John, Thomas (Jan 22, 1820 – Jan 20, 1890) by Harriet McGivin
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF – JAMES JOHN.
By a G. daughter,Harriet Parkinson(McGivin) June 28, 1959.
James John's Father, Thomas John, was born at Wood-Roach,
Pembrokeshire, South-Wales, January 29, 1820, His [sic] parents were
William and Letitia Phillips John.
Thomas John was a shoe maker by trade. He Worked [sic] at home as
a Journeyman, Farmers [sic] would buy leather and hire him to make
their shoes. He worked very hard day after day but he had a hard
time supporting his family, as money was scarce and wages was [sic]
low, He [sic] was deeply religious and was affiliated with the
Independent Sect. He could practically quote the Bible from
memory in Welch.
He marrird [sic] Margaret Thomas, July 14, 1840 when he was 20 -
� years and she was 25 years old. To them was [sic] born
nine children. When their fifth child, James, was nearly two
years old the father decided to try his luck in a new land of
America. He got a chance to work his way across the ocean as an
assistant cook. He left in 1848.
He roamed around from place to place, wherever he could fin
employment. When he got a felon on his finger and coulden't [sic]
work, he became discouraged and decided to return to his native land.
He left America in the spring of 1849. When he landed in
Liver�pool he saw a great many friends ready to leave for America, He
[sic] told them of his great disappointment and how foolish they were
to leave their homeland. They answered him that nothing could
stop them, as they were determined to go to the land of Zion. He
told them he never had even heard of such a place, but instead he had
found only hardships and wickedness. They told him the angel,
John had seen, as recorded in Rev. 14:6 had truly came and had restored
the true gospel of Jesus Christ to a boy prophet named Joseph Smith…
Soon [sic] after his return, his Aunt Mary Phillips came to visit
him. She told him she had joined a strange church which she was
convinced was the true church. She told him she was impressed by
its name – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He
loved his aunt and had faith in her judgement. [sic] He was
not only impressed but convinced, as she proved the doctrine of this
new church from his Bible. His aunt's daughter, his cousin, who
belonged to the Catholic Church left home when her mother became a
Mormon and vowed she would never return.
As his Aunt Mary read prophesies of the restoration, Thomas got a
strong desire to read more and more. He was especially impressed
with Isaiah's prophesy that "The mountain of the Lord's house
should be established in the tops of the mountains and all nations
should flow unto it".
He was convinced this was the true church. Then he thought of his
friends and how they would look down on him if he joined the despised
Mormons, He [sic] spent many sleepless nights trying to decide what to
do. Then one night from out of the darkness the words came to
him, "He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy
of me". That was his answer, He [sic] knew the gospel was true
and that it was the greatest thing that had ever came [sic] in his life.
He was baptized on April 22, 1851. His struggle to support his
family became real, for now every avenue of support was closed to him,
His [sic] friends looked down on him with scorn and contempt. He
had to work for other shoe makers to get any employment at all.
As time went on, the weight of oppression became so heavy he felt it
would crush him. He felt that he could not stand the contempt and
ridicule of those who used to be his friends another day, One [sic]
day,
[End Page 1]
feeling friendless and alone, he stopped his work, knelt at his work
bench and humbly and earnestly asked his Father in Heaven to forgive
him if he had done wrong and to guide him to the right.
Suddenly he felt a light resting upon his head, which warmed and
penetrated every fiber of his body. This feeling continued until
he seemed encompassed in light and floating in the air. With
uns�peakable joy he said: "It is enough, I am satisfied. Father
in Heaven, I thank Thee". From that moment he never douted [sic]
again.
Persecution continued, The boys coulden' t [sic] get work. They were
beaten so severly [sic] by school mates and the school teacher, they
we�re obliged to quit school, After [sic] enduring this treatment
five years the family moved to Haisford, about eight miles away. This
was in 1856.
Thomas started in the shoe business again. Being very adept and
expert in his profession, everyone brought work to him. He had so
much to do he had to have his sons, William and Charles, help him. He
was now making enough that he could pay into the Perpetual Emi�gration
Fund.
By 1861 he had saved enough money to cross the Atlantic to
New�-York. They now had nine children, which made eleven in his
family. Phoebe, the oldest, married James Cusworth and refused to
go to Am�erica with her family. She mived [sic] to London,
corresponded with her family for a few years, then they lost all trace
of her. (She was born December 18, 1838)
The children who came with their parents were -William, Charles, Ann, James, Levi, Henry, Letitia and Mary Jane.
