| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Parish map of Kent with origin dates on file.
2. Censuses:
1840 US: Quincy First Ward, Adams, Illinois, related families:
P. 6a:
Stephen Hales, males 10-15:1; 15-20:1; 30-40:1; 40-50:1//females 15-20:1; 40-50:1. [Stephen, his wife Mary Ann, Henry W.(12), George (18), {not sure who the 30-40 male and the 15-20 female would be unless it was Charles, age 23 and not over 30, and his new bride Julia Ann, under age 20 - either way it would live Stephen, age 20, unaccounted for}. I do not find Charles or Stephen separately in same census.]
P. 7a:
John Ellis, males 20-30:1//females 15-20:2. [Not sure who the second female would be.]
P. 15a [2nd Ward]:
Joseph Horne, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 20-30:1.
BIOGRAPHY:
1. "Stephen and Mary Ann Hales," taken from the personal records of O.J. Sanders, 112 Leslie, Salt Lake City, Utah: "Stephen Hales and Mary Ann Hales were both born in Kent County, England. They migrated to America in the year 1832. Eleven children were born to them...Seven grew to maturity, the other four died when small. They were William, Hannah, Elias, and Caroline. Elias died in a ship while enroute to America and was sorrowfully concealed in watery grave. They landed in York, Canada, now Toronto, Canada on 16 June 1832. They resided there until 1837. The wonderful message of the gospel first came to them and received a hearty welcome in the hearts and souls of the Hales family. It was given by Orson Pratt to Mary Isabella. Orson was then called away on business but told the people that his brother Parley would be at the next meeting to further explain the message of the new gospel. All of the family of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales were there and were greatly impressed and happy with the message of Mr. Pratt. They left their respective churches and attended the Mormon meetings altogether. They joined the church in the year 1836 and in 1838 they moved with Saints to Jackson Co., Missouri. They were driven from Missouri to Nauvoo, Illinois. Here they aided in converting the swamps into then the largest and most beautiful city in the state of Illinois. They also endured with the saints the sorrows and troubles incident to the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. The Exodus from Nauvoo found the Hales family ready and willing to move on to the unknown west to face the desert, Indians, and privations and exposure rather than to forsake the religion that they knew to be true. While crossing the plains, the family was called upon to endure the greatest sorrow that could come to a family that of parting with their wife and mother, who became very ill and died. She was buried on the plains."
2. The book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," edited by Clark V. Johnson, contains a copy of the "Scroll Petition" dated 28 Nov 1843 at Nauvoo, IL addressed to the U.S. Congress by members of the LDS Church who had property destroyed by Missouri mobs in the 1830's. Included with over a couple thousand signatures are those of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales.
3. Stephen Hale's lots in Nauvoo included [map in my files from Nauvoo Visitor's Center]:
a. Blk. 28, lot 1 W/2 (part) in Wells Subdivision in center of block between Wilcox/Green and Warsaw on the south side of Mulholland (4 blocks from Temple). This lot was purchased from Joseph and Mary Isabella Horne for $250 on 10 Feb 1846. It was subsequently sold to George Johnston of Adams County for $250 on 23 May 1846 by Stephen and Mary Ann Hales.
b. Blk. 6, Lot 39, N acre of E/2 of S/2, 1/2 acre in Kimball 1st Subdivision between Brigham and Winchester on south side of Sidney.
4. Nauvoo List of Members shows Stephen and Mary Ann with Stephen, Jr. arriving in Nauvoo after 1841.
5. See daughter Mary Isabella's, son Charles Henry's, daughter Harriet's, son George's, and son Stephen's biography notes for more detailed history in England and Canada and later conversion of Stephen and his family to the LDS church.
6. Sylvia Barlow, great granddaughter tells this story of her mother Harriet, Stephen's daughter, as compiled by Kenneth Hales, "Windows: A Mormon Family," (1985), pp 39-40, as copied at Nauvoo Visitor's Center: "In June of 1832 the family, then consisting of the parents; five boys, Charles, George, Stephen, Henry William, and Elias, and two girls, Isabella and Harriet, emigrated to Canada. They sailed on a ship and the voyage took them eleven weeks...had the sad experience of seeing...Elias, buried at sea. They settled in Toronto, Canada. Here the family joined the Mormon Church. When they were first invited to attend a Mormon meeting the father agreed to go to the service but he said he would soon knock that into a cocked hat. However, before the service was over he knew that he had found the truth. Soon after this the whole family was baptized. In the spring of 1838 they started by team to join the body of the saints at Far West, Missouri, arriving in the fall of the same year. While at Far West they endured the persecutions by the mobs with the rest of the Saints. It was here they met the prophet Joseph Smith. After their expulsion from Missouri they moved to Quincy, Illinois. In 1842 they moved to Nauvoo where they lived until the expulsion of the Saints by the mob. Harriet's father and mother joined them commence the journey across the plains. One day the oxen strayed away, and Harriet's father went in search of them. He became fatigued and reaching a spring of water, drank from it. It was later learned that the water was poisoned, and it caused his death. His wife, Mary Ann, started the journey, but she also died while crossing the plains."
