Double Family Connection

 
May 29^th is a red letter day in history. My sister, Sharlene McCracken Smith shares this birthday with Mary Hannah Beard Birch, although Sherry came along ninety-one years after Mary’s birth in 1860 in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, England.

Not only is Mary the sister of my Great Grandfather James Thomas Beard Sr., she is also the Great Grandmother of Neil Kay Birch, my sister Sandi’s first husband.

Mary Hannah Beard Birch

Mary’s parents were converted to the LDS church in England and immigrated to the U.S. when their baby daughter was not yet two years old, sailing on the ship “John J Boyd”, leaving Liverpool April 23, 1862, and arriving in New York June 1^st, a relatively short journey of five weeks.

One of the Beard family’s sailing companions, William Lindsay, recorded the following in his journal:

• "When the letter came from Liverpool telling us passages for all our family had been secured on the sailing ship John J. Boyd and telling us to sell everything we would not need on the journey and come to Liverpool in site of three days to get on board the ship which would sail April 22, 1862. This letter caused great rejoicing. Brother Sam ran around the house shouting, "Boys this is the best letter ever came to our home." 
• ... a fairly good passage over the sea. However, we had one quite hard storm that shook things up some, but no great damage was done. Of course, the ship was being tossed about and was lurching badly. Two women right close to us were very much excited and crying. I could not help smiling although I had to keep a hold of the bunk to keep from being thrown out. I thought it absurd to suppose that a ship with 700 Saints bound for Zion could possibly sink."

By the time of Mary's immigration to the U.S., Thomas Birch, born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England had already arrived in Utah in the Ellsworth and McArthur Handcart Company of 1856.

In March, 1878, Mary and Thomas met and were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and moved to Willard, Utah. Thomas was twelve years her senior. Three years earlier he had married Sarah Jane Vernon who had died shortly after the childbirth of their first child. The infant daughter passed away seven months later.

The young groom must have been fearful when nine months later, almost to the day, a son was born to Mary, but this time the birth was joyful. Thomas was once more overcome with grief when their second child died as an infant. Seven more healthy children joined the family.

I like this family photo from 1899. Mary is the one wearing the stylish hat and holding an infant. This photo of the family together was very precious as the following year Mary’s husband passed away at the young age of 52, leaving Mary (40) to provide for and rear the seven unmarried children. 

The oldest son, James, had married the year before and would have been a great assistance on the farm as he and his wife continued to live in the family home.

Mary pressed on operating the family farm, hiring help when necessary to assist with hauling hay or other tasks.

Mary was single for the remainder of her life, but was rarely alone. Her home was open to everyone. For a period of time one of the community school teachers lived with the family in exchange for tuition. As other children married, several lived in or near the family home in Wilford, Idaho.

Mary died at the age of 87 in Rexburg, Idaho.