They crossed the ocean in a sailing ship, The New York Manchester, and were 33 days crossing the ocean.
When they landed in America the Civil War was at its height.
There was a great demand for military equipment, shoes, boots, belts,
knapsacks, etc. Thomas rented a house across the Hudson from
New-York and here he and his sons were kept very busy for the next 14
months. Then they started the long journey to Salt Lake Valley,
with just enough money to reach Winter-Quarters. They left by
train, The [sic] car with their baggage burned on the way, which
literally proved his vow.. he [sic] would never complain, if he could
only reach the valley, if he didn't have a shirt on his back.
They camped at Council Bluffs for six weeks while waiting for
wagons. They lived on wild berries and fruits and endured severe
thunder and lightning storms.
They left Council Bluffs with a caravan of sixty wagons, furnished by
the Church Emigration Fund from church members living in Cache Valley
in 1862. There were 60 wagons – 265 people. Twenty eight
[sic] persons died on the journey. Henry Miller was captain of
the group.
William and Charles, who were 21 and 19 years of age, were hired to
drive teams across the plains for which they got board and passage.
It was September and nights were cool. They ate sparingly and
saved flour so they could trade it to the Indians for blankets.
When the captain heard this he ordered that they get no more flour
until they used up what they had. The snow came early that
fall so they suffered greatly with the cold.
They arrived in Salt Lake City on October 17, 1862. They camped
in a tent on Emigration Square. They were given some warm bread with
molasses for their supper by an old friend, Sister Twig.
The next afternoon their train pulled out for Cache Valley. They
camped the first night between Brigham and Mantua and arrived in
Wellsville, October 22, 1862. – ten weeks after leaving Council Bluffs.
[End Page 2]
Brigham Young was in Wellsville holding a meeting and all the John
family was invited to eat dinner at some place where Brigham Young was
invited. They were hesitant to accept because they were so
dirty. Brigham Young told them it was not the outside apparel
that counted, so long as their hearts were clean and pure. They went to
dinner with Brother John Maughan. His family was dressed in home made
gray clothes, made by mixing black and white wool. No feast could have
tasted more delicious to this very hungry family. It was a
special treat for them to sit up to a table again.
The next day the children started working for Brother Maughan,
pr�essing sugar at the molasses mill. They obtained thousands of
ga�llons, that was clear as amber and sweet as honey, [sic]
The people were poor in worldly goods but wealthy in spirit. Eve�ryone
helped everyone else and shared their belongings, talents and time.
They fixed up a house given them by William Rigby, in the new fort, to
live in that winter. It had no doors or windows just an opening to
crawl through. The roof was supported by quak�ing-asp trees, with
willow stick covered by straw and a foot of dirt to make the
roof. The floor was swept with sage brush and the opening covered
with a pile of boards. The room was 14' X 16' and each corner was
packed with straw to make a soft bed.By [sic] Chr�istmas they had a
door that would close and a window installed.
They dug an acre of potatoes for John Thirkell and got one fou�rth of
the crop. Then the boys were paid in potatoes for their work,
which gave them a winter's supply.
Then William and Charles arrived they helped thresh, for a bushel of
wheat per day. With wheat, potatoes and molasses they were re�ally
living well.
Late in November 1862 they were all re-baptized. When the harvesting
was done Thomas and his son, William, started their shoe making
trade. They had a tannery in Wellsville and a man in Paradise
made some shoe lasts. The leather they used was inferior, as they could
not wait for it to ripen.
School was held three months each year, James Lishman was the school
teacher. Pupils took turns doing janitor work and chopping wood. The
teacher was paid with food, Any [sic] book in the town was used as a
text book and was loaned around.
In 1864 trade began between the gold fields of Montana and areas in
Utah which brought in the first money and a measure of prisperity.
[sic] Soon a city was laid out and two rock school houses were
built to accommodate the many children.
James, Thomas (Aug 10, 1818 – Nov 6, 1877)
A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF, THOMAS JAMES.
Thomas James was born on the 10 Aug. 1818 in Pembroke, Wales. He
was the son of John James and Mrs. Ann James of Pembroke, Wales.
At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Sarah Vaughn,on [sic] the 15
March 1842 in South Wales, She [sic] was born in 1820 in Wallis, Wales.
She was the Mother of six children, one Daughter [sic] Mary and five
sons,- [sic] John, William, James, Thomas, and Henry.
