James EVANS

                   Sources:Maxstoke Par.Reg.,Parish Regs. of Bickenhill and Knowle.
Nether Whitacre; Res. in Eng. by Gen. Soc. of Utah
Copied from Lisa Williams
Correspondence from J. R. Cunningham, 29 Sep 1942

       All children were sealed again 11 Nov 1969.
                  

                   Sources:Maxstoke Par.Reg.,Parish Regs. of Bickenhill and Knowle.
Nether Whitacre; Res. in Eng. by Gen. Soc. of Utah
Copied from Lisa Williams
                  

                   Sources:Maxstoke Par.Reg.,Parish Regs. of Bickenhill and Knowle.
Nether Whitacre; Res. in Eng. by Gen. Soc. of Utah
Copied from Lisa Williams
                  

                   Sources:Maxstoke Par.Reg.,Parish Regs. of Bickenhill and Knowle.
Nether Whitacre; Res. in Eng. by Gen. Soc. of Utah
Copied from Lisa Williams
                  

                   Sources:Maxstoke Par.Reg.,Parish Regs. of Bickenhill and Knowle.
Nether Whitacre; Res. in Eng. by Gen. Soc. of Utah
B-Chr, GSF#299,156 Maxstoke, Warws, Eng  IGA born 20 Oct. 1798
D-GSF#486,186 Ogden Cem Rec Weber Co. Utah
Bapt.-GSF#183,406 p59 #28 End for living EH 1 May 1856
E-GSF#183,406 Bk G p59 #28 End for living EH  IGI 2 Mar 1869
Copied from Lisa Williams
Parish of Kingsbury, Warws., Eng. GSF #198,735
Endowment card for Mary Evans (living)

Parish of Baxterley, Warwickshire, England, GSF #198,762
       Thomas Baker of this parish and Mary Evans of this parish of Fillongley Married in thie church by Banns with the consent of all persons interested this 13 day of October 1817 by John Adamthwaite D.D. Rector.  In the presense of Sarah Evans and George Newbury.
                                                   Mark of Thomas  X  Baker
                                                               Mary Evans

Christenings:
       4 Jan 1818 Frances d/o Thomas and Mary Baker Abode Baxterley by M. Ware Officiating Min.
       17 Jan 1819 Rebecca d/o Thomas and Mary Baker Abode Baxterley by J. (John) Glover
       13 Aug 1820 Rebecca d/o Thomas and Mary Baker Abode Hurley
       20 Mar 1823 Abraham s/o Thomas and Mary Baker Abode Hurley, parish of Kingsbury

       (Their first four children were christened in Baxterley Parish, the last six in Kingsbury Parish.)

