HANNAH 'ANN' MARIAH COOK HAMBLIN

Hannah Maria Cook was born 22 Oct.1834 at Cheltenham,

Glouscestershire, England, to Joseph and Hannah Maria Le Chevalier

Cook. Her parents were married 11 Oct. 1831 in Charlton Kings,

Glous. England. Hannah's father was Peter LeChevalier. Joseph was

a gardner. His parents are not now known.

I don't know the conditions that the Cooks lived in, but for most

common people of England at that time conditions were very poor.

Most people lived in small crowded homes, that were often damp and

cold.They had very little food to eat, not much variety. A lot of

their food consisted of thin gruel or porridge. Most children had

to work out to help suppliment the family income. Most children

began work by age 10 or 12, often by age 8. They worked long hours,

often from 4 a m to 8 pm. Sometimes they walked long distances and

had very little to eat as they worked.

Hannah was called Ann by her family, so after this I will refer

to her as Ann. Her mother was usually called Maria. Ann had a

younger sister, Catherine Mansell born in June, 1837. She had a

brother, Joseph Peter, born in 1841. It is possible that she had

two sisters younger, who died in infancy. A family record by Kate

Hamblin listed a Jane born 1841-1844. I got a death record for a

Hannah Maria Le Chevalier Cook who died 9 March, 1845, aged 3

months. Her father was Joseph and Hannah Maria Cook signed, with

an x, the certificate.

In the 1841 Census Joseph was listed as a gardner, Maria was the

mother, children were Ann6, Catherine, 3 and Peter was 6 months.

Ann was baptized into the LDS or Mormon Church 30 Oct.1848 by

John Thurmer. She was 16 then I wish we knew the story of her

conversion. I wonder if she was working out as a servant then.

Her sister Catherine was baptized 21 April, 1851, by William Kerby.

She was about 14.

In the 1851 Census I couldn't find tha family listed together,

but I found an Ann Cook, 17, born in Cheltenham, who was a servant

in the household of John and Hannah Mathews. A niece of the Mathews

was listed as a teacher and there were 5 boys, ages 8 and 9, also

in the household who were listed as pupils. Ann and another girl

were listed as servants.

An Anna Maria Cook, 45, Married, born Tetbury, was listed as a

servant in a home, and a Catherine Cook, 14, was listed as a

servant and a nurse in another household. I feel that these are

our family. I couldn't find Joseph Cook on the census for 1851.

The mother Maria, was baptized 28 January, 1854. She and her 3

children left Cheltenham in March, 1854 for Liverpool to Emigrate

to the United States and to Zion or Utah. They left Liverpool April

8, 1854 on the Marshfield. Hannah Maria was listed as a regular

passenger, which meant that she didn't come through the Perpetual

Emigration Fund. I would think that her husband had died by then,

but so far I have found no record of his death.

I would like here to include a letter written by a man who was

also a passenger on the Marshfield. He describes the trip across

the ocean very well.

"My Dear Brother William--I hail with joy this privilege of

acquainting you of our arrival at New Orleans this morning,(May 29,

1854) after a passage of 51 days from Liverpool, and I rejoice in

having to say that our voyage has been more like an excursion from

London to Margate, or Herne Bay, than a voyage across the vast

Atlantic. I presume that I shall be perfectly safe in saying that a

more pleasant, healthy, and happy voyage had never been known in

tha history of transatlantic emigration, for, although we had a few

days' seasickness, we h ave been free from disease. with but one

exception--Orson William Neild, son of a brother Neild from the

Oldham Branch of the Manchester Conference, and who died on Sunday

night, 23rd April, aged five months. As regarding myself and

family, I might say we have been firstrate.Jane has been a little

poorly a day or two, and William was seasick one day. I had an

attack twice of my old complaint, which brought me to an anchor one

day, but all that is nothing. We are well now, and in firstrate

spirits, thanks to our heavenly Father.

"Well, now for some information which may be useful to you as you

come along. As regards provisions, they have been of the best

quality. I have been greatly deceived both in quantity and

quality, both have been so very good.I brought one cwt.of biscuits

one third would h ave been enough. Half the bacon would have been

plenty.......although the pork seem small per week, yet in a

family, and in there warm latitudes, it is really more thatn you

can use. I brought a quarter cwt of flour; I could have used half

as much more, for if you have flour you can have soft bread every

day. The cooking arrangements are very good, the company is divided

into 8 wards, and each has its turn or use of the galley

alternately during the day, which makes the wards differ in their

dinner times, but all goes on well.