On the 3 March 1855, a great sadness came to the family as the dear
wife and mother was called to leave this life and go to the great
beyond. The work of careing [sic] for the home and the children
fell upon Mary who was only 12 at the time.
Then about 1859 he married Jane Phillips who became the mother of four
children , [sic] Polly, George James, Ann, and William Phillips. on
[sic] the 15 or 17 Feb. 1865 she died leaving the family again in the
care of the father. Thomas James,and [sic] the daughter Mary. It
was in the fifties that he heard the gospel preached and was baptized
into the church.
After his baptism he did much missionary work with the Elders and the
local brot�hern, One [sic] of which was Thomas John. He also
presided when the Elders were not there. His home was
headquarters for the Elders who came to that village, His [sic]
vocation was that of a Brush Maker, he was a very kind and helpful man
and had a very pleasing personality, therefore he had many friends,
many were the meetings that were held in this home.
He had to put up with much opposition because of his friendly attitude
toward the Elders, He [sic] was holding a meeting in his home once when
a mob came and threw rocks through the windows doing much damage and
making a great mess, the rocks were thrown at the Elders who were there
preaching.
He was very industrous [sic] and took much pride in his home and garden
and orchard, It [sic] was in June 1876, that he with his daughter
Mary and her two daughters, Emma and Annie left Wales and sailed for
the United States in the ship called [No name given] they then took the
train for Salt Lake City, and arrived there on the 23 July 1876.
From Salt Lake City, they came to Portage, B-Eldr, Utah,as Malad Valley
was the place where most of the Welch people had gathered so that they
might be together, As [sic] he and Thomas John were good old friends
they met again and enjoyed each others comp�any for about a year when
he, Thomas James took sick and on 6 November 1877 he passed on to meet
and be with his beloved wives and children many of whom had died years
before, What [sic] a happy meeting it would be when he could explain
the beauties of the Celestical [sic] covenants of the gospel and how it
would be done for them by his decend�ants. [sic] He was buried in
the Portage Cemetery, BoxElder [sic] County, Utah.
Rowney, Ann (Jan 15, 1788 – 1855) by Herself
GRAHAMSTOWN .
AUGUST, 19TH. 1865.
STATEMENT. Made by Mrs. Ann Bowles wife of John Green born
abt 1779 who Married Ann Rowney 17 October 1808 at the request of her
sons respecting her own family, and of the family of her late husband,
John Green, who died in September 1831 at Belfour, in the Rat River
country, after John's death, Ann md [sic] #2 a Mr. Bowker he died,md
[sic] #3 a Mr.Bowles. (Ann)My father's name was George Rowney a
Freeman, of Bedfordshire,England, My [sic] mother's name was Hannah (I
don't know what her maiden name was, (HALL). My father was foreman of a
farm belonging to a Mr. Sharp of Bedford, He [sic] worked for him for
thirty years or upwards. My husband's father's name was John Green, his
father's name was, to the best of my recol�lection, Richard Green, of
Wellingborough, He [sic] was a Plasterer by trade, He [sic] kept a
Public House, the sign of which was [Red] Cow. He had only two sons,
Thomas and John, Both [sic] were Shoemakers by trade, Thomas was
married before John, I don't know his wife's maiden name [sic] He lived
in Wellingborough after his marriage.
John Green Married me in Oct 1808, in St.Paul's [sic] Church Bedford,
He [sic] had been a soldier in the King's Own IV, He [sic] had been
Paysargent and got his discharge through a hurt(saber�wound), [sic]
When he was about 27 years old. After our marriage we lived in
Wellingborough. He still worked at his trade after we were married. We
afterwards went to Deal near Dover, where we lived for some time, until
we embarked for South-Africa December 27,1819 [sic] took 120 days,
ariveing [sic] there April 26, 1820. He worked in Dover for a Mr.
Montues, Who [sic] also came out as head of the party.
Thomas Green has four children, when I left Wellingborough. The oldest
child was a son named Richard, about 5 years old [When we left]
Wellingborough, in or about 1816, as I had 4 children. [sic]
There was a William Green living in Wellingborough, He was a Butcher
and a cousin to my husband, He [sic] was well-to-do, and I should,
think between 30 and 40 years old, I can't say exactly. The other three
children Thomas Green had were girls, but I don't know their names. He
may have had more children, but I am speaking of the time when I left
Wellingborough.
I had five brothers when I left England; Thomas who was in the 2th
[sic] light Dragoons, havi�ng rtm away from his apprenticeship,
William, a Cabinet maker in London. He went to America when his time
was out, James a blacksmith at Gravesend, George a tailor in bedford.
