Ann Devey

ANN KERSHAW DEVEY was born on October 16, 1825. She was the daughter of David Kershaw and Martha Bevans born at Stafford-shire, England. Ann was the only child born to David and Martha. She was the step-daughter of Joseph Acton and had a half-sister Mary Acton and Luke Acton. After her mothers marriage, Ann used the name of Acton until the time that she had her own temple work done for herself.

Her lack of fear was always a part of her life and character, helping her to meet the challenges which faced her. On June 21, 1845. she married William Devey. They were both baptized in 1849. When the church was located about three miles away from their home, she would take her three children and carried two of them at one time by putting on a large apron, holding it up, and putting one child in each side of it and would walk carrying them.  

William and Ann planned for the day when they could go to Zion to be with the Saints and their son, John and his family. They could not afford to all go to America at one time so William went first in August of 1872 to Alpine, Utah where son John was a blacksmith and he went to work with John as a blacksmith.

Their 13 year old son, William Henry left the following February of 1873 to be with his father. Six months later Ann and daughters Martha age 14 and Hannah Alice Avery age 5 joined their father and brothers.

Ann and William left three children in England: Esther, Sarah and Joseph. Joseph did come to Alpine later after the death of his wife and brought his son with him. Esther and Sarah never left England.

Ann Devey brought 284 babies into the world without any help from a doctor. She gave nursing care for each birth for ten days in each home and received $3.00 as payment. She was called "Grandma Devey" and when people saw her going into a home with her little black bag they knew a new baby would soon be born. On June 21 1895 Ann and William celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and William died two years later. Ann died on July 12, 1906 almost nine years after William. She was buried in Alpine, Utah, beside her husband.

Married William Devey, June 21, 1846 in England.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 31 2016, 17:52:46 UTC