HORACE ROBERTS HARRIET (MC EVERS) ROBERTS1807 - 1868 1808 - 1876

UTAH PIONEERS OF 1851

OUR HERITAGE

We all know the story of the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620 and of the subsequent establishment of the Plymouth Colony with its several towns. We also know the story of the Puritans who began coming to New England in 1629. They settled near the Plymouth Colony, and founded Boston and nearby towns and became the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritans hated sin, and thought it was their duty to punish people whom they believed to be sinners. Their political government was church connected and church led. This caused much discontent and in 1635 and 1636, several hundred residents of the Bay Colony moved into the Connecticut River Valley in the Windsor-Hartford-Wethersfield area. Here in 1639 they adopted the Hartford Constitution, called the Fundamental Orders, which is honored as the first written constitution of a self-governing people. It was based on the concept that "The foundation of authority is in the free consent of the people. "

Included among those who helped found this, the first permanent settlement in Connecticut were our ancestral families of Dibble, Gibbs, Phelps, Wetmore (Whitmore) andWilton. Among those who came to the settlements later were Adkins, Griswold, Hoskins, Marshall and Moore.

On 10 April 1638 a group of Puritans under the leadership of Theophilus Eaton and. the Reverend John Davenport founded New Haven, which did not become a part of Connecticut until 1665. They had arrived in Boston the summer before, from England, but found the Bay Colony not sufficiently church centered to suit their ideas (in contrast to the founders of the Connecticut settlements, who found it too much so). Included in this group were our ancestral families of Brockett, Clark, Hill and Tuttle. Others who soon joined the New Haven Colony were Bradley, Lane, and Wakefield.

Middletown, Connecticut, also in the Connecticut River Valley, was settled in 1650 by families from the Hartford area. Included in this group were our ancestral families of Hall, Marshall, and Wetmore (Whitmore). And to Middletown, probably not long before her marriage to Thomas Wetmore on 18 October 1673, came the widow Catherine Roberts, and her three Roberts sons, William, our Samuel, and John.

About fifty years later came the settlement of Litchfield Coupty in north-west Connecticut and here our Puritan ancestral lines came together with the marriage of Ephraim Roberts and Huldah Gibbs on 15 May 1796.

But in the meantime we lost one ancestor in King Phillip's War. Captain Samuel Marshall

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died on 19 December 1675, the opening day of the attack on the Narragansett Indian fort in Rhode Island. Another early Colonial Militia officer was Lt. David Wilton, and perhaps there were others.

And we lost two ancestors during the Revolutionary War. Gershom Gibbs, Sr. was captured during the fall of Fort Washington, on Manhattan Island on 16 November 1776. He died 29 December 1776 aboard a British prison ship in New York Harbor. Ephraim Roberts, Sr. served in the Connecticut Militia and contracted illness which led to his death on 5 July 1776. Gershom Gibbs, Jr served with the Connecticut Troops and later drew a pension for his services.

In contrast to our war heros, we have one ancestral Puritan minister, the Reverend Nicholas Street of New Haven, who died there 22 April 1674.

We have one other set of New England ancestors, or at least so closely connected with New England we can count them as such. James McEvers and Louisa Howard were married in Columbia County, New York, within a few miles of the Massachusetts line, and he served in the Revolutionary War from Hancock, Mass. (He later drew a pension for his services.) After the War he lived in New York, Vermont, Ohio and Illinois, where our Horace Roberts and Harriet McEvers, granddaughter of James and Louisa were married.

In 1840 Horace and Harriet joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as apparently did Horace's father, Ephraim, and one or more brothers. In 1851 Horace and Harriet arrived in Provo, Utah, where both remained firm in the Mormon faith until their deaths.

We, the descendants of Horace and Harriet truly have a noble heritage, with its New England puritan beginnings, its Mid-West union through the marriage of Horace and Harriet and its Mid-West Mormon beginnings, and its Western blossoming and expansion under their influence and the influence of the Gospel.

"Our Heritage" written by George Olin Zabriskie November 1967

Horace and his twin brother, Morris, were the 5th and 6th children of Ephraim Roberts and Huldah Gibbs Roberts, born 1 April 1807, in Vienna, Trumble County, Ohio. This village is less than ten miles west of the Pennsylvania border, and less than fifty miles south of Lake Erie. When Harriet McEvers Roberts was given a patriarchal blessing by Hyrum Smith, l February 1844, she said she was the daughter of Charles and Tamma McEvers, and was born at Isle of Motte, now Grand Isle County, Vermont, 3 September 1808. Land records show a Charles McEvers, in 1810, lived at Isle La Motte. This town is on the Isle of Motte, a small island in lake Champlain"

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The earliest known records of the Roberts family in Morgan County, Ill., was the marriage license of Horace and Harriet, dated 27 May 1828. They were married 5 June 1828 in Morgan County by a Justice of the Peace. The application for the license was signed by, "us the parents, Ephraim Roberts, Charles McEvers." On 24 December 1830, Horace and Harriet and his married brothers and sisters and their spouses, sold, for $200, 85.68 acres of land in Morgan County, to their father, Ephraim Roberts.