MARY EVANS BAKER:
(See also notes of Granddaughter, Louisa Field)
       One evening in the early spring of 1862, Mary Evans Baker sat in the midst of her family in her humble home in Hurley, Warwickshire, England, discussing an important and perplexing problem.
       Surrounding the mother were five of her six living children, Caroline, Sarah, Reuben, William and Elizabeth.  Sarah's husband, Henry Field and their nine-year-old daughter, Louisa were there and Reuben had brought his wife, Mary Ann.
       The mother had desired to go to America since she had accepted Mormonism eight years earlier, but each time she had mentioned it, her husband, Thomas Baker had vehemently objected.
       "No, we shall not go  Neither Mormonism nor America for me  We shall never go to America"  He was adamant.  He did not join the Church nor did he ever see America.  After his death, Mary's desire became more urgent; and on this particular night she had called the family together for a decision.
       "When can we go to America?"
       "Mother, Mary Ann and I cannot afford to go," spoke Reuben.
       "Henry," she asked, "what do you think?"
       "We wish we could go  We want to go; but like Reuben, we cannot think of such a sum of money, not now at least."
       "Not now, not now," thought Mary, then in a sad but uncomplaining voice said, "I won't be getting any younger, and it is the greatest desire of my life to go to Zion."
       "I will take you, Mother," said William, her bachelor son.  "Sister Caroline shall go with us.  Perhaps the climate in America will be more beneficial for her."
       "Yes, william.  I shall go.  I'm sure. . ."
       "Caroline, you are so delicate.  I wonder if you could stand such a rugged trip," asked Sarah.
       "With faith such as Mother has, I am sure she can," said gentle Elizabeth, the youngest of the family.
       Mary Ann, her daughter-in-law pleaded, "Mother, William, please do not go yet.  Wait a little longer.  Perhaps somehow we can all go together."
       "We want to stay together," said Sarah.  "It is heart-breaking to have part of the family leave and part remain; yet it may be ten years before we can go.  Mother would be seventy-four, and it is asking too much of her to wait."  Tears were in her eyes, as the conversation grew more serious.
       "Mother," spoke Reuben, "I am sure Elizabeth will go with you.  There would be no hesitancy if you had to choose between Mother and your suitor, George - would there now?"
       Elizabeth's arm tightened about her mother, and the smile through the tears was proof that her decision had been made.
       "Shall we plan on the four of you going, and the rest of us following as soon as we can save enough money?" asked Henry.
       A hymn was sung, and they knelt in prayer for divine guidance that the proper decision would be made and their aching hearts would be comforted.  This prayer was closed by "Thy will be done."
       On a May morning in 1862, there was a sad farewell.  Parting from friends they had known all their lives, knowing they would never see them again, was a sad experience; but leaving members of the family was an ordeal that only strong hearts could endure.  The mother thought of the family graves in the cemetery while her sobbing grandchild clung to her.  William put his arm around his weeping mother and led her away, followed by his sorrowing sisters, Caroline and Elizabeth.
       The four sailed from Liverpool, England 6 May 1862 on the sailing vessel Manchester.  There were 276 saints on board.  The Atlantic was rough and they spent twenty-seven days fighting head winds.  They saw eleven icebergs.  After thirty-five days sailing and two more days trying to land in New York Harbor, being buffeted, tossed and beaten by winds, they landed on 13 Jun and were met by Mormon Elders.
       that same afternoon, the emigrants continued their journey by rail, bound for Florence, Nebraska.  Here they remained un 29 July, preparing and waiting for the great trek to Salt Lake Valley.
       William purchased an ox team and a good covered wagon.  He proceeded to purchase the necessary supplies such as one-thousand pounds of flour, seed grain, farm tools, a tent, pulley blocks, ropes, a rifle, a pound of powder and a pound of lead, cooking and eating utensils, food, and bedding.  These, along with 600 pounds of glass, to be used later for the windows of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, were loaded into the wagon.  There was no room for the family to ride.
       They joined 570 other saints in Captain Joseph Horn's Ox Train.  This proved to be a long and ardous journey.  There were unfriendly Indians, much illness, and continued trials and experiences.  Elizabeth at one time had infection in her foot.  When they found a little stream, Caroline bathed Elizabeth's swollen and painful foot until she could continue on.  While fording streams, William carried his sisters and smaller children on his back.  He was gentle and kind to everyone.  When they stopped to rest in the evenings, singing and encouragement from the leaders cheered them on.  At one time they were without food for three days, then found some large mushrooms and berries.
       Why did the Baker family leave the lovely village of Hurley, England with its beautiful wild spring flowers sprinkled among the rolling hills?  It was not for the ocean trip.  There was no pleasure being tossed about in a sailing vessel for weeks with very little food.  It was not of the enjoyment of a trip to Utah; that meant trudging a thousand miles, mostly bare foot on parched land or frozen ground, and wading rocky mountain streams.  It was not for honor or glory.  Why then did they come?  There was but one answer - Mormonism
       As they traveled, the weather varied with the distance; sometimes it was stifling hot and sometimes extremely cold with blustering and penetrating winds and frightening storms.  There were no comforts.  They were poorly dressed, but they plodded along day in and day out.
       When they arrived at Rocky Ridge, Wyoming, William was made a captain and requested to remain there for six weeks to guard provisions from marauding Indians while his mother and sisters continued their journey.
       Arriving in Salt Lake City in October, 1862, William immediately went to Riverdale, Utah to be with his mother and sisters.  He rented one of the William R. Cole farms.  It was at this time he met his future wife, sixteen-year-old Esther, daughter of William and Sarepta Parrish Cole.
       Soon after his arrival in Riverdale, he was asked if he would loan his oxen to help others cross the plains.  He willingly did so, even though he had no money and did not know how he could make a living with a team.  A way was opened.  Emigrants were coming through Weber Canyon on their way to California and had no way of crossing the Weber River due to turbulent waters.  William built a barge and ferried them across for the price of one dollar apiece.  This provided money for a much needed team of horses and an additional $65.
       William and Esther were married in 1865 and moved to Hooper, being one of the first families to settle there.  In 1873 William began homesteading in Roy.
       To the Bakers, thirteen children were born, who became known as the "Baker's Dozen."  Eleven were reared to maturity and they in turn reared large, strong and vigorous families.
                  

                   Sources:Maxstoke Par.Reg.,Parish Regs. of Bickenhill and Knowle.
Nether Whitacre; Res. in Eng. by Gen. Soc. of Utah
Copied from Lisa Williams