Cruse, Mary (Dec 1, 1812 – Oct 11, 1851)

Mary
Cruse was born in 1809 at Whyfield, Berkshire, England. She was married
to Thomas Tanner Sr. in 1831 in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It was a
church wedding and they embarked upon a life full of work, joys,
sacrifice and sorrows. They made their home in Newbury and here Thomas
was born, August 1, 1831, their first child. They found the gospel here
and were baptized in 1843. They were very enthusiastic about the
gospel. Thomas baptized many of his neighbors and friends. The Woodburn
Green Branch of the London Conference was established in the fall of
1843, with 11 members present. Thomas was chosen to preside over it as
the presiding elder. He hadn't filled this position long when the
spirit of gathering filled their breasts and they longed to come to
Zion. They weren't financially able to make the trip, but a very
tempting offer came from Thomas Howard, one of Thomas' counselors, who
was emigrating as far as Winter Quarters with his family. Thomas Howard
generously offered to share his money. They gathered what things they
needed and embarked upon the ship "Olympus" which was bound for New
Orleans on March 4, 1851.

They had eight children, Thomas, James Mumford, William, George,
Ebenezer, Joseph, Alma, and a little girl, Mary, who died at birth.
When they were well on their way the Howards discovered they had only
enough money for themselves to make the trip, so it was with much
hardship that the six weeks on the ship were endured. Mary was pregnant
with their ninth child and Thomas spent most of his time helping take
care of the mules and animals for their passage. They had to stay in
New Orleans long enough to earn money to make the trip by boat up the
Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri. In St. Louis, they made a temporary
home, but the trials and hardships of the trip, together with the
arduous task of taking care of her large family was too much for Mary.
Her baby was born September 24 and died on the 30th, and she, Mary,
died on October 11, 1851. She never reached the Valley, but she stood
by her husband, cared for her family to the end. Who was to say she was
not a pioneer, for she gave her all for the gospel and those she loved.

From this union came grandfather and the heirs of many other large
and honorable families. Thomas remained in St. Louis until 1853 and
found another wife, Ann Newman. This good woman shouldered the burdens
of Mary's large family and immigrated to Utah by ox team.

They received their endowments in the old Endowment House in the
fall of 1860. Both wives were sealed to Thomas by Brigham Young. They
made their home in Tooele, Utah.

Ann was the mother of Valison, Moroni, Jemima Mumford, and Allen.

This history was copied from the Book of Remembrance of H. Floyd
Tanner, a great grandson of Thomas Tanner, through his son, Allen
Newman Tanner and Mary Emily Barlow.

Source:

http://euler.me.berkeley.edu/~kmonson/FamHist/Farnes/MC.html

Used by permission