7. The book "Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude" by the daughters of Utah Pioneers speaks of Mary Ann Hales Hales Thompson,... m. #1 Stephen Hales 31 Aug 1816 at Rodmersham, Kent, England (he died 5 Oct 1846 at Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa), children:
Charles Henry, 17 Jan 1817
Mary Isabella, 20 Nov 1818
Stephen, IV, 17 Oct 1820
George, 30 Oct 1822 (twin)
William, 30 Oct 1822 (twin - died at age 10[this may be an error and 1825 is the usually accepted date of death])
Harriet, 10 Jun 1824
Hannah, 5 Jun 1827 (died at 6 months)
James, 23 Jun 1828 (died at age 1)
Henry William, 7 Aug 1829
Elias, 30 Oct 1831 (died as an infant)
Caroline, 1833 (died as an infant)
...Mary Ann married her first cousin, Stephen Hales on Aug. 31, 1816 in England. She was blessed with 11 children, but buried 5 of them while they were still young. Times were tough in England and they chose to seek a new life in the New World. They left England in June of 1832 and crossed the ocean by sailing vessel. They settled in Scarborough (Toronto), Canada and purchased a small farm. It was here they heard the Gospel message of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Parley P. Pratt...In the Fall of 1838, Mary Ann's family traveled by oxteam to Far West, Missouri where many of the Saints were located. They suffered the persecutions from the mobs. After their expulsion from Missouri, Mary Ann's family stayed close to her and settled in Quincy. Her husband went back to help other Saints escape. They moved to Nauvoo, Illinois by 1841 where her family helped build the city and the temple. She and Stephen received their Endowments in the Nauvoo Temple during the short time it was open. On Oct. 5, 1846, Stephen died from drinking spring water which had been poisoned by the mob..."
8. Several Daughters of the Utah Pioneers biographies exist all based upon the same information I already have cited herein. They are as follows:
A. History of Stephen Hales Written by Mona N. Cook his Great, Great Grand-daugther Camp Heritage Uinta County, Wyoming
Stephen Hales III was born 10 Sept. 1791 at Stockburg, Kent, England. He was the son of Stephen Hales II who was born in 1763 in Stockbum, and Margaret Nichols Harbour. He was the Grandson of Stephen Hales I, {born in] 1927 of Boxley, Kent, England and Ann Church [born in] 1730 of Stockburg.
Stephen was the second of three children. His father died when he was four, and there is no record of a step-father.
At the age of 25 he rmarried Mary Ann Hales, a grand-daughter of Stephen Hales I and Sarah Well, a second wife. Mary Ann was born on the Isle of Shippey.
The family had moved around, and brothers and sisters were born in four different locations in Kent, England.
To this union ten children were bom. As of 31 August 1916, six of them had reached maturity. They are Charles Henry, Mary Isabella, Stephen, George (a surviving twin), Harriet, and Henry William. Three of the others were buried in England. One small boy was buried at sea as they were crossing to Canada in 1832. The family left England for religious freedom and probably partly due to the industrial revolution (machinery taking over much of the work done by hand). They setled near Toronto in a place called Scarborough, and it was here their oldest daughter married. Also, it was here that they heard the Mormon religion taught which impressed them so deeply that the entire family was baptized, including a newly married daughter, Mary Isabella H. Horne, in 1836.
Two years later, in the Spring of 1838, they joined others to travel to Far West Zion - the home of the Saints. Enroute they were joined by others from other places in Canada and the Eastem United States, making up a caravan of 200 wagons traveling. [They were] just awhile behind the last of the Saints leaving Kirtland, 529 strong.
