The Mormon Battalion reached San Diego in 1847. Two women, Lydia Edmonds Hunter and Melissa Burton Coray, made the journey with their husbands, Jesse Hunter and William Coray. In April after their arrival in San Diego, Lydia Hunter gave birth to her first child. Lydia died soon after the birth of little Diego Hunter. This unfortunate event was very troubling for members of the Battalion and would have been especially traumatic for nineteen-year-old Melissa Coray. By that time, Melissa would have known that she was about three months pregnant.
When the Battalion members were discharged in July 1847, some members headed to Salt Lake City as soon as possible. Others like the Corays stayed in California longer, working their way up the California coast with hopes of eventually going to Salt Lake City.
Melissa and William were in Monterey, California when their firstborn arrived. The baby was reportedly born October 2, 1847. In a letter dated October 11, William wrote to a friend in San Francisco, telling him about the baby and adding that as soon as they were able to travel, they would be going to San Francisco. Some time after October 11, but before they left for San Francisco, baby William died. Melissa and William buried their infant son in a cemetery in Monterey.
The Corays eventually went on to Salt Lake City where their second child, a daughter, was born in February 1849. William Coray died a month later in March 1849. Melissa married again after William's death.
Melissa reportedly returned to Monterey many years later, looking for the grave of her firstborn. Monterey would have changed greatly in forty or fifty years. She was unable to find where she and William buried their infant son.
Although my husband, David Elliott, and I are not descendants of Melissa Coray, we felt, like many Coray descendants, that there should be a memorial marker for little William Coray. The question was where to put a memorial. Having done the research to determine where William and Melissa might have buried him, we decided that the baby was most likely buried in San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey; a cemetery established in 1834. In December 2009, we went to Monterey and arranged for this stone. It was placed in San Carlos Cemetery in January 2010.
The stone is in a small area of the cemetery designated for babies. This area is only about 63 feet long (roughly east to west) and 11 feet wide. The latitude for this section is 36.595817 and the longitude is -121.885526. This should make it easy to find with a GPS; or by viewing a map or aerial view on Google Maps or Google Earth.
For references related to the Corays or for more information, please contact Anne J. Miller, Ph.D. at [email protected] Murrieta, California
∼Infant son and first child of Melissa Burton and William Coray, Sr.
Born at Monterey when his parents were with other LDS Church members, making their way back to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah after having marched over 2,000 miles with the Mormon Battalion.
One of Melissa's grandchildren later wrote the following account of the baby's birth and death:
"On January 29, 1847, the Battalion reached San Diego, and grandmother and Sergeant Coray, with others of the Battalion thought their journey ended. After two days there, they were ordered to the Mission San Luis Rey to do garrison duty and protect the place from the Indians. However, in six weeks or so Company B was ordered back to San Diego and grandmother said they camped at Old Town, near the site which is now known as "Ramona's marriage place".
Here she [Melissa] anxiously awaited the time when her husband [William] would be mustered out and could make a home for her and the baby she was expecting. When the Battalion was discharged in early summer, her husband bought a wagon and some horses, and they started north. At Monterey, a baby boy was born to her, but he only lived a few days and was buried in the little cemetery there. As soon as she was able to travel, they started out again."
Source: Our Pioneer Heritage © Carter, Kate B., ed. 20 vols. Salt Lake City: International Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958-1977.
NOTE: Because William was in the military and also for safety considerations the area that he and Melissa set up their encampment was at the original mission and Presidio, where the other Mormon Battalion soldiers gathered.
According to Wikipedia, Presidio of Monterey, California:
United States control of the area began in 1846 during the Mexican-American War when Commodore John D. Sloat, commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron, landed unopposed a small force in Monterey and claimed the territory and the Presidio for the United States.
The original Presidio comprised a square of adobe buildings located in the vicinity of what is now downtown Monterey. The fort's original mission, the Royal Presidio Chapel has remained in constant use since its founding in 1770 by Junípero Serra, who arrived with Portola's party.
