Family History Episode 4: Starring Chief Powhatan and Pocohantas

In today's episode I am going to tell you about our 13th Great Grandfather Chief Powhatan, otherwise known as the chief of chiefs. His actual name is Wahunsenacawh and the name Powhatan was more of a title for the leader of the tribes he was over. Before the arrival of English Colonists to the Americas in 1607 there is little known about Chief Powhatan. It is known that When he inherited the title from his father he had control over 6 different tribes. Throughout the years and using force, diplomacy, and marriage pacts he eventually gained control of about 30 different tribes. Each tribe had their own chief that reported to Powhatan and thus he was Chief of Chiefs or King of Chiefs. The collective title for all these tribes was also Powhatan. The area he ruled over was over 10,000 square miles and he had anywhere from 13,000 to 35,000 subjects. 

When the English settlers arrived and settled Jamestown, Powhatan at times ordered attacks against the white men and at other times negotiated trades with them. It seems at times he viewed them as allies, but also was somewhat wary of them as enemies. John Smith represented the English during these times, and He and Powhatan seemed to play a little bit of a cat and mouse game to gauge each other's skills and capabilities. It was during this time that John Smith reported that he was almost executed by Chief Powhatan when the chief's daughter and our 13th great Aunt, Pocohantas rescued John Smith and caused the chief to spare his life. 

Around the year 1609 John Smith left the settlement and returned to England. During this time Chief Powhatan grew scared of the English. He invited many of the settlers to come do some trading, but as they arrived he ordered his men to attack them and they killed most of the white settlers that had come to trade. He then ordered his men to attack any of the settlers that left their fort in Jamestown to also be attacked. The settlers did not have much food and really struggled through this period with nearly 80% of them dying. Jamestown would have been completely lost if not for a ship with food and reinforcements that arrived in 1610. At this time the settlers gained more strength and more numbers and began their own attacks on the natives. In 1613 Chief Powhatans daughter Aunt Pocohantas was taken captive by the English. In effort to get her back Chief Powhatan released some English prisoners, but he could not meet all of the demands of the settlers and so Pocohantas remained in captivity. She eventually converted to Christianity and drew the romantic interest of her English teacher, and colonist John Rolfe. Powhatan consented to let his daughter marry John Rolfe which resulted in a peaceful period again between the Powhatan people and the English settlers. The peace between the two peoples lasted the rest of Chief Powhatan's life.

Shortly after Chief Powhatan died in the Spring of 1618 his younger brother, Opitchapam took control of the tribes. However, most of the tribes and decided instead to follow the youngest brother, Opechancanough, was more intent on going to war and attacking the English. This eventually led to the Powhatan's demise and the continual growth of the English. Chief Opechancanough was our 12th great grandfather and had married Chief Powhatan's daughter, and Pocohantas's sister. Her name was Paupauwiske Morning Scent Flower Mangopeesomom. Their daughter married Major Joseph Raleigh Croshaw, and their daughter married Colonel John West who was the son of the third governor of Virginia also named John West. These men were also our grandparents and come from royal lines in England that travel back to Knights, Barons, Ladies, and Dukes. Including Elizabeth Somerset who was one of Anne Boleyns's ladies in waiting and testified against her to get her locked in the Tower of London. Anyway some interesting history for y'all. The land that the West's owned in Virginia is now the city of West Point, Virginia which holds a crab festival in the first weekend of October that I believe we should all attend because crab is delicious. 

John Smith said of Chief Powhatan "...their Emperor proudly [lay] upon a bedstead a foot high upon ten or twelve mats, richly hung with many chains of great pearls about his neck, and covered with a great covering of Rahaughcums [raccoon skins]. At his head sat a woman, at his feet another, on each side, sitting upon a mat upon the ground, were ranged his chief men on each side [of] the fire, ten in a rank, and behind them as many young women, each a great chain of white beads over their shoulders, their heads painted in red, and [he] with such a grave a majestical countenance as drove me into admiration to see such state in a naked savage." and described him as such "tall, well-proportioned man with a sower looke, his head somewhat gray, his beard so thinne that it seemeth none at all, his age neare sixtie, of a very able and hardy body, to endure any labor."