In the Missouri area [which] they were headed form, there was a growing bitterness to the strange-mannered Saints. They came by wagon, walking, or horseback, and overnight had cabins built and fields planted, and planned a place for a temple. "That looks permanent!" people said. They wanted their voting to remain slave-oriented and there were northerners and foreigners, so they were determined to run them out. The Prophet Joseph Smith had had a vision in 1831 concerning the new Zion home for the Saints [which would be] in Missouri, so settling elsewhere seemed unthinkable. Contention brewed, growing worse after the expulsion of the Saints from Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. The Saints had crossed the river and gone north into Clay and Caldwell Counties... When the financial panic of 1837-38 caused the great Saints in Kirtland [to leave that place], they arrived in Missouri, over five hundred strong, followed ten days later by 200 wagons from Canada and [the] Eastern states. Mob violence erupted again. The State Militia was called to settle matters peacefully or the fighting could have led to a Civil War then and there. Missouri was a big hotbed of dissension. They had driven over 11,000 Mormons from Jackson County by {the] summer of 1838, making 15,000 in northern Missouri. The lawless element found much opportunity to plunder.
The new Governor, Govemor Boggs, gave no help. Mobs had driven all outlying settlements into the city of Far West. At the Haun's Mill Massacre, 17 were killed. All of these people were crowded into a small frontier town, causing sanitation and water problems along with the political and religious oppositions. General Lucas massed [the] State Militia within firing distance of Far West and sent word they [the Mormons] were to: (1) give up their leaders, (2) give up all their property for damages that they (the Mormons) had done, (3) that the balance should leave the State under the protection of the militia, and (4) that they must give up arms of every description. The Prophet Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight and George W. Robinson went to negotiate and were all taken as prisoners. The following moming, the militia was marched out of Far West by Captain Hinckle, (who had possesion of the arms delivered to him by the Mormons). The city was now at the mercy of the mob which was augmented by those dismissed from General Lucas's militia.
The night of November 1st, a court martial was held at the Lucas Camp and it was decided that the prisoners were to be shot at sunrise as an example. General Doniphan, who received the orders, refused to obey. But the prisoners and [the) Mormons expected the worst.
With all hope of relief gone, and their leaders in prison, Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball came to the front to unite the members for withdrawal.
Non-members appealed to aid and as the activity grew, Brigham Young and Heber C.Klmball had to flee.
These are the events experienced by the newly joined Hales family. This family, being teenagers, weren't harrassed as other [were] but they were in the exodus from Missouri and made their way to Quincey, [IllinoIs], where they farmed, helped to build Nauvoo, and the temple. Here, four of the children married, and three sons joined the Nauvoo Band and Nauvoo Legion.
After the temple dedication, they all had their temple work done. The youngest boy went with Dad and Mom (December 31,1834.)
Through their faith, they saw marvels we only hear or read about, but I don't know if their children's children retain a very strong abiding faith in their church and all it's leachings.
Stephen Hales lived to be one of the Mormon people to witness the loss of their beloved Prophet and leader. He was one to strongly support Brigham Young in his leadership, preparing the people to bring the herd of cattle from outside Nauvoo to safety, as his family's families were driven from Nauvoo. He and others with this responsibility had their own skirmishes with opposition, in which he suffered loss of health which didn't return. He was buried at Fort Madison, Iowa on the 5th of October, 1846, seven months after the expulsion from Nauvoo, leaving his young families and one seventeen-year-old son, to care for his wife.
(This copy made available through the courtesy of lhe International Society DAugHTERS of Utah PIONEERS may not be reproduced for monetary gain.)
B. History of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales and their son Charles Henry Hales. Written by Crista ell Hales Simons, Great Grandaugnter of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales, Sugarhouse Camp, Salt Lake County:
Stephen was born September 13,1791, Kent County, Rainham England. MaryAnn Hales was born inShepney, Oct. 11, 1798. They imigrated to America in 1832, landing in Toronto, Canada June 16. 1832, where they resided till 1837. Ten children were born to them as follows:
1st. Charles Henry (my grandfather)
2nd. Mary Isabelle
3rd. Stephen
4th. George
5th. William
6th. Harriet
7th. Hanna
8th. Henry William
9th. Elias
10th. Caroline
Seven grew to maturity - Elias dying at sea, June 1, 1836, they first heard the gospel, they also being the first Hales to receive the gospel. It was given first by Orson Pratt to Mary Isabelle Hales Hom, a daughter. Orson was called away on business but told the people his brother Parley Pratt, would be at the next meeting and give them more light and knowledge of the gospel.
At this meeting, every one of Stephen and Mary Ann's children were present, all being so impressed with the Gospel Message, they left their respective churches and attended the Mormon meetings in a group and he and his entire family were converted and baptized during the year 1836. In 1836, they moved their family with the Saints to Jackson County Missouri. They were driven from Missouri and from there, they went with the rest of the Mormon exiles to Nauvoo Illinois.