11 November 1829, the first child of Horace and Harriet, Maria Louisa, was born in adjoining Pike County. Homer was born in Winchester, then Morgan County, now Scott County, 1 January 1831. The next two daughters, Susan and Jane, were also born at Winchester. Horace's brother, Dr. Clark Roberts, was a physician at Winchester for a number of years. His mother, Huldah Gibbs Roberts, died there 17 August 185l, and is buried in the Winchester cemetery. His father, Ephraim Roberts, died 25 August 1861, and is buried in the Ripley cemetery, Ripley, Brown County, Ill.

Ephraim Horace, the second son of Horace and Harriet, was born at Ripley, Brown County, 13 June 1838. The family is listed in the Brown County Federal Census of 1840. Ripley was at that time the location of a number of potteries and many of the people followed the potters trade. This is no doubt where Horace learned the potters trade. His brother, Levi, followed the

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trade for a number of years at Ripley. His sister, Lula Roberts Burton, and her family also lived here.

FEDERAL CENSUS RECORDS

Brown County Illn. 1840 pg 171 Horris Roberts under 5, 5-10, 10-15, 15- 20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50

male 1 1 - - 2 1 1

female 1 1 1 - - 1 -

By 1840, many of the Impoverished Mormon Saints were passing through Ripley on their way to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Ill., and were befriended by the Roberts family. Harriet was the first to join the church, being baptized by Eden Smith, 5 June 1840. Horace was baptized 16 July 1840 Their eldest daughter, Maria Louisa, states in her autobiography that she joined the church the same year She was baptized in October of 1840 by the same Elder that had baptized her parents.

What followed is described by Maria Louisa, "We were set upon by mobs, our house was stoned, our windows were broken, our home and other property was taken from us, and we were compelled to leave it. In February 1838 (should be 1841), I think, we went to Nauvoo, taking everything in one wagon, and on the road was father, and mother, seven children and the wagon driver. 'We arrived at Nauvoo all right, and the Prophet Joseph Smith advised my father to build a pottery and make crockery for the poor saints. But what with was the question only the Lord could answer. However, there was no such word as fail. He went to work at it and ere long had it

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in running order. Many times he was detailed for /a/ guards-man and other public work for the defence of the city and people." Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated located Horace Roberts on Block 27, Wells Addition, Nauvoo. A daughter, Emily, was born 9 May 1841 at Nauvoo. Ac- cording to family records, their oldest son, Homer, died 29 July 1842. A son, Charles Daniel, was born at Nauvoo, 14 October 1843.

Horace, Harriet, and Horace's father, Ephraim Roberts, were baptized in the Mississippi River at Nauvoo for some of their dead ancestors and relatives about 1841. This is the only place that we have record of the membership of Ephraim in the L.D.S. Church. He did not come West with the saints, yet we have no indication that he joined any of the splinter groups. In 1850, he and his wife, Huldah, were living at Ripley near their son, Levi, who had joined the church about 1846. Levi's oldest son, Wm. C., grew up in Ripley, coming to Utah in 1870. When he did the temple ordinances for his father, he stated that he, Levi, had been baptized about 1846, and that his grandfather had also been baptized but apparently was not sure of the year, He also recorded that his stepmother, Elizabeth Lambert Roberts was baptized in 1872. His knowledge of the family while growing up in Ripley would make this information quite acceptable. Levi and Elizabeth came West years later and indicates that some of this part of the family in Illinois were still active in the church.

Nauvoo Baptisms - 1841 (in Mississippi River)

Horace Roberts for Horace Gibbs Nephew (A-67)Grandfather Gibs Grandson (A-59) Grandmother Gibs Grandson " Uncle Gibs Nephew " Ebby Cadger Great grandson (A-211)

Harriet Roberts for Charles Macevens Daughter (A-105) James Macevens Grand daughter "

Horace Roberts for Roberts (grandfather) Grandson (A-137) Roberts (grandmother) Grandson "

Ephraim Roberts for Ezra Roberts Grandson (A-140) Roberts (grandmother) Grandson " Phebe Palmer Half-brother (A-127) Clark (grandfather) Grandson (A-26) Clark (grandmother) Grandson " Asahel Edwards Stepson (A-40)

When Horace was given a Patriarchal Blessing by Hyrum Smith, Patriarch of the Church, 1 February 1844, he was told that he was of the seed of Jacob, of the linage and tribe of Manassah. He also received a blessing 27 August 1845, from John Smith. Harriet received her blessings from the same two men on the same days. By this time, Horace was a Seventy in the Melchizedek Priesthood, having been ordained to that office by Brigham Young, 7 April 1842.

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The Nauvoo Temple was commenced 6 April 1841 with the laying of the corner stones and completed for the endowments of the Saints, 10 Dec. 1845, and used for that purpose until 7 February 1846. Horace and Harriet received their endowments Tuesday, January 20th, 1846. From the Nauvoo Temple Records, "Commenced the washing and anointing of company number 5 in the male department at 8 o'clock. The following persons were washed and anointed, - Horace Roberts, born April 1 , 1807, seventy, - and others. Finished at 9:15. In the female department, commencing at 45 minutes after 7 o'clock, the following persons were washed and anointed, - Harriet Roberts, born Sept. 3,1808, -. Finished at 9:15. At half past 9 commenced receiving into the lower and middle department, company number 5. At 11 o'clock P.M., commenced receiving into the upper department, company number 5. Horace Roberts (received) by F. D. Richards, Harriet Roberts (received) by H. Roberts."

