Richard Rushton

FROM LIVERPOOL TO MONTROSE
(A story of the RUSHTON, WARDLE & BULLOCK Families.)
**Mistakes have been found in this document. Corrections to be posted soon.

George WARDLE (b. 3 Feb 1820) from Cheddleton, Staffordshire, England, married Fanny RUSHTON (b. 24 Nov 1821) from Leek, Staffordshire, England, on 24 Jan 1842. They were married in Leek. George is the son of Ralph WARDLE & Ann ALLEN. Fanny is the daughter of Richard RUSHTON & Lettice JOHNSON. Shortly thereafter they prepared for their journey together to the New World aboard the ship "Hope" (of Duxbury).

By then the Mormons had so many English converts wanting to migrate that they started chartering vessels. Being able to negotiate group rates greatly reduced the cost for passage. With 270 Latter-day Saint (Mormon) immigrants on board, the Hope set sail on 2 Feb 1842 under the command of Captain J. Soule. Spiritual leader of this group was James Burnham. The voyage across the treacherous Atlantic was often accompanied by seasickness. For Fanny this may have been exacerbated by morning sickness; she was then expecting their first child.

On 30 Mar the Hope was met by the steam-powered tugboat "Star" which pulled her safely thru the "Ole Miss" sandbar region & into the port of New Orleans. They docked on 1 Apr 1842. From New Orleans George & Fanny next boarded the steamboat "Louisa", commanded by Captain H. C. CABLE, for the trip up the Mississippi to Nauvoo. On their way upriver, the newcomers stopped at St. Louis, Missouri, to exchange their English money for U.S. currency.

Part of Fanny's family, including her parents, made the long journey from England to Nauvoo a month before George & Fanny. They were a united happy family. Much of their leisure time was spent singing together. Back in England they had converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon) in 1840 after the father (Richard) sent his youngest son (Edwin) to a Mormon meeting. (Richard feared if he went, himself, that it might hurt his business.) After the meeting, Edwin came home reporting, "These men have the truth." Edwin was the last to join.

No doubt there was much rejoicing when the Nauvoo RUSHTONS reunited with their family just arriving from England. This took place on 13 Apr 1842. Since the winter of 1838-9, Latter-day Saints had been gathering into a swampy area along the Illinois side of the Mississippi. This became their Nauvoo; and a truly beautiful city it was. By 1840 the population was about 2,500. At its peak an estimated 16,000 people would reside in and around Nauvoo. Support for the influx of new immigrants was a priority assigned to the Council of the Twelve Apostles residing locally. They helped newcomers find homes, land, employment & temporary subsistence as needed & as they were able to provide.

The WARDLES had a little time to rest before Fanny gave birth to a baby boy on 13 Jul 1842 at Nauvoo. They named him Horatio. Grandpa Richard RUSHTON died at Nauvoo on 4 Oct 1843. It is recorded that he was a manufacturer of silk. Death and disease plagued the Nauvoo area even after the swamps were drained. "Diseases that attacked and often killed the Saints were diarrhea, canker, measles, mumps, whooping cough, the bloody flux, consumption and diphtheria." Add to that a condition known as ague (malaria). In the last days of Nauvoo, this one hit pretty hard. Almost half of the reported deaths in Nauvoo were among children under age ten. Leonora TAYLOR wrote to her missionary husband, John (TAYLOR), in England: "Almost every individual in every family [is] sick."

Lettice JOHNSON Rushton probably never saw the new world. According to Joseph SMITH, Jr., Lettice was blind. That Christmas, Joseph's last, the RUSHTON family & friends, including Fanny & George WARDLE, visited the prophet. " Perhaps no Christmas was more pleasant in the span of the Prophet�s lifetime than his last earthly celebration on December 25, 1843, in Nauvoo. All the ingredients of what might be regarded as a traditional observance of that day were present. Joseph and Emma had just occupied the hospitable quarters of the newly constructed Mansion House. In the early morning hours, the household was awakened to harmonious strains of beautiful music. The Prophet recorded:

Christmas 1843: 'Monday, 25.--This morning, about one o'clock, I was aroused by an English sister, Lettice Rushton, widow of Richard Rushton, Senior,(who, ten years ago, lost her sight,) accompanied by three of her sons, with their wives, and her two daughters, with their husbands, and several of her neighbors, singing, "Mortals, awake! with angels join," &c., which caused a thrill of pleasure to run through my soul. All of my family and boarders arose to hear the serenade, and I felt to thank my Heavenly Father for their visit, and blessed them in the name of the Lord. They also visited my brother Hyrum, who was awakened from his sleep. He arose and went out of doors. He shook hands with and blessed each one of them in the name of the Lord, and said that he thought at first that a cohort of angels had come to visit him, it was such heavenly music to him.'"

