I hope you all saw the PBS documentary about the hardcart pioneers Monday night, which told of some of the greatest sacrifices made by the saints to establish Zion in the west.
Two people in the Willie company were your great great, or 3xgreat grandmothers: Hannah Dorney and Jane Oakey who were only English girls as the time. The Church website has complete lists of individuals in all the pioneer companies (see lds.org).
Hannah Dorney immigrated from Newent, Gloucester, England. She was 25 years old. She married Joseph Wadlley in the newly-built Endowment House in Salt Lake City on 26 March 1857. She died on February 25, 1860 at the age of 30, having servived the trek only five years. Hannah was the mother of my grandfather Daniel Joseph Wadley.
Jane Oakey was born in Eldersfield, Worchestershire, England on April 8, 1839. When she crossed the plains she was only a 17 year old girl. I believe Jane made the trek west with her mother. Jane became the plural (second) wife of John Ennis and was married in the Endowment House on March 26, 1857. Jane died on July 1, 1862. She was only 23 years old. She bore only one child, my grandmother Rosilla Jane Enniss, who was born in Draper, Utah.
It is said that both of our grandmothers died young from the ill effects on their health suffered on the trail. Something of what they must have gone through was revealed in the television production.
I have a profound respect and love for my great grandmothers Hannah and Jane. It humbles me deeply to know they are my (and your) grandmothers. What a heritage we have in these two angelic pioneers. Some day we will meet them!
Love you all,
Dad/Grandpa Edwards
Scott adds: PBS is rebroadcasting this documentary on December 24th at 2:00 PM in Arizona. Not sure about the other affiliations.
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