Here they aided in converting the deadly swamps into then, the largest and most beautiful city in illinois. "Nauvoo the Beautiful."
They also endured with the rest of the Saints the sorrows incident to the Martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum. Grandfather's family and the Smiths were intimately associated, Grandfather knowing the prophet well.
The exodus from Nauvoo found the Hales family ready to move to the unknown west to face the desert Indians; Privations, etc., rather than forsake the religion they knew to be true. They helped to build the Nauvoo Temple, and Stephen and Mary Ann had the Priviledge of taking out their endowments in 1845.
Their oldest child, Charles Henry, who is my grandfather, was born June 17, 1817, in Rainham, Kent County, England. He was fifteen years of age when his father imigrated to America, being old enough to realize the sacrifices made.
While living in Nauvoo, Charles Henry played in the Nauvoo band, and was a member of the Nawoo Legion. In Quincy, Illinois, he met Julia Ann Lockwood and later married her Oct. 31, 1839.
One child, Eliza Ann, was born to them at Quincy, Illinois. Julia A., George, Gillet, and Isabelle were born at Nauvoo, and Charles Henry and Joseph at Garden Grove.
With these six children they crossed the plains with [an] ox team, in the early 1850's, leaving home and farm behind. During the journey to Utah, the family was called upon to endure the greatest sorrow that could come to a family, the death of their mother and father (Stephen and Mary Ann Hales) who were buried on the plains. Charles Henry's family arrived in Salt Lake, Sept. 1852. The following February, John T. Hales was born to them, he being the first Hales born in Utah.
In the spring of 1854, Charles Henry and his family moved to Big Cottonwood. Here Frederic and William were born. For five years they lived there and farmed. Grandfather helped to build the old Paper Mill which still stands as a relic of the past.
In 1856, grandfather had rented a farm and put in crops. Just as plants began to make the fields green, the terrible grasshoppers came, destroying the crops as they did all over Utah. But through faith and prayers, their crops were saved by the Sea Gulls, which God sent to their rescue.
In 1858 they moved to Spanish Fork. Here three more children were born: Josephine, Hyrum, and Harriet. Grandfather took a second wife, Francis Brunyer (my grandmother). They married Saturday, April 18. 1857. Of this union, thriteen children were born as follows:
1st. Lucy Elmina Hales, born April 23, 1858.
2nd. Mary Ann, born November 13, 1859.
3rd. James Lawrence, born August 31,1861.
4th. Charles Alma, born April 19, 1863.
5th. Caroline Elmira, born May 7,1865.
6th, Franklin Henry, born July 21, 1867.
7th. Harmon Brunyer, born August 13,1869.
8th. Edward Moroni, born September 22, 1871.
9th. Joseph Mathew, born July 21, 1873.
10th. Richard Smith, born April 23, 1875.
11th. Sarah Jane, born September 22, 1877.
12th. Hannah Pamelia (Minnie), born June 19, 1879.
13th. Daniel Wells, born October 26, 1880.
Charles Henry was a mason by trade, and farmed. He was a leader and a promotor of education. Before schools were started, he taught his own children how to read and write. He served as City Councilman and was a member for many years, serving as President and Vice President of the Board, and at one time, Superintendent of the store. He contracted and built the City Hall, the Co-op store, oldest school house and many other public buildings. Many homes shall stand as monuments to his memory.
Grandfather was an eamest and willing church worker and helped wherever he was needed. He was a member of the Spanish Fork Choir. At the age of eight years, in the absence of the leader, he led the Choir in the Church of England. During the trouble with the Indians, grandfather and his two sons served as home guards and in the World War, his grandsons and great grandsons fought for world freedom, two of them making the supreme sacrifice.
Charles Henry injured his foot while driving a team and wagon. Although his foot was hurt, he walked to Provo to a meeting. I remember my grandmother, Francis Brunyer, telling my father she had a dream about the three of them (meaning Charles Henry, his first wife, and herself), and that something was going to happen to one of them. It happened to grandfather, and he did not live so very long after this.
Grandfather was also a firm believer in the paying of tithes.
He related to us one time that while making camp fire in the canyon one night, he saw three personages in white, and each time he turned his head to look at them, one disappeared until all three had gone. He always regretted that he did not have the strength to speak to them.