There exists a painting which portrays this special occasion. It is by Glen S. Hopkinson & is called "1843 Christmas in Nauvoo". A copy is online at http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/RelEducator/image/53114213042003_reledv3n2a10.pdf. The RUSHTONs and the WARDLEs were gifted in music. They frequently performed at church & community gatherings. In the quote above Joseph mentions "her (Lettice's) two daughters, with their husbands". That would be George & Fanny WARDLE as one couple. Fanny's older sister, Henrietta & her husband is the second couple. Henrietta married Thomas BULLOCK, personal scribe of Joseph SMITH plus historian for the church.

Fanny WARDLE gave birth to a second son, George Ambrose, on 7 May 1844 at Nauvoo. Then sadly, Joseph SMITH, founder and prophet of the Mormons, was murdered by a mob at Carthage, Illinois on 27 Jun 1844. Despite the escalating tension & hostilities, the Saints continued at great sacrifice to complete their temple, still under construction, even at the same time they began planning a mass exodus to the west. Long before the Mormon movement, Huguenots, Quakers and other sects flocked to America for religious freedom. But from the beginning Mormons have faced harsh opposition in this same land. They fled persecution from New York, Ohio, Missouri & Illinois. And thru it all, this group survived and even thrived. The reason for this is quite simple. Thousands heard the story of Joseph Smith & a gold book. And they believed. They endured every kind of hardship imaginable. And they believed. Their faith remained strong because they knew Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

George Ambrose WARDLE was only three months old when his brother, Horatio died on 5 Aug 1844. Sexton records say he died of consumption at 2 yrs old. Then George Ambrose died in Oct 1845, when only 17 mos also at Nauvoo. Fanny's younger brother, Edwin RUSHTON, took their mother, Lettice and his wife Mary Anne, to the Nauvoo Temple on 23 Jan 1846. All three were endowed that day. George WARDLE took his wife, Fanny, on 7 Feb for that same purpose. Fanny's oldest brother, Frederick James RUSHTON, was also endowed on 7 Feb.

Some of the first Saints crossed the Mississippi to leave Nauvoo forever beginning 4 Feb 1846. They left their homes, their city & their temple, establishing camps at Montrose, Sugar Creek & Chariton River in Iowa. On 15 Apr 1846 the song, "All Is Well" was composed at Locust Creek, on the open plains of Iowa by William CLAYTON. By 24 Apr some had reached Garden Grove & Mt. Pisgah, Iowa. The advanced pioneer company reached Council Bluffs, Iowa on 14 Jun 1846. They first named the settlement Millers Hollow; later it was named Kanesville. After the pioneers left it was given the name Council Bluffs. In Sep 1846 more Saints gathered at Winter Quarters, today's Florence, Nebraska. Soon there were 15,000 Saints gathered at the Council Bluffs-Winter Quarters area in the fall of 1846.

The RUSHTONs, WARDLEs & BULLOCKs were not yet among the Saints headed west. In fact, they were some of the last to leave Nauvoo. Descendant Edith RUSHTON Christiansen explains: �At the time of the great exodus from Nauvoo, Brigham Young, before leaving the city, asked my Father (Edwin Rushton) if he would see that all the sick and poor got across the river. This, of course, made it necessary for Father to be one of the last to leave this ill-fated city.�

Richard RUSHTON Jr. and Frederick RUSHTON left with their families. But they went south to St. Louis instead of west to Winter Quarters. Some other families went there also. By trade, George WARDLE was a wheelwright. He helped outfit wagon after wagon for the trek to the west. Fanny likewise busied herself with preparations for the trip. No doubt she also still grieved the recent loss of her father and her babies.

Thomas BULLOCK wrote that he became very sick with fever and ague in Aug 1846. His wife and 4 little children also. Finally on 16 Sep George WARDLE packed up Thomas' goods on two wagons and removed them to his home "to be out of all danger from cannon balls". Illinois was no longer a safe place for Mormons. The following day, 17 Sep, 2000 men with 500 wagons marched into Nauvoo. "Such an awful and infuriated noise I never again heard" said BULLOCK. Those that could hid in the tall grass and woods. Some old & sick had to be carried. Many fled across the river leaving everything behind. As night approached, most returned to their shelters.