                                    A picture of Chief Powhatan From John Smith's Writings

                                                              The Real Pocohantas

                                                           The Fake Pocohantas

                                  Pocohantas after her conversion and marriage to John Rolfe.
                                                Now she was known as Rebecca Rolfe

Family History Episode 3: A Love Story... Starring George Jacob Slaugh, Mary Magdeline Ivory, and Robert Croft

I can't decide if this is a sad story or a fantastic love story or what, but I will lay out the details and let you decide for yourself.

On March 21st 1828 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania the Doctor was called to the house of John Jacob Slaugh and his wife Magaret Hammond Slaugh. To them that night was born a son who they named George Jacob Slaugh. The story goes that immediately after George Jacob was born the doctor was called to the house next door to the home of Jesse Ivory and his wife Rachel Smith Ivory. On that same night was born Mary Magdeline Ivory.

Mary and George were not only next door neighbors, but became great friends in childhood. These two born within crying distance of each other on the same day would later marry each other.

George worked as an engineer on the railroad and helped support his family living in Philadelphia. While working for the railroad George had some issues with his hand, something that Doctor's called "White Swelling", and that they pronounced incurable. Mary told George to visit the Mormon's and that they could heal his arm. He met with some of the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who gave him a blessing. His arm was healed. This event led George and Mary to be baptized and join the LDS church. George and Mary had 5 children. two of them, Isaac and Sara, caught Typhoid fever and were pronounced dead by local Doctors. Again the couple called upon the assistance of the Elders of the church. Blessings were administered to the two children and both were miraculously brought back from the dead and regained their health.

In Philadelphia they had a good and comfortable life. Mary's family was wealthy and they had all they could ever want. But George felt the need to gather with the saints in Utah. He left to Utah to help settle things and prepare for his wife and children to join him. While there he became a teamster and crossed the plains three times to help immigrants make their way to Utah. He started to miss his wife and asked her to bring the kids and join him in Utah. She decided that things were nice in Pennsylvania and she did not want to leave her family. After a few years she decided they were better off separating.

Mary got remarried to Robert Croft. They had a son and named him Benjamin Croft. George also got remarried to Martha Nerdin. They also got pregnant, but during child birth Martha and the baby both died. George again contacted Mary and let her know his love for her and his desire for her and the children to join him in Utah. This time Mary was persuaded and decided that George had sacrificed so much to be with the saints in Utah that it was time for her to sacrifice also. She left without the consent of her husband Robert and took her six children to Utah. The trip was long and grueling. Benjamin was just a baby and Mary walked and carried him nearly every step of the way. At last her and George were reunited. They live in a small house with Georges brother and his family. The roof was dirt, and it was a hard pioneering life. Mary never did become comfortable with this life style and often longed to return to her family and their wealth in Pennsylvania. He mother would often send expensive luxuries to them, but Mary had to get rid of them because they reminded too much of where she longed to be. She even left one day with the intent of returning to Pennsylvania, but George caught up to her and begged her to stay. Eventually it all became to much for her and the rigors of pioneer life caused her to have a stroke at the age of 59 and she passed away.

One more cool story from George Jacobs life. He was at one point a body guard for Brigham Young and when Johnston's army came into Salt Lake he was put in charge of training a bunch of young boys and preparing them to fight against the army. W. W. Phelps asked him "George, are you scared?" George replied that he was to which W. W. Phelps responded "Never fear Brother Slaugh, there will not a gun be fired. I've seen too many armed hosts in the Heavens on our side."

This story reminds me of something that you might read in a Nicholas Sparks novel. A husband and wife born on the same day at the same time in the same place. They grow up together get married, have their struggles and separate momentarily. They get back together and the wife especially gives up everything just to be with the man she loves. This is Nicholas Sparks stuff for sure.

You might be thinking that George Jacob Slaugh is our so many greats grandfather. He's not! Robert Croft, Mary's second husband, is our third great grandfather. Their only child Benjamin, whom Mary carried across the plains to Utah, is the father of Great Grandfather Hyrum Slaugh. Benjamin was adopted by George and thus we receive the name Slaugh in our family history, but technically we are related to the Croft's and not the Slaughs. Not much is known about Robert Croft and his family.

Anyway interesting story. I like to think of it as a great love story, but I wish I could know more about poor Robert Croft who lost in this battle of love for the great Mary Ivory.

