John Thornock

John Thornock and his wife, Ann Bott, became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in May 1844 in Whitwick, England. John was born in Laxfield, England but moved to Whitwick where he met his bride, Ann, the daughter of William and Mary Bott. To this couple was born nine children, six in England and three in Utah. While John worked as a corn dealer in Whitwick the following children blessed their home: John Bott, Mathew, William, Joseph, Mary Ann, and Hannah.

After joining the church they longed for the day they could come to Zion. They saved their meager earnings and on February 4, 1854 John and Ann sailed with their six young children from England on the ship Golconda for America. It took seven long, arduous, and heart-rending months on the ocean and crossing the Great Plains to arrive in Salt Lake City, Utah in September 1854. They crossed the plains in the Job Smith Company and on June 12, 1854 little 3 ½ year-old Mary Ann died.

This is the story as told by the grief stricken mother to her granddaughter, Elsie Thornock Milam. There was nothing to make a box in which to bury her little daughter, so Grandma took the clothes out of the only box she had and tied them up in bundles. Tenderly they placed their little daughter inside. The box was not long enough so she must be cross wise, from corner to corner, in order to make room. They left their darling sleeping there on the plains, and Grandma, leaving her heart there as she said, and with won out shoes and bleeding feet, trudged on, with the help of the Lord. She pulled a handcart and drove the oxen as well. After a long, tiresome journey they arrived in Salt Lake City.

Only a few days after arriving their eight year old son, William, died in Salt Lake City, October 12, 1854. Sad and stunned but undaunted, the Thornock family placed their faith in the Lord and went forth in their labors of building a home, clearing the sagebrush, plowing the soil, planting crops, making irrigation ditches and working in the Church. John’s occupation was general farming. His sons followed in his foot steps and all became good farmers.

Three children were born in Utah to these hardy pioneers: Sarah Ann, George Henry, and Hyrum James. They established their home in Zion and all except the eldest son, John Bott, remained in Farmington [ Utah] until 1871. John Bott was called to help pioneer the Bear Lake Valley in 1864. He took his young wife and infant son and established his home in Bloomington, Idaho in the spring of 1866. John and Ann Bott Thornock and their other children moved from Farmington to Bloomington[, Idaho] in 1871. John Thornock died in Bloomington January 5, 1885 and was buried in the Bloomington, Idaho cemetery. The obituary in the Deseret News Weekly of January 28, 1885 concluded that in 1871 he “removed to Bloomington, Idaho where he remained till his death continuing faithful and true to the Gospel, energetic and active as a member in the Church.”

His granddaughter, Elsie Thornock Milam, (daughter of Joseph) at age 72 wrote about Ann Bott [Thornock] on September 8, 1965: “Grandmother Ann was a beautiful woman with blue eyes and auburn hair, 5 feet 2 inches tall. When I remember her, she was an old lady living with Uncle Hyrum my father’s brother. She always dressed in a long gathered skirt with a tight-fitting basque (over blouse). In her skirt was a large concealed pocket – a pound of cheese material to make a dress, or it might be candy or cookies or a pretty ribbon for my hair. She would give us nice things and say, ‘now you mon’t (meaning won’t) tell Hyrum’ . . .“She was a hard working woman and helped to plant the crops which were later eaten by grasshoppers. Their prayers were answered when the gulls came to devour the grasshoppers. Grandma was always willing to work hard to help provide for her family. She made tallow candles, soap from waste grease, carded wool and spun it into yarn, knit stockings and sweaters for her family and even made her husband a suit from cloth she had woven herself. She used clean straw for carpet padding and straw ticks for mattresses with feather beds on top which she had made from feathers of wild birds her husband shot.

“In her later years, when she was alone (her husband died in 1885) she lived in Bloomington, Idaho with her son Hyrum. His wife had also died and Grandma took care of his home and children (Burton, Seymour, Genevieve and David). One day when Genevieve was going to town she dressed herself all up and Grandma said to her, ‘Why Genevieve, you’re awearin’ your best go-to-meetin’ white embroidery petticoat. When I was a gull I never did so, Ha. Ha.!’