These were all younger than I, excepting Thomas, who was the oldest,
William was married a long time before I came out here. The others were
still learning their trade, when I came out to the cape.
My father died shortly after I was married, and my mother died, I
think, in 1831 or 1832 How [sic] I know is, that one night when in bed,
when George,my [sic] youngest son now living, was a baby, as I lay in
bed, I saw my mother as plainly as could be, come and open the curtains
of the bed. I said to my husband:"Oh here is my mother". [sic] and she
vanished immediately. I concluded she died then… My [sic] husband's
family was the only one of that name in Welling�borough. My husbands
[sic] father and grandfather were born there, I have heard them speak
of it The [sic] old people. My husband's father was dead before I was
married, his wife was alive when I was there, and died after our
marriege, [sic] when we were at Deal, she died at Thomas Green's, where
she went to live, after we left Wellingborough, While [sic] we lived
there she lived at Welby, near Wellingborough, I have never heard of
Thomas Green's death, We [sic] naver [sic] received any letters from
any of them, and my husband never wrote. He began several times, but
never finished,..This [sic] is all I can say now, at present, but what
I have said, I believe are the principal things I can remember. Copied
by G. John February 1982.
Green, John Sr. (Apr 27, 1779 – Sep 1834) by Gordon John
THE HARDSHIPS
ENCOUNTERED BY TH JOHN GREEN FAMILY IN ENGLAND AND SOUTH-AFRICA.
February 8, 1982. It has been a little over 4 years since my
wife passed away, I have had many days here working on my Genealogy, Histories,
Life sketches, along with the daily house work, gardening and my flowers, lawns
in the summer, and with the snow in the winter, all in all I have had time to
do a lot of thinking, and one thing that seems to keep coming back to me is, I would
like to know more about the reason the wife's gg grandfather, John Green born
abt. 1779 and wife Ann, Rowney left England with their family, and went to South
Africa.
Before the wife's death, we spent most
of our time with my people, gathering kneaded [sic] information on the Ward
line, while we were getting material for the ward family book. which [sic] took
18 months 6 hours pr. day, to get it ready for publication. Then we spent some time getting the Green family
book ready for publication, so we neglected to do more on the Green line, Back [sic]
beyond where we started the Green family book.
I have been doing as much research
as I can, from a family account of the Green family, written by Ann Rowney in
1865, there seems to be a little deference in the time of Ann's death, but it
was shortly before her [sic] died. I have gone into the Universal World
Reference Encyclopedia, found an uprising in England and through out Europe.
Anns [sic] sketch was brought here
by the wife's distant cousin Joice Williams and her husband and Joice's mother,
if I remember right Joice's mother and Etha's father were about 2nd or 3rd
cousins, they came [here] in the early 1970s,im [sic] not sure of the date, [sic]
It is material I dident [sic] know we had. Joice and her Husb. Sidney Williams
are from S-Africa.
From Ann's writings John was in the
English Army and got his discharge through a hurt or a Sabor wound in
the head, according to her,this [sic] was before they were married, as they
were married in the 17 October 1808. I would like to mention now that Ann had
two brothers that was [sic] killed in the battle of Watterloo [sic] when Napoleon
was defeated June 18, 1815, a loss of 63,000 men. I will tell more of the
activities of Napoleon later.
I can see where they may wanted
[sic] to get away fron [sic] the trouble they were having in Englnd. [sic] but
when they got to Cape-Town in South Africa, leaving Deal Dec 27, 1819 took 120
days for the voyage ariving [sic] at Cape Town Apr 26, 1820. They were there
only a few years until the Kaffir's natives of that country waged war on the
settlers, stole their stock looted their homes, they lost all their papers,
caused them to move to the Kat River country. moveing [sic] from Grahmstown to
the Kat River country the 1st. of September 1834, and John died the 21st. September
1834. [at Balfour.] After John's death Ann married a Mister Bowker, he died,
even being over 70 years of age she married once more a man by the name of
Bowles, she out lived all three of her husbands she died around about 1865. [sic]
at Grahamstown Cape, South Africa. Haveing [sic] one son Thomas who died of a
snake bite, another one I'm not sure the name, but died of whooping-caugh. (I
think her name was Jane)
The natives of that land, the
Kaffir' s and Hottentot's was [sic] always giving the settlers truble, [sic] at
one time they rounded all the settlers from one village, to a open spot and
killed all the men and boys, one lady put a small boy under her skirt, and he
was the only male survirer [sic] in the groupe, [sic] they tell later of his posterity
[sic] there now.