Mary Magdeline Slaugh

Family History Episode 2: Pioneer Day: Starring: John Taylor, Joseph Davis Mathews, Anna Eliza Telford Baker

Here is some more great history for y'all. I figured with it being pioneer day on the 24th I would share some stories about some of our pioneer ancestors. We have a thick history of pioneer ancestors that crossed the plains in wagons or pushing handcarts, but we don't necessarily have a lot of stories from all of them. We all know about John Cameron and the amazing stories of his daughter Catherine Cameron, so I figured I would share some stories maybe we don't all know. Then again maybe you all do know them and I am the only one who didn't know.

Let me start with our 4th great grandfather John Taylor. No it is not the third prophet of the church John Taylor, but he was good friends with Joseph and Hyrum Smith. In fact he was one of Joseph Smith's body guards and a member Zion's Camp. It was during Zion's Camp's gathering at the Burkett farm to battle against the Missouri Militia before a large storm and Cholera stopped the battle before it could happen, that he met his wife. He would go on to marry Eleanor Burkett and they had 12 children. It is these Taylor's that Taylor Mountain here in Vernal is named after. Here is one of my favorite stories about John Taylor. Because of his close friendship with Joseph Smith, John was often arrested on false charges. One particular time he was imprisoned for 6 months. While he was in jail his wife Eleanor ran into Joseph Smith on the streets and asked him when her husband would be released from jail. Joseph replied "Your husband can walk out of that jail as easy as I can turn my hand." Around that same time at the prison John was inspired as to how to escape. The guard had left for the day and left his wife to watch over John at the prison. She was busy doing chores when the door of the cell opened by itself. John slipped his shoes off and walked out unseen and unheard. He even walked past the guard dog that was sleeping on the floor. Once he got outside he began to run barefoot through the snow until he reached the Mississippi River. The river was frozen over which allowed him to cross safely. Once he reached the other side the ice immediately broke away so that the guards and mobs could not follow him. His feet were frozen, bloody and swollen, but he had escaped and returned safely to his family.

The next Pioneer ancestor that I would like to talk about is Joseph Davis Mathews. Another one of our 4th great grandfathers. Joseph was born in Wales and later married his wife Ann Roberts in Wales. It was here that they converted to the church. Like many converts at the time they came to America and made the long trek across the plains. We don't have a lot of information about their journey to Utah, but we do know that Joseph was one of the hunters for his company. He talks about waking up one morning and seeing a giant herd of Buffalo. He says their wagon train traveled all day and never saw the end of the herd. It was after he arrived in Salt Lake that the story I want to share happened. He was a laborer and was put to work on building the Temple and Tabernacle. At one point during construction there was a load of rock being lifted by a block and tackle and was going over his head. At this point the rope broke and the entire load fell right on top of Joseph. Those that were there were sure that such a crushing blow would have killed him. They hurried and dug him out and found that he was still alive, but was obviously in pretty bad shape. They took him home and two of the Apostles came and gave him a priesthood blessing. He was healed almost immediately and the next day he was back to work on the Temple. He also helped on the construction of the St. George Temple. 

Finally here is a story about our 3rd great grandmother Anna Eliza Telford Baker. Many of you might remember her daughter Sarah Lavinna Baker, or as only Carl and I got to call her Grandma Vinnie. It was Anna's husband Alonzo Baker that was the pioneer and traveled the plains to get to Utah. Anna was born in Utah, but lived a long pioneering life anyway. They had 12 children. In 1888 with their 7 oldest children, the family moved to Star Valley, Wyoming. The oldest child was 11 years old and the youngest just a baby. Grandma Vinnie was 5 at the time. For the first winter they lived in an overturned wagon and a tent. The next spring her husband Alonzo and their oldest son (10 years old) got jobs working on the railroad. This took them away from the family for most of the year. Anna refused to live in those conditions again for another winter. She had learned some carpentry skills from her father and so she went to work. Her and her oldest daughter Harriet retrieved all the shell stone for the foundation of the cabin. They then cut down all the logs for the cabin and she even dove tailed the ends to make better connections. A sophisticated and laboring part of carpentry that wasn't always used in cabin making at the time because although it is better quality it was not as quick. Her and the children built the two room cabin. She put a lot of quality work into the cabin and it was the first cabin in Star valley to have shingles. Because of the excellent workmanship of the cabin it is still standing today and it is the oldest cabin in Star Valley, Wyoming. The Baker Cabin is now a tourist stop just off the highway in Etna, Wyoming. 