With their expulsion from Nauvoo with the Saints, they moved across Iowa to Winter Quarters Nebraska. 1848 proved a very eventful year. They were sealed for eternity by Brigham Young at the Roberts home in Winter Quarters, 1 February 1848. In April, Charles Daniel was drowned in the Missouri. In a series of articles written by Andrew Jensen and entitled "The Tragedy of Winter Quarters,” Deseret News, 31 October 1936, Church News Section, pg 5, is this paragraph, "Wednesday, April 26, 1848, Charles D. Roberts, (4 years), son of Horace and Harriet Roberts, was drowned in the Missouri River at Winter Quarters. He was born in Nauvoo, Ill., 14 October 1843." Charles Daniel Roberts is buried in grave #303, in the burial grounds at Winter Quarters, Northwest Corner. A son, Morris Geraldus, was born in May of this year.

Many Mormon communities were begun in Iowa to raise crops for food to send to the Saints in Utah. The Roberts family lived at Kanesville, Pottawatamie County, prior to their move to Utah. They were listed in the Federal Census for the year of 1850. Their youngest daughter, Laura Celestia, was born here in Iowa. Like the other Saints, they remained here just long enough to prepare for their emigration to the West.

FEDERAL CENSUS

Pottawatamie County, Iowa. 12 Sept. 1850. 208-135. Horace Roberts 44 Potter OhioHarriet 42 Vt.Louisa 20 In school Ill.

Susan 16 " “Jane 14 " “Ephraim 12 " “Emily 9 " “Geraldus 3 " Neb’y Ty.

With the help provided by the Perpetual Emigration Fund, they outfitted themselves with

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a team of oxen and wagon and made the move to Utah in the fall of 1851. They arrived in Provo late in that year. Provo had been settled just a few years earlier but had very few families as yet. As was the custom, they were rebaptized upon arriving in Zion. The Provo City Branch records give the date as 5 January 1852. This was the first baptism for their daughter, Emily. On page 26 of the branch record we find this note, "Emily Roberts died 18 February 1852.” She was buried in one of the small cemeteries used by the settlers in the very early years but was among those whose bodies were moved to the Provo City Cemetery in 1854. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers have erected a monument in the Provo City Cemetery which reads, "Pioneer Burial Ground. In 1854, the original four blocks of this cemetery became the final burial ground for Provo Pioneers who were first buried in Fort Field, Grand View, and Temple Hill, and later moved to the cemetery. The known ones are, - Emily Roberts - and others.”

These extracts are from "Early History of Provo and Minutes of the Meetings of the Aaronic Priesthood. 1849 to 1872." The original volume was found in the basement of the old Provo Tabernacle. It was preserved by BYU until microfilmed in 1950 when the Church Historian's Office received them.

Film #979, 2 Z99. V2, BYU Library call number. The original volume is in the Church Historian's Office in Salt Lake City. This film is

indexed there as "Utah Stake, organized as Provo Stake ( old), 9 Mar. 1851, name changed later."

Pg. 24, marr. Thomas Wheeler to Jane Roberts, 25 Mar. 1852 by I. Higbee.

Pg. 26, Emily Roberts died 18 Feb. l852.

PROVO CITY BRANCH RECORD.

Pg. 37, baptized 5 Jan. 1852. Clark Roberts Aldrich (?)RobertsWm..Roberts Horace Roberts Harriet Roberts Susan Roberts Jane Roberts Ephraim Roberts Emily Roberts

Pg.46 Horace Roberts b. Vienna, Trumble, Ohio. Seventy. 1 Apr. /07. bapt.16 Ju1y 1840 by

Eden Smith. Parents, Ephraim and Hulda Roberts. Harriet Roberts b. Franklin Vt.3 Sept. /08. bapt. 5 June l840 by Eden Smith. Parents

James and Tamma Knapp.

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Susan Roberts

b.Winchester, Brown, Illn. 1 Feb. /34. bapt.. 5 June1844 by Horace Roberts. Parents, Horace and Harriet Roberts.

Ephraim Roberts, b. Ripley, Brown, Illn.. 13 June /37. bapt. 15 Sept. 1849 by HoraceRoberts. Parents, Horace and Harriet Roberts.

Emily Roberts, b. Nauvoo, Hancock, Illn.. 9 May 184l. bapt. 5 Jan. 1852. Parents, Horace and Harriet Roberts.

Pg 54. Maria Newell, b. 11 Nov. /29. Rebapt.11 Sept. 1853 by Horace Roberts. Pg. 68 Line 6, Horace Roberts, bapt. l6 July 1840. Line 7; Harriet Roberts, bapt. 5 June 1840. Line 8, Elliot A. Newell, bapt. Aug.1841 by John Parks. Line 9, Maria L. Newell, bapt. Oct.1840 by Eden Smith. These four rebapt. 1 Sept. 1855 Jane Wheeler, b. Winchester, Brown, Illn. 4 June /36. bapt. June 1847 by Horace

Roberts. Rebapt. 11 Sept. 1855.