CONTINUED.
[page 2]
Ann had five brothers, Thomas was
the oldest born abt 1766.. [sic] Ann born 15 Jan 1788 md. John Green,..William [sic]
a carpenter. [sic] born abt. 1790, he came to America,when [sic] his apprenticeship
was over… [sic] James was born abt. 1792 he was a Blacksmith… [sic] George
was born abt.1794 he was a tailor… [sic] we don't know the names of his other
two brothers. William who came to America, should have a large posterity here
in this country by now.
We have had problems trying to be
sure of John's father, we thought it was Richard,Joice [sic] in her research in
England was'nt [sic] sure, this account of Ann's writings say's it was Richard,
[sic] Our records says it could be Richard,William [sic] or George, I hope we
can some day find out for sure. They also found unrest in South Africa When
they got there, as you see by what I have written… [sic] Now I will try and
tell of some of the unrest they had While in England, and all through out Europe.
I hope I can make it short so it
won't [be] boring to you… [sic] Napoleon Bonaparte was born 1 August 15, 1769
in the town of Ajaccio capital of the Island of Corsica, off the west coast of
Italy, [sic] He attended the Royal Military School Brienne, Where he took only
mathematics, [Read] the lives of great men, and military tactics, Appointed [sic]
in 1785 as second Lieutenant in the French Army, Napoleon began an ambitious
career. He was made Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery in 1793. Through his
ability he was made brigadier general of artillery in 1794, he put down a mob
uprising of 30.000 [sic] men with 5,000 men, [sic] He was made comander-in-chief
[sic] of the French Army….He [sic] married Josephine, the widow of General
Beauharnais
March 9, 1796 she had two children….. [sic] He won a
campaign [sic] against the Austrians and Sardinians in 1796/7 with 40,000 men
against 75,000 men,… [sic] Napoleon went into the Netherlands, Austria, Spain,Egypt, [sic] Syria and
Palistine, [sic] and went from there into South-Africa, Trying [sic] to destroy
the holdings the English had there, But [sic] the British [sic] Royal Navy
[Commanded by Lord NELSON,More given in clipping on next page of Mir] discouraged
him there, and he pulled out… But [sic] on land Napoleon remained supreme,
defeating one Army after another, on up through Spain, and with 500,000 men
Napoleon invaded Russia, driveing [sic] them back to Moscow,. [sic] decided to
spend the winter there, but the Russians set fire to the City, and Napoleon's
men were lightly clothed, and few provisions, so he retreated back to the
Polish border, and back to France.
Napoleon was then made Emperor, and
had no son to take his throne, so he devorced [sic] his unfaithful wife
Josephine who was a very beautiful woman, in 1809. [sic] and on April 2, 1810
he married Marie Louise of Austria who bore him a son March 20, 1811. she [sic]
was 19 years old.
The combined Armies of Russia,
Prussia, Sweden, Austria, Great Britain defeated Napoleon at the battle of
Waterloo with 63,000 men dead, two of Ann Rowney's brothers were killed in that
battle. Napoleon surendered [sic] June 18, 1815, Marie Louise and son was [sic]
taken from Napoleon by her father who regained the throne of Austria, and were
kept there almost as prisoners, [sic] Napoleon's son lived until he was 21
years old and died of Tuberculosis, a common disease of his mother's Habsburg
family. When defeated June 15, 1815, he was sent to the Island of St. Helena,
there he died of Ulcer or Cancer May 5, 1821, he was buried there, and in 1840
at the request of the French government his remains were taken to Paris, France
Where there is a memorial Mass held on May 5 of each year at the great tomb.
CONTINUED
Read More
Green, John Sr. (Apr 27, 1779 – Sep 1834) by a son
PEDIGREE OF THE GREEN FAMILY.
————–�————————–
My father's name was John Green, born at Wellingborough in the county
of Northampton in the year 1779. His father's name was
Richard Green, a plasterer by trade, his wife's name was Hannah.
There was two sons John and Thomas, John the older was my father. He
was married to Ann Rowney at Bedford St. Paul's Church in the year 1808.
My father left home after his mother's death, his father having married
again to a man who kept a public House, [sic] "The Sign of the Red
Cow", some unpleasantness being the cause.