Grandmother cooked for her family of 13 in a large kettle over a fireplace until the oldest child. Lucy Elmina, taught school, and bought her first cook stove. They baked in a brick oven outside and had to clean the snow off the oven before baking the bread, but made delicious bread in this oven with an even brown.
We cannot fully appreciate the inconveniences and difficulties endured by our ancestor pioneers in building this wonderful state and proclaiming this most wonderful Gospel.
(This copy, made available through the courtesy of the Intemational Society DAugHTERS of Utah PIONEERS may not be reproduced for monetary gain.)
C. History of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales and Family. Written by Vinita Holoyck. Great Granddaughter. Mary Siome Camp. Cassia County Company. Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
Stephen Hales and Mary Ann Hales, my great grandparents were both born in England. Stephen in Rainham. Kent County. Sept. 131791. Mary Ann in Shepney on October 11, 1798. This couple migrated to America in the year 1832.
Eleven children were born to them. their names being Charles H., Mary Isabell. Stephen, George, William, Harriet, Hannah, James, Henry William, Elias, and Caroline. Seven grew to maturity. The other four died when small. Elias died in a ship enroute to America and was sorrowfully concealed in a watery grave.
They landed in York, Canada; now Toronto, Canada; June 16, 1832 - Here they resided until 1837.
It was June 1, 1836, so far as we are able to learn that the wonderful message of the Gospet first fell on the ears and received a hearty welcome in the heart and soul of any Hales. It was given first by Orson Pratt to Mrs. Mary Issbell Hales Horn.
Orson Pratt was then called away on business, but told the people that his brother, Parley, would be at the next weekly meeting to further explain the message of the new gospel.
At this meeting all the family of Stephew and MaryAnn Hales were present and they were impressed and happy with the message of Mr. Pratt; so much that they left their respetive Churches and attended the Monnon meetings all together.
It was just a short time thereafter that the whole family joined the church. Thanks to our God that they had heart and courage to accept the great truth, which has been handed down to the generations now living.
The year they joined the church was 1836, and in 1838 they moved with the Saints of Jackson County, Missouri. They were driven from Missouri and from there they went with the rest of Mormon exiles to Nauvoo, Illinois.
Here in Nauvoo they aided in converting the deadly swamps. It was then the largest and most beautiful city of the great state of Illinois. They also endured with the rest of the Saints the sorrow and trouble incident of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.
The exodus from Nauvoo found the Hales family ready and willing to move on to the unknown West to face the desert Indians, privations and exposure, rather than to forsake the religion they knew to be true.
While crossing the plains the family was called upon to endure the greatest sorrow that could come to a family - that of parting with their wife and mother. In some manner our great grandÂÂparent became ill, died, and was buried on the plains.
Charles Henry Hales, the eldest son of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales, and my grandfather, met Julia Ann Lockwood in Quincy. Illinois and married her October 31,1839 (or October 30, 1839). One child was born at this place, Eliza Ann. Julia A., George Gilbert (Gillett), and Isabell were born at Nauvoo. Charles Henry, and Joseph L. were born at Garden Grove, Iowa.
They left Garden Grove, Iowa, in the spring of 1852, and landed in Salt Lake September 1852, where John T. Hales was born in February 1853, he being the first Hales born in Utah.
They lived in Salt Lake the winter of 1853, then moved on a farm in Big Cottonwood in the spring of 1854. Here two children were bom, Frederic and William. They remained at Cottonwood until the year 1858, when they moved to Spanish Fork where three more children were born: Josephine, Hyrum, and Harriet.
Grandfather Hales took a second wife. Her name was Francis Brunyer (or Brunger). Of this union thirteen children were born.
Farming was the principal occupation and he was also a Mason by trade.
He was very prominent in the building of Spanish Fork, being School Trustee for ten years. He was a member of the Spanish Fork Choir for 35 years, also a member of the Spanish Fork Co-op Board for a number of years.
He contracted and built the City Hall in the fall of 1876. He took an active part in Church affairs and was always ready to help for the betterment of the Community.
He died July 1, 1889.
(This copy, made available through the courtesy of the International Society of DAugHTERS of The Utah PIONEERS; may not be reproduced for monetary gain.)
D. History of Stephen Hales. Written by Ora May Sorensen Wilson, His 3rd Great-Grandfther.
Stephen Hales was born 13 September 1791 at Stockbury, Kent, England, the first son and second child of Stephen Hales and rMargaret Nickols. His older sister was Elizabeth, christened 6 June 1790, Stockbury, Kent, England, and younger brother was Lawrence, christened 5 May 1793, Stockbury, Kent, England. He, Stephen was christened 23 October 1791, at Stockbury, Kent, England, as the son of Stephen Hales and Margaret Hales. Stephen Hales, the father, married Margaret Harbour, a widow, at Stockbury, Kent, England on 9 September 1789. Evidently Margaret Nichols married a first husband named Harbour.