The "little cemetery" referred to by Melissa's family, which she visited upon her later return, would have been the tiny mission chapel's burying ground (AKA Mission San Carlos Cemetery), rather than the larger SAN CARLOS CEMETERY on Fremont Street.
The "Memorial" stone William Coray located in the large cemetery in 2010 is a cenotaph, placed by unrelated persons.
When the Battalion members were discharged in July 1847, some members headed to Salt Lake City as soon as possible. Others like the Corays stayed in California longer, working their way up the California coast with hopes of eventually going to Salt Lake City.
Melissa and William were in Monterey, California when their firstborn arrived. The baby was reportedly born October 2, 1847. In a letter dated October 11, William wrote to a friend in San Francisco, telling him about the baby and adding that as soon as they were able to travel, they would be going to San Francisco. Some time after October 11, but before they left for San Francisco, baby William died. Melissa and William buried their infant son in a cemetery in Monterey.
The Corays eventually went on to Salt Lake City where their second child, a daughter, was born in February 1849. William Coray died a month later in March 1849. Melissa married again after William's death.
Melissa reportedly returned to Monterey many years later, looking for the grave of her firstborn. Monterey would have changed greatly in forty or fifty years. She was unable to find where she and William buried their infant son.
Although my husband, David Elliott, and I are not descendants of Melissa Coray, we felt, like many Coray descendants, that there should be a memorial marker for little William Coray. The question was where to put a memorial. Having done the research to determine where William and Melissa might have buried him, we decided that the baby was most likely buried in San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey; a cemetery established in 1834. In December 2009, we went to Monterey and arranged for this stone. It was placed in San Carlos Cemetery in January 2010.
The stone is in a small area of the cemetery designated for babies. This area is only about 63 feet long (roughly east to west) and 11 feet wide. The latitude for this section is 36.595817 and the longitude is -121.885526. This should make it easy to find with a GPS; or by viewing a map or aerial view on Google Maps or Google Earth.
For references related to the Corays or for more information, please contact Anne J. Miller, Ph.D. at [email protected] Murrieta, California
∼Infant son and first child of Melissa Burton and William Coray, Sr.
Born at Monterey when his parents were with other LDS Church members, making their way back to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah after having marched over 2,000 miles with the Mormon Battalion.
One of Melissa's grandchildren later wrote the following account of the baby's birth and death:
"On January 29, 1847, the Battalion reached San Diego, and grandmother and Sergeant Coray, with others of the Battalion thought their journey ended. After two days there, they were ordered to the Mission San Luis Rey to do garrison duty and protect the place from the Indians. However, in six weeks or so Company B was ordered back to San Diego and grandmother said they camped at Old Town, near the site which is now known as "Ramona's marriage place".
Here she [Melissa] anxiously awaited the time when her husband [William] would be mustered out and could make a home for her and the baby she was expecting. When the Battalion was discharged in early summer, her husband bought a wagon and some horses, and they started north. At Monterey, a baby boy was born to her, but he only lived a few days and was buried in the little cemetery there. As soon as she was able to travel, they started out again."
Source: Our Pioneer Heritage © Carter, Kate B., ed. 20 vols. Salt Lake City: International Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958-1977.
NOTE: Because William was in the military and also for safety considerations the area that he and Melissa set up their encampment was at the original mission and Presidio, where the other Mormon Battalion soldiers gathered.
According to Wikipedia, Presidio of Monterey, California:
United States control of the area began in 1846 during the Mexican-American War when Commodore John D. Sloat, commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron, landed unopposed a small force in Monterey and claimed the territory and the Presidio for the United States.
The original Presidio comprised a square of adobe buildings located in the vicinity of what is now downtown Monterey. The fort's original mission, the Royal Presidio Chapel has remained in constant use since its founding in 1770 by Junípero Serra, who arrived with Portola's party.
The "little cemetery" referred to by Melissa's family, which she visited upon her later return, would have been the tiny mission chapel's burying ground (AKA Mission San Carlos Cemetery), rather than the larger SAN CARLOS CEMETERY on Fremont Street.
The "Memorial" stone William Coray located in the large cemetery in 2010 is a cenotaph, placed by unrelated persons.