“She loved life and lived to a good old age. She was endowed and sealed to her husband and remained true and faithful to her covenants till the time of her death, June 6, 1911. She was buried in Bloomington, Idaho, where her husband had been buried 26 years before.” (John Thornock, John Bott Thornock and George Thomas Thornock by Clarence S. Thornock in History of Bear Lake Pioneers, p. 817-819.)

“The Origin of the Thornock Family” by Clarence S. Thornock. It was Christmas day 1841 in Whitwick, County of Leicester, England when the name Thornock was originated You might say it was a Christmas gift from R. H. Creswell, the official minister in the parish Church of Whitwick. He performed the rites and ceremonies in the church marriage of John Thornock and Ann Bott and established the peculiar spelling T-H-O-R-N-O-C-K. Don’t blame Mr. Creswell, he did the best he could. That’s the way he thought John pronounced it in his English brogue. Both John and Ann thought it looked “just right” on the beautiful marriage certificate, so John put his X mark to make it “legal.” John was employed as a “corn dealer” in and around Whitwick and he told Mr. Creswell that his father, also named John, was likewise a “corn dealer” in Laxfield in the County of Suffolk, England. Ann said her father was William Bott, a “farmer” in Whitwick and her older brother and sister agreed. They were the official “witnesses” at this simple ceremony. You see John and Ann had been married for a year and already had a baby son nearly two months old. So to please Ann and her family John agreed to have their marriage recognized in the Parish Church.

John explained he had many relatives in and around Laxfield and Brundish. These parishes are located about 80 miles northeast of the heart of London and only a dozen miles from the North Sea at Southwold. He had moved well across England, 2/3 the way to Liverpool, and set up his corn dealership in Whitwick about two years before. . . Back in Laxfield and nearby Brundish our researchers found the family name was spelled T-H-O-R-N-D-I-K-E. But sometimes the name was misspelled in Laxfield as Thorndrick, Thorndrike, or Thorndicke. John is the fourth child in his family. Actually his given name was Jonathan as shown below.

Husband: Jonathan Thorndike (Thorndrick) (1772), Wife: Mary Reeve (second wife) ) (1779)

Children:

1. John Thorndrick 17 April 1803 Laxfield

2. Sarah Thorndrick 21 July 1895 Laxfield

3. Elizabeth Thorndike 6 December 1807 Laxfield

4. Jonathan Thorndike 15 March 1816 Laxfield

The next earlier generation is as follows: Husband: Jonathan Thorndike (1750), Wife: Susannah (Susan) Larter (1757)

Children:

1. Jonathan Thorndike 21 June 1772 Brundish

2. Susan Thorndike 8 October 1775 Brundish

John’s mother, Mary Reeve, was the third child in her family of twelve children all born in Laxfield as were her parents as shown below. Children all born in Laxfield as were her parents:

Husband: Fran (Francis) Reeve (1755), Wife: Susan Burridge

Children:

1. Francis Reeve 9 April 1777 Laxfield

2. Susan Reeve 19 July 1778

3. Mary Reeve 8 Sept 1779

4. Robert Reeve 17 June 1781

5. Sarah Reeve 23 Nov 1782

6. William Reeve 7 Dec 1783

7. Elizabeth Reeve12 Feb 1786

8. Martha Reeve 26 July 1789

9. John Reeve 25 Sept 1791

10. Charles Reeve 3 Aug 1794

11. James Reeve 13 Sept 1795

12. Joseph Reeve 8 Sept 1799

John’s mother, Mary Reeve, died in Laxfield and was buried 10 June 1818 leaving her four children ages 15, 13, 10, and 2. It is a family legend in America that John did not remember his mother and that he spent some time in an orphanage. This is very probable, at least until his father could provide better provisions for his care in a home with the three older children. It is important to know that John remained close to the family in Laxfield and was later associated with his father as corn dealers before he left for Whitwic at about age 23.