My Uncle Thomas moved to London. He was a shoemaker by trade, My
[sic] father was in the army, a recruiting sargent. [sic] I do not know
to what regiment he belonged. He emigrated to South Africa in
December 27 1819 took 120 days to make the voyage, arrived in
Port�-Elizabeth on the April 26, 1820, in the ship "Waymouth". He had 4
sons and two dau�ghters when we left England, Hannah the oldest Mary
Ann, John, James, Thomas and William. [sic] and the third daughter was
born on the voyage out.
They were located at the Kreiga where another daughter was born.
They left the Kreiga in 1829 on account of theft by the natives who
took all their stock in the night.
Thomas died of snake bite, the location, Jane? [sic] died of whooping
cough, I was born at Grahmstown on the 7th. of April 1823 and named
Thomas as mother said they had to keep a Thomas in the family.
My father received money twice from through a McDonald who lived in Grahamstown who had also been in the Service.
My father moved from Grahamstown on the 1st. of September 1834, to Kat River and died on the 21st. of September 1834 at Balfour.
The Kaffir War broke out in December 1834 and all papers and everything
we had was lost. My mother's father's name was George Rowney, He
[sic] had seven sons and one daughter, Their [sic] names were Thomas,
George, William. I do not know the names of the others, Thomas was a
Blacksmith, George a tailor, and William a Cabinet maker, Two [sic]
sons joined the Army and were both Killed in the battle of Waterloo.
Napolion [sic] who led the French forces against the British in the
battle of Waterloo, was defeated, June 18, 1815. Copied by G. John
February 1982.
Wrote by Thomas Green who was born April 7, 1823, having a brother by
the name of Thomas who died of a snake bite, who was born abt 1817, his
mother said they had to have a Thomas in the family, so they named him
Thomas, This was probely [sic] written in abt. 1840.
Green, John (Dec 23, 1813 – Feb 5, 1883)
John Green was born December 23, 1813, in Wellingborough, Northampton,
England. The third child and first son of John and Ann Rowney
Green.
John's father had been a soldier in the British Army and took part in
the Penensular War. He was a Sargent [sic] Major and fought under the
Duke of Wellington and the Duke of York. He was badly wounded by
a saber cut in his head when his regiment was charged by the French
Cavalery [sic] and received his discharge for this reason.
Because of this the British Government gave him a track of land in
South Africa as his reward.
John's parents emigrated from England to South Africa, in 1820.
They set sail from Portsmouth, England, on a ship called the Weymouth,
under the leadership of Captain Duncan Campbell. Among the
passengers listed were: John Green age 39, Ann Green 30, John 6, James
5, Mary 7, Thomas 3, William 2, and Hannah 9.
It is interesting to know the John Kirkman family of Manchester,
England, also sailed from England to South Africa, the same year.
The Kirkman family set sail from Liverpool, England, on a ship called
the Stetnor. Among the passengers listed were: John Kirkman age
33, Mary Kirkman 31, Albert 7, Hannah ll, Mary 4, Margaret 2, and
Martha 1.
Both ships left their English harbors late in December 1819, or early in
January 1820, and landed at Algoa Bay (now known as Port Elizabeth) South Africa, after a voyage of 120 days.
John Green married Margaret Kirkman, daughter of John and Mary Alice
Ashworth Kirkman, December 23, 1835. To this union nine children
were born. (see family group sheet)
John acquired what education he could from the schools in South Africa,
from good books and from practical experience. When his father's
property was lost during a British Army skirmish with the Kaffirs
(natives of S.A.) naturally John and the other children had to do
without many of the comforts of life, as well as some of their formal
schooling. However, the schooling John was able to obtain, along
with his reading and association with the people about him, secured for
him a position as a school teacher. In this capacity he pursued
his own private studies and through his own perserverance [sic] and
ability he was admitted to the Bar to practice law. In this profession
he became a lawyer of high rank. He was courteous and polite and his
counsel and advice were constantly sought in such legal matters as
drawing and probating wills, settling of estates and corporations,
etc. He was a gifted and fluent speaker and was often called on
to read in public. (Apparently it was a custom of the time,
whether in public gatherings, at church, or in court, to read important
messages or addresses of educated men on subjects thought to be of
interest and benefit to the general public. On many such occasions,
John was called upon by the judge, minister or presiding officer to
read; it being generally recognized that he was among the best of
readers.)
John was equally successful at holding the attention of audiences when
deliveringing [sic] addresses. His pleadings at the court of law were
listened to with marked
[EndPage 1]
attention by judge, jurors and spectators alike. All apparently
appreciated his mannor [sic] of gathering and sifting evidence and his
arranging and presentation of material. These things, accompanied
with wit, wisdom and sincerity often won for him a victory. Needless to
say, he had a pleasing appearance, was kind and considerate of the
feelings of others, was firm in his convictions and powerful in speech
[sic].