I'm thinking we ought to do a road trip to see the cabin. Who's in?

The Alonzo and Anna Baker Family: Grandma Vinnie is on the far left of the picture.

The Baker Cabin in Etna, Wyoming

Family History: Episode 1: William Brewster

Hey Family, I have been studying a bit about our family history and some of the cool characters that came before us to help make us as awesome as we are. I'm a little bit different about family history. I want to know the stories behind the name. I know for religious purposes it is important to find the names and get temple work done, but I really enjoy the stories. So I thought maybe it would be a good idea to restart this blog and we could do some family history stories that then could be saved or archived or printed off etc. Stories about mom, dad, grandparents would be cool just so that they are recorded. I have recently studied some of our further back relatives and thought that with us recently having celebrated Independence day, that I would share about one of our own founding father ancestors. William Brewster was a passenger on the Mayflower and the religious leader for the puritans in the New World.

William Brewster was born in 1568 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England. While studying at Cambridge he became a religious reformist and entered the service of William Davison, who was held responsible for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. Davison was arrested, so William Brewster moved to Holland because the Dutch were more sympathetic to the reformists. He became one of the religious leaders of the separatists in Leiden, Holland. While there he teamed up with one Thomas Brewer to print, publish, and sale religious books in England. For this Thomas Brewer was arrested and William Brewster went into hiding for 2 years. During that time the puritans had secured enough money to procure the Mayflower. The puritans wanted William Brewster to be their religious leader on the journey and in the New World. William and his wife Mary and their two youngest sons Love Brewster and Wrestling Brewster were all on the Mayflower. They also were given charge over two other children that belonged to one Thomas More.

William Brewster lived to be 76 and was well loved by the pilgrims. He was their religious leader for nearly 24 years in the New World. He was granted some land in the Boston Harbor and four of the Islands are named after him. Clearly his efforts and desires for religious freedom helped establish this great country and it is pretty awesome to be a descendant of such a influential person.

You can read more about him and his life at these websites.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brewster_(Mayflower_passenger)
http://mayflowerhistory.com/brewster-william/

Here is an excerpt from Jennie and Jessie's relative and political leader of the Pilgrims William Bradford.

Here is our line of ancestry to William Brewster

Scariest thing to happen to us in 2013

I posted this on facebook but some of you might not have seen it. Actually, anyone on here probably did see it on Facebook.

 

Scariest thing to happen to my family in 2013!

Thursday January 3rd. We started the day in Dutch John, UT, drove to Vernal, Provo, and Salt Lake City and flew to Nashville via Denver. We left Nashville about midnight. About 1 am Friday morning (late Thursday night) I was driving us to my Mom's in KY. As we approached the exit off I-24 to US 41A I was using the cruise control and doing about 75 mph..., I tapped the brakes and nothing happened. I knew I was going to fast but I didn't want to miss our exit so I exited and tried them again and nothing happened. I got confused and the following thoughts went through my head.
1. I am tired and confused so the brake must be on the right and the gas on the left. (OK, now you see how asleep/zoned out I was.) I tried the gas. That did not slow us down.
2. The brake and the gas do the same thing.
3. Use the cruise control to slow us down.   I tried that but we were going downhill so nothing happened and when I released it, it caught again and felt like we were speeding up.
4. I am going to kill my family at the end of the exit. Several different ways popped into my head in that split second. The exit was a long slight bend to the right followed by a bend to the left and then straight. As I negotiated the first bend using all of the road, Sheila said "slow down", I said "I can't", Sheila "Are the brakes gone?" me "I don't know!". That was all within a few seconds. As we start the left bend, I remember we are driving a standard and grab the shifter and rip it out of 5th gear and put it into 3rd (using my right foot to depress the clutch) which slows us down a bunch. At that point, I realize that the brake pedal is between the clutch and the gas pedals and I finally use the brake. Yes, I had been pressing the clutch all of the time. We stopped in the area between the merge right lane and the stop before turning left lane. I was shaken up but we were alive. In the whole thing I only moved my left foot at the very end. It was the most scared I have been in a long time.
The rest of the trip was uneventful.

