Elizabeth Maxwell

ELIZABETH DONNELY MAXWELL

BORN: 28 December 1804 at Kilman, Antrim, Ireland PARENTS: Arthur Donely & Catherine Hyde SPOUSE: Ralph Maxwell Sr. MARRIED: 13 July 1823 at Carlisle, Cumberland, England DIED: ?? November1846 or 47 at Cache Cave in Echo Canyon, Summit, Utah

Elizabeth Donnely Maxwell was born 28 December 1804 to Arthur Donely & Catherine Hyde at Kilman, Antrium, Ireland. She married Ralph Maxwell Sr. on 13 July 1823 by Henry Kempson at St. Mary's Parish, Carlisle, Cumberland, England.

They were the parents of seven children and lived on a farm in Kirkland Banks until 1851.

CHILD BIRTH DEATH

 Arthur   22 April 1824  19 October 1871

 Catherine  15 April 1829  28 December 1922

 Elizabeth  07 January 1832 25 January 1897

 John   01 July 1834  20 August 1911

 Ralph   30 August 1837 06 May 1901

 George   24 May 1840  05 May 1841

 Ann   05 April  1872

Kirkfield Bank, which is near Lanark, Scotland and about twenty-eight miles from Glasgow. Later they moved into Lanark which along with the cities of Ayr and Renfrew were the most industrialized cities in Scotland. In this move the Maxwells were a part of the rural-to-urban migration that large numbers of the residents of Scotland and England endured during the 19th century. After moving to New Lanark the whole family began working in the textile mills of Scotland and later in England. In emigration they were all listed as weavers.

In 1844 missionaries taught the gospel to the Maxwells. Her daughter Catherine) was the first of the family to be baptized, becoming a member of the Church on 11 November 1844. Ralph Sr., Elizabeth and their son Arthur were baptized eleven days later on 22 November 1844 also by Elder Houston; the other children were baptized at later dates.

Elizabeth's husband died in 1853. The family remained faithful to the church after this family tragedy. In 1856 arrangements had been made for the family to make their journey to America. She and five of her children said their goodbyes and traveled by train to Liverpool, England where they boarded a sailing ship, the Enoch Train on 23 March 1856 (in 1852 when she was launched in Boston the Enoch Train was the largest Clipper Ship in the world). They were beginning of their 9,000 mile journey – across an ocean and three-fourths of a continent. They came to America landing at Boston, Massachusetts. They traveled in steerage class and were assisted by the Perpetual Emigration Fund. They were on their way to join the Saints in "The Valley."

On April 30 (Ralph Maxwell's birthday) the Enoch Train arrived in Boston Harbor. On May 1, the ship docked at Constitution Wharf; the following day the passengers disembarked and were taken by bus to the railway station.

On Friday, May 2, the group traveled by train and steamer to New York City. Elder John Taylor met them there and spoke to the group. On Sunday, May 4th, the group departed for Iowa City. By railroad they traveled from New York to Dawn City, Iowa and joined with the Daniel D. McArthur Handcart Company. The Saints from two ships, the Enoch Train and S. Curling (primarily Welsh Saints) arrived in Iowa City in early June. They were to travel to the Valley, not by the traditional method of team and wagon but by handcarts, which they would push or pull themselves. The emigrants, finding the handcarts not yet ready, helped construct them. Five people were assigned to a cart, approximately twenty people to a tent. Each person was allowed 17 pounds of luggage, which meant that all families had to dispose of much of what they had brought with them from their homes. On 11 June 1856 they left Iowa City, Iowa for their 1,400 mile trek to "The Valley." The Maxwells were among the first to attempt to cross the plains by handcart.

The Maxwells, in the second company, got underway June 11. They were now involved in a totally strange way of life. Coming from their city life in Europe, they were camping out in tents, cooking over campfires, pushing and pulling a small cart that held all their worldly possessions. The company arrived in Florence, Nebraska, on July 8th. They had traveled three hundred miles and though they were dusty and sun burned, a church agent in Florence reported that they were in generally good spirits. They remained in Florence until July 23, recuperating, repairing handcarts and preparing for the over one thousand mile trek ahead.