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The Deseret News of 7 February 1852 stated, "A pottery is in full blast at Provo. and a good crockery produced by Horace Roberts." He received the first certificates of ownership for city lots in Block 115 in August and September of 1852. The home and potters shop was located on the corner of Fifth West, (first known as West Main St.) and Fourth North. This is no doubt the location of the shop when first started. By November of 1855, quite a large dwelling house had been erected. It was adobe, 1-1/2 stories high, with seven rooms. It had a cellar and porch, also a good well. The potter's shop had three rooms. The upper floor was used as a dance hall and the lower floor for making and storing finished pottery. A kiln for baking and glazing the pottery was built nearby.

His youngest daughter, Laura, in her later years gave us a description of both the pottery and the methods used in making crockery. "Father's pottery shop was a large adobe building. The lower floor he used for crockery ware, and the upper floor for a dance hall where the boys would pay for their tickets with homemade candles, squash, carrots, and such things. The clay for the pottery was hauled from the country some place with wagons and ox teams. or sometimes horses. Father had what was called a 'potter’s wheel’ which was run by pedals underneath it. The wheel was level, and he would put great balls of clay on it and shape it into crocks with his hands while turning the wheel with his feet. Then he had a big sponge which he wet and washed off the loose sand and dirt. He then put the crock on the shelf to dry. After it had dried, he glazed it with lead glazing.

People in those days used tea, which they bought in caddies made of lead and paper. Father would melt these caddies in a big iron pot and burn the paper out. Then he would make a paste of flour and water and mix with the lead and glaze the crockery in that. After the soldiers came, he bought lead bars from them. The bars were about eighteen inches long and about as large as my finger, and he made glazing out of them instead of the tea caddies. After the glazing was finished, the crocks were put into a kiln and burned.

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There were not only crocks, but plates, cups and saucers, bowls, pitchers, mugs, and almost everything that anyone used in the kitchen. If he wanted a different color, he would add lampblack to the glazing mixture. The dishes were made on molds of clay. After they had stood for a few minutes on the mold, they would shrink away, and could be easily lifted off. They were then sponged and glazed, just as the crocks were.

The kiln was a big room made of adobe, with the door in one end. The crockery was piled in there in such a way as to let the heat go all through it. The fire was built in an arch underneath the kiln. The arch ran the full length of the kiln. The fire was started slow, and gradually increased, until the crockery was all red-hot. This took a week or ten days. Father would then closeup the place where he fed the fire with sheet iron and dirt to shut out the air, and then leave it for several days to cool off gradually so that the crocks would not crack. It was roofed over with adobes with here and there a four inch hole left for the smoke to escape.”

Utah County Probate Court. GS ser # 482934 pg. 352

Wesley Wheeler and Joseph Hunt defendants; charge included "drawing a pistol in a Ball Room, " victim was shot in the left thigh during a scuffle in the hall of Horace Roberts. Charge was dismissed as all had been drinking and the shot was not intentional. Dated 5 Sep. 1859.

Many pieces of property in Provo City as well as farm ground, owned by Horace Roberts, are listed in the Utah County land deeds. In August of 1855, he deeded to Brigham Young and the church, as a consecration to the United Order, the property and improvements on Block 115 including their personal property as well as Block 34 and the west half of Block 58. When Harriet was granted the property in 1870, it included only Lot 2 and the W 1/4 Lot 1, Block115.

Utah County Tax Assessments - G.S. Ser. 22701 1865 Roberts, Horace, Land & Imp. Cattle Total Property

" " $1 000 2-$60 $1,1701866 " " $ 750 1-$25 $ 9151867-1868-1869 not available1870 Roberts, Harriet $300 $330 1871 “ ” $300 $3301872 ” “ - - widow

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Utah County Probate Court. GS ser # 482986 pg 356-7

Horace Roberts Consecration Deed. Horace Roberts to Brigham Young and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints South Half Block 115 - 1 128/160 acres Provo City Building lots. With adobe house, 1-1/2 stories high, with 7 rooms, cellar and porch, and a good well. Also a potter's shop with three rooms, and four rods of fort wall. Value, $1400.00. Block 34, and west half of block 58, 5 and 54/120 acres, Provo City building lots. Value, $150.00. One cow and calf, value $35.003 swine, value $27.00 One cooking stove, value $50.00 Household furniture and bedding, value $150.00Farming and mechanics tools, value $50.00 Dry goods, value $100.00 Crocks on hand, value $50.00 Total, $2,012.00. Deed proved 14 Aug. 1855, recorded 20 Aug. 1855.

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UTAH COUNTY LAND DEEDS. GS ser 482986 pg.57

Cert. #394 Horace Roberts, 27 Sep. 1853 Lot 1 Block 34 Provo City LotsCert. #278 Horace Roberts, 27 Sep. 1853 Lot 2 Block 34 Provo City LotsCert. #395 Horace Roberts, 27 Sep. 1853 Lot 7 Block 34 Provo City LotsCert. #--- Horace Roberts, 27 Sep. 1853 Lot 8 Block 34 Provo City Lots

pg.75

Cert. #194 Horace Roberts, 13 Aug. 1853 Lot 5 Block 106 Provo City Lots

pg77

Cert. #194 Horace Roberts, 13 Aug. 1852 Lot 3 Block 115 Provo City LotsCert. #212 Horace Roberts, 18 Sep. 1852 Lot 8 Block 115 Provo City Lots