The Mormon Battalion reached San Diego in 1847. Two women, Lydia Edmonds Hunter and Melissa Burton Coray, made the journey with their husbands, Jesse Hunter and William Coray. In April after their arrival in San Diego, Lydia Hunter gave birth to her first child. Lydia died soon after the birth of little Diego Hunter. This unfortunate event was very troubling for members of the Battalion and would have been especially traumatic for nineteen-year-old Melissa Coray. By that time, Melissa would have known that she was about three months pregnant.
When the Battalion members were discharged in July 1847, some members headed to Salt Lake City as soon as possible. Others like the Corays stayed in California longer, working their way up the California coast with hopes of eventually going to Salt Lake City.
Melissa and William were in Monterey, California when their firstborn arrived. The baby was reportedly born October 2, 1847. In a letter dated October 11, William wrote to a friend in San Francisco, telling him about the baby and adding that as soon as they were able to travel, they would be going to San Francisco. Some time after October 11, but before they left for San Francisco, baby William died. Melissa and William buried their infant son in a cemetery in Monterey.
The Corays eventually went on to Salt Lake City where their second child, a daughter, was born in February 1849. William Coray died a month later in March 1849. Melissa married again after William's death.
Melissa reportedly returned to Monterey many years later, looking for the grave of her firstborn. Monterey would have changed greatly in forty or fifty years. She was unable to find where she and William buried their infant son.
Although my husband, David Elliott, and I are not descendants of Melissa Coray, we felt, like many Coray descendants, that there should be a memorial marker for little William Coray. The question was where to put a memorial. Having done the research to determine where William and Melissa might have buried him, we decided that the baby was most likely buried in San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey; a cemetery established in 1834. In December 2009, we went to Monterey and arranged for this stone. It was placed in San Carlos Cemetery in January 2010.
The stone is in a small area of the cemetery designated for babies. This area is only about 63 feet long (roughly east to west) and 11 feet wide. The latitude for this section is 36.595817 and the longitude is -121.885526. This should make it easy to find with a GPS; or by viewing a map or aerial view on Google Maps or Google Earth.
For references related to the Corays or for more information, please contact Anne J. Miller, Ph.D. at [email protected] Murrieta, California
∼Infant son and first child of Melissa Burton and William Coray, Sr.
Born at Monterey when his parents were with other LDS Church members, making their way back to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah after having marched over 2,000 miles with the Mormon Battalion.
One of Melissa's grandchildren later wrote the following account of the baby's birth and death:
"On January 29, 1847, the Battalion reached San Diego, and grandmother and Sergeant Coray, with others of the Battalion thought their journey ended. After two days there, they were ordered to the Mission San Luis Rey to do garrison duty and protect the place from the Indians. However, in six weeks or so Company B was ordered back to San Diego and grandmother said they camped at Old Town, near the site which is now known as "Ramona's marriage place".
Here she [Melissa] anxiously awaited the time when her husband [William] would be mustered out and could make a home for her and the baby she was expecting. When the Battalion was discharged in early summer, her husband bought a wagon and some horses, and they started north. At Monterey, a baby boy was born to her, but he only lived a few days and was buried in the little cemetery there. As soon as she was able to travel, they started out again."
Source: Our Pioneer Heritage © Carter, Kate B., ed. 20 vols. Salt Lake City: International Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958-1977.
NOTE: Because William was in the military and also for safety considerations the area that he and Melissa set up their encampment was at the original mission and Presidio, where the other Mormon Battalion soldiers gathered.
According to Wikipedia, Presidio of Monterey, California:
United States control of the area began in 1846 during the Mexican-American War when Commodore John D. Sloat, commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron, landed unopposed a small force in Monterey and claimed the territory and the Presidio for the United States.
The original Presidio comprised a square of adobe buildings located in the vicinity of what is now downtown Monterey. The fort's original mission, the Royal Presidio Chapel has remained in constant use since its founding in 1770 by Junípero Serra, who arrived with Portola's party.