John’s wife, Ann Bott, has her family roots in Whitwick, England and knew her parents, brothers and sisters and her step mother on a personal basis. Her mother died 19 Jan 1845 and her father married his second wife 4 May 1845. Two daughters were born to this second union but both died soon after birth Ann is the ninth child in the first family. Both family groups are shown below:

Husband: William Bott (1779), Wife: Mary Bott (1780)

Children:

1. Sarah Bott 4 Oct 1803 Whitwick

2. Elizabeth Bott 8 Nov 1805

3. Mary Bott 8 Sept 1807

4. Elizabeth Bott c 25 Feb 1810

5. Hannah Bott c 12 April 1812

6. William Bott c 3 April 1814

7. Matthew Bott c 8 Dec 1816

8. Betsey Bott c 29 Mar 1818

9. Ann Bott 12 June 1820

10. Mathew Bott c 27 June 1824

11. Rebecca Bott c 20 Oct 1827

Husband: William Bott (1779), Wife: Sarah Tatler (formerly Kent) (second wife)

Children:

1. Sarah Ann Bott April 1850, died 24 April 1850

2. Amelia Bott 7 May 1850, died 16 May 1850

Our research shows that only one son and four daughters in the Bott family lived to maturity and married. They were Sarah, who married Thomas Hen son; Hannah, who married Samuel Monks; William, who married Sarah Hatton; Betsey, who married Storer; and Ann, who married John Thornock. The father’s Will dated 25 July 1849, a codicil dated 2 Nov 1840 and a second codicil dated 2 April 1852 are very interesting and informative.

1. William Bott dictated the documents to a lawyer and then placed his X mark for his signature. (Like so many in his day he was illiterate.)

2. The lawyer spelled the Thornock name Thornewill in the will and the first codicil and Thornycroft in the second codicil.

3. All five children are awarded “equal shares.” There was no apparent resentment when three of the daughters joined the “Mormon” Church. Hannah and Ann were baptized 23 May 1844 and Sarah was baptized 26 Sept 1851. The parents and the other children were not baptized.

4. William Bott died 31 October 1852 and the will was “proved” 29 Jan 1853. While the estate was not large, no doubt Ann found the money and some other “personal effects” which she inherited of real and sentimental value when she left for America 4 Feb 1854. From all the above we have concluded that John and Ann are very unique in several ways. First they were the only people in England, probably in the world, with the peculiar name Thornock. Second, as their married life unfolded, they may have been the only members of their families to go to America. So it is good at this introductory stage of this book to see the ultimate composition of their family.

Husband: John Thornock (1816), Wife: Ann Bott (1820)

Children: When Born Where Born

1. John Bott Thornock 5 Nov 1841 Whitwick,

2. Matthew Thornock 15 Feb 1844 “

3. William Thornock 20 June 1846 “

4. Joseph Thornock 19 Aug 1848 “

5. Mary Ann Thornock 27 Nov 1850 “

6. Hannah Thornock 22 Sep 1853

7. Sarah Ann Thornock 16 Apr 1856 Salt Lake City, Utah

8. George Henry Thornock 31 Mar 1859 Farmington, Utah

9. Hyrum James Thornock 6 Apr 1862

CONVERTS TO THE “MORMON” CHURCH IN ENGLAND

About the time their second child, Matthew, was born, John and Ann and their two children were entertaining the “Mormon” Elders in their home and were excited to embrace the teachings of the “Restored Gospel.” They often expressed their love for the young Prophet Joseph Smith. John became a member of the church and was baptized by Elder E. J. Bowers on May 19, 1844. Ann and her sister Hannah were baptized by Elder Bowers on May 23, 1844. Interestingly Elder Bowers spelled the name Thornewick, at least the sixth way the name was spelled in England.

The Ward family and other close associates were also joining the church during 1844 and 1845. Elder E. J. Bowers baptized Hannah Ward on June 22, 1844 and John Ward (Sen.) July 31, 1844. Elder E. H. Platts baptized Emma Hogg Ward on November 19, 1844 and Elder E. C. Maehin baptized her husband, John Ward (Jr.) on February 18, 1845. The newly converted families were actively involved in the small “Mormon” branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter—day Saints in Whitwick. The Ward and Thornock children were playmates. Twenty years later the Ward and Thornock families were reunited in Utah and Idaho in America and the two oldest Thornock sons married daughters of John and Emma Hogg Ward and both families helped in colonizing the Bear Lake Valley.