pg 81

Transfer #46, David Cook to Horace Roberts, Lot 5 Block 34, 8 Mar. 1853

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Transfer #47, David Cook to Horace Roberts, Lot 6 Block 34, 8 Mar. 1853Transfer #48, David Cook to Horace Roberts, Lot 3 Block 34, 8 Mar. 1853Transfer #49, David Cook to Horace Roberts, Lot 4 Block 34, 8 Mar. 1853 $50.00Transfer #52, Henry I. Young to Horace Roberts, Lot 6 Block 106 8 Mar. 1853 $ 5.00Transfer #53, Johnson Branch & Bryant Young

to Horace Roberts Lot 7 Block 106 “ $ 5.00Transfer #148, George Cory to Horace Roberts, Lot 4 Block 17, “ $60.00From Horace Roberts to LDS Church, 14 Aug, 1855West ½ Block 58 Provo City LotsProvo City Farm Lands

pg. 105

Trans. #45, Daniel Cook to Horace Roberts Lot 15 Block 23, 5 acres, 8 Mar. 1853 $50.00 Trans. #50, Daniel Cook to Horace Roberts Lot 14 Block 23, 5 acres, 8 Mar. 1853 $50.00 Trans. #207, George B1aley to Horace Roberts Lot 1, Block 53,. 9-.18/160 acres, 8 Feb. 1854 Trans. #214, John W. Radford to Horace Roberts Lot 19 Block 14, 10 acres, 27 Feb. 1854

pg. 227, Provo City Lots Trans. #356, David C1uff Sr. to Horace Roberts Lots 1 & 2 Block 115-144/160 acre

8 Jan., 1855 $125.00

GS ser 482987 pg 265, Provo City Lots Deed, Thomas J. Wilson to Horace Roberts Lots 5 & 6 Block 64, 144/160 acre

21 Feb. 1858 $100.00

pg. 448, Provo City Lots Cert. # 15 Horace Roberts Lot 7 Block 40, 72/160 acre 20 Apr. 1864

GS ser 498433 pg 259, Provo City Lots Cert. #19 Horace Roberts Lot 3 Block 114, 72/160 acre 26 Apr. 1864

Block 115-A is between 4th North and 5th North and between 4th West and 5th West.Block 34-A would be about 4th South and 12th West but is in the present R. R. yards.Lots 6 & 7, Block 106-A is the NE l/4, and Lot 5 is the NW 1/8 of the block bounded by 4th and 5th West and by 3rd and 4th North, facing Block l15-A.Lot 4, Block l7-A faces 6th West between 4th and 5th South Lots 5 & 6, Block 64-A is the entire frontage on Center Street between 2nd & 3rd So.Lot 7, Block 40 faces 4th West between 2nd and 3rd South. Lot 3, Block 114-A faces 4th West between 4th and 5th North.No maps are available showing location of farm lands

HISTORY OF PROVO, By J. Marinus Jensen, M.A.Published 1924

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Pg. 104 Mudd Wall built, Spring of 1854

"It was planned to build the wall on what is now Seventh West Street, from Sixth South to Fifth North and east on these streets to the present University A venue and along the avenue to complete the enclosure. ... In the building of the wall, a number of rods were apportioned to every man, and additional amounts of work were to be done by those men who owned city lots.”

(Horace Roberts deeded four rods of fort wall to the church in his consecration deed to the United Order, 14 Aug. 1855. Fifth West Street in Provo was at one time known as West Main Street.)

Pg. 289

"Potter Roberts appears to have been the first man to manufacture crockery ware in Provo. He began turning his wheel on the east side of West Main St. in the Sixties.”

On 21 Feb. 1858, Horace Roberts purchased from Thomas J .Wilson, Lots 5 and 6, Block 64, for $100 00. He sold them on 24 Feb. 1858 to Nathan W. Parker for $150.00. This is the entire frontage on the south side of West Center Street between 2nd and 3rd West.

The Roberts family were members of the Provo City Branch of the church. The early Provo Ward records now available contain no mention of them. Entries as late as 1855, their rebaptism dates, are in the Branch records although the wards had been organized some years earlier. Horace was a member of the 12th Quorum of Seventy, Provo City. He was ordained a High Priest by George A. Smith, July 1858, and was a member of the Utah Stake High Priests Quorum until his death in 1868. He and Harriet were sealed in the Endowment House, 22 Aug. l867. This was a practice, to be sealed in the Endowment House, by those who had been sealed prior to the Saints moving to Utah.

FEDERAL CENSUS l860

Provo, Utah County, Utah, 18 Sept. 1860 pg. 2988-2327pg. 340 Horace Roberts 53 Potter OhioHarriet 5l Vt.Ephraim 22 Ill. Geraldus 1 l M in school Ill.Laura 9 F " Ill.

Most family records state that Horace died on Christmas day, but the year has been the subject of much conflicting record keeping. One grandson records it as 25 Dec. 1868, Harriet filed a petition with the court on 3 Dec. 1869, asking for the title to the property as the widow of

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the late Horace Roberts. This would make 25 Dec. 1868 the most logical date. He had been in poor health for a number of years. He was buried in the Provo City Cemetery. The location of the grave unknown.

