa, David made things as comfortable as possible for his family. After arriving in Winter Quarters, David decided that he would settle his family on the opposite bank of the river where many of the saints were settling to wait for the trek West. President Young asked if he would remain behind for a time and help the other saints prepare for the journey west. He became Bishop of the 12th Ward and watched over his people and their families until he caught pneumonia and died along with many of the other saints. This became a real difficult time for Mary Jane and her mother and brothers
and sisters. They had always depended on their father to lead them and to make
the right decisions. Now this fell to her mother who turned out to be a strong,
capable woman.
DAVID DUTTON YEARSLEY 1808-1849 (Nathan 1782-1816, Jacob 1754-1817, Nathan 1726-1766, John 1687-1748, John 1666-1708.) David Dutton Yearsley, the son of Nathan Yearsley and Elizabeth Worrall Yearsley, was born in Thornbury, Chester, Pennsylvania, 3 Mar 1808. He was the second of four children. His father Nathan, was a merchant of considerable means. The family were members of the Society of Friends or "Quakers" and were true to the principles. He was taught the value of honesty, industry, frugality and was always ready to give comfort and help to those in need. His training made him ready when he first heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
He met Mary Ann Hoopes and was attracted to this fine young woman. They were married 11 September 1830 in West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania. Because of David's training in the mercantile business and also the hotel business, he was able to make a good living. When his father died in 1816, David inherited a comfortable fortune which enabled him to acquire an Inn in West Chester, Pennsylvania, as well as a mercantile store. They had eight children plus a young boy, George W. Boyd, they had taken in the first year of their marriage and raised as one of their own. There was Elizabeth (1831), Lavinia (1833), Nathan (1835), David D. Jr. (1837), Mary Jane (1838), George (1840), a daughter Emma Smith, born in Nauvoo (1842), and their last child Heber Chase, born in Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, in 1848. Later another young man became part of their family. The children were raised in a loving and happy family atmosphere and were brought up knowing God. About the time that their son George was born in 1840, David and Mary Ann were introduced to a new Church by some missionaries who created so much interest in the religious communities of the day. David and Mary Ann became interested and decided to investigate this man, Joseph Smith, who was said to have been visited by the Father and Son and to have translated some golden plates. They left their children in the care of relatives and traveled by horse and buggy to Nauvoo. After spending some time with the Prophet and meeting other members of the Church, they were truly impressed by what they heard and saw. They heard Joseph rehearse his personal testimony of the visitation of the Father and Son and the angel and his subsequent work of translation. Mary Ann was so convinced of the truthfulness of what they had heard that she wanted to be baptized immediately but David, being a more cautious man, was reluctant to accept the new religion so rapidly even though he had been impressed with the prophet. Finally, family tradition relates that David said to his wife, "Mary Ann, knowing you as I do, and respecting your keen intelligence, I am certain there must be something in your attention and belief." Finally, they decided to move their little family of four children to Nauvoo where they would cast their lot with this new religion and learn more about it. They returned to their home where David immediately disposed of their property and a mercantile establishment and they packed their things and their family and moved to Nauvoo. David and Mary Ann were baptized in the Mississippi River by Joseph Smith on the 22nd of July 1841. Mary Ann often told of their baptism and of how, after they were baptized, the Prophet swam out into the river a ways before returning to shore. . . They were close friends of the Prophet and Mary Ann always treasured the beautiful black dress that the Prophet had given her. After the death of the Prophet, Emma personally requested that David run the Prophet’s store which he gladly did. . . Before leaving Nauvoo, David had instructed his wife to sew their money into her petticoat which she did for safekeeping. David was a true friend of the Prophet, helping out financially and other
ways whenever it was needed. . .
(John, Robert, John, Robert (Howpe) Joshua Hoopes, our immigrant ancestor, was born about 1640. He was from Skelton-in-Cleveland, Yorks, England. He was married three times. His first wife was Ann, surname unknown, married 15 May 1670 in Skelton. She was the mother of all his children. She died about 1691 in England. He married 2nd, Isabel, surname unknown, 1 May 1679. She accompanied him and his three children to America. He married 3rd, Eleanor Pownall on Dec. 2nd 1693. Joshua was still a member of the Church of England when his marriage to Esbile (Isabel) was recorded in the parish records. Soon after this he became a Quaker as so many of his relatives had done. In 1677 he was fined for holding a Quaker meeting at his home and attending a Quaker meeting because at that time he was still a member of the Church of England. In 1683, King Charles II reigned in England and those whose form of worship did not conform to the prescribed teachings of the established church were persecuted.
As Quakers or "Friends", Joshua Hoopes and his wife, Isabel, dared
not openly avow their convictions if they wished to escape persecution brought
against the "Dissenters", and that may have contributed to their
decision to sail on the thirteenth and last of William Penn's ships, the
Providence of Scarborough, with their three surviving children, Daniel, Margaret
and Christian. . . |
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