Mary was the last child of 6 born to Barbara Potter (1802-1873) and Thomas Twells(1796-1836) in Nottinghamshire, England where she grew up. She was baptized Mar 24, 1833 at High Pavement Presbyterian, Nottingham. Her childhood was spent at home with her family in the business of weaving & knitting woolen socks, an occupation shared by citizens of Nottingham. They would have lived in abject poverty, much like in the Dickens novel, working 14 hrs/day even as a child.
Mary married Frederick Richards in England in June, 1854 before leaving England. Both had converted to Mormonism in 1850. Mary was the only one of her siblings to immigrate. She & Frederick had 4 children before they left England. She left on the General McClellan in May 1864 from Liverpool to NY. Mary, her daughter Sarah Ann (my GGrandmother), Amelia, Clara, an infant, and William were on board. Also traveling with them were Isaac Richards (Frederick's brother) 3 children. They arrived in June 1864.
They took the train from NY to Wyoming, NB & picked up the Joseph S. Rawlins Co. wagon train in July, 1864. Mary sat down to rest & the caravan went on, not noticing her absence. They had to go back & get her! Several died of dysentery. They arrived in Salt Lake on Sept. 18. They made their way to Pleasant Grove where Frederick's brother Isaac & wife had settled.
A very resourceful woman, Mary fixed a dugout for the small family to winter in.
When Frederick arrived in 1865, he built a small home. They had 5 more children. Of those, 4 died. Of the 4 children born in England, 3 died young. So only my GGrandmother Sarah, her sister Clara, and brother George survived.
I believe this must have been very difficult for Mary. Her life was not easy at all, but she had great faith. She passed away Jan. 17, 1901 at age 68 from pneumonia, but lived to enjoy seeing grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Mary married Frederick Richards in England in June, 1854 before leaving England. Both had converted to Mormonism in 1850. Mary was the only one of her siblings to immigrate. She & Frederick had 4 children before they left England. She left on the General McClellan in May 1864 from Liverpool to NY. Mary, her daughter Sarah Ann (my GGrandmother), Amelia, Clara, an infant, and William were on board. Also traveling with them were Isaac Richards (Frederick's brother) 3 children. They arrived in June 1864.
They took the train from NY to Wyoming, NB & picked up the Joseph S. Rawlins Co. wagon train in July, 1864. Mary sat down to rest & the caravan went on, not noticing her absence. They had to go back & get her! Several died of dysentery. They arrived in Salt Lake on Sept. 18. They made their way to Pleasant Grove where Frederick's brother Isaac & wife had settled.
A very resourceful woman, Mary fixed a dugout for the small family to winter in.
When Frederick arrived in 1865, he built a small home. They had 5 more children. Of those, 4 died. Of the 4 children born in England, 3 died young. So only my GGrandmother Sarah, her sister Clara, and brother George survived.
I believe this must have been very difficult for Mary. Her life was not easy at all, but she had great faith. She passed away Jan. 17, 1901 at age 68 from pneumonia, but lived to enjoy seeing grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Mary was the last child of 6 born to Barbara Potter (1802-1873) and Thomas Twells(1796-1836) in Nottinghamshire, England where she grew up. She was baptized Mar 24, 1833 at High Pavement Presbyterian, Nottingham. Her childhood was spent at home with her family in the business of weaving & knitting woolen socks, an occupation shared by citizens of Nottingham. They would have lived in abject poverty, much like in the Dickens novel, working 14 hrs/day even as a child.
Mary married Frederick Richards in England in June, 1854 before leaving England. Both had converted to Mormonism in 1850. Mary was the only one of her siblings to immigrate. She & Frederick had 4 children before they left England. She left on the General McClellan in May 1864 from Liverpool to NY. Mary, her daughter Sarah Ann (my GGrandmother), Amelia, Clara, an infant, and William were on board. Also traveling with them were Isaac Richards (Frederick's brother) 3 children. They arrived in June 1864.
They took the train from NY to Wyoming, NB & picked up the Joseph S. Rawlins Co. wagon train in July, 1864. Mary sat down to rest & the caravan went on, not noticing her absence. They had to go back & get her! Several died of dysentery. They arrived in Salt Lake on Sept. 18. They made their way to Pleasant Grove where Frederick's brother Isaac & wife had settled.
A very resourceful woman, Mary fixed a dugout for the small family to winter in.
When Frederick arrived in 1865, he built a small home. They had 5 more children. Of those, 4 died. Of the 4 children born in England, 3 died young. So only my GGrandmother Sarah, her sister Clara, and brother George survived.
I believe this must have been very difficult for Mary. Her life was not easy at all, but she had great faith. She passed away Jan. 17, 1901 at age 68 from pneumonia, but lived to enjoy seeing grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Mary married Frederick Richards in England in June, 1854 before leaving England. Both had converted to Mormonism in 1850. Mary was the only one of her siblings to immigrate. She & Frederick had 4 children before they left England. She left on the General McClellan in May 1864 from Liverpool to NY. Mary, her daughter Sarah Ann (my GGrandmother), Amelia, Clara, an infant, and William were on board. Also traveling with them were Isaac Richards (Frederick's brother) 3 children. They arrived in June 1864.
They took the train from NY to Wyoming, NB & picked up the Joseph S. Rawlins Co. wagon train in July, 1864. Mary sat down to rest & the caravan went on, not noticing her absence. They had to go back & get her! Several died of dysentery. They arrived in Salt Lake on Sept. 18. They made their way to Pleasant Grove where Frederick's brother Isaac & wife had settled.
A very resourceful woman, Mary fixed a dugout for the small family to winter in.
When Frederick arrived in 1865, he built a small home. They had 5 more children. Of those, 4 died. Of the 4 children born in England, 3 died young. So only my GGrandmother Sarah, her sister Clara, and brother George survived.
I believe this must have been very difficult for Mary. Her life was not easy at all, but she had great faith. She passed away Jan. 17, 1901 at age 68 from pneumonia, but lived to enjoy seeing grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Gravesite Details
Tombstone reads: Born 25 Feb 1833, Died 17 Jan 1901