Even though John and Ann could not read or write they participated in all church and school activities in the Whitwick Branch. John was ordained a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood on August 3, 1845 and a Priest on January 18, 1848. He received the Melchizedek Priesthood and was ordained an Elder on September 11, 1848. Ann was equally busy in the programs of the Branch. In addition to the above, Ann’s sister Hannah, and her husband Samuel Monks were happily engaged in the Whitwick branch. Other close associates were William and Elizabeth Smith and their family. Since John and Ann were illiterate, the Smith family were most helpful and most of the Thornock mail came to the Smith address, 28 Silver Street in Whitwick. At the time of preparation for emigrating to America in 1854 their mail was recieved at the Smith home. The Whitwick Branch records list a total of 76 baptisms up to 1850.

Other family names were Allgood, Bailey, Beesley, Brooks, Carnahan, Cooper, Cox, Elley, Fewkes, Freestone, Gilson, Goddard, Hale, Heathcots, Heyfield, Hicken, Holden, Johnson Machin, Moore, Ordridge, Percival Ridgeway, Stewart, Summers, Williamson, Woodcock, Woodruffe, and Wright.

Martyrdom of the Prophet - It was a devastating and soul wrenching blow to the members of this small branch when they received the sorrowful news that the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum had been murdered in cold blood in Carthage Jail. It was on June 27, 1844, less than six weeks after John and Ann were baptized, when a mob of 150 armed men with blackened faces rushed the small jail in Carthage, Illinois. Joseph and Hyrum were riddled with bullets while their companions, John Taylor and Dr. Willard Richards, were critically wounded but lived to record the history of these dastardly acts of the mob.

John and Ann had heard many stories of how Joseph Smith and the Saints in America had been persecuted and driven from their homes in New York to Kirtland, Ohio, where they had built a temple. After only a few years they were driven again to Missouri and finally to Nauvoo, Illinois where a new temple was under construction at the time of the martyrdom. They never lost faith in the new religion and stayed active in the Branch programs. They were aware that a handful of new converts in England were moving to America each year to join the Saints in Nauvoo but this seemed only a remote dream for themselves as they struggled to provide for their young family.

John continued working as a corn dealer and other agricultural jobs. Four more children came to bless their family: William on 20 June 1846, Joseph on 19 August 1848, Mary Ann on 27 November 1850 and Hannah on 22 September 1853. When Hannah was born the birth certificate listed John’s employment as a “drillman.” By this time he was primarily planting and cultivating corn and other crops for the farmers in the Whitwick area. On his papers for emigration he listed his employment as “labourer.”

Gradually the family became more prosperous and they began to make serious plans to go to America. After the Saints in America were driven again from their homes in Nauvoo and had begun to settle in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, a general epistle was sent by Brigham Young and the Twelve Apostles from Winter Quarters (later Florence, Nebraska), December 23, 1847 to the Saints in the British Isles. They were advised to ship, via New Orleans, on the all—water route to Kanesville (Council Bluffs, Iowa). The epistle was published by the missionaries in the Millennial Star in Liverpool. The Saints were encouraged to gather to the eastern bank of the Missouri River, preparatory to the further migration to the Rocky Mountains.

They were urged to bring: “All kinds of choice seeds, of grain, vegetables, fruits, shrubbery, trees, and vines——everything that grows upon the face of the whole earth that will please the eye, gladden the heart, or cheer the soul of man; also the best stock of beasts, bird and fowl of every kind; also the best tools of every description, and machinery for spinning, or weaving, and dressing cotton, wool, flax, silk, etc., or models and descriptions of the same by kinds, or kinds of farming utensils and husbandry, such as corn shellers, grain threshers, and cleaners, smut machines, mills and every implement and article within their knowledge that shall tend to promote the comfort, health, happiness, and prosperity of any people. So far as it can be consistently done, bring models and drafts, and let the machinery be built where it is used, which will save great expense in transportation, particularly in heavy machinery, and tools and implements generally... “We are at peace with all nations, with all kingdoms, with all governments, with all authorities under the whole heavens, except the kingdom and power of darkness, which are from beneath and (we) are ready to stretch forth our arms to the four quarters of the globe, extending salvation to every honest soul; for our mission in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is from sea to sea, and from the rivers “The space allowed on ship—board for luggage is ten cubic feet, but it is better for the passengers to have as much as possible put into the hold, which will give them more room around their berths and a freer ventilation between decks. Clothes that would spoil by dampness and those wanted during the voyage should be kept up. Passengers should have among them a claw—hammer, a few ten penny nails, and some cord, that they may make fast all their boxes which are kept up between decks, before going to sea and getting sick, when they are unable to do it. Much confusion is caused and damage done if boxes are left loose.