An experience involving Ralph Maxwell and reported in the story of his life not only demonstrates the kinds of challenges that the travelers faced but also shows the strength and courage of the Maxwell family as they over came those challenges. Ralph had grown several inches during his 18th year and with the inadequate nourishment that he was receiving, plus the strenuous physical labor involved in pulling the handcart, he was struggling with his health as time went on. On the trail Ralph was sometimes with one group and sometimes with another. One day, as the company made its noon stop, it was discovered that Ralph was with neither group.

Alarmed and aware that the company could not stop in order to search for one member, Elizabeth, Catherine and Arthur asked a friend to look after Ann and retraced their way to the spot where they had camped the night before. Praying fervently all the way, the three returned to the previous night's campsite. They began looking around, calling Ralph's name but received no reply. Tired and very worried, they decided to explore the entire campsite foot by foot, paying particular attention to the many bushes that were spread throughout the area. Finally, one of the spotted a foot sticking out one side of a bush. It was Ralph, barely conscious – very ill with Mountain Fever. Although, he was giving some food and water, he still could not walk; he pled with his brother and sisters to leave him there to die. However, Arthur and his sisters linked their arms and carried him.

While he was still too weak to travel, his family members pushed him in their handcart. When he regained some strength he was assigned to be one of the herdsmen, driving the beef and milk cows and was told once each morning and afternoon to take a little milk from one of the cows, to help him regain his normal strength. He carried a small cup on a string around his neck to enable him to do this. Soon he was able to resume his normal place in the family.

Elizabeth was not bearing up well under the rigors of the long journey. Her health steadily deteriorated and when the company reached Fort Bridger (113 miles from the Valley), a decision was made that she remain there to regain her health and then join another company to make her way to Zion. (In a number of the sources, it is reported that Elizabeth Donnelly Maxwell remained in Winter Quarters. But in all the histories of Elizabeth's life, it is reported that she stopped in Fort Bridger. In one of the early stories of Catherine's life the author, after noting that, "it is reported that Elizabeth stopped at Fort Bridger." States that, "This must be a mistake." And lists Winter Quarters as the stopping place).

In Jennifer Haygood's life story of Ralph Maxwell Jr., she describes the sorrowful scene as the Elizabeth and her children part: "The trials that were encountered crossing the plains were a strain on this tired mother and gradually her health broke. By the time they reached Fort Bridger, she became so ill that it was advisable for her to remain behind for a little while or until the next spring. Elizabeth had to bid each of her children goodbye as they were to continue their way on to the valley. When it was Ralph's turn, his mother placed a thin gold chain around his neck. On this chain was a small silver cup lined with gold. It was a sad parting, but as the children prepared to leave, goodbyes were again said and promises made to see each other in the spring." It was of course, their final farewell; they were never to see each other again in this world.

Leaving their mother behind, the rest of the family continued on to the Valley, arriving there on 26 September 1856; they arrived in Salt Lake City on the same day as the first company, which had left Florence two days before them in July. They made the over one thousand mile trek in sixty-five days, nine weeks and two days! It had been a long and arduous journey, one filled with sadness and with joy. The Maxwells had been tried and tested. At last they accomplished their goal. They were in Zion! In his final report of the trek, Captain McArthur noted, "On the 26th of September, we arrived in this Valley with the loss of 8 souls. 7 died, and one, a young man, age 20 years, we never could tell what become of him."

In 1857 (some sources say in September of 1856) they received word that their mother, Elizabeth was arriving with one of the companies coming into the Valley. John, taking a wagon, drove out to meet his mother. When he met the company, he was given the sad news that his mother had not been able to endure the hardship of travel and had died at the head of Echo Canyon. She was buried there in Cache Cave – barely inside the borders of Zion she had so longed to see.

The date and year of her death are guesses. Some believe she joined the Willie or Martin Handcart Companies when they went through Fort Bridger later in the season of 1856. The Willie Company arrived 09 November 1856 and the Martin Company arrived 30 November 1856. After a late season start from Iowa City, they were caught in severe blizzards on the high plains of Wyoming. Many died and more suffered frozen limbs. The last two handcarts companies of 1856 were terrible tragedies).

She would have been 51 years old when she left on her journey to Zion.

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via daughter Catherine Truman (born Maxwell) by SmartCopy: Apr 4 2015, 20:42:07 UTC

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• Residence: Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland - 1841
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 11 2021, 20:43:08 UTC