Stephen Hales grew up in the Kent County area and experienced all the hardships of England during this period of time. He was married to Mary Ann Hales, date unknown, and they lived in Rainham, Kent. England. They were first cousins because their fathers were half brothers.
Mary Ann was born 11 October 1798 at Shepney, England, a daughter of Henry Hales and Hannah Kidney. Henry Hales was the son of Stephen Hales and Sarah Wells (she was a second wife, married 6 May 1766 at Stockbury, England).
Stephen and Mary Ann were the parents of eleven children. The first ten were born in Rainham, Kent, England and the last one was born in Canada.
Their children were: [Children listed.]
Stephen Hates was a religious man by nature, and belonged to the Methodist faith; however, his wife, Mary Ann, attended the Church of England. The children, according to his daughter, attended the Methodist Church with their father who was faithful in the performance of his religious duties, although he never became a very enthusiastic Methodist. In the year 1832, there was great excitement in the town where this family lived. There were favorable reports being sent from Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania), and great inducements were held out to those interested in going to this country. Stephen and Mary Ann caught the spirit of going, and began to make preparations for leaving England. Before arrangements had been completed for them to go, however, letters were received from Upper Canada, picturing, in glowing terms, the advantages of that country. Stephen Hales changed his mind immediately and made arrangements to emigrate to the town of York, afterwards called Toronto, Canada. Accordingly, on the 16th day of April, 1832, this family, consisting of parents, five sons and two daughters, bade adieu to England. They had a tedious voyage of six weeks across the ocean, and the mother, Mary Ann, was sick during the entire voyage. During the passage across, there were three deaths on board, one of the three being a son, Elias, whom they consigned to a watery grave.
The ship anchored at Quebec in May, and after a tedious passage up the St. Lawrence River by steamer, they landed safely at the town of York, 16 June, 1832, thankful that they were at the journey's end. They were in a strange land and to their dismay found that the cholera was raging fearfully in that region; but through all of those trying scenes the Lord preserved this family in good health.
In the spring of 1833, they moved to the country, about eight miles out of town. to a place located in the township of York, and in the spring of 1834, the entire family attended a Methodist Camp Meeting in the neighborhood. This family was active in the Methodist faith but somehow were always searching for something more. In June of 1836 their daughter lsabella and her new husband, Joseph Horne, attended a meeting about a mile fromtheir home where a man professing to be sent of God was holding a cottage meeting. This man was Elder Orson Pratt, an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her husband were very much impressed with the message of this man. Another meeting was appointed for the following week, and Elder Pratt told them, that business called him away, but his brother, Parley P. Pratt, would be there to preach in his stead.
Isabella took her father, Stephen Hales, and his entire family to hear this preacher at this Mormon meeting. Elder Pratt told them that God was an unchangeable being, the same yesterday, today, and forever - and taught them the gospel in its purity; then shoed from the Bible that the gospel was the same in all ages of the world; but man had wandered from God and the true gospel, and that the Lord had sent an angel to Joseph Smith, restoring to him the pure gospel with its gifts and blessings. Stephen Hales was so delighted with this sermon that he left the Methodist Church immediately and attended the Mormon meetings. In a short time, his family had received this gospel and were baptized into the faith. This made quite a stir among the Methodists in the area. The Hales family were very talented people. They had above average singing voices and most members played a musical instrument. They were missed by the Methodists. One of the class leaders from the Methodist Church came to converse with them and used every argument he could to convince them that Mormonism was false, but to no avail. 'Well," said he, "there are none but children and fools who join them," and he left the family to their fate. All of the family was baptised in the years 1838, 1839, and 1840.
In March of 1838, a small band of Saints started from Canada to gather with the Saints in the states. The Hales family, along with their married daughter, were in this group. The roads were very bad as the frost was coming out of the ground. Consequently, the women drove the teams while the men walked to make the loads lighter. On arriving at Huntsville, one hundred miles from Far West, they found several families of Saints, and stayed a short time with them. These Canadian Saints reached Far West in August of 1838, and received their full share of the privations incident to settlement of that city; and also a full share of the exposure, sickness, and peril incident to expulsion of the Saints from Missouri. This family also went through the hardships at Quincy, Illinois. From Quincy, the family, which now included several daughters-in-law, moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, where they assisted in converting an unwholesome swampland into a beautiful city. Members of this family were in the Nauvoo band and were also members of the Nauvoo Legion. All assisted in the building of the beautiful temple.
