Jacob Cloward, Sr

• Birth: May 17, 1790, Cecil County, Maryland, USA
• Jacob Cloward, the subject of this biography, served in the War of 1812, according to research by Glannin A. Cloward in 1949. Jacob was a private in Captain Steele's regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia.
• Death: Dec. 05, 1851, Provo Utah County Utah, USA
• Burial: Provo City Cemetery, Provo Utah County, Utah, USA, Plot: Block 3 Lot 4
• Jacob Cloward, Sr - Find A Grave Memorial
• Shares headstone with Catherine Ann Pluck Cloward.
• The second burial at Temple Hill Cemetery which was located at what is now the site of the Karl G. Maser building on the campus of Brigham Young University.
• Fought in War of 1812. He was a private in the company commanded by Captain William Steele, in the 22nd regiment of of drafted militia infantry, commanded by Col. Lefere. He knew the Prophet Joseph Smith and after the Cloward home was burned in Nauvoo, the family left and lived in Iowa. Jacob Cloward and and his wife Ann Pluck came to Utah from Iowa in 1851.

Married:

• Married: Catherine Ann Pluck

Children:

• Charlotte R. Cloward Harmer (1818 - 1870)*
• Daniel Henry Cloward (1820 - 1902)*
• William Cloward (1821 - 1895)*
• Thomas Poulson Cloward (1823 - 1909)*
• James Mason Cloward (1826 - 1889)*
• Jacob Cloward (1828 - 1883)*
• Hannah Jane Cloward Baum (1833 - 1860)*
• Eliza Ann Cloward Sperry (1836 - 1920)*

Immigration

• Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel 1847–1868 Company Unknown (1851)
• Immigration to Utah, Age at departure: 60

Immigration to Utah Record

History

JACOB CLOWARD, SR. 17 May 1790 – 5 Dec 1851 (Compiled by F. Michael Moore, 2008) Contributed By: Betsy Goodman1 · 25 October 2015 ·

Jacob Coward, pioneer and early convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, suffered extreme persecution along with many others among the Mormons. He was one of the pioneers who sacrificed his property and his health to join the Latter-day Saints in their trek to Utah. However, he did not live to realize the joys of Zion, for he died only a few weeks after reaching Provo, Utah, the fall of 1851. Jacob Cloward was born May 17, 1790, at North Milford Hundred, Cecil County, Maryland. He was the third son of William Cloward, Sr. His mother's name is unknown. Jacob had two brothers, William and Thomas. All were born in America. The archives of Pennsylvania, researched by Dr. Ralph Elijah Cloward in 1847, reveal that between the years of 1734 and 1758 there were five Clowards who paid taxes there in English currency. They were Thomas George, Jacob and William Cloward. Dr. Cloward found that when the first United States census was taken in 1790 there were only two Clowards listed in the entire original thirteen colonies. There were William Cloward Sr. and William Cloward Jr. They lived in North Milford, Cecil County, Maryland in adjacent dwellings and were doubtless father and son. Each had a wife and children less than sixteen years of age. Ten years later, in the census of 1800, these two Clowards appear in the same location. They were listed as "Freemen and Taxpayers. The European roots of the Cloward family are indistinct, but someone has found that an Agnes Cloward was married to John Robbins in Suffolk, England in the year 1564, and others by the Cloward name have been found living in the area of the English Channel. In 1929 Madoline Dixon queried her father, Charles E. Cloward Sr, of Payson, Utah, about his parentage. Charles said his grandfather Jacob Cloward was an Irishman, 'but not full-blooded.' His daughter Hannah Jane Cloward Baum stated the Clowards are of Jewish descent. Jacob Cloward served in the War of 1812, according to research by Glannin A. Cloward in 1949. Jacob was a private in Captain Steele's regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia. There is a copy of extract copies of four documents which form the service record of Jacob Cloward filed in the Adjutant General's Office, national Archives in Washington, D.C. The amount of his pay from 5 October 1814 to 5 December 1814 was sixteen dollars. When Jacob was twenty-five years old he was married to Catherine Ann Pluck, daughter of Adam (born 1750) and Melane Pluck. They were married in Pottstown, Chester County, Pennsylvania probably 17 February 1815 when his bride was about age twenty. Their first child Catherine Ann was born 19 May 1816. The Pluck family was of the Pennsylvania Dutch who are said to have come from Germany. Charles Cloward said his grandmother Ann Pluck Cloward "came over" from the old country before she was married. He knew her when she was an old woman and he was a child. He said she "talked funny," that is in broken English. A marriage between the Irish and the Dutch may have been the basis of a jig time tune that was sung in the Charles Cloward home to the tune "Turkey in the Straw". It goes:

"Oh, the Irish and the Dutch, they don't amount to much, But the Irish are better than the darned Old Dutch!"

• After their marriage, Jacob and Ann moved a number of times, as is shown in the various birth places of their children. Their first two were born in Chester County, Pennsylvania:BornDied Catherine Anna16 May 1816Feb 1835 Charlotte R.8 Oct 181823 May 1870
• The next two were born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania:

Daniel Henry30 Aug 182014 Mar 1903 William H.4 Mar 182213 Sep 1895 It is possible that Jacob and Ann may have gone back to the place of their marriage, Bucks County, to be near her parents, who might have been living here at the time.

