History of John Griffith Timothy

Here's another written history of one of my ancestors. I didn't write these; I'm just transcribing the old copies that I have:

John Griffith Timothy was born March 12, 1826 in Cardiganshire, Wales. Martha Davis Timothy, his wife, was born August 12, 1825 in Cardiganshire, Wales. John was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1849, and Martha was converted sometime later. They were married in 1850, and John was appointed local elder and went from place to place with the foreign elders, preaching the gospel. They were the only members of their families to join the church. They decided to join a group of Saints and migrate to Utah as soon as their savings would permit.

John was a watch and clock maker by trade, but he worked in the coal mines when business was dull to add to the migration fund, which did not increase so fast because of the arrival of six sons in eight years: David, born 6 March 1854; John, born 8 Feb 1855; Joshua, born 10 Aug 1856, died 1 Jan 1858; Alma, born 1 Dec 1857; Brigham, born 21 June 1859; and Heber, born 2 Apr 1861.

In March 1862, John was notified that a group of Saints was going to America, and with nine days’ notice, the family made parting visits to their parents, who lived on small farms in Cardigan County. After Martha joined the Church, her mother felt very badly about it and told Martha she never wanted to see her again, because she had disgraced her own family so by joining the Mormons. So when they were ready to leave for America, Martha thought her mother would relent and let her come home once more to visit. She walked five miles and took her five little boys with her. When they arrived, her mother opened the door at her knock, and when she saw who it was, she said, “Are you still a Mormon?” Martha said, “Yes, and we are going away to America.” “Well, go,” her mother said, “and I never want to see your face again,” and closed the door. Martha went to a ditch bank not far from the house and sat down and cried, and of course, never saw her mother again. John disposed of his watch and clock business and household furniture and was ready to sail April 1, 1862 on the “John J. Boyd” with 701 other Mormon missionaries and Saints.

When he rushed out to dispose of the last basketful of watches and clocks after they arrived in Liverpool, John was left behind. The family was on board waiting for their father when the boat moved slowly out in the Irish Sea, in spite of the weeping and begging of Martha and the children. After several hours of sailing, a small boat was seen approaching, which proved to be John. He was pulled up over the side of the boat with a rope, and there was great rejoicing. Due to the over-exertion and excitement, and the rough water on the small boat across the Irish Sea, John was ill during the entire journey.

The journey from Liverpool to New York took 45 days, and the accommodations on the “John J. Boyd” would compare with third class or steerage passage today. There were no cabins and no dining room, but all families or groups located themselves in a corner or any open space and took care of their own beds, which were mere bunks. They also prepared their own meals by taking hard tack, small cakes, packed in large sacks, crushing them with a hammer, soaking them in water, and making pudding. The sea was very rough and many people were sick the whole time. Sometimes the whole deck would be a jumble of people and their belongings rolling from one side to the other with the waves. One time, a sad accident occurred as two children were playing on the stairway that led to the bridge deck. The boat suddenly lurched, and a huge wave swept the deck, and both were killed and buried at sea.

After five weeks of intense suffering privation and sea sickness, they landed in New York. The first night, the whole company spread their beds on the floor of the Castle Garden building, and with hearts full of praise and thanksgiving for their safe landing, slept with solid ground under them once more. Bread and vegetable vendors met the boat as soon as it docked, and there was great scrambling and rejoicing to see real bread and green vegetables again.

(Click here to continue to Part 2.)