“The price of steerage passage to New Orleans ranges from £3 lOs. to £5 for adults, and from £3 to £4 10’s for children between 14 years and 1 year old; infants are free. The Passengers’ Act of June, 1852, secs. xxvii and xxxii, requires the broker or agent to supply the passengers with 70 days’ provisions, if the ship sails between the 16th of January and the 14th of October, and 80 days’ if she sails between the 14th of October and the 16th of January, according to the following scale—— DIETARY SCALE 3 quarts water, daily 2—1/2 lbs. Bread or Biscuit, not inferior (Weekly to each in quality to Navy Biscuit statute adult) 1 lb. Wheaten Flour and half the 5 lbs. Oatmeal amount to children, 2 lbs. Rice, between 1/2 lb. Sugar, and 2 oz. Tea, 2 oz. Salt. “The Act authorizes substitution as follows—— “5 lbs. of good potatoes, or 1/2 lb. of Beef or Pork exclusive of bone, or of Preserved meat, or 3/4 lb. of dried Salt Fish, or 1 lb. of Bread or Biscuit, not inferior in quality to Navy Biscuit, or 1 lb. of best Wheaten Flour, or 1 lb. of Split Peas for 1—3/4 lb. of Oatmeal, or for 1 lb. of Rice; and 1/4 lb. of Preserved Potatoes may be substituted for 1 lb. of potatoes. Vessels clearing out from Scotch or Irish Ports may not issue less than 3—1/2 lbs. of Oatmeal for each statute adult weekly.

“In addition to the above scale, the L. D. Saints are furnished for the voyage with 2—1/2 lbs. of sugar, 3 lbs. of butter, 2 lbs. of cheese, and 1 pint of vinegar for each statute adult, and half the amount to children between 14 years and 1 year old; 1 lb. of beef or pork weekly to each statute adult is substituted for its equivalence in oatmeal. This quantity of provisions enables many of the passengers to live during the voyage more bountifully than they were in the habit of living in this country, but we would still, advise those who can do it to procure more flour and sugar and a few other articles such as we will enumerate:——potatoes, ham, dried salt fish, onions, pickled onions, preserves, cayenne pepper, baking powders, mustard, sherbet, carbonate of soda, lime juice, plums, and currants. Marine soap is very useful on ship—board. “Roasted potatoes can be eaten by most persons during sea sickness. Lime juice mixed with sugar and water is healthy, agreeable, and cheap. About two spoonfuls to half a pint of water, sweetened to taste, make a pleasant drink.

“Such provisions as are unconsumed on arrival at New Orleans are given to the passengers, instead of being returned to this country, as is the case with other emigrant ships. If a vessel make a quick trip, there is a considerable amount left, which of course is a valuable assistance to poor passengers. The John M. Wood made a short trip, and the amount of provisions saved to the P. E. Fund Passengers was 150 lbs. of tea, 19 barrels of biscuit, 5 barrels of oatmeal, 4 barrels and 4 bags of rice, and 3 barrels of pork.

“The first part of a sea voyage has often an astringent effect upon the bowels, and emigrants would do well to provide themselves with aperient medicines, if any. By regulating their diet and partaking, as far as possible, of such food as tends to relaxation instead of constipation, emigrants would very much escape seasickness and its attendant irregularities. “Passengers furnish their own beds and bedding, and likewise their cooking utensils, such as a boiler, saucepan, and frying—pan. They should also provide themselves with a tin porringer, tin plate, tin dish, knife and fork, spoon, and a tin vessel, or an earthen one encased in wickerwork, to hold three quarts of water for each person. A box or barrel for provisions, and small bags or boxes for tea, salt, &c., are required. A strong canvas bag to hold the biscuits is far preferable to putting them with other provisions, as it prevents the biscuits from acquiring a disagreeable taste.