• Evidently the family, that now included four children, went back to Pottsville, Chester County, where their next three children were born: BornDied Thomas Poulson10 Dec 182316 Jan 1909 James Mason17 Oct 182627 May 1889 Jacob, Jr.19 Jul 182817 Jul 1883
• The last of their children were born in New Castle, Delaware:

Albert Wilson9 Jun 18309 Feb 1831 Hannah Jane12 Oct 183321 Nov 1860 Eliza Ann11 Oct 183631 Jan 1920

The census of 1840 shows the family still living in New Castle, Delaware, and in 1844 they moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, according to an autobiography written by their youngest child Anna Eliza Sperry. Jacob Cloward, Sr. was believed to be the oldest male Cloward to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints although the exact date is not given. Thomas wrote in his autobiography that he was baptized in 1844 by William A. Moore, presumably in Nauvoo, Illinois, where he said they had moved the spring of that year. Jacob and three of his sons, Thomas P., James Mason, and Jacob Jr., and his young daughter, Anna Eliza, were baptized in the ten year period between 1840 and 1850. The family was well acquainted with the prophet Joseph Smith. Hannah Jane Cloward Baum write in her autobiography that they heard the prophet's wonderful speech in which he stated that his sword would not be sheathed until his people had justice or he gave his life. Mary Ann Baum Cloward, wife of James Mason Cloward, wrote that while they were at breakfast one morning the prophet came to their home. He called Jacob aside to talk to him. A few moments later Jacob returned to the room and told his wife Ann that the prophet had told him that he needed money right away. "We must help him," Ann said. The prophet carried the money away in a basket with the understanding that if he were able to pay it back, he would do so. If not, he was welcome to it. In time the money was repaid. Mary wrote "Jacob was a good financier and among the well-to-do farmers." Her husband added that "he had to dispose of his property at a sacrifice." Hannah Jane wrote in her autobiography that her father Jacob owned several other farms and "places." She said he was a blacksmith by trade, though Eliza Ann said her father once supported his family by working in a hemp factory. Harassment of the Mormons followed the family to Nauvoo, which grew from a hamlet to a city of 15,000 people in the years from 1841 to 1846. Nauvoo was the largest city in Illinois, larger even than the capital city of Springfield. The Mormons were feared because by number they could sway the vote for or against slavery. And they were hated because of their statements about their "inheritance" and the rumors that they were practicing plural marriage. When the prophet Joseph Smith agreed to go to Carthage jail he stated, "I go as a lamb to the slaughter!" James Mason watched with the other members of the Cloward family as Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, left Nauvoo. James said his mother told her husband and the children that they would never see the prophet alive again. Her statement proved to be true. When the news of the deaths reached Nauvoo they said the lamentation was beyond description. Jacob went to meet the company that was bringing the bodies back to Nauvoo. He and his family later recalled events of the times. They said their sorrow was as great as if it had been their own kin. They joined the crowd at the mansion house, which was Joseph Smith's home, and there viewed the bodies lying side-by-side in their caskets. The long queue of mourners took a last look at their beloved prophet whose body was still bleeding from the gunshot wounds. Many were heard to say that now they were as sheep without a shepherd. Later the family was in the congregation that witnessed the "transfiguration" when the mantel of Joseph fell upon Brigham young. The people wondered if the prophet had risen from the dead. After the bodies were disposed of there was much weeping among the Saints and only a short period of peace for them. Mob spirit soon broke out again. The story of the Clowards goes on through the writings of James Mason and his wife, Mary Ann. He said that one black night the mob came to Jacob's comfortable home and demanded that he take his choice, either denounce Joe Smith as a prophet of God or had his house burned. Jacob said he could not deny his testimony and that he would have to take his medicine. They were told to get out of the house or be burned. The family came out, thinking the mob would have a little mercy on them. But no, this was not to be. They loaded what they could onto a wagon and then stood by as t heir home and all of their other belongings went up in flames. The family watched it burn, shivering and weeping. Mary Ann said so many houses were burning that night that you could see to read from a printed page on many streets in the city of Nauvoo. Jacob was heart-broken and he walked away from the scene. His family did not know where he had gone. They sought him everywhere and finally began to think that he had been killed. Then, after all was in ashes, Jacob returned. He said he could not bear to see his family humiliated in such a way. It was more than he could withstand and consequently he suffered an anxiety attack. It was said this contributed to his early death. He was ill from the time the family was expelled from Nauvoo and never regained his health. With others the family crossed the Mississippi River, traveled some 200 miles across the state of Iowa, crossed the Missouri River, and finally camped on the opposite side. They spent the winter in what is known as Winter Quarters. They took up a small land grant and built temporary homes. Several of Jacob's children were by then married and starting families of their own. At this time Jacob's son Thomas P. Cloward, in his early twenties and newly married, was called by Brigham Young to become one of the original 143 Utah pioneers. They would go west and explore the Rocky Mountains. They would search for a place wanted by no other people. Ann Eliza said