In 1853, three missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, were sent from England to South Africa to open a mission there
for the preaching of the Gospel. Elders Jesse Haven, Leonard I.
Harris and William H. W[a]lker, after embarking at England on February
11, 1853, docked at Capetown, South Africa, on April 19, of the same
year. On May 23, they organized the Mission of South Africa and
baptized the first convert, Henry Stringer on June 15th. Within
six months these three Elders had baptized 45 persons, organized two
branches and blessed a number of children. A little more than a
year later, John was baptized by Elder Walker. He was baptized 29
September 1854, and on the same day, was confirmed a member of the
Church by Elder Walker.
It is interesting to read what Elder Walker wrote of John and Margaret
in the history of the South African Mission: "Sister Margaret Kirkman
Green was baptized into the Church February 17, 1854, by William H.
Walker. After a meeting March 10, 1854, John Green informed me
that his wife had been restored to health through the power of God,
under my administration."
After reporting this faith healing of Margaret, Elder Walker tells of his meeting and baptizing John:
"I had concluded that the Lord did not require me to stay in
Grahamstown any longer, but I felt that I wanted to leave the people
without excuse, and now I could leave them and feel that my garments
would be clean from their blood in the day of judgment. With
these convictions, I returned to Ft. Beaufort, where the Saints spared
no pains in providing for my comfort and wants, everything that I could
desire. A few days before leaving Grahamstown, I had dreamed that
I was travelling [sic] under a great load, but in a short while I would
baptize a Mr. John Green, who would be the first. At that time he
was in the Kat River Country and at that time it seemed the prospects
were more favorable that several should be baptized before Mr. Green.
[sic]
A few days after his arrival at Ft. Beaufort, Elder Walker writes:
"I went farther up the country to the borders of the Kaffir land to
extend my labors. I found John Green, the one of my dream, on Kat
River; his wife had been baptized some time before, but he was
favorably impressed. I had lost my horse which Brother Parker had
given me, which left me on foot. A few days later as I was about
to start on my regular circuit, Mr. Green came to me and tried to get a
horse for me, for he did not like to see me go on foot. I told
him if he desired to be baptized i [sic] would stay, if not I would
continue my journey. Before I had gone far he overtook me with a
horse and asked me to get on and ride. I did so; we travelled [sic] on
for about two miles, when we came to the forks of the road; here we
talked for sorne time, he insisting on me going back. I said I
would go on one condition, as he hesitated, I continued my
journey. He called to me and said if I would go back and stay
till the next day, he would be baptized. I readily consented and
returned. In the meantime he went some twenty miles away on
business, and when he returned he had with him the horse I had lost
some three weeks before. On September 29, 1854, I baptized John
Green and confirmed him a member of the Church. [sic]
In 1912, Alexander Dawson of Layton, Utah, said that John Green was the
best Gospel speaker he had ever heard in his life. Which tells us a
great deal about this man, for not only did he use his talents and
abilities to gain a living, but also preached the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
Margaret Kirkman Green and all her children except Mary Ann, left South
Africa for Utah, in 1863, John remained there to dispose of the
property and settle an estate in the courts for which he was the
solicitor. He was to come to Utah the following year, but for
some reason or other, never came.
John died in the home of his daughter Mary Ann Green Robertson, in Alice, South Africa, in 1883.
[End Page 2]
Margaret Kirkman, born 11 April 1817, Manchester, England, the fifth child of John and Mary Alice Ashworth Kirkman.
Margaret's parents emigrated from England to South Africa and were known among the Settlers of 1820 of South Africa.
Living conditions were very poor and many hardships were endured, as
all who attempted to settle new land found out. Besides the
hardships of building homes, the Kaffir tribes continued to harrass
[sic] the settlers. They were constantly in danger of attack.
This deprived the family of comforts and the necessities of life; and
interferred [sic] with the school training of the young people.
Margaret Kirkman and John Green were married 23 December 1835, and to
this union nine children were born, six sons and three daughters.
(see family group sheet) Both parents were students of the Bible and
well versed in its teachings.
Margaret Kirkman Green was a woman of strong character, a deep thinker,
firm and true to her convictions. She was naturally religious, a devout
christian, a faithful wife, a loving mother and a true and trusted
friend. She was honest and true to every principle of truth and
taught her children a faith in Jesus Christ, to be obedient and
submissive to law and authority and to earn their living by honorable
means. She was charitable and forgiving.