"A few red herring and a good supply of potatoes are very

acceptable. The potatoes relish the pork. The pork was very

good;some we have had as good as you would buy in the shops in

Liverpool.

" I have found your little barrel very useful. In hot weather we

have had frequent showers of rain, which has supplied us

plentifully for washing our clothes. Some baking powders, and

carbonate of soda, and sherbet, are very useful, also some mustard,

lime-juice, plums, currants, caraway seeds, spices for puddings,

pickles, and a few pounds of sugar. Be sure to bring some pres-

erves, and you may reckon upon having tarts all the voyage, which

are very nice in these h ot latitudes, for it is hot and no

mistake. Our only bed-covering is a sheet and that is soon kicked

off when we are in bed.

"Well, now a word about our Church government on board, for I

presume you wish to know all. ELder William Taylor is our

President, and a firstrate fellow he is--a better man, and one who

feels for more for the interests of the Saints, I never met with in

my experience. I thank God I have the happiness of his acquaint-

ance and friendship. ELder Gilbert Clements, another most

excellent man, is one Councellor, and your humble servant is the

other. As I said before, the whole company is divided into 8

wards, or you may call them Branches of our Conference. Each ward

had its president. Four wards on the starboard side were under my

superintendence, those on the other side were under Elder

Clements'. President Taylor was over the whole. We have had

occasionally our council meetings, and sometimes to try offenders,

for you must understand that offences will come. You will be

atonished to see the wickedness of some men and women calling

themselves Saints, when they are, like us, thrown into close

quarters. Let no Saints attempt to gather, unless they are fully

determined to love God, and work righteousness. All our company

are not such. I have learned and seen more of the feelings and

dispositions of the human heart in this short voyage than in the

whole course of my previous life. O, how precious are wisdom and

patience. But, upon the whole, we believe a better company of

"Mormons" never crossed these seas.

"Now for something about our ship and her officers. Our ship, if

I know anything about ships, is about as good a one, for strength,

ventilation, and every other qualification, as ever crossed these

waters. Our Captian is a perfect gentleman, in the fullest sense

of the experssion; he had been a captian in his ship, a father and

friend to his passangers. May God bless him. The mates and seaman

have behaved with greates kindness to all. I can truly saw before

God, that while I have been on board I have been treated like a

gentleman by the captain, officers, and crew. Two of the crew--the

carpenter and a sailor, are going with us to Zion. They have been

engaged as teamsters by some of the passengers, and will be

baptized after leaving the ship. It is not prudent to baptize

seamen on board--it has been proved that they sometimes get

baptized on board merely to assist in their designs upon the honour

of our sisters. We might have baptized all our crew, mates and

all, but our President was too old for them. We have had two

marriages and two births on board.

"From your affectionate brother, Thomas F. Fisher."

This was quite long but, but described the conditions of the ship

so well that I thought I should use it.

I don't know if the Cooks had so much to eat as did Brother

Fisher.

After reading about the condidions on board the ship in other

articles I thought how terrible they were. Condidions they had in

England sometimes were much worse that the life on board ship for

the most part, with the exception possibly of the sea sickness

which everyone suffered at one time or another.

Once on board ship we can see from this letter that things were

very well organized. They had watchmen day and night before the

ships left the port to keep unauthorized persons from going down in

the hatchways. Most passengers boarded ths ship as soon as they

arrived in Liverpool to save expences of board andto be protected

being robbed by "sharpies" on shore.

Passengers arose about 5 or 6 am, cleaned their portions of the

berths, throwing the rubbish overboard. Each ward met and had

prayers.They then had breakfast and went about their various

duties. During the days they had many things to occupy their time.

There were classes taught. Non English speaking people learned

some English and some who spoke English learned some of other

languages. School classews were taught for the children.

Returning missionaries would tell of their experiences. Time was

used wisely. Sometimes other passengers or crew were taught the

Gospel. About 8 or 9 pm they met again for prayers and retired

for the night.

