RUTTER, Ann (1818)
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| Ann Rutter Harrocks | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ann Rutter |
| Born | July 4 1818 |
| Place of birth | Aughton, Lancashire, England |
HISTORY OF ANN RUTTER HARROCKS
Ann Rutter Harrocks was born at Aughton, Lancaster, England, 4th of July 1818. She was the daughter of Peter and Ann Brighouse Rutter, both of Aughton, England. She had one sister, Hellen, and a brother Henry. They were innkeepers. Ann Rutter married Daniel Harrocks on 7 September 1840 in the church of St. Nicolas, Liverpool. They had five children, Jane, Ann, Ellen, Elizabeth and Peter.
In 1852 the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were preaching in their vicinity. They had meetings in the home of David Harrock's brother, Peter. On 16 May 1852 the two brothers were baptized. Ann was not baptized at the time.
Ann their second daughter was drowned in a pit near their home on 14 June 1852. She had been dead half an hour when she was found. This was very hard on the family.
Ann saw that her husband and his brother were determined to gather to Zion so she agreed to go with them. They sailed from Liverpool, England on 31 March 1855 on the Juventa. Their baby, Peter was one month old. There were 572 people on board. The trip was rough and when a baby died and was buried at sea and her family prayed fervently that the Lord would keep them safe. After eight weeks they arrived in Philadelphia. They traveled by rail to Pittsburgh, then by boat to Atchison, Kansas. They camped six weeks at Mormon Grove.
The Harrocks families were fortunate enough to have sufficient means to buy their own wagons, oxen and a cow besides plenty of provisions. Ann also bought a small cook stove that she placed in her wagon. While they were at Mormon Grove, the baby, Peter, the only boy in the family was taken sick and died. He was buried at Mormon Grove, 29 May 1855. The family was packed and ready to leave Atchison on their westward journey, when Daniel was suddenly taken ill with cholera which he had contracted while ministering to a sick woman whose husband was absent. He was taken sick at about 6 o'clock in the evening of 13 June 1855 and was dead by midnight. Ann Rutter Harrocks was baptised 14 July 1855. The wagon was unpacked so the body could be taken back to Mormon Grove to be buried beside his infant son. Ann and her three daughters sat on their baggage and waited.
After Daniel died, Peter said, "Now Ann, if you want to take the children and go back to England, there is plenty of money to take you." She answered, "No, I started to Zion with Daniel, and to Zion I am going." A young man drove the oxen and they caught up with the rest of the company, which had started at the scheduled time. During the journey, one of the oxen died and the cow was put in the yoke for the rest of the journey. They had many hardships on their journey and arrived in Salt Lake City 7 September 1855. They camped on Second South and Second East for a few days. Peter Harrocks had arranged to have his house build on this location before he ever left England.
Ann traded her oxen and wagon for some property on 7th East between First and Second South. She lived in a dugout on the property until a one-room adobe house was completed. They moved into her little home on Christmas morning, 1855. She was as happy as a queen in a palace.
The man who had driven their wagon across the plains offered to take Ellen to his farm in Farmington to assist his wife. This seemed a good arrangement until a neighbor from Farmington reported back to Ann that the family had been mistreating Ellen. They had taken her good shoes and forced her to go barefoot. When fall came, it was cold and after having helped in the house, she had to scrape beets out in the cold. Her hands were bleeding and her feet were sore. Ann Harrocks walked to Farmington and brought Ellen home saying she would never separate her family again. That first winter was very difficult.
After much searching, Ann found work at the Chase home. This was situated at what is now known as Liberty Park. Brother Chase owned the flour mill there. Much of her work consisted in baking bread to give to people who came begging to buy flour, which the mill was not able to supply. The kind-hearted miller could not turn them away empty¬handed, so he gave them a small portion of bread.
The little cook stove Ann had placed in her wagon at Mormon Grove was the only stove in the 11th Ward for some time. The women would wait their turn to bake their bread, bringing wood to pay for the use of the stove.
Ann went early and stayed late at the Chase home. She took Ellen with her. They worked there for eleven weeks for their board and the bread and a few other necessities. Ann also sold David's black broadcloth coat to Brother Chase for $20.00. This was to be paid in flour at $6.00 a hundred and $1.00 a week. Ann divided this between her husband's brother and a cousin who walked from Bountiful and back each week for their portion. Through this unusual opportunity Ann was able to play "good angel" to some of her neighbors.
Her daughter, Ellen went with her to work at Liberty Park. She acted as nursemaid and assisted in the baking. Water had to be carried from the millstream to the Chase home and one morning when Ellen was getting the water she fell into the stream. After being carried downstream about fifty feet she caught on to a bush and pulled herself out. In later years, she would show her children the place of this frightening experience. She accompanied her mother aided materially in earning the living for the family, while her older sister, Jane took care of the house and younger sister, Elizabeth.
The William Jennings family had been friends of the Harrocks family in England, so Ann went to their home to help with the work and the children. She was a beautiful ironer and seamstress. She was there to do anything that was needed. When Ann was in the home, Williams Jennings would not begin his meal until she was seated at the table with him. She also worked in the Teasdale and Walker homes. Many times merchandise for their stores would be soiled or even torn. She would take these things home and renovate them.
One time a train tipped over into the Green River soaking a carload of starched shirts. Ann and the girls worked on them each evening, starching and ironing them until they looked as good as new. Later, Ann cleaned the Lion House for Brigham Young and he found ways to show his appreciation. The three girls helped as much as they were able and a close bond was formed between them because of the time they spent.
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