In 1853, three missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints were sent from England to South Africa to open a mission for the
preaching of the Gospel in Africa. They were Elders Jesse Haven,
Leonard I. Harris and William H. Walker. They arrived at Cape
Town, April 19, 1853, sailing from England February 11, 1853, and on
May 23, 1853, they organized the Mission in South Africa and on June
15, 1853, Wednesday, Elder Leonard Harris baptized Henry Stringer, who
was the first person to be baptized in Africa and within six months the
Elders had baptized 45 persons, organized two branches and blessed a
number of children.
Shortly after the opening of the Mission for the preaching of the Gospel in
South Africa by the Elders of the Church, Margaret Kirkman Green met
the only Mormon Elder who came into that part of the country, heard his
message, listened
to it attentively and conversed with him, read the doctrine as taught
and was soon converted and baptized into the Church, being among the
early converts in Africa. She was baptized by Elder William H.
Walker, February 17, 1854. Her children were baptized and her
husband John Green, was baptized seven months later.
From the Journal of Elder Walker we read, "About the first of March
Margaret Kirkman Green was stricken with a serious illness, the Elders
were called in to administer to her, she was restored to her health
almost immediately. This was an incident that greatly
strengthened the testimony of Margaret and John and their family. [sic]
Margaret Kirkman Green having accepted the Gospel and witnessing it by
being baptized received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands which
gave her an abiding testimony of the divinity of the mission of Joseph
Smith and with this testimony came also the spirit of gathering to Zion
with the Saints of God and in accordance with that spirit and desire
she and all her children, except a daughter Mary Ann who was
married. She also brought a granddaughter with her departing for
America, Leaving from Algoa Bay, now Port Elizabeth, March 21, 1863,
arriving in New York, May 24, 1863.
When they arrived in the United States the Civil War was raging, Almost
[sic] at once the sons of Margaret Green were called to join the armies
of the North. This they did, and as a result her son John lost
the sight of one eye.
They joined a company of emigrants who were under the charge of Elder
John Stocks, they arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 2, 1863.
Shortly after arriving in Utah, Margaret and her family settled in
Layton, where they lived in a dug out for a short time. They
obtained about 100 acres of land which still remains under the same
name.
Her son George kept the place in Layton and Margaret went with her son
John and other members of the family, to Enterprise in Weber
Canyon. The boys went in to the mountain and cut pine trees and
built a fine log cabin for their mother. She was very proud of
this home.
John Green did not come with the family to Utah. He stayed to
dispose of his estate and was to come the next year. He defended
and helped to carry on the work of the Lord, after the missionaries
left Africa. He died there before he could join his family.
He and one son and one daughter are buried there.
[End Page 3]
On one occasion a bundle of blankets and other items of wearing apparel
arrived from John in South Africa which was indeed needed. Other
packages which he sent were never received.
During the last few years of Margaret's life she was confined to her
bed, but she remained faithful to her religion. One morning in
March 1883, Margaret told her family she had dreamed their father had
died during the night. She was upset, but felt very strongly that
it was so. Three months later they received a letter from South
Africa stating John was dead. He had died the same day Margaret
had dreamed about it.
Margaret Kirkman Green was a tender hearted woman with a loving
disposition and firm in her convictions; she was a lover of peace, a
defender of truth, Obedient to law, submissive to the authority of
God. By her kindly disposition, her gentleness of manners and the
abundance of love of which she possessed, she not only held a powerful
influence over her children, but she gathered around her many friends
all of whom felt their lives had been made better by having known and
associated with such a character. She met the problems of life as
they came with courage and never complained of her lot, but always was
cheerful and acknowledged that the Lord had been kind to her and her
family and bestowed many blessings upon her.
She was a frail woman, rather delicate, but wherever there was
sickness, there you would find Margaret Kirkman Green, always willing
to help lighten the load others were called to bear. She was an
invalid for several years before her death and confined most of the
time to her bed, but in it all she never faltered in her faith or
shrank from duty and died with the testimony the Joseph Smith was a
Prophet of God and with a prayer in her heart that her children would
remain faithful to the end. She died at her home in Enterprise,
Utah, at the age of 66 years, 5 months and 2 days, September 13, 1883.
Source: Green Family Organization (1974). John Green Family Record Book (pp. 1-4)
Read More