Utah County Probate Court, 17 Mar. 1870, "Harriet Roberts appeared to answer to statement #265 filed Dec. 3/69 claiming lot 2 and W 1 /4 1ot 1 in block 115, area 90/160 acres, plat A, Provo. Presented transfer from D. Cluff original claimant, to Horace Roberts, her late husband. Which, upon references to the county records, proved to be correct. Where- upon the court adjudged Harriet Roberts the rightful claimant of said land and ordered to certificate to issue.”

FEDERAL CENSUS 1870

Provo, Utah County, Utah, 1870, 2nd Ward, pg 109Roberts, Harriet 61 Vt.Roberts, Susan 36 Ill.(should be Harrison)Roberts, Morris 22 Nebr.Zabriska, Alva 15 UtahZabriska, Susan 5 Utah(should be Harrison)Roberts, Jane 36 England

The Provo City Cemetery records list the death of Harriet as 21 Feb. 1876. Her birth place is given as Isle La Motte, Vermont. The location of her grave is also unknown.

CHILDREN OF HORACE ROBERTS AND HARRIET (MC EVERS) ROBERTS

Maria Louisa Roberts was born at Montezuma, Pike County, Ill., 11 Nov. 1829. Joined LDS Church in Oct. 1840 at Ripley, Brown County; Ill. Later lived at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Ill., Iowa, and at Provo, Utah County, Utah. Died at Provo, 16 Sept. 1903, buried in Provo City Cemetery. Married Isaac Decker 26 Jan. 1846. Married Elliot Alfred Newell 4 May 1851 at Council Bluff, Iowa. Came to Utah summer of 1852 settling in Provo. She and Elliot Alfred Newell were the parents of eleven children. He died 14 Jan. 1893 at Provo. He was the son of Almon and Olive Comstock Newell.

Homer Roberts, born at Winchester, Scott County, Ill., 1 Jan. 1831. Died 29 July 1842 while the family lived at Nauvoo.

Susan Roberts was born at Winchester, Scott County, Ill., 16 Feb. 1834. Joined LDS Church 5 June 1844 at Nauvoo. Later lived in Iowa, Provo, Utah County, Utah, Pleasant Grove, Fairview, Vineyard, and American Fork, Utah. Died at American Fork 14 Apr. 1920. Buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Married Alva Zabriskie 25 Jan. 1854 at Provo. He was the son of Lewis and Amelia Burton Zabriskie. He died at Provo, 8 Jan. 1860, buried there. They were the parents of three children. She married Thomas Harrison, date unknown. They were the parents of one child. Married John Neff at Salt Lake City, 23 Nov. 1874. He died at Pleasant Grove, 5 June 1877, buried there. They were the parents of one child. Married John Hayes, date unknown.

Jane Cecelia Roberts, born at Winchester, Scott County, Ill., 4 June 1836. Joined LDS Church, June1847. Lived at Nauvoo and later at Iowa, Provo; Utah County, Utah,

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Bellview, Sterling and Castle Dale, Utah. Died at Castle Dale, Utah, 19 Feb. 1910. Buried there. Married Thomas Jefferson Wheeler, 25 Mar. 1852 at Provo. Divorced 9 Dec. 1856. They were the parents of two children. Married at Provo to James Chauncy Snow, 2 Dec. 1856. He was the son of Gardner and Sarah Hastings Snow. He died at Sterling, Sanpete County, Utah, 30 Apr. 1884, buried there. They were the parents of eleven children. She married John Peterson, date unknown.

Ephraim Horace Roberts, born at Ripley, Brown County, Ill., 13 June 1838. Joined LDS Church 15 Sept. 1849. Lived at Nauvoo and later at Iowa, Salt Lake City, Provo, Utah County, Mona, Juab County, and Naples, Uintah County, Utah. Died at Vernal, Uintah County, 14 July 1911, buried there. Married Emma Dorothy Bell, 2 Nov. 1861 at Provo, Utah. She was the daughter of John Watson Sr. and Ann Fish Bell. She died 9 Jan. 1911, at Vernal, buried there. They were the parents of twelve children.

Emily Roberts, born at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Ill., 9 May 1841. Joined LDS Church 5 Jan. 1852 at Provo, Utah. Lived in Iowa and Provo. Died at Provo, 18 Feb. 1852. Buried in the Provo City Cemetery.

Charles Daniel Roberts, born at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Ill., 14 0ct. 1843. Drowned in the Missouri River at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, 26 April l848. Buried in the burial grounds at Winter Quarters.

Morris Geraldus Roberts, born at Winter Quarters, Douglas County, Nebraska, 26 May 1848. Joined LDS Church in 1856. Later lived in Iowa and at Provo, Utah. Long time employee of Provo City. Never married. Died at Provo, 29 July 1924. Buried there.

Laura Celestia Roberts, born at Kanesville, Iowa, 8 Aug. 1850. Joined LDS Church in August 1858. Lived at Provo, Utah County, Mona, Juab County, Aztec, San Juan County, New Mexico, Mancos, Montezuma County, Colorado, and at Roosevelt, Duchesne County, Utah. Died in Roosevelt, 18 Sept. 1933, buried there. Married John Watson Bell, Jr., 1 Jan. 1866 at Provo. He was the son of John Watson and Ann Fish Bell. He died 2 Aug. l9l7 at Kline, La Plata County, Colorado. They were the parents of 15 children.