 

Additional stuff not on Facebook.  I never felt like I was nodding off so I never realized how "out of it" I was. I am a big believer in "do not fall asleep behing the wheel".  I would normally just stop and let Sheila drive. That is another scary part of this. It snuck up on me completely. Since I have been driving for about 37 years, you would think that I knew what an emergency brake was. I never thought about the emergency brake a single time. I hope you do if you are ever in this situation. Lastly, I was really, really scared during the event and immediately after. I am just now beginning to feel good about the fact I did get the car stopped and we are alright. I hope this is the worst scare for the whole family for many years to come. Love and Kisses. See you in May.

What up Ninjas? Well thank you once again for another awesome and fun Morton Family Christmas. It was a blast despite Angel and Johnita's attempts to ruin it. Just kidding. Angel we are all extremely excited about little Molly Ann. Congratulations, that is awesome. Johnita, we are sorry about your appendix and are very glad that you still have an appendix present in your body because that means the baby is doing good. Good Luck with things. I do appreciate the good times we have together as a family even if I am a little bit of a trouble maker at these things. I also am glad that Charlie and Sheila are such big gaming nerds, because I love playing games. I know a complain a little if the game lasts all night, and when Sheila does not explain all the rules so that she has and advantage, but I truly do like playing these games. So we pretty much have the awesomest family this side of the Mason Dixon. I would also like to congratulate Ross, not just on winning the family over-unders, but by absolutely demolishing everybody else. With that said here is a new list of questions for 2013. I am going to keep going with the baby questions because now everybody but Dad, Ross, and Ruby are in the baby game.
1. There were three new babies born to the Morton family in 2012. Including Johnitas will there be over or under 2.5 born in 2013?
2. Besides Johnita and Colin who will be the next couple to have a baby?
3. What will be the total combined length of all babies born into the family in 2013?
4. Who will have a better Grade Point Average, the Students taught by Sheila, Johnita, and Angel, Or all the grandkids that attend school?
5. In 2012 several families traveled great distances for vacations, Tennessee, Oregon etc. Will there be over or under 5.5 Families that travel out of the state they are living in for vacation? Dad and Ruby count as seperate families.
6. Our family is notorious for running late to importan events. In fact several of the baptisms and baby blessings were cut close by several siblings. With 1 upcoming baptism, Abby, in 2013 will there be over or under 3.5 of the siblings that miss the opening prayer?
7. How many new vehicles will be purchased in 2013?
Here are some which will happen first questions. I will give you two options, and you choose who you think will be first to accomplish their feat.
8. Will Sheila win a board game at a convention? Or Will Sean win a city league Soft ball Game?
9. Will Ross start and finish a book? Or Will Ruby Start and Finish a play?
10. Will Carl and Jennie have a Baby? Or Will Angel and Waynes Baby learn to walk?
11. Will Johnita and Colin have their Baby? Or Will Clint pass his Infrastructure Inspector Test?
12. The past few years during the family Christmas party it seems that somebody spends some time in the hospital. Jessie with her leg infection, Lexi getting Nurse Maids Elbow, Johnita with her absessed tooth and her appendix, Angel with her party crashing Baby? Will there be somebody that spends time in the hospital for the 2013 Christmas party and Why? Creativity receives extra points.

Hello from Colombia

Well I am on my last week here in Colombia and can't wait to get home. The work has been fun, but the hours are a killer. I have been getting up at 1:30 ever morning to launch the aircraft and then fall back asleep around 6:30. I get back up around 10:00 o'clock to go meet the plane for refuel and then 2 hours latter I go meet the plane for recovery. I then spend the next few hours fixing any problems that raised during the flight. I then come and FaceTime with Ang and the kids till around 10:30 or 11. Then off to bed for a couple of hours to do it again. We only have one down day a week when the plane is not flying. I have been restricted to the base, so I haven't gotten to see much of colombia. Tomorrow we are going to the other side of the base where they have monkeys and crocodiles living on base. I have seen a lot of iguanas on base. There is a big 6 ft long one that is often in the trees by our building. There are also a lot of trianchilias running around outside our rooms.

On my way home we are stopping in Panama and they will be taking groups of people to see the canal. That will be something new and exciting. Well I love you all and look forward to being home.