William Twiggs (1804 – 1854) &

Emigration of Mary Reed (1814 – 1855)

William Twiggs

Born: 22 January 1804 at Roch, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Died: 15 January 1854 at Roch, Pembrokeshire, Wales

MARRIED: 29 September 1840 at Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Mary Reed

Born: 7 May 1814 Little Newcastle, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Died: 1855 Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas

CHILDREN:

Emily Twiggss

Born: 6 July 1841 at Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas

Thomas Twiggs

Born: 14 February 1843 at Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Died: 13 November 1928 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

John Twiggs

Born: 24 May 1845 at Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas

Martha Twiggss

Born: 9 May 1847 Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Died: 15 June 1847 at Skye Mill, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

George Twiggss

Born: 8 August 1848

Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansa

Emma Twiggs

Born: 9 March 1850 at Sykemill, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Died: 22 October 1878 at Salt Lake City,Salt Lake,Utah

Ellen Twiggss

Born: 7 January 1853 at Sykemill, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansa

http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3022

William Twigg was born January 22, 1804 Roch Parish, Pembroke, Wales. He was the son of Thomas

and Martha (Wade) Twigg, and grandson of David and Martha (John) Twigg. William married in this

parish on September 29, 1840 to MARY REED, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Lloyd) Reed, baptized

May 7, 1814 in Little Newcastle, Pembroke, Wales.

A sad day in their household occurred on June 15, 1847, when their daughter, Martha, died at the age of

six days. A day of happiness was with them when they were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints and baptized by Elder William Vaughn in the winter of 1849; in fact it was so cold that

they had to break the ice atop the water before the baptism could be performed.

William played an active role in the early LDS Church, as evidenced by the journal of traveling elder

Daniel Williams, which states under the date of October 1, 1851, concerning a general council meeting at

Havordfordwest, Pembroke, Wales: After addressing the council at some length showing the importance

of regularly attending the council meetings, Elder William Bowen, William Twigg, and Thomas Rees

appeared by order of last council to show the cause of their absence from that council. They showed

reasons which satisfied the council and were free to officiate in their offices. Another mention in the

journal may be referring to William since he was residing in Rickeston Mill. Under the date of February

5, 1852, Williams recorded: Started for Marloes by Rickeston Mill; Elder Twigg came to me to Marloes

that night; we both preached to a small congregation in the home of Elder Hughes, and returned that

night to Rickeston Mill.

William let his house be used as a meeting place for church meetings as evidenced by the journal of David

Williams, which states under the date of July 24, 1852: Rickeston Mill Council Meeting held at the house

of Wm Twigg Rickeston Mill. Elder David Williams, traveling Elder, came in to council and Pres.

William Thomas asked him to give some instructions. Elder D. Williams then stood up and said, The time

is but short, the time is not far hence, that the judgments of God will be poured out without mixture; then

it is our duty to be up and doing and preach the gospel that our fellow man may be truly warned of the

approaching calamity. And in so doing, we shall have the spirit of God to showeth us that we may have

faith to travel to Zion. For the time will come that the Saints will have to travel to Zion amidst plagues

and pestilence; and inasmuch as we will obey counsel and keep the commandments of God, we are the

people that will be enabled to go through all to the land of Zion.

William worked in the flourmills and due to his continual inhaling of the fine flour dust he died from

congestion of the lungs on January 15, 1854 in Rickeston Mill, Pembroke.

Mary, with her six children, and her sister and brother-in-law John and Martha (Reed) Twigg, decided

to sail to America with the desire of going to Salt Lake City, Utah. They went to Liverpool, England and

set sail on November 24, 1854 on the Clara Wheeler. These two families were among the 422 passengers

heading for their eventual Utah destination.

Liverpool to New Orleans on the Clara Wheeler (27 Nov 1854 - 12 Jan 1855) PASSENGER LIST http://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/Search/showDetails/db:MM_MII/t:passenger/id:57833/keywords:TWIGGS (William Twiggss died 15 Jan 1854 in England) - John Twiggss is William Twiggss younger brother AND brother-in-law. Family members on this voyage: Twiggs, John (Age: 35) (William Twiggs Brother, Children’s Uncle) Twiggs, Martha (Age: 34) (John Twiggss wife, Children’s Aunt) Twiggs, Mary (Age: 41) (Willaim Twiggss Wife & Childrens Mother) Twiggs, Emily (Age: 13) (Willaim Twiggss daughter) x Twiggs, Thomas (Age: 11) (William Twiggss Son) Twiggs, John (Age: 9) (William Twiggss Son) x Twiggs, George (Age: 6) (William Twiggss Son) x Twiggs, Emma (Age: 4) (Willaim Twiggss daughter) Twiggs, Ellen (Age: 2) (Willaim Twiggss daughter) x http://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/Search/showDetails/db:MM_MII/t:voyage/id:95/keywords:Clara+Wheeler Liverpool to New Orleans on the Clara Wheeler (27 Nov 1854 - 12 Jan 1855) Ship Name Clara Wheeler Departure 24 Nov, Returned 30 Nov & Departed 7 Dec 1854 from Liverpool Arrival 12 Jan 1855 at New Orleans Arrival 22 Jan 1855 St Louis aboard steamboat Ocena Source BMR, Book #1040, pp. 172-89 (FHL #025,690); Customs #261 (FHL #200,181)