MARY JANE BIGELOW

Mary Jane Bigelow became the second wife of Horace Roberts. She was born in Lawrenceville, Lawrence County,Ill., 15 Oct. 1827, the daughter of Nahum and Mary Jane Gibbs Bigelow. In the Provo Second Ward, records for 1852, her bapt. date is given as 1 Apr. 1838. Her mother is given as Mary Jane Bigelow with the same bapt. date.

She married Brigham Young at Winter Quarters, along with her younger sister, Lucy, 20 Mar. 1847. Upon her arrival in the valley she was released from her vows, at her request, by Brigham Young. Her father died at Farmington, Utah, 28 Jan. 1851. She, with her mother and younger brothers and sisters moved to Provo early in 1852. She was rebaptized in the Provo Second Ward, 28 Aug. 1852.

Mary Jane Bigelow married Horace Roberts, 29 Sept. 1851. According to the church. records in the Temple Index Bureau, she then married John Bair, 8 Apr. 1856. Her next marriage, according to the same source was to Daniel Durham Hunt, 14 Feb. 1859. Fifth, she married Philander Bell, 9 Apr. 1868. In the census of Utah County, Provo City, 1860, she was living with her mother and brother, using her maiden name of Mary Jane Bigelow. She died 26 Sept. 1868.

THE LIFE STORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG, by Susa Young Gates, 1931 BYU Library, M 270.3, G227 pg. 342

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"And as long as people are human there will remain the inevitable crossing of human wills and the undeniable right to change one's mind.

Such right was claimed by only one of father's many wives, one of the Bigelow sisters whom he married in Winter Quarters, Aunt Mary Jane, the sister of my own dear mother. Because of the conditions, neither of the sister was wife in fact either at Winter Quarters or during the journey. After arrival in the Valley, Aunt Mary Jane decided that it would be impossible for her to be happy as the plural wife of any man, even a Prophet of the Lord. So she went to father, explained her feelings, and asked to be released from her vows.

Her wish was readily granted with no bad feelings on either side, for Brigham Young believed that in all respects and in marriage especially women should exercise their complete free agency.“

JANE ELIZA (GRAVES) ROBERTS

Jane Eliza Graves, a young English immigrant, became the third wife of Horace Roberts. She was born at Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, 21 Sept. 1832, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Sarah (Baker) Graves. She was the sixth of twelve children, only two of whom we know grew to maturity. Her mother died about 1838 and her father married, in 1840, Mary Newman. They were the parents of ten children. Mr. Graves always took a great interest in education and devoted much of his time to the art of penmanship. He was hired as a tutor for the children of Queen Victoria. The family joined the Church in England and emigrated to Utah in 1855. Horace and Jane Eliza were married at Provo, 11 Dec. 1856. He was listed as surity with the Perpetual Emigration Fund, for her passage. When the 1870 federal census was taken, she was living with Harriet and her family, apparently in the family home on Fifth West. The 1880 census shows her living with the family of H. C. Southworth in the 3rd Ward. She was a patient at the Utah County Infirmery from May 1901 until her death 1 May 1929. She is buried in the Provo City Cemetery.

Obituary of Jane Eliza (Graves) Roberts, third wife of Horace Roberts EVENING HERALD, Provo, Utah, Thursday, May 2, 1929, Page #1

91 YEAR OLD PROVO WOMAN ANSWERS CALL Mrs. Jane Roberts,9l, widow of Horace Roberts, died Wednesday evening at the county

infirmary. According to reports at the hospital, Mrs. Roberts was born in England, June 20, 1837

(should be 21 Sept. 1832). She joined the L.D.S. church in her native land and came to this country in 1847 (should be 1855). For many years she was a resident of the Provo Third Ward.

She had been a patient at the infirmary since May 9, 1901. Surviving are one son and one daughter.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Berg Mortuary Chapel. The body may be viewed at the chapel prior to the services. Interment will be in the Provo City Cemetery.

List of passengers leaving Liverpool, England, 17 April 1855. Sailed on the Chiborazo. Pg. 154, ticket #194, P. and E. fund. Graves, Daniel 49 accountant “ Mary 38 wife “ Elizabeth 27 spinster " Eliza Jane 23 spinster " Henry 13

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" Elizabeth S. 12 " Robert D. 10 " Char M. 8 “ Joseph N. 6 Address; 15 Stephen St., Lipson Grove, Hertsforshire, London.

English Census, 1851. Kings Langley. House #20 as of 30 March 1851. Pg 5Graves, Elizabeth 22 schoolmasters daughter, head Norfolk, Yarmouth " Jane Eliz 18 sister Norfolk, Yarmouth " Henry 9 brother Middlesex, Kensall Green " Eliz. 7 sister Middlesex, Paddington " Daniel 6 brother Middlesex Paddington " Charlotte 3 sister Herts. Watford " Nephi 2 brother Herts. Herringsgate " Frances 1 sister Herts. Herringsgate " Maronay 2 mo. brother Herts. Kings Langley

CHILD OF HORACE ROBERTS AND JANE ELIZA (GRAVES) ROBERTS

Emeline Elizabeth Roberts, born at Provo, Utah County, Utah, 24 Oct. 1858. Was baptized a member of the Mormon Church by Bishop Harrington of American Fork. Rebaptized at Midway, Utah, 8 Aug. 1880. Married Albert Cooper about 1871. Later divorced. They were the parents of 7 children. They lived in a number of towns near Provo. Married John Christopher Byrne, about 1889. He died 4 Aug. 1903, West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah. They were the parents of 8 children. They also lived in a number of communities in central Utah. Married (3) Wesley, Mouser, lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. Married (4) Axel Johnson. He died 15 Sept. 1942, Pocatello, Idaho. They lived in Pocatello. She died 11 April 1950, while living with her son, Charles Everoux Byrne, in Pocatello. Buried there in Mt. View Cemetery.