Stephen Hales was ordained a High Prist on 8 October 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois. Stephen and Mary Ann also received their washings and anointings and endowments in this temple on 31 December 1845. Several of their children had this privilege also.
When the Saints were driven from Nauvoo early in 1846, the Hales families were among them. Some of them crossed the Mississippi River, then covered with ice, in their wagons. Preparations were made by the families to travel west to a new home where surely there would be peace and happiness.
It is believed that Stephen Hales died not far from Nauvoo on 5 October 1846. He was buried at Fort Madison, Iowa. He was fifty-five years old. His hopes and dreams carried him to a place out west where the Saints of God could live in peace. His dreams were not realized; however, his love of God and his search for the true gospel of Christ made it possible for those of us who are Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, to enjoy the many privileges of being his descendants. We enjoy all the things he hoped for. May we ever honor this great name and always remember who we are. We can truly be thankful that he was willing to give his all, even his life for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we be worthy to be numbered among his posterity.
(This copy made available through the courtesy of the International Society DAugHTERS of Utah PIONEERS may not be reproduced for monetary gain.)
9. Mentioned in "Sketch of the life of Henry William Hales, son of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales. I was born August 7, 1829, at Rainham, Kent, England. In the year 1832, my father and family immigrated to Canada. We settled in Toronto where my father, mother and my oldest brother, Charles, and sister, mary isabella embracd the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in the year 1837. The sring following we started by team to gather with the saints at Far West. We stayed at Kirtland for about three weeks to let the teams recruit, and then headed for Far West. It was there that I first saw the Prophet Joseph Smith when he was betrayed into the hands of the mob by Colonel George Hinckle, when with the other prisoners he was sentenced to be shot without being given a hearing. We were expelled form the state with the rest of the Saints and went to Quincy, Illinois, and remained there until 1841 when we moved to Nauvoo where I heard the Prophet Joseph preach and prophesy and say, "Thus, sayeth the Lord, God," and hear him say he had finished his work and had turned the burden of the Church over to the Twelve Apostles, and they had to round up their shoulders and bear off the Kingdom or they would be damned for he gave them all the keys, powers, and authority he held to build up the Kingdom and htey had to do it. He had laid the foundation and they had to build it up.I saw him when he was going ot carthage and heard him say he "was going like a lamb ot the slaughter, but he was as calm as summer's morniing. He had a conscence void of offense towards God and all men and it would be said of him, "he was murdered in cold blood." I saw him and Hyrum lying in their coffins - I know they were men of God.
I received my endowments at the Temple in Nauvoo, and was ordained a Seventy June 29, 1845 in Nauvoo. I was a member of the 29th Quorum. I was with the first that crossed the Mississippi to leave Nauvoo and come west, and joined the camp at Sugar Creek in Iowa and continued with the camp to Garden Grove and helped to build the houses and fields for those that were not able to go on that season, then went back to Nauvvo to help my father to start west. We went up to Fort Madison where father and I were taken sick. My father died there. I was just getting around when the mob came and made war on the Saints that were left. We could hear the cannons distinctly. We went that fall to Garden Grove where we lived the following winter. We then returned to Fort Madison and got work. I returned to Garden Grove the next year to take care of our stock. My mother got married to Brother William Thompson. I took the teams and moved them to Garden Grove where we remained until 1850 when I married Eliza Ann Ewing, May 19. In the spring of 1851 we started for Salt Lake. My mother died on the plains and was buried at the Ancient Bluff ruins. We arrived in Salt Lake City about September 21. I first built a house at Little Cottonwood and lived there until the spirng of 1853 when I went to Cedar Valley and made my home. During the Indian trouble, I helped to build two forts and participated in all the Indian troubles and through the grasshopper war when flour could not be bought for money at any price. January 11, 1857, I married Sarah Jane McKinney. I was then called to the city to be in readyness to go to Echo Canyon if wanted. I was there when the U.S. Commissioners came to investigate the trouble between the people of Utah and the U.S. Government, and stayed there until the trouble was settled. I remained in Cedar Fort until the fall of 1859 when I went to Big Cottonwod Canyon and stayed until 1861, when I moved to Weber Valley and made a farm at Enterprisse, Morgan County. Here I was chosen to be counselor to Bishop Charles Peterson and also chosen a county commisioner and laid out most of the roads. During high water the Weber River cut my farm in two and carried about ten acres of the best land away.