that no fear entered into the mind of her mother when she contemplated the trip her son was about to take. She said that Thomas was in the hands of the Lord and that He would care for him. The pioneer company departed from Winter Quarters early in the spring of 1847 and reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake in July of that year. Thomas made the first pair of shoes that were made in the valley. In September of 1847 Thomas returned to the Missouri with plans to assist his father's family in immigrating to Utah. He also planned to bring with him his wife, Mary Page Cloward, whom he had married "on the banks of the Missouri." However, they did not leave immediately and months would extend into years before the family was together in Zion. Thomas remained to see them all leave before he again headed for Utah in 1852. William Barrett wrote in his book The Restored Church, "The movement of these saints to the west was too slow to suit the presiding authorities of the church. On 21 September 1851 the First Presidency issued a sharp order to all those remaining in Iowa to bestir themselves and remove to the mountains the following spring. The result was that in 1852 the Pottawattamie lands were practically deserted and the Nauvoo saints were at last removed to the Rocky Mountains." The census of 1850 shows the Jacob Clowards residing in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, residents of dwelling #1211, family 1211, page 280: : Jacob, farmer age 60, b. Md.; Ann age 50, b. Pa.; James 24, b. Pa.; Jacob 22, b. Pa.; Hannah 16, b. Pa.; and Eliza 13, b. Pa. By 1850 Jacob was sixty years of age, a father and grandfather. His health had failed since the night the mob burned his home in Nauvoo. His daughter, Eliza Ann, said he did not seem to have as much faith or his testimony was not as strong as that of her mother. The family talked considerably about leaving and trying to make a living in a new country. The grown sons and daughters were somewhat apprehensive of the effect the move might have on their father. They finally spoke to the mother. "Aren't you afraid," they asked, "That father might die before we get there?" And her answer was, "If he does die, he will have his head pointed toward Zion!" Judge John E. Booth, who kept a journal of the activities in Provo, Utah, particularly Provo Fourth Ward, (found in the Library at Brigham Young University Provo, Utah) said that "Jacob and Ann Pluck Cloward arrived the fall of 1851." The date of their arrival in Provo agrees with the writing of Ann Eliza. She said they arrived in Provo, Utah, the fall of 1851 and by being extremely careful they had provisions enough to keep them until spring. They ate what meat they could get and sometimes used potato tops for greens. By the time the Clowards arrived in 1851 the Provo Fort had been moved from the original site of 1849 because its location near the Provo River was too damp. Hence, their first home in Utah was located at the present site of North Park on Fifth West Street, Provo. "Jacob Cloward's home," wrote Judge Booth "was not far below where T.C. Bennett now lives." Jacob lived only a short time after arriving in Provo. One of his children wrote that he lived three weeks and another said it was six weeks. The Booth journal states that he died 29 December 1851, age 61, of "consumption." He was the second person buried on Temple Hill where Brigham Young University now stands. Two years after his death the Provo City Cemetery was established (1853) and bodies from two other burial grounds were moved there. Jacob's name is to be found on a bronze plaque erected alongside the main road in the cemetery by Daughters of Utah Pioneers in 1964. The plaque lists twenty pioneers whose bodies were moved to this cemetery. In 1853 under the date of May 4, Judge John E. Booth's journal states that "the Cloward family moved to Payson this spring." This probably included the men of the family, their wives and children. Some of the girls, who had married and were living in Provo, remained there. Ann Pluck Cloward may have spent her remaining years living with first one of her children and then another. Charles E. Cloward Sr stated she lived in Payson at least a part of the time. She died 2 May 1878 in Salem, Utah at the age of 81. She was buried in the Provo Cemetery beside her husband. Several years later the family was notified that the two bodies were lying in water-logged ground and they were removed to a higher and dryer location in the cemetery on Block 3, lot 4. One of Jacob's sons died in infancy, and one of his daughters died as a young girl. The other children followed his example by having large families. Descendants of Jacob Cloward (2007) number into the thousands.

Sources

June 17, 1857 - Ann Pluck Cloward's declaration for bounty land- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081885921862&position=0

June 22, 1876 - Ann Pluck Cloward's affidavit of identify for widow's pension- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081885787849&position=0

Sept 23, 1876 - Ann Pluck Cloward's claim to widow's pension- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081885929899&position=0

March 28, 1877 - Ann Pluck Cloward's claim rejection- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081884791354&position=0

Jacob Cloward Sr in the Iowa, Pottawattamie County, Annotated Record of US Census, 1850- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081885946905&position=0

Jacob Cloward Sr in the Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081886059949&position=0

Utah, Military Records, 1861-1970 for Jacob Cloward- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081886093958&position=0

Jacob Cloward in the U.S., War of 1812 Service Records, 1812-1815- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081885745132&position=0

Jacob (Senior) Cloward in the Sons of Utah Pioneers Memorial Gallery Index Cards- https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000001126376563?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000081886602911&position=0