The "little cemetery" referred to by Melissa's family, which she visited upon her later return, would have been the tiny mission chapel's burying ground (AKA Mission San Carlos Cemetery), rather than the larger SAN CARLOS CEMETERY on Fremont Street.
The "Memorial" stone William Coray located in the large cemetery in 2010 is a cenotaph, placed by unrelated persons.
When the Battalion members were discharged in July 1847, some members headed to Salt Lake City as soon as possible. Others like the Corays stayed in California longer, working their way up the California coast with hopes of eventually going to Salt Lake City.
Melissa and William were in Monterey, California when their firstborn arrived. The baby was reportedly born October 2, 1847. In a letter dated October 11, William wrote to a friend in San Francisco, telling him about the baby and adding that as soon as they were able to travel, they would be going to San Francisco. Some time after October 11, but before they left for San Francisco, baby William died. Melissa and William buried their infant son in a cemetery in Monterey.
The Corays eventually went on to Salt Lake City where their second child, a daughter, was born in February 1849. William Coray died a month later in March 1849. Melissa married again after William's death.
Melissa reportedly returned to Monterey many years later, looking for the grave of her firstborn. Monterey would have changed greatly in forty or fifty years. She was unable to find where she and William buried their infant son.
Although my husband, David Elliott, and I are not descendants of Melissa Coray, we felt, like many Coray descendants, that there should be a memorial marker for little William Coray. The question was where to put a memorial. Having done the research to determine where William and Melissa might have buried him, we decided that the baby was most likely buried in San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey; a cemetery established in 1834. In December 2009, we went to Monterey and arranged for this stone. It was placed in San Carlos Cemetery in January 2010.
The stone is in a small area of the cemetery designated for babies. This area is only about 63 feet long (roughly east to west) and 11 feet wide. The latitude for this section is 36.595817 and the longitude is -121.885526. This should make it easy to find with a GPS; or by viewing a map or aerial view on Google Maps or Google Earth.
For references related to the Corays or for more information, please contact Anne J. Miller, Ph.D. at [email protected] Murrieta, California
∼Infant son and first child of Melissa Burton and William Coray, Sr.
Born at Monterey when his parents were with other LDS Church members, making their way back to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah after having marched over 2,000 miles with the Mormon Battalion.
One of Melissa's grandchildren later wrote the following account of the baby's birth and death:
"On January 29, 1847, the Battalion reached San Diego, and grandmother and Sergeant Coray, with others of the Battalion thought their journey ended. After two days there, they were ordered to the Mission San Luis Rey to do garrison duty and protect the place from the Indians. However, in six weeks or so Company B was ordered back to San Diego and grandmother said they camped at Old Town, near the site which is now known as "Ramona's marriage place".
Here she [Melissa] anxiously awaited the time when her husband [William] would be mustered out and could make a home for her and the baby she was expecting. When the Battalion was discharged in early summer, her husband bought a wagon and some horses, and they started north. At Monterey, a baby boy was born to her, but he only lived a few days and was buried in the little cemetery there. As soon as she was able to travel, they started out again."
Source: Our Pioneer Heritage © Carter, Kate B., ed. 20 vols. Salt Lake City: International Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958-1977.
NOTE: Because William was in the military and also for safety considerations the area that he and Melissa set up their encampment was at the original mission and Presidio, where the other Mormon Battalion soldiers gathered.
According to Wikipedia, Presidio of Monterey, California:
United States control of the area began in 1846 during the Mexican-American War when Commodore John D. Sloat, commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron, landed unopposed a small force in Monterey and claimed the territory and the Presidio for the United States.
The original Presidio comprised a square of adobe buildings located in the vicinity of what is now downtown Monterey. The fort's original mission, the Royal Presidio Chapel has remained in constant use since its founding in 1770 by Junípero Serra, who arrived with Portola's party.
The "little cemetery" referred to by Melissa's family, which she visited upon her later return, would have been the tiny mission chapel's burying ground (AKA Mission San Carlos Cemetery), rather than the larger SAN CARLOS CEMETERY on Fremont Street.
The "Memorial" stone William Coray located in the large cemetery in 2010 is a cenotaph, placed by unrelated persons.
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