Ann Bligh

Ann Bligh was born February 8, 1802, at Tibenham or Diss, Norfolk, England. Her parents were Daniel Bligh and Sarah Pease. Ann is the oldest daughter, she is also the only known to marry. The other children are Martha, Martha, John, James, Charlotte, Phillip, Phillip, and Elizabeth. Ann was married February 18, 1822, to Frederick Barker in Diss, Norfolk, England. Their first four children were born in Diss. Matilda was born 14 June 1823; Mary Ann was born 18 February 1825 on their third anniversary; James, born 7 April 1827; and Sarah, born 7 August 1829. "The Barker History" by Evelyn Mary Davis Chugg accounts, "When James was three years old in 1830 the English Government furnished transportation to a number of poor families to come to America that they might immigrate to a better place to earn their living." The "Barker Odyssey" by Don W. Barker records that the 1820's in England were not merry circumstances. Members of England's armies returning from the Napoleonic wars found hard times in front of them. Most of the land in England at this time was owned by only a handful of families. Though not known for sure, the Barkers were thought to be farmers and probably were not land owners but renters doing their best to make the money last. Thus, Frederick and Ann Barker decided with his brothers, George and James and sister, Harriet and their families to come to America. George, the brother of Frederick, had married May 13, 1813, to Charlotte Brazenworth at Shelfanger, Norfolk, England. She had passed away and he married a second wife Sarah Gerard on December 18, 1815, in Diss, Norfolk, England. They were the parents of six children all born at Diss. James, another brother of Frederick, married Hannah Woods on June 16, 1828. Harriet, the sister of Frederick, married Henry Jarrell. They crossed the ocean in an old English vessel equipped with armory, "The New Brunswick." They sailed March 23, 1830. During the voyage, small pox broke out on shipboard and all the Barkers except James, George's son, were down with it all at the same time. They were thirteen weeks on the ocean, arriving at Staten Island, New York, June 22, 1830." The Barkers located at LeRay, Jefferson, New York. Four children were born here. William was born on November 23, 1831, and died young. Another boy was born December 26, 1833, and again given the name William. If a child died young, it was often the tradition to name the next child after him or her. William later married Mary Ann Holt. Harriet was born, August 29, 1835. She later married Elisha Wells Chase. Daniel was born 1837 and died young. In 1838, the Barkers moved to Watertown, Jefferson, New York. The last three children were born here. Jane Isobell was born May 17, 1839. She married Henry Denison Durfee. Ann and Frederick's son Henry was born October 6, 1840; he married Margaret Staley (Margaret Stalle). Finally, Byron was born November 16, 1842; he married Julia Cynthia Hubbard. Elder Benjamin Brown and another elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited the Barker's in Watertown, Jefferson, New York in the year 1844. Almost every last member of the families accepted the Gospel as restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and none of the other members ever antagonized it. Frederick Barker was a Baptist in England, a Presbyterian in New York, before joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New York. The second oldest daughter of Frederick and Ann Barker, Mary Ann, went with her Uncle George Barker to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois in the fall of 1845. She became the second wife of Benjamin Brown. They had one son Samuel that died in infancy. She died September 8, 1846, at Camp Israel, Cutlers Par, Omaha, Nebraska. During their sojourn at Watertown, Jefferson, New York, Matilda Barker, first child of Frederick and Ann, acquired the profession of schoolteacher. She followed that calling for several years. She became the wife of Alonzo Percival Jenks. He was also a school teacher by profession. He later had law as a profession and became one of the leading lawyers of that part of the country. The Barker family, Frederick, James, George, Harriet, and families moved to Nauvoo for a few months. They joined the great migration in February and March 1846 westward. All went except the two daughters of Frederick and Ann. Matilda married Mr. Jenks and stayed in the east; Mary Ann had left with her husband and the Saints west but died in Nebraska. They crossed the Mississippi River on the ice in February 1846 during the bitter winter weather headed west but to just where they knew not. Three years were spent at Chequest Township, Van Buren County, Iowa before the Barker family moved on, this time without James