The cooking utensils and other articles named should be purchased, if possible, before the passengers leave home, as they can be procured of a better quality than those sold in Liverpool, which in many cases are unfit for use. “The ship provides the cooking apparatus and fuel, and the Passengers’ Act requires that ‘every Passenger Ship carrying as many as one hundred statute adults shall have on board a seafaring person, who shall be rated in the Ship’s Articles as Passengers’ Steward, and who shall be approved by the Emigration Officer at the Port of Clearance, and who shall be employed in messing and serving out the provisions to the passengers, and in assisting to maintain cleanliness, order, and good discipline among the passengers, and who shall not assist in any way in navigating or working the ship (sec. xxxv).’ Likewise that ‘every Passenger Ship carrying as many as one hundred statute adults shall also have on board a seafaring The Ship Golconda Seven ships were chartered for the emigrating Saints in 1854. They were as follows with their dates of sailing and number of emigrating Saints:

Golconda on February 4, with 464 emigrants; Windermere on February 22, with 477 emigrants; Old England on March 5, with 45 emigrants; John M. Wood on March 12, with 393 emigrants; Germanicus on April 4, with 220 emigrants; Marshfield, on April 18, with 366 emigrants;and Clara Wheeler on April 24, with 29 emigrants. The master of the Golconda was Captain Kerr. The ship was listed as 1170 tons, the others ranged from 995 to 1299 tons. The Golconda had also been chartered the previous year and had sailed on January 23, 1853 under the command of Captain Kerr. The passenger list at Liverpool shows that the written notice for the Thornock Family was mailed to them in Whitwick c/o William Smith, 28 Silver Street. The names were as follows, all assigned to “steerage:”

John Thornock 37 Labourer

Ann Thornock 34

John Thornock 12

Matthew Thornock 10

William Thornock 8

Joseph Thornock 5

Mary A. Thornock 3

Hannah Thornock 3 mos.

The Thornock Family was listed as “ordinary” passengers. The book showed the following: Deposit Balance Total £SD £ SD £ SD 7 0 0 17 12 6 24 12 6. This means an advance deposit of £7 had been made and the balance paid at the time of boarding the ship. This amount was for passage to New Orleans only. Tickets on the steamboats up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Kansas City, (Westport) Missouri were purchased in New Orleans. Money had been forwarded to Elder William Empey for the purchase of a wagon, oxen, milk cows and supplies for crossing the plains.

Only three families from Whitwick boarded the Golconda. All good friends of the Thornock Family were William Smith, 52, a stoker, and six others in his family and Joseph Heathcots, 55, and Sarah Heathcots, 60. It was not easy to leave Ann’s relatives in Whitwick and John realized he would probably never see his relatives again who were living in the Laxfield area. The Ward Family were especially close friends and the children had been playmates since childhood and would be sorely missed. In later Chapters in this book the Ward and Thornock families are reunited in Utah ten years later, in 1864, and the two older Thornock sons married two Ward daughters.

The passenger list contained the names of 312 adults, 137 under 14 and 15 under 1 for a total of 464. It is significant that there are many professions, trades, and crafts listed among the adults. There was one or more accountant, baker, blacksmith, boot maker, bricklayer, brickmaker, builder, butcher, clerk, coach maker, coal miner, collier, compositer, cordwainer, draper, engineer, farmer, farm labourer, gardener, harness maker, labourer, laller, lead miner, mariner, mason, moulder, plasterer, printer, puddler, sawyer, shoemaker. It is obvious that this great variety of skills would prove most helpful while crossing the plains and contributing to the development of Salt Lake Valley.

Much more information can be found at the following website. This was taken from a book of over 400 pages about the Thornock family.

SOURCE: http://www.alfredbateman.org/book/15.pdf

The Thornock family came to Utah in 1854 on the Golconda. The family consisted of father, John, mother, Ann and the following children: John, Matthew, William, Joseph, Mary A., and Hannah. The family settled in Bloomington, Idaho.

LDS family search gives birth date of 15 March 1816 Note: from Karen Bee Cemetery records show born 5 Nov 1816, Laxfield, Suffolk, England. Died in Bloomington. Father Johathon Thornock, Mother Mary Reeve. The other records I have at home say they don't really know when and where he was born

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 5 2016, 16:30:36 UTC