There were 4 to 6 persons assigned to berths (rooms) which were

6 feet square. The beds were 6' by 18". Two people may share a

berth (bed) 6' by 3'. If two strangers shared a berth two planks,

18" high had to be put between them, With so many passengers,

sometimes up to 800 passengers to a ship,rules were sometimer

broken.

Since 1852 single men, 14 and over had to stay in the forepart of

the ship.

The berths were dark and crowded, sometimes damp. During a storm

the baggage, cooking and eating utensils would be scattered about;

food might be spilled. The hatchways were steep and narrow.

Storms caused a great deal of seasickness. This caused a great

terrible smell in the berths. The emigrants were to clean their

berths daily but when they were seasick the were unable to do so.

Conditions would become almost unbearable at times like this.

Usually once a week the crew would scrub the whole living quarters

and the passengers aould go up on deck while it was done.

A typical weeks menu might be rice on Monday, Tuesday, oatmeal,

Wednesday, pork and potatoes and then it would be repeated again.

They were lucky it they had some extra food of their own to put

with it. Infants and small children were the worst off because the

food was often too coarse for their systems and often caused

problems for them.

The average trip took about 7 weeks to New Orleans, La. When

they went to Ports in the east the trip was about 5 weeks. On the 7

week trips the water would often become bad.

Arrangements were made ahead of time for wagons and provisions

for the emigrants. Money was sent ahead of time so these could be

purchased and be ready on time.

When the Marshfield reached the coast of the USA it had to be

towed up the Mississippi River 30 miles to New Orleans before it

docked. The first 30 miles of the river was muddy, with swamps and

rushes on either side of the river. There soon began to be small

plantations and then larger ones beside the river.

The Ship was met at New Orleans by Wm. A. Empey the Church Agent

assigned to them and a few other ships.He arranged for the steam-

boat passage to St. Louis, MO. on up the Mississippi River. Emig-

rants were warned not to eat too much fresh fruit, vegetables and

meat after having had ship fare so long. They were also warned of

swindlers on shore who might take advantage of them when they went

ashore.

The Marshfield Arrived in New Orleans, La. 29May, 1854. Wm.

Empeu got passage for them on the James Robb steamer. The passage

was $2.25 for adults and half that for children. For those under

three it was free.

The trip up the Mississippi River on the James Robb took about 2

weeks. From the ship they could see plains, plantations, gardens,

tropical fruit trees. They saw Black slaves working the fields and

ports. These scenes must have been very interesting to the Saints.

Some scenes were very different than they had seen before. Also

seeing land after being on the ocean for so long must have seen a

wonderful sight. Bluffs could be seen overhanging the river in

places. The Mississippi River is wide and very crooked. It

bordered along at least 6 states. The land must have seemed endless

to those people who came from tiny England.

When they got to St. Louis, Mo. many people were crowded into

rooms to stay until they could leave there. Many died from Maleria

and from Cholera. These Saints were not used to the heat and

dampness and mosquitos which carried the Maleria. Brother Empey

was hard put to find enough coffins for those who died from several

ships which came that spring. I don't know how many died from the

Marshfield. A few did, I know. I wonder if this is what happened

to Hannah Maria Cook, the mother, as I have found no other record

of her after she arrived in New Orleans.

Peter Cook stayed in St. Louis. It was over twenty years later

before Ann and Jospeh Peter contacted each other.

When they got to St. Louis prices had gone up from $! per capita

to $3-$5 for passage on to Kansas City, Mo. It was then known as

West Port. There is where the Saints started their westward trip

in wagon trains. Fares for baggage and freight on wagons had gone

up also. There were many going West because of the Gold Rush

besides the Saints who were going that a shortage was caused.

The higher prices caused the ordinary passengere to rely some on

the Perpetual Emigration Fund for help in getting their outfits to

travel in. Because of these conditions they were later leaving for

Utah than usual.

In 1852 the outfitting place for those going West was changed

from Keokuk, Iowa to Westport, now part of Kansas City, Mo. The

Marshfield Emigrants sailed up the Missouir River in three steam-

boats, across the state of Missouri. They arrived in Westport

about June 17th.

There were 43 wagons in the William A. Empey Company. They left

June 30 or July 1st. They arrived 24 October, 1854. The weather

had remained good for them.