Soon after,the railroad took a strip, so my farm was ruined. The grasshoppers took six crops and the railroad cut off the water ditch so we could not get water for irrigating purposes until 1873. I then sold and moved back to Cedar Valley and rented a farm and ran a stock ranch until the fall of 1877, when we moved to Laketown, Millard County, and entered and fenced a quarter section of land and farmed and raised stock and sheep until we moved to Deseret and made my present home. May 22, 1889 (or '87) I was ordained a High Priest at Fillmore, and was a presiding Elder of Laketown when we moved to Deseret. I was appointed one of the committee of three to complete the Deseret meetinghouse and continued until it was completed. I was set apart as counselor to Bishop Milton Moody, and continued in that calling until the reorganization of the ward November 22, 1898, and was counselor to Frank Hinckley until I resigned on account of ill health and could not see to be out after night. I was ordained patriarch by J.W. Taylor, Reed Smoot and Ira N. Hinckley, J.W. Taylor being mouth.
I had the privilege of entertaining President Wilford Woodruff and wives two different times, also Owen Woodruff and wife at the same time. Also President Lorenzo Snow and wife Jennie and son LeRoy, also President Joseph F. Smith a number of times, two of his wives and two of his sons, Hyrum M. and Joseph F., Jr. Of the Apostles, George Q. Cannon, Francis M. Lyman and wife, Anthon Lund, Heber J. Grant, John M. Taylor, Reed Smoot and wife, George Teasdale, Orson F. Whitney, Charles W. Penrose of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies, B.H. Robert, Rulon S.Wells, Joseph McMurin.
My wife Eliza had 9 children, 40 grandchildren.
My wife Sarah Jane had 15 children and 15 grandchildren."
10. Nauvoo LDS Land and Records Office research file (copy in my possession as of 2 Jun 2007 and also partially viewable at www.earlylds.com). Includes family group sheet from Ancestral File and Susan Black's entry in her book "Early LDS Members." Includes also several of the DUP biographies noted above as well as the following from the study "Baptisms for the Dead," p. 1511: Lists Stephen Hales, Sr. as a proxy, b. 10 Sep 1791 at Stockbury, Kent, England, to Stephen Hales and Margaret (Mary Ann) Waterman, m. Mary Ann Hales, 31 Aug 1816 at Rodmersham, Kent, England, d. 5 Oct 1846 at Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa. Served as baptismal proxy for his mother Margaret Hales on 9 Dec 1840. Book gives her bio info as Margaret Waterman, b. Oct 1769 in Stockbury, Kent, England with three spouses: John Harbour, m. 15 Oct 1784 at Rodmersham; Stephen Hales, m. 9 Sep 1789 at Stockbury; and James Nichols, m. 13 Nov 1797 at Stockbury. She is bur. 15 Dec 1817 at Stockbury. At this early date, the baptism probably occurred in the Mississippi River since the Nauvoo temple font was not dedicated until late 1841. Later after this baptism, the Church decided that only same gender could be baptized for same gender. Book lists sources as Nauvoo Baptismal Records of the Dead, Book A70; Quincy Branch Record #1753, p. 22: Family Search; and Ancestral File.
BIRTH:
1. Per endowment record cited below.
CHRISTENING:
1. FHL film 1752235 item #2, Archdeacon's Transcript of Stockbury: Stephen Hales, son of Stephen and Margaret, chr. 23 Oct 1791.
2. FHL film 1473718 item #2, Parish Records of Stockbury: Stephen Hales, son of Stephen and Margaret, chr. 23 Oct 1791.
MARRIAGE:
1. FHL film 1473708 Rodmersham, Kent, England Parish Records: "Stephen Hales of this parish, bachelor, and Mary Ann hales of this parish, spinster, were married in this parish by banns with consent of ___ this 31 day of May in the Year 1816 by me Thos. Wilson, Curate. This Marriage was soleminzed between us [signed] Stephen Hales and the mark (X) of Mary Ann Hales. In the presence of Ann Kitney, Marg Nichols, the mark (X) Laurance Hales."
The witnesses appear to be Stephen's mother Margaret (Waterman) Nichols in her third marriage, Stephen's younger brother Lawrence Hales, and Ann Kitney who will marry Lawrence in 1817.
DEATH:
1. Per DUP biography of wife cited above.
SOURCES_MISC:
1. 18 Dec 2002 website .
|
Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1791 - 1846 (55 years)