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes "Monday. 27 Nov. 1854 -- The ship Clara Wheeler sailed from Liverpool, England, with 422 Saints, under the direction of Henry E. Phelps. The company arrived at New Orleans Jan. 11, 1855, and at St Louis Jan. 22nd 1855. " "SEVENTY-EIGHTH COMPANY -- Clara Wheeler, 422 souls. The ship Clara Wheeler, with four hundred and twenty-two Saints on board cleared the port at Liverpool November 24 1854, bound for New Orleans. Elder Henry E. Phelps was appointed president of the company, with Elders John Parson

and James Crossly as counselors. After a rough experience in the Irish Channel, being unable to proceed against the incessant head winds and rough weather, the Clara Wheeler was obliged to return to port on the thirtieth of November. During this extraordinary experience the Saints suffered considerable with seasickness. After receiving further supplies of water and provisions, the ship again put to sea on the seventh of December 1854 with a favorable wind, and on the tenth she cleared the Irish Channel after which she had a very quick trip to New Orleans, where she arrived on the eleventh of January, 1855.

Soon after leaving Liverpool the measles broke out in the company, resulting in the death of twenty

children and two grown persons. One child also died after the arrival at New Orleans which made twenty

three deaths in all.

On the twelfth of January, James McGaw, the church emigration agent at New Orleans, contracted with

the captain of the steamboat Ocena, to take the passengers to St. Louis at the rate of three dollars and a

half for each adult, and half of that for

children between three and twelve

years old; and twenty-four hours after

their arrival in New Orleans, the

emigrants were on their way up the

river. Nearly one half of the company

had not the means wherewith to pay

their passage to St. Louis; but the

more well-to-do Saints who had more money that they needed themselves, were influenced to lend to

those who had none, and thus all who desired to continue the journey were enabled to do so.

At St. Louis where the company arrived in safety, the emigrants were met by Apostle Erastus Snow and

others, who gave the new arrivals a hearty welcome, and conducted them to comfortable quarters, which

had been secured for their accommodation. This company, although leaving England in the latter part of

1854, really belonged to the emigration of 1855, in connection with which the Saints who crossed the

Atlantic in the Clara Wheeler continued the journey to the Valley.

(Millennial Star, Vol. XVI: pp.778, 815; Vol XVII: pp.10, 142, 184)."

Twiggs’ moved from St. Louis, Missouri to Mormon Grove near Atchison, Kansas

After a period of time the Twiggs family moved on to

Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas. About 47 Miles

NW of Kansas City, Kansas

This was a very difficult time for the family. Mary

Reed Twiggs and four children are reported to have

died at Mormon Grove during 1855 (Cholera

epidemic).

Thus leaving only two children, Emma and Thomas

plus Uncle and Aunt John & Martha Twiggs to make

the journey on to SLC, Utah.

The remaining family members are reported to have

traveled on to SLC, Utah with an unidentified

Company during 1856.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/47677/Mormon-Grove.html Mormon Grove, a site four miles west of Atchison, Kansas. In 1855, about 2,000 saints from the United

States, England and Denmark gathered in Mormon Grove. Though one or two permanent structures

were erected at Mormon Grove, most residents lived in tents, wagon boxes or make-shift dwellings.

Unfortunately, cholera epidemic struck and took a heavy toll at the way station and some of the

companies that left from Mormon Grove. A makeshift cemetery outside the tent city was created for the

victims.

Cholera is an infection in the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse, watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated. The severity of the diarrhea and vomiting can lead to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and death in some cases. The trail from Mormon Grove, Kansas was North East until joining the Mormon Trail in Central Nebraska

http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/1,15797,4017-1-356,00.html Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 Unidentified Companies (1856) Twiggss, John (37) http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3019 Twiggss, Martha Reed (36) Twiggss, Thomas (13) Twiggss, Emma (6)

Emma Twiggs (1850 – 1878) married John Gabbott (1842 – 1926) on 2 May 1868 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Immigrant_View.aspx?id=1627 Emma Twiggs (1856 – 1878) Biography http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3038 Mary Reed (1814 – 1854) A Biography http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3023 Thomas Twiggs (1843 – 1928) Biography http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3019 John Twiggs (1819 – 1888) Biography - William Twiggs’ Brother – Emma Twiggs Uncle http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Default.aspx The Welsh Mormon Immigrant project is sponsored by the Center for Family History and Genealogy at Brigham Young University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Twiggs – Brother of Emma Twiggs http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Immigrant_View.aspx?id=1626

The three sons are (left to right): Robert "Bert" James Twiggs Leo Stevenson Twiggs John Thomas Twiggs