The Saints were to take what tools of their professions with them

that they could, and books, thread, needles cloth if possible. They

were to take flour, sugar, beans, rice, bacon, dried fruit, salt,

vinegar, soap, cornmeal with them, as much as possible. Some of

them may have had a little milk from the cows they were

taking with them. They may have had some wild game to eat once in

a while. Even though they didn't have much, for some it was more

than they had had back in their poverty in England.

What an experience this must have been for those who came from

such a small country as England. They had crossed the wide

Atlantic ocean, traveled by steamboat up the Mississippi River,

crossed Missouri, also by steamboat on a river. Now they crossed

miles and miles of brush and grass covered plains, crossed numerous

streams and rivers, crossed hills and finally the mountains. The

land must have seemed endless to them. How happy they must have

been to finally reach the Great Salt Lake Valley at last.

They had been about ten weeks coming across the land. The

covered wagon beds were 12 feet long and 3'4" wide. There were

usually ten people assigned to a wagon, and one tent for that many,

sometimes there wuold be two tents for every 6 or 8 people. The

Cooks must have been assigned to another family. Most of them

walked all the way. They walked through miles of sand and dust,

hot, dry winds, and rain. Their hands, faces and feet became

chapped and sore.They had to wade streams and rivers, gather

buffalo chips for fuel for fires to cook their suppers. Before the

Cooks arrived in the Valley the nights must have been getting quite

cold.

Evenings were spent in fixing meals, eating, singing and dancing.

They had to h ave some good experiences to keep them going, besides

their great faith. The landscape and climate surely was different

from what they had left. The vastness in itself must have seemed

great to them. How happy they must have been when they finally

climbed the mountain where they could look down on the great valley

and realize that their journey was almost over.

I don't know where the Cooks spent that first winter, probably in

Salt Lake City. The next year on May 28, 1855 Ann married Edwin

Hamblin in Tooele, Utah. I wish we knew how they met.

They didn't stay in Tooele very long because their first child

was born in Brigham City 13 Feb. 1856. Brigham City was settled in

1851. It is about 60 miles Northwest of Salt City. It is said

that Edwin Hamblin planted the first peach trees in Brigham City.

The Hamblins moved further North to Wellsville, in Cashe Valley.

It was settled in 1856. Edwin and Ann had another son, Isaiah, who

was born in Wellsville 7Nov. 1857. In 1858 with Johnson's Army on

the way to Utah the Saints moved South of Salt Lake City. Straw

was put in each home, with man staying there to light the houses

on fire. The Saints were determined that their homes were not going

to be taken away fron them again as they had been several times

before. The Army marched peacefully through the Valley, leaving

everything untouched.

The people then returned home. I don't know if the Hamblins

returned then, for they received a call to settle in Southern Utah.

Edwin's brother, Jacob had been called to work with making peace

with the Indians in Southern Utah. William and Oscar Hamblin had

gone there too. They all helped settle Santa Clara, 4 years before

St. George was settled. The red soil was rich, the climate was

milder. Santa Clara Valley was narrow so many farms were small.

Some were above and some were below the settlement. Most homes

there were of adobe. A few were of rock or were frame houses. Jacob

Hamblin was appointed Mission President there in 1857.

Ann's first daughter, Hannah Maria was born in Santa Clara 12Dec.

1859. She must have been named for her mother and grandmother.

The 1860 Census record gives the Hamblin's home as Mt. Meadows,

which isn't to far from Santa Clara.

The family next moved to Pinto where they stayed for several

years. Pinto is located about 42 miles Northeast of St. George,

Utah. It is 300 miles from Salt Lake City.Pinto is also in a

narrow valley along the Pinto Creek. Pinto became a Ward in 1867.

A rock meetinghouse was built there. Edwin possibly help to build

it.

While they were living in Pinto four children were born to the

Hamblins. They are Catherine Mansell,1 Nov. 1861, Sarah Ann,born1

August, 1863; Josephine, born 9 November, 1864; and Joseph Peter,

born 28 Nov. 1866.

