Annie Roberts Willey
1851-1931
Annie Roberts Willey was born in Stratford, Essex, England on March 26, 1851. She was the daughter of Ann Reed Everington and Benjamin Roberts. She spent her early youth living near London where her mother sewed for hire and her father did a variety of work including blacksmithing and horse training. Her parents were both converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
When Annie was eleven years old, she migrated from England to America with her mother and baby brother, Thomas. Her father, Benjamin, drifted away from the church and never joined his family in Utah. Annie’s mother was forced by lack of means to leave two children in England (Brigham Henry and Mary Ann Martha) when she immigrated to America.
Anne and two children sailed from England in the spring of 1862. It was a very difficult, stormy voyage taking six weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean. From New York to Utah, Anne and her children traveled in a wagon train. Thomas, who suffered from hydrocephalitis since birth, contracted ‘ship fever’ while crossing the ocean, which greatly weakened his already poor physical condition. The long, weary travel across the plains only complicated his condition. As the pioneers reached the mid-point of their journey Thomas died in his mother’s arms. The Captain of the group prepared a bread box, which he carried in his wagon and used it for a coffin to bury the boy in. The broken hearted mother and Annie left him in a shallow grave at the base of Chimney Rock, Wyoming.
To get the complete history download below.
When Annie was eleven years old, she migrated from England to America with her mother and baby brother, Thomas. Her father, Benjamin, drifted away from the church and never joined his family in Utah. Annie’s mother was forced by lack of means to leave two children in England (Brigham Henry and Mary Ann Martha) when she immigrated to America.
Anne and two children sailed from England in the spring of 1862. It was a very difficult, stormy voyage taking six weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean. From New York to Utah, Anne and her children traveled in a wagon train. Thomas, who suffered from hydrocephalitis since birth, contracted ‘ship fever’ while crossing the ocean, which greatly weakened his already poor physical condition. The long, weary travel across the plains only complicated his condition. As the pioneers reached the mid-point of their journey Thomas died in his mother’s arms. The Captain of the group prepared a bread box, which he carried in his wagon and used it for a coffin to bury the boy in. The broken hearted mother and Annie left him in a shallow grave at the base of Chimney Rock, Wyoming.
To get the complete history download below.
willey_annie_roberts.pdf | |
File Size: | 191 kb |
File Type: |