and his wife. In the spring of 1849, the Mormon family; George, Frederick, and Harriet, joined another Mormon migration going out to the Great Salt Lake Basin leaving James and Hannah Barker alone at Indian Prairie. After the move, the family lost track of each other. The pioneer families arrived at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on June 8, 1849. Here a large company was organized for the long journey west in July 7, 1849. The company included 205 persons, 65 wagons, 292 oxen, 127 cows, 34 yearlings, 148 sheep, 21 horses, 1 mule, 9 pigs, 25 dogs, 15 cats, 2 geese, 5 turkeys, 14 ducks, 31 chickens, and 2 doves owned by Robert Porter. After he arrived in Utah, he left for California May 2, 1850, so he gave the doves to Harriet Barker. The wagon train was divided into groups. The Barker family was placed in the one hundred of Allen Taylor, the fifty of Enoch Rhees, and the ten of David Moore who later married Frederick and Ann's daughter Sarah. After many struggles and tiresome travels, they reached Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday, October 20, 1849, three months since they left Council Bluffs, Iowa. Before the week was over, they were settling in Brown Fort located in a group of cabins between the two rivers near where the Ogden River enters the Weber for the winter. During the winter of 1849-50, the snow fell very deep and quite a number of their cattle died for lack of food. Ann provided her family with the only staple available, boiled wheat, milk, and butter, for about six or eight weeks with the exception of corn that they ground in coffee mills. The emigrants each sent a few bushels of wheat by a team to the Neff's Mill, seven miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah to have their wheat ground; with this they got along until after harvest. Then each family sent down a large load to the mill. On the first day of June, the first large company of California goldminers appeared on the hill near or on the City Cemetery. They were soon ferried over Ogden River and were on their way to California. From this time on the gold seekers were almost continuous until about the last of August. Several of the emigrants were out of flour and willingly gave Captain Brown ten dollars per bushel of wheat and ground it in a hand mill. They would camp for the night, nearby while he had it ground. At times the Indians were hostile, when unwise men would excite the Indians or when they were gathered together, imbued with a spirit of revenge. Ann Bligh Barker bravely went among them trying to quiet them. On one occasion she stood on the wagon tongue without fear. The Lord gave her the tongue of the Indian. She had power to reconcile the Indians, and they did away with their anger and bloodshed was avoided. She became a lasting friend to the Native Americans. The following Indian stories are taken from "Our Pioneer Heritage" by Kate B. Carter, Vol. 8, pages 117-124; "The Utah Indian Stories." "During the Fifties, some of the Ute Indians, who lived in around Ogden, part of each year, went to battle against another tribe. In the skirmish, a Piute Indian squaw and her nine month old papoose were taken prisoners. The squaw made her escape and joined her own people, but the papoose was purchased from the Indians by Ann Blythe Barker for a pair of blankets and some flour. Two or three years later, the Indian mother learned of the where a bouts of her child. Each year thereafter for several years, she called at the Barker home for the little girl, but she refused to go with her natural mother. Mrs. Barker named in the Indian baby, Rhoda. "Little Soldier was a Ute Indian Chief. He called often to see how Rhoda was being cared for. Through Mrs. Barker's act of kindness, the Indians and the white settlers became much friendlier. Rhoda continued to live as a member of the Barker family until she was fourteen or fifteen years old when she became sick and died of tuberculosis. "Little Soldier was a peacemaker between the Indian and white settlers of Weber County. He visited the homes of the pioneers as long as he lived. His wife's name was Negess and he had a daughter named Mary." In 1859, Frederick Barker came to North Ogden to live. He was also buried there. He and Ann separated. She married his brother, George Barker. She was sealed to him November 3, 1855, in the Endowment House. Ann died September 18, 1876, in Ogden, Weber, Utah. She is buried in the Ogden Cemetery. Located at 1875 Monroe Blvd. (enter cemetery from 20th and Jefferson). Grave is located on 3rd Avenue off center, 2nd row back, it is an orangish upright with Ann wife of GE Barker, should be around other Barkers (Plot B-1-12-1W). West side of the street, past Doxey, behind a really big bush, grave faces west