Jacob Hamblin had a ranch and a small settlement was made near it

which was called Hamblin. In the Hebron Ward Records it lists with

the family of Edwin and Ann a son born to them, Hyrum, who was born

June 1, 1868 at Ft. Hamblin. This son died 2 Dec. 1868. This is

the only record I've found of this son. The only thing left of

Hamblin is a small cemetary.Hamblin was located 5 miles west of

Pinto. It was 6,000 feet above sea level and very cold and windy.

Another daughter Emma, was born to the Hamblins 18 Dec. 1869 in

Gunlock, Utah. Gunlock was first settled by William H. Hamblin in

1857. He was wellknown as Gunlock Will because he was such a good

marksman and hunter and was good at repairing guns. Gunlock was 15

miles northwest of Santa CLara.

Just imagine moving that many times with a large family and

moving with covered wagons for transportation. Animals would have

to be taken along also. After coming to Southern Utah the moves

weren't quite so far, but still would have been a big undertaking.

With each move a new home would have to be built, ditches dug, land

cleared, corrals built, gardens planted, and always the threat of

Indian uprisngs. They always tried to be friendly with the

Indians, but it didn't always work.

Edwin and Ann made a trip to Salt Lake in the fall of 1862 to be

sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Endownment House. This must

have been quite a trip for them then, but they didn't have such a

large family then.

The 1870 Census listed their address as Mt. Meadows, which is also

in the same general area.

In about 1871 the family moved to Clover Valley, Nevada. (It was

later named Barclay, but still known as Clover Valley). There were

12 to 15 other families there. It was a very isolated place, being

80 miles northwest of St. George, Utan and at least 30 miles from

the nearest town in Nevada. Again some of their neighbors were

Indians.

Edwins brother, William Haines was to testify in a Silver mine

litigation. Before his testimony was given someone poisened

him.When he realized what had happened he tried to get to Clover

valley where his wife was. He was very ill,and died after reaching

CLover Valley, 8 May,1872. He is burried there.

Two months after William's death, Ann had a baby boy born 8 July,

1872. He was named William Haines, for this uncle.

On August6, 1873 the Hamblins had another daughter, Mary Ellen.

According to the Hebron Ward records they had another son, Parley

Parker Pratt Hamblin. He was born27 June, 1877. He died the same

day. Clover Valley was a Branch of Hebron Ward.

Ann's sister Catherine married Peter Sinclair. They lived in

Salt Lake City. Ann and Catherine corresponded with each other.

Ann also wrote to a Sarah Wheeler who was from Cheltenham. Ann

wrote fo a cousin, Emily Wakefield in Cheltenham. Emily sent the

letter to Joseph Peter who was still in St. Louis, Mo. He got the

letter on 13 Feb.1875 and answered it the next day. This was the

first they had been in touch with each other since they had parted

in St. Louis in 1854. By this time Catherine had died. Joseph

had been in St. Louis all this time except 4 years during the Civil

War when he was in the South. Later he spent some time in

Colorado, but moved back to St. Louis. He married Louisa Smith in

1875. They had at least four children, three who died as

infants.Ann sent their daughter Annie some money for a Christmas

present when she was a few months old.Ann and Jpseph Peter

corresponded until 1883. He may have died then.

Life must have been hard for Ann, moving around so much and

taking care of such a big family. They had to be fairly well

self-sustaining. They had to make their own cloth and clothing,

soap,, butter and cheese. Gardens has to be raised and food

preserved. Washings were an all day job, or longer.

In Clover Valley school and church meetings were held first in

homes and later a school house was built where all meetings were

held.

Ann's daughter Hannah married Thomas Logan 27 May, 1883. Obed

Edwin was married to Margaret Adair 19 July, 1883.

Ann died 15 March 1884 in Clover Valley. She is burried there.

On her headstone it reads" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they

shall see God." This is a special tribute to her.

She had truly dedicated her life to the Lord, had joined His

Church,came from England across the Atlantic ocean, rode up the

mighty Mississippi River, and then up the Missouri river, crossed

the plains and climbed the Rocky mountains, and helped settle many

new places in Utah and finally settled in Nevada. She was only 49

years old when she died. She had lived a lot in those years and

had endured much for the sake of the Gospel and for her family.

This was compiled by Ila Vee Hamblin Larsen, great grandaughter

of Hannah "Ann" Maria Cook Hamblin