BULLOCK continues: "The next morning (18 Sep) at 9 o'clock saw me, my wife, my four children, my sister-in-law Fannie (Wardle), my blind mother-in-law (Lettice JOHNSON Rushton) all shaking with the ague in one house; only George Wardle able to do anything for us, when a band of about 30 men, armed with guns and bayonets fixed, pistols in belt, the captain with a sword in his hand, and the stripes and stars flying about, marched opposite my sheltering roof; the captain called a halt, and demanded the owners of the two wagons to be brought out. I was raised from my bed, led out of doors, supported by my sister-in-law and the rail fence. ...The captain then stepped out to within four feet of me, pointing his sword at my throat, while four others presented their guns with their bayonets within two feet of my breast, when the captain told me, �If you are not off from here in twenty minutes, my orders are to shoot you. � ...�Then said the captain, �I am sorry to see you and your sick family, but if you are not gone when I return in half an hour, my orders are to kill you and every Mormon in the place. �"

Edwin RUSHTON: " I was ordered out on twenty Minutes Notice by thirty five Men with fix Bayonets under the Protecting flag of the United States. With nothing but what I stood up in with my wife and a Blind Mother I took up my bed and went. They said they would shoot me if I did not put it down. I told them to shoot and be damned. �

Edith Rushton CHRISTENSEN: "As he was leaving Nauvoo, he (Edwin RUSHTON) had a feather bed tied on his back, and his wife, Mary Anne, who was with him, was carrying some personal belongings in an apron. One of the mob following them threatened to shoot. Father, thinking of the feather bed he was carrying, turned his back and said, �Shoot!� Evidently this display of courage cowed the mobster, as they were allowed to proceed unmolested.�

BULLOCK: �George (Wardle) and Edwin (Rushton) drove my wagons down to the ferry, and we were searched five times for firearms; ...while on the banks of the river, I crawled to the margin to bid a sister, who was going to St. Louis, �Good Bye� while a mobber shouted out, �Look, there�s a skeleton bidding Death good bye!� So you can imagine the poor sickly condition we were in. " The string of personal tragedies was not yet over for George & Fanny. They were about to experience yet a third setback in their attempts to have children. John WARDLE, their third son, was born 6 Sep 1846 and died the same day.

Instead of heading west, Edwin, Mary Ann, and Lettice RUSHTON, separated from George WARDLE & Thomas BULLOCK and went down river to St. Louis. No doubt these RUSHTON family members sought out Richard and Frederick who had already gone there. On 20 Sep 1846, Fanny RUSHTON's mother, Lettice JOHNSON Rushton, died at St. Louis. The city of St. Louis, Missouri had been stricken with an epidemic of cholera.

***Henry RUSHTON was with that portion of this family who came to the USA a month before George & Fanny WARDLE came. This first group departed Liverpool aboard the Yorkshire which arrived at New Orleans on 19 May 1843. It seems little Henry, age 6, died at sea.

I am hoping that one of you can help me properly identify Henry RUSHTON. He would have been born about 1837. Is he Fanny's brother? I want to add his death info to my document.

Hello: Sure glad I wrote the word "Draft" on those work sheets I shared with you. I just found one big mistake I made. I had placed the arrival of Richard & Lettice RUSHTON at Nauvoo, Illinois, as happening before George & Fanny. WRONG! I'm getting it fixed but I'm still a bit confused. There are records of departure from Liverpool to New Orleans by two possibles. One record has "Richd Rushton" departing 16 May 1841 on the "Alesto". The other shows a "Richard Rushton" departing Liverpool for New Orleans on 10 May 1843 aboard the "Yorkshire".

Further, I found part of a missionary journal mentioning a "Brother R. Rushton who was on a mission from Nauvoo." I checked the ages for Richard Sr. & Richard Jr. but more research is needed before I understand fully. The R. Rushton who was on a mission in England and mentioned as being from Nauvoo could be Richard Jr. who was born 5 Jul 1814. In fact, the more I think about it...... Don't have his death date at hand; but at the moment Richard Jr. is the likely candidate. I was confused because I had seen Rushtons in Nauvoo before Wardles. Richard Sr. & Lettice didn't come across the pond until about a year after George & Fanny Wardle were there.

In case you are interested, I am going to paste in that part of the missionary journal mentioning the Rushton from Nauvoo. It is about an instance of rebuking evil spirits. (Hey, I had good journalism training. I'm just reporting the info about our family.) I'm telling you this ahead of time in case you don't like to read that sort of thing.......

"Just before leaving England I visited some friends in Sheffield, and met with Brother R. Rushton, who was on a mission from Nauvoo. He had been asked to visit a brother in the Church who was possessed of a devil. This was the first case of the kind I had heard of being in the Church, and I felt quite anxious to see the party so afflicted. While reflecting about it, Brother Rushton asked me to accompany him, which I cheerfully did, and what transpired I never shall forget. When we entered the room where he was sitting, he looked around and saw Brother Rushton whom he had met before, and with a coarse voice said: "So you have come again in the name of Jesus have you? Well you may come if you have a mind to. I know you came from Nauvoo where you are building a temple to get your endowments and more power. Well, get your power, and the more power you get the more power we'll get." Just as soon as he was through speaking, Brother Rushton laid hands on him and rebuked the evil spirits that had possession of him, when the brother called out in a loud voice: "How did you know there was more than one?" Brother Rushton remarked calmly: "You said we." The brother then said, "We will go but we will come again."

Fondly, Cousin Sheila

Richard Rushton

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