Jane Eliza Graves and Horace Roberts may have had one son. Many family records state that they did but no name or date of birth has ever been located in any church or vital records. Her obituary states that she was survived by one son and one daughter. I

PATRIARCHAL BLESSING OF HORACE ROBERTS

Patriarchal Blessings Vol. 41 Page 200A Patriarchal Blessing of Horace Roberts, son of Ephraim and Huldah Roberts. Born in

the town of Smithfield, County of Trumble, State of Ohio, April 1st, 1801. Brother Horace, I lay my hands upon your head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth to place

and seal a blessing upon you, touching your lineage, manifesting your rights inherent. Behold I say unto you, Horace, you shall be blessed Temporally and by and by, Spiritually, for the day will come and is close at hand when your mind will be more matured and the spirit shall feel after you, for yet there is a work for you to do which you know not at this time, and an important Mission in which salvation shall be administered unto many. The same shall be a blessing unto you and (page 201) unto your House even unto your posterity after you. Wisdom and knowledge shall be imparted, even the mysteries of God unfolded, otherwise there would have and the

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blessings that are in the Priesthood would not have been imparted. Therefore, in this thing, you shall be blessed even Spiritually and Temporally, all coming to pass in due time according to the will of God. Nevertheless, you have your agency and the field is before you and the promises are made unto you in former times, the most important ones I place and seal upon your head, you being of the seed of Jacob, of the lineage and tribe of Manassah. In this lineage cometh Priesthood and the rights inherent, but there is an inheritance unto all the seed of Abraham and a Priesthood unto all the faithful in this last kingdom. But in lineage there are rights inherent according to the law of God unto Israel and his covenants unto the Fathers to be answered upon the heads of the children to go down from generation to generation. Therefore in this you are blessed and shall have the Priesthood sealed upon your head by the anointing and your children after you, by which your name shall be perpetuated unto the latest generation of Man, and your days and years shall be multiplied upon your head as a blessing to you and yours according to the desires of your heart. These blessings I seal upon your head. Even so. Amen

Given by Hyrum Smith, Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ

February 1st, 1844 PATRIARCHAL BLESSING OF HARRIET ROBERTS Vol. 41 Page 201

A Patriarchal Blessing of Harriet Roberts, Daughter of Charles and Tamma McEvers, born on the Isle of Mott, September 3rd, 1808.

Sister Harriet, I lay my hands upon your head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth and bless you. The same is Patriarchal or prophetic to come to pass in the future. The shall be beneficial to you in the hour of trial and in your moments of contemplation for you shall be numbered with the chosen, and shall be blessed with those that shall stand up in their place at the end. The understanding of your heart and the honor and integrity thereof will inspire you unto good works, that you may be blessed, and by the will of God you have been called up hither. Therefore in this thing you are blessed and a reward is laid up for you. And as a Daughter of Abraham by linial descent, and a heir of promise, therefore you have an inheritance in the covenants of grace and the rights inherent the same is yours, and your children after you. And the day cometh when you shall realize these things and shall enter into the power of appreciation, and you will be blessed in your House and in your habitation, in Basket and in store, and with the Spirit and its power to enlighten the mind to quicken and to invigorate, that you may have health spring up round (page 202) about you. And you shall be blessed in common with your Husband with the blessings of the Priesthood through the medium of its administrations, as also the seal of the everlasting covenant and an inheritance in the lineage of Joseph in common with your Husband. And your name shall be perpetuated unto the latest generation, and your days and years shall be multiplied upon your head according to your faith and the desires of your heart. These blessings I seal upon your head. Even so Amen.

Given by Hyrum Smith, Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ

The picture of Horace Roberts used in this history is a copy of a portrait in the possession of Mr. Ernest J. Raisor, a grandson of Jane Cecelia Snow. The artist is unknown but the portrait apparently was painted at Provo during the later part of Horace's life in Provo. The material used by the artist is of pioneer vintage and the colors are quite faded by the passage of time. Artists sketches have been used on the family group portrait sheet where no photograph is available.

Nauvoo Restoration Inc. recently uncovered some pottery items apparently produced by a local pottery of that time. If some items of pottery produced at Provo can be located, an attempt will be made to determine if the ones located at Nauvoo were also produced by Horace Roberts. If some member of the family has a photograph of the pottery shop and kiln at Provo, or items produced there, this would be of great interest to us.

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Family members interested in more complete details concerning the ancestry of our family are invited to write to Harry B. Zabriskie, 329 Jackson St., Midvale, Utah 84047. We will be happy to share what we have and would appreciate receiving any information anyone may have, genealogical or historical. Additional copies of this history